Quote Originally Posted by topspeed
What is the best rig that you have ever heard?
Without a doubt, it has always been HP's system. I have heard it numerous times over a span of twenty five years or so. My first jolt at high end was in 1980 with Koetsu / Goldmund T3 / Goldmund Reference / Denneson JC-80 / Conrad - Johnson Premier One / Infinity IRS. While it wasn't necessarily the best recording at the time, I vividly remember his playing A Ha's "Take on Me" cut. That was my first experience with a system having authority.

Fast forward in time to 2001 to his best system as yet: Lyra Helikon / Clearaudio Master Reference / Groove phono / Burmester 969-970 / C-J ART II / VTL Wotans (main) / Krell KMA-160 (bass) / Alon Grand Exotica / Valhalla cables throughout. Absolutely stunning. Walls disappear. Apparent stage width and depth are immense. I've never heard that much high frequency power, yet utter grace. Every recording reveals layers of detail I'd never heard before. I found myself laughing out loud at the aural delight set before me.

Lucky lad that I am, I will be traveling to Seacliff next weekend to hear his latest. My ears always get completely recalibrated during such visits. The notion that zip cord is equivalent to Valhalla on that system is utterly absurd.

rw