Hi, I'm Paul, from Belgium, but influenced by the places I lived as (Belgian) army brat, Germany and the United States, when I was 15 I lived in El Paso, TX
The very first vinyl I had, was a 45 rpm single of Mahalia Jackson performing "Jerusalem", it was around 1960, my dad had a 75 rpm turntable wheel-drive spindle remachined to drive at 45 ...
My first "hi-fi" was around 1966, Lafayette tube amp, Garrard disk changer, flat Realistic speakers
Later, when I started working and lived away from my parents, I bought my first new "chaine stéréo", Kenwood amp, tuner and baroque wooden grille speakers, lousy L-75 Lenco turntable setting the pace of rumble between tonearm jumps. Cheap headphones and Deep Purple in Rock contributed to the present state of my hearing. Then came the NAD and Bose days with a louse cheap Thorens not meriting that brand denomination. From 1985 onwards I completely lost interest in Hi-Fi, until 2010.
My present setup is all Onkyo, part 1991-2 Integra AR-700 amp 2x105 clean 8 Ohm watts, EQ-540 equaliser, and part "new" FM-DAB+ unit and a CD-7030 player. And 1970's Bower & Wilkins DM2a's which I value highly.
Today, I ordered a SMSL PL200...
Whilst I do have a Teufel streamer and a family Spotify account, and listen to Internet radio, and have digitalized vinyl, I now consider that an oft frustrating waste of my time. And vinyl, well it's ok, but only since a bought a 1979 Technics SL-1710 platter and Audio-Technica ML-95, for the first time I've enjoyed rumble-free (sometimes) great-sounding music from a vinyl record.
But I prefer CD, even if I've noticed some sound sharp and rough, others great. I'm curious to experience the forthcoming SMSL machine.
Of course, it's the music that counts. I wonder how Scott Ross' harpsichord will sound, whether the latter years Johnny Cash will be even more moving, and to what extent Outkast's "Speakerboxx/The Love Below" may sound even better...
I hope you would allow me to, generally, lurk. With due respect, I'm an eternal newbie!