Thank you!
Perhaps to start, my audio journey?
My family (a joint family) owned a Philips turntable, receiver and speakers and there was Carnatic music (south Indian classical) played a lot.
Once we went nuclear (age 11), and growing up in India (late 70s and early 80s), my wish was to get a nice “two in one”. A cassette player, receiver and speakers. My dream was to get separates that my friend BG had in his house.
When in college in Madras, listened to many a horrendous music system with their proud owners. The objective was to belt out Jethro Tull really loud. My father bought me a lovely Sony Walkman that I carelessly broke. Woe is me!
I was a student in LA when my musical interests grew as did my interest in audio. Based on friends reco, and deals, I bought a Carver receiver, a Magnavox Cd changer and borrowed my friend’s speakers. I then ordered an AAD speaker, and bizarrely a Stereophile came into my life via my pal Tool at the same time. I was then hooked. Then came TAS too. I returned the AAD immediately, whining about shipping losses.
By this time, I had hooked up with a girl S (now my wife of 26 years) and I started writing to various dealers (1990-1) saying “ I would like to put together a system with a tube pre and power...blah blah”. One dealer wrote back sensibly saying go listen. It may have been a Spendor deal in Chicago or Texas. Also gave me the reference of a LA based dealer (more later).
So started me warming the globe driving to LA and suburbs with S. The speakers I loved were Apogee (David Hansen?), Vandersteen (Brooks Berdan?), Quad (I am not sure, but it may have been an English professor at UCLA who had lovely LPs). Oh the Mirage M3 (that my friend bought) - test LP included Steve Gadd's drumming in Aja. Many funny stories as well at that point in time. Nearly snagged a Music Reference RM 100 Mk 2 (I think) from an ad in a LA rag, but alas, it got sold (I still wish I could buy one).
Through all this, entered the world of a famous and wonderful audio dealer (still my friend) who stocked Naim and Spendor. And Roksan. (Now he swears by Harbeth and LFD). Eventually, after warming the globe by at least 2 Centigrade with all the “auditioning”, my first system of Naim Nait 2, Spendor 3/5, Roksan Radius and Naim CD player came together. Either he was a great salesman, or it was just the sound I liked. So did S (who has great ears - more than knowing what is good, knows what is bad).
S left me to come back to India (I was to join later). I was so heartbroken, I remember the tears (Boys do cry), driving in an unusually wet LA day to my apartment, picking up the S3/5 and driving to the dealer and exchanging it for S100, which I loved. All by the time her flight landed in London.
So that is the system that came back with me to India. And I have since remained a BBC man. Sold my Naim for a stupid low price because I thought it was not possible to get it recapped in India, customs rules and all. S100 moved to Harbeth Compact 7 and LFD (heard it in London with another lovely dealer who stocked both - I bought the LFD from him and Harbeth from their Singapore dealer). The Roksan was actually destroyed by a customs official (I came with over 1500 LPs from the US), and eventually got a Rega P3/24 (the other LA dealer brand). Went through an assortment of CD players and DACs and never settled on the digital sound, after my Naim broke. Even owned a lovely Leben 300xs for a while.
Then came a fit and sold a bunch, including my "bedroom system". I still love the LFD and Leben (a sweet Indian dealer and remains a buddy) and wish I had the space to keep them and not sold them. Somehow never got the Compact 7 to sing in my house and by miracle, got a Graham LS5/9 which I loved. Went on a holiday to Japan, and got a DAC (google, email, and met the wonderful CEO) called RATOC RAL-DM24192. Finally digital I liked! Got 2 of them!
Now my system is Rega, RATOC, Cambridge CD transport, SOTM, Raspberry pi, JRIver, Elekit pre, Clones 55pm amp (the last 2 courtesy my long suffering sister who used to live in Hong Kong, and carried so much audionfke me) and Graham speakers. Made a vow not to change my system in 3 years (exclude cables), and another miracle, managed it and it is well beyond that time now!
Not an audio friendly living room, and don't get to listen as often as I have 3 girls in my house who practice music (blessing? curse?) and hence got myself a Schiit Asgard 3 and Sennheiser HD600 so that I can listen in peace in my bedroom. Alas, streaming movies has taken over my life recently - the great escape. I will get back.
3 years gone. Luxman? Now wouldn't it go nicely with the Graham? Now, now, Vivek....the kids have to go to college and the market has wiped out your savings.
