This year I turned 70 and something started happening even as I anticipated my birthday. In fact, it started happening around September, 2017. I think what started happening was I finally realized that my life is not a dress rehearsal. I had used the adage many times because it is no doubt true, but this time it was different.
I was in the middle of a workup for prostrate cancer. The problem was my former personal primary care doc who I have known since college, studied with in medical school, and reconnected with upon my return to NJ, was giving me bad advice about the proper actions in response to an elevating PSA regarding prostate CA was heavily colored by his need to be knowledgeable at a God level.
By the time I changed doctors the look of urgency on my new doc’s face when he saw my PSA and realized I had not been treated or even worked up. I knew the concept of a bucket list really mattered, but once again, more in concept than something related to things important enough to do before you die because you truly have a deep desire to experience the resultant excitement and hopefully a fundamental sense of achievement.
On the same day that my surgeon at NYU told me that it was highly likely that my case was too far along and way too aggressive for the smarter and less side-effect producing procedures like Cyber-Knife, and that there was a good chance I would need surgical removal of my prostate, my older daughter told me she was pregnant with her first child. On that fateful night, my other daughter happened to be in town and joining us for dinner. It was clear from her face that soon I would likely be hearing the same news from her.
Suddenly life rearranged and my new sense of self was I am a guy with cancer with two daughters, one pregnant and the other soon to be and I need to make better use of my time, enjoy each day more while I pursue my lifelong goal of setting up a sound system that truly makes me feel like I am where the source material came from.
All of a sudden my work as a psychiatrist and addiction specialist almost became secondary, but necessary because something had to pay for this project. My original thought as 2017 was drawing to an end was that I was due for a treat and would allow myself to spend $100,00.00 on my stereo in whatever way felt wise and fun. I felt very lavish for giving myself and deserving such a gift.
My first thoughts were that I would upscale my Vivid Giya 3’s to Vivid G1 S2’s or hopefully the Vivid G1 Spirit, which people raved about. I needed more bass even though I have a pair of JL F-113’s to supplement the side-firing Giya’s. Unfortunately, my plans were dashed badly upon an unusual audition at the importers house in a room that is bigger than any I have ever seen with a ceiling at least 25-30’ tall and the room like 35’x45’. The Spirits totally overloaded the room and although the G1’s sound better. they did not sound good.
I then went and heard anything I found interesting. I had a Spectral DMC30SV preamp and a DMA 300 RS amp connected via MIT SHD to each other and an ARC Ref CD 9 and Lamm LP2.1 phono pre hooked up to a Triangle Art Reference SE TT with a 12” Usiris MK 2 tonearm with an Apollo cartridge, which is surprisingly good with the tone arm and TT, and a ZYX Ultimate Optimum Cartridge that was in a Rockport Sirius 6000 tone arm, now waiting for my new Bergmann Galder turntable and Odin arm, custom made in all black. I have other stuff like a vibraplane, not to mention an expanding used department including my entire current system, plus a VPI ARIES Anniversary TT with 12” 3D arm, a Pass phono stage, VPI ADS controller, and always more MIT expensive cables, PC’s and speaker wire.
I could take you through my listening processes and help all of you go to sleep! So I will cut to the chase on what has become the goal and is now arriving at 18 months into this project and let’s just say a lot more money than my “generous” gift of $100,000.00. Fortunately, I own all of my equipment to guard against extreme impulsivity. I have never thought of my equipment as an asset, but rather a chip that could be used when needed for some amount of money that is no doubt way less than what I paid for it. Time to cash in some chips.
While the story of this evolution is a real vibrant story for me, it will be much less so for you and thus I will cut to the audio chase and a couple of stories about some wonderful people who I now consider new close friends. Through the help of my long-term buddy Steve Williams, I got to visit places that probably would not have happened without Steve’s guidance. I certainly would not have bonded with Damon Von Schweikert and Leif Swanson, chosen VSA Ultra 9’s as my speakers, and had a chance to use some of my communication skills.
Here’s is what I chose for my bucket list system, given my modified, modified, extremely modified budget:VAC Master preamp, VAC Renaissance Deluxe phono stage, VAC Statement 450SIQ amp, Von Schweikert Audio Ultra 9 speakers, Bergmann Galder TT with Odin arm and ZYX Ultimate Optimum cartridge, Innuous Zenith Special Edition server (to be upgraded to Innuous Statement when funds become available) and MSB Refernce DAC with fempto 77 clock (to be upgraded to Select 2 with fempto 33 clock when funds become available). Everything is connected and powered with a full loom of MasterBuilt Ultra IC’s with Bocchino connectors, PC’s and biwired Ultra speaker wire. Center Stage Footers2, Niagara 7000 conditioner, Vibraplane on a double wide Steve Blinn Stand.
The equipment is arriving, with the Bergmann, Ultra 9’s and MasterBuilt cabling yet to come in the next month. Then the work begins, when Damon and Leif come for several days to setup, play with my bucket list boat and bucket list sound system and spend time with each other.
If you made it this far then you must like a story, although probably what you were more interested in is in the next installation as the VAC electronics break in (currently connected with MIT MAX SHD until the MB Ultra arrives.
