charles hidalgo

Today has been surreal.. I'm jittery still. It was just an incredible christening with Jon. We listened all day to these beautiful speakers that he built. We discussed what we were hearing and it was just "another world experience for me. He felt the same, and if he didn't feel that way he wouldn't say it. Steve Deckert has a winner in this speaker he calls the HDT v 2. Charlie

After listening to and living with a pair of 6" Lii Audio speakers a while back I was really impressed. I feel very fortunate to have had a sneak peek session yesterday with these new fresh built amazing speakers. I took the Sarah 300b amp to meet with the pictured Decware HDTvII's and their 8” drivers and it was probably the best I have heard that room sound. That room belongs to my friend, and speaker builder Jon Anderson. I cannot wait to hear them in my main room next week. I love walnut btw. Sarah+HDTv2=WOW!

About a month ago I had a big benchmark session, and some of the most pleasant audio I have encountered in many years. There is a very big surprise coming also. For now these Lii Audio F-6S speakers are the reason for a big possible change coming. I am speechless for now in the best way.

Putting the MAC gear in for the holidays... Makes me nostalgic every time.

Finishing up on a totally different system variation, with high powered tube amps, and speaker placement. I'm again, blown away right now. Middle: Audio Research VT100 MKII, and/or Sonic Frontiers SFM-160 monoblocks. Halcyon-Mark Audio floorstanders custom built by Jon Anderson!

I would eat the cat.

Decware SEWE300B a.k.a Sarah Decware Sarah

Zen abound... The Decware SEWE300B Zen Sarah is really amazing.

Sarah has arrived... Decware 300b

Not at all. I have several in my office that were my grandmothers. This is one of my favorites and its orange eyes are my favorite color.

In the last photo you'll see one. Its facing away in the photo but its there first thing when I enter the room.

As of late.

Currently: Decware Mini Torii with 5933/807w tubes Schiit Freya+ with Tung Sol 6sn7 tubes Schiit Loki Max HiFi Rose RS150B Streamer/DAC GPA 604-8H III Jon Anderson designed Stonehenge V cabinets GPA matching crossovers TEAC and Otari tape machines SVS Pro 1000 12" subs Nordost Blue Heaven cables Everything from 30hz to the supertweeters is fully on the fly adjustable from the listening position. Things just float around the room in a sometimes 360 degree audio presentation that disappears into a wall of sound that is deeper and wider by far than the actual dimensions of the room. It is the best audio I personally have heard. Organic, natural, unbloated, and just head bobbing/toe tapping audio joy. 2023 find/finish a turntable, and decide on a centerpiece amplifier or upgrade the one pictured to wrap it all up.

They actually are not very big but require adapters (see in photo) which makes them taller overall.

Some of the journey

No such thing! The younger me might have agreed.

After settling in now for a bit and revisiting many tube amps again nothing has ever sounded better to me personally in the over 45 years of this beautiful audio journey. The small unassuming amp that has taken center stage and shining like I never thought it could is the Decware Mini Torii with the adapted 5933/807 power tube at just under 4wpc.

1 watt per channel that you feel in your bones, yet captures the finest detail in a whisper. GPA 604-8H-III drivers/crossovers John Anderson Stonhenge 5 James Burges 45 tube amp Audio-GD reference preamp Schitt Loki Maxx HiFi Rose RS150B DAC

You're too kind. Thank you.

BIG day today. Huge for me! Jon Anderson built Altec Stonhenges will be in the main room. I feel like I did in around 1976 when I got to put my dad's system gear in my room. One last photo from his room of the final versions. They are stunning in person. Just drop dead stunning!

That was a lucky find. I think I paid around 60USD. https://www.christies.com/en/lot/lot-6098278