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Welcome to “I Have the Best System in the World,” a celebratory space where audiophiles can take a little pride—sans pretension—in their home audio systems. More than a brag, this series aims to inspire with real-world examples of audio setups that fill their owners with joy. From cost-efficient builds to opulent assemblages, each installment presents a unique system that captures the essence of great sound. This series proves that the ‘best system’ isn’t about price tags; it’s about the deeply personal and profoundly moving experiences that only music and sound can provide.
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“No, I have the best system in the world!”: An Audio Journey From Venezuela to The Laurentian Mountains
“On a Mobile Fidelity version of Dire Straits’ Brothers in Arms, I heard a wealth of scintillating detail and instruments that popped out from the background with shape and aliveness.”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!”: Great Sound From Down Under (No, Not Hell)
“It’s holographic. I close my eyes and can feel the sound of my system around me, like there’s a soft breeze running through everything. That is the ultimate.”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!”: The Musical Match Between Totem and McIntosh
“Don’t lose sight of what’s most important,” he said. “The music.”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” An Update to #3: How Fate Brought Me To My Dream System
I’ve heard this all before, and it basically goes like this: “Why in God’s name would I even think of pairing $1k, entry level loudspeakers with amps that retail for 3 to 10 times their price?”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #12: An Audiophile’s Tale of Passion, Loss, and Resurgence
“I’ve seen people buy big, expensive equipment and put it in a room that wasn’t compatible. So when buying gear, especially speakers, make sure it matches the size and dimensions of your room […]”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #11: The Vibrant Echoes of a California-based Audiophile
“That made such a drastic difference. I put it through A/B tests with some of my buddies and my wife, and they were all flabbergasted by what it did.”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #10: Singapore’s Audiophile Tim Lim and His Extraordinary Hi-Fi System
“My friend came over and said, ‘Why are you listening to this crap? You should be listening to 2-channel audio. It sounds better, and has more bass!’”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #9: A Bucharest Audiophile’s Quest for Perfect Sound
“Then, five years ago, I visited a store to buy cheap speaker cables for my home cinema, and, out of curiosity, I listened to a modest hi-fi setup there—I don’t think it cost more than $5000. I was blown away. From there, I spiralled into the high-end.”
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #8: Priyo’s Audiophile Journey
In his native India, Priyo was raised on a steady diet of classic rock—Led Zep, Deep Purple, Pink Floyd. His musical tastes began to widen when he took guitar lessons from a teacher who played the blues. “I had never heard the blues beforem” Priyo said during our Zoom interview. “And I was like ‘wow,…
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #7: Transforming Digital Streaming into an Analog Symphony
Paul’s system is one of those rare audiophile systems; its composed entirely of gear of the same brand, in this case, made by venerable Scottish company Linn. Paul’s system is Linn’s 5.0 Katalyst Surround System. Did you think that Linn was mostly about turntables and analogue? Only in a nostalgic sense. Before I get into…
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #6: Claude Lemaire’s Audioverse
One of the things that impresses me most about PMA Magazine contributor Claude Lemaire is the man’s encyclopedic knowledge of popular music. If there was an edition of the game show Jeopardy! entirely focused on the minutia of who did what on any recording, I’m convinced Claude would have a legitimate shot at being inducted…
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #5: Crafting an Audiophile’s Dream in a Split-Level House
Be forewarned: If your stomach knots in pain at the very thought of expensive, high-end audio cabling or AC conditioning products, you may want to bypass this article, which contains many references to such items. Ditto, if you’re averse to systems costing comfortably in the six figures, such as the one that is the subject…
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #4: The Intersection of Science and Sound in an Audiophile’s World
After PMA Magazine posted its inaugural “No, I have the best system in the world!”, a few willing participants answered our call to talk about their own audio journeys and “Best” system, i.e. a system they felt had reached a certain level of performance they could live with for the long term. To do the series,…
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #3: Inside a $50K Audiophile’s Paradise
My setup has evolved over the last few years into one of the best I’ve ever heard anywhere, especially for one that hovers around the $50K mark, not an outlandish sum for a high-end setup.
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #2: The Personal Triumph of Audio Perfection
I know, the best system in the world is in the ear of the beholder. So how’s this: What I have is a system that’s best-ish, in that it has tamed the upgrade beast in me and made me very happy.
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“No, I have the best system in the world!” #1: The unique synergy of Karim’s system
The point behind our new “No, I have the best system in the world!” series is not to have people brag about their system. Okay, it is, a bit, but it’s a bragging that I think we can all get behind. It’s a brag without braggadocio or pretention or saying that you need to spend…
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“I have the best system in the world!” A 50-year Journey in Audiophilia
It’s often been said that we should avoid discussing politics or religion in polite company. These are touchy subjects on which people have strong ideas and beliefs that may conflict. These conversations can, on a dime, turn into trench wars, polite company notwithstanding. Among audiophiles, one could easily replace politics or religion with best audio brand,…