The next installment will be about the sounds of the different pieces and the change in overall sound as I shift from old to the bucket list system.
I was in the middle of a workup for prostrate cancer. The problem was my former personal primary care doc who I have known since college, studied with in medical school, and reconnected with upon my return to NJ, was giving me bad advice about the proper actions in response to an elevating PSA regarding prostate CA was heavily colored by his need to be knowledgeable at a God level.
By the time I changed doctors the look of urgency on my new doc’s face when he saw my PSA and realized I had not been treated or even worked up. I knew the concept of a bucket list really mattered, but once again, more in concept than something related to things important enough to do before you die because you truly have a deep desire to experience the resultant excitement and hopefully a fundamental sense of achievement.
On the same day that my surgeon at NYU told me that it was highly likely that my case was too far along and way too aggressive for the smarter and less side-effect producing procedures like Cyber-Knife, and that there was a good chance I would need surgical removal of my prostate, my older daughter told me she was pregnant with her first child. On that fateful night, my other daughter happened to be in town and joining us for dinner. It was clear from her face that soon I would likely be hearing the same news from her.
Suddenly life rearranged and my new sense of self was I am a guy with cancer with two daughters, one pregnant and the other soon to be and I need to make better use of my time, enjoy each day more while I pursue my lifelong goal of setting up a sound system that truly makes me feel like I am where the source material came from.
All of a sudden my work as a psychiatrist and addiction specialist almost became secondary, but necessary because something had to pay for this project. My original thought as 2017 was drawing to an end was that I was due for a treat and would allow myself to spend $100,00.00 on my stereo in whatever way felt wise and fun. I felt very lavish for giving myself and deserving such a gift.
My first thoughts were that I would upscale my Vivid Giya 3’s to Vivid G1 S2’s or hopefully the Vivid G1 Spirit, which people raved about. I needed more bass even though I have a pair of JL F-113’s to supplement the side-firing Giya’s. Unfortunately, my plans were dashed badly upon an unusual audition at the importers house in a room that is bigger than any I have ever seen with a ceiling at least 25-30’ tall and the room like 35’x45’. The Spirits totally overloaded the room and although the G1’s sound better. they did not sound good.
I then went and heard anything I found interesting. I had a Spectral DMC30SV preamp and a DMA 300 RS amp connected via MIT SHD to each other and an ARC Ref CD 9 and Lamm LP2.1 phono pre hooked up to a Triangle Art Reference SE TT with a 12” Usiris MK 2 tonearm with an Apollo cartridge, which is surprisingly good with the tone arm and TT, and a ZYX Ultimate Optimum Cartridge that was in a Rockport Sirius 6000 tone arm, now waiting for my new Bergmann Galder turntable and Odin arm, custom made in all black. I have other stuff like a vibraplane, not to mention an expanding used department including my entire current system, plus a VPI ARIES Anniversary TT with 12” 3D arm, a Pass phono stage, VPI ADS controller, and always more MIT expensive cables, PC’s and speaker wire.
I could take you through my listening processes and help all of you go to sleep! So I will cut to the chase on what has become the goal and is now arriving at 18 months into this project and let’s just say a lot more money than my “generous” gift of $100,000.00. Fortunately, I own all of my equipment to guard against extreme impulsivity. I have never thought of my equipment as an asset, but rather a chip that could be used when needed for some amount of money that is no doubt way less than what I paid for it. Time to cash in some chips.
While the story of this evolution is a real vibrant story for me, it will be much less so for you and thus I will cut to the audio chase and a couple of stories about some wonderful people who I now consider new close friends. Through the help of my long-term buddy Steve Williams, I got to visit places that probably would not have happened without Steve’s guidance. I certainly would not have bonded with Damon Von Schweikert and Leif Swanson, chosen VSA Ultra 9’s as my speakers, and had a chance to use some of my communication skills.
Here’s is what I chose for my bucket list system, given my modified, modified, extremely modified budget:VAC Master preamp, VAC Renaissance Deluxe phono stage, VAC Statement 450SIQ amp, Von Schweikert Audio Ultra 9 speakers, Bergmann Galder TT with Odin arm and ZYX Ultimate Optimum cartridge, Innuous Zenith Special Edition server (to be upgraded to Innuous Statement when funds become available) and MSB Refernce DAC with fempto 77 clock (to be upgraded to Select 2 with fempto 33 clock when funds become available). Everything is connected and powered with a full loom of MasterBuilt Ultra IC’s with Bocchino connectors, PC’s and biwired Ultra speaker wire. Center Stage Footers2, Niagara 7000 conditioner, Vibraplane on a double wide Steve Blinn Stand.
The equipment is arriving, with the Bergmann, Ultra 9’s and MasterBuilt cabling yet to come in the next month. Then the work begins, when Damon and Leif come for several days to setup, play with my bucket list boat and bucket list sound system and spend time with each other.
If you made it this far then you must like a story, although probably what you were more interested in is in the next installation as the VAC electronics break in (currently connected with MIT MAX SHD until the MB Ultra arrives.
The next installment will be about the sounds of the different pieces and the change in overall sound as I shift from old to the bucket list system.