We watch collectors are crazy people with a fair amount of OCD. Can you relate to that? But, have you been around Hi-Fi / High-End dudes? I have been there all the way until around 20 years ago with cables worth a Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, if you get my twist. I lost it when things turned esoteric and realising that the real pleasure comes from the music, not from the ultra-expensive stereo system. So I radically downgraded to a basic stereo system (basic by the standards of a Hi-Fi nutter) and mostly listened to streaming music, at a time streaming was like the smart watch among Tourbillon collectors.
Today, streaming arrived at High-End and you can buy a streamer that costs more than a medium-sized apartment. Well, my streaming solution was an old iPod Touch with an audiophile docking station connected to my stereo. As it was getting more and more unreliable after 20 years usage, I gave myself a push and purchased a new Streaming device. And…knock…knock…OCD was at the front door. Now the can of worms is wide open.
Now that I have a new streamer, what about the amplifier? It’s also old and would it not be nice to get something new? It sure would be. After some searching, I narrowed it down to the Pass Labs INT-150, a true masterpiece that ticked all the boxes. With a new amplifier, some decent cables are a must and as the amplifier is a fully balanced design, it really should have a balanced source (which I did not consider of course when I bought the streamer). Only solution is to get a good external DAC. A fine little Danish manufacture makes wonderful analogue sounding DACs with balanced analogue output stage. “Hello OCD – leave me alone!”.
No escaping, what is now still on my mind are new speakers, because why stop half way. The sound is already on a new level and I have a good feeling this was very much worth it. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the music. So far my track of 2026: Marcus Soulbynight with Back to the Warehouse light.
What a burner and even better when listened to over a decent stereo system.
We watch collectors are crazy people with a fair amount of OCD. Can you relate to that? But, have you been around Hi-Fi / High-End dudes? I have been there all the way until around 20 years ago with cables worth a Perpetual Calendar Chronograph, if you get my twist. I lost it when things turned esoteric and realising that the real pleasure comes from the music, not from the ultra-expensive stereo system. So I radically downgraded to a basic stereo system (basic by the standards of a Hi-Fi nutter) and mostly listened to streaming music, at a time streaming was like the smart watch among Tourbillon collectors.
Today, streaming arrived at High-End and you can buy a streamer that costs more than a medium-sized apartment. Well, my streaming solution was an old iPod Touch with an audiophile docking station connected to my stereo. As it was getting more and more unreliable after 20 years usage, I gave myself a push and purchased a new Streaming device. And…knock…knock…OCD was at the front door. Now the can of worms is wide open.
Now that I have a new streamer, what about the amplifier? It’s also old and would it not be nice to get something new? It sure would be. After some searching, I narrowed it down to the Pass Labs INT-150, a true masterpiece that ticked all the boxes. With a new amplifier, some decent cables are a must and as the amplifier is a fully balanced design, it really should have a balanced source (which I did not consider of course when I bought the streamer). Only solution is to get a good external DAC. A fine little Danish manufacture makes wonderful analogue sounding DACs with balanced analogue output stage. “Hello OCD – leave me alone!”.
No escaping, what is now still on my mind are new speakers, because why stop half way. The sound is already on a new level and I have a good feeling this was very much worth it. Oh yeah, let’s not forget the music. So far my track of 2026: Marcus Soulbynight with Back to the Warehouse light.
What a burner and even better when listened to over a decent stereo system.
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