Audiophilepure

Well, enough of the chatter about history and specs and time to discuss the sound of this little system. By my calculations this system would go for right about $21,000 and some change. That gives you a very symbiotic system sans front end. With a budget of $2000-3000 for a entry turntable, cartridge, phono stage, and another $2000 for a good streamer you are around $25-26,000 for a complete system. Twenty eight years ago I did a huge upgrade to my stereo system. I bought my Quicksilver KT88s, Golden Sound Tube Preamp with phono stage, a VPI 19JR upgraded to a MKIII, with a Sumiko Blue Point Evo cartridge, Parasound CD player, and Totem Mani-two speakers, all strung with Kimber Kable throughout. In today’s money that system would be roughly the same as this Von Gaylord system and it was a wonderful system in the day but I began almost immediately upgrading to the point where I am now. 

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/superioraudio/equipment/1123/Bella_Sound_Hanalei_Monoblock_Amplifier_Review.htm

The Bella Sound Hanalei monoblocks’ prodigious amount of power resulted in not only being able to reproduce the album as loud as I desired without a hint of overload distortion but also being able to reproduce the album’s colossal dynamic peaks with zero overload. The Sound Lab electrostatic speakers in my reference system are more than a cut above most electrostatic speakers in that they can play very loudly without breaking up. But they can’t defy the laws of physics, nor are my ears indestructible. I was quick to discover that both the monoblocks and the speakers were able to play louder than I could withstand.

Unlike the Bruckner symphony above, this Opeth album takes the real music recorded in a real space adage in a different direction. The Bella Sound Hanalei monoblocks expertly reproduced this multitrack recording. I would bet my last dollar that I was hearing a version of this album as close to the sound of the master tape as possible. With the Hanalei’s extended frequency response, combined with its marvelous soundstage and imaging prowess, I could put this album on repeat and listen to it all day with no “listener fatigue” setting in until it was very late at night.

https://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/1123/AGD_Audion_MkIII_Monoblock_Amplifier_Review.htm

The new Audion Mk III, whether you buy it brand new or simply upgrade the GaNFET Class D power tube in an earlier version, represents a major advancement in this classic amplifier. While the outstanding Blue Note ratings below are only slightly improved from the Mk I and Mk II reviews, rest assured that the Mk III is an even greater advance than the Mk II. And a better value as well, despite the price increase. The Mk I and Mk II both received an annual Blue Note Award, so that should tell you where this one is headed.