What do you consider to be the keystone to your system?

CDS3.

Fact is my CDS3 was part of a 552/300 system and now partnered with a SN2. Along the way down from the 552/300 it was also used with a 252/282/202/250/200/NaitXS/Nait5i/Nait2.The constant has always been the CDS3 on Fraim. At no time have i considered changing the source. The rest can be changed at will depending on the speakers and depth of pocket.

NDS of course or alternatively nDAC. I would hate to let the 252/300 go though.  

Chag -

NDS.

ProAc D20 R speakers.   They take bloody ages to bed in.   Everything else is around a week or so.

This:

I'll be banned for this, but I'd keep my valve amp, Rogue Audio Cronus.  Naim source into it makes an amazing combo.

Everything else would be upgraded.

Probably the speakers, because they'd be the hardest to replace (no longer in production and like hens' teeth secondhand), and a different replacement that would satisfy me would cost quite a bit more.

But the question not asked and which would possibly be more interesting is would we replace the rest with identical items if we had a budget equivalent to their total value?

In my case the only thing I would consider changing would be the power amp, when I'd like to hear a Devialet before deciding. 

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Mac Mini/Audirvana/Gustard U12
Chord Hugo
Bryston 4Bsst2
PMC EB1i

My Nagra PLL preamp would be a stayer...its brilliant

The listener is probably the keystone to my system, and I don't relish the thought of abandoning that specific component - not just now (and I can't upgrade it either...).

Melco - source is the most important. 

Like IB above, I'd hang onto my speakers, because they are no longer made and I'd never find anything as good for the money. I sold a pair years ago and it took ages to locate another set. But the good thing is that the second set are a much nicer colour. 

That would be my tonearm, a Graham Series 2.2. I sold my first one a while after the model was discontinued. While the ones that followed it all had their strenghts, vinyl happyness only returned after I was able to buy another one.

A plug.

I'm with Frenchnaim here - the listener is the only irreplaceable component!

Within the rules of the question, are we allowed to re-buy the same component again (or re-make them the same way for DIY components)?

joerand posted:

What is the indispensable heart and soul of what you now have?

My flippant answer is the NAS is my keystone as that alone holds all my music.

Outside that I don't believe anything is a keystone,  the system is an integral assembly of parts,   nothing can work without the other & nothing is irreplaceable.  It might be a TT fan reverses his LP12,  or the speakers are special for whatever reason (I designed & made mine)  but nothing is sacred & everything can be replaced with something better.

Quad 33 posted:

X2. And the 300 dr. Everything else I buy to go with them

That would probably be my UnitiQute.

It has to be my record collection, if that counts. Everything is replaceable!

552.

Love my two sources - NDS and WT GTA/EMT JSD-6 - but under this hypothetical scenario, there are alternatives.  Likewise, my Ovator 400s fit my room very nicely, and are well driven by a 300. But again, there are alternatives.

Having worked my way up the Naim preamp path, I became convinced that this was the heart of a good separates-based system. All else might change for me some distant day, but hopefully never this.

ATB.

Hook

My CDX2 and XPS2. A fantastic digital source....but since i got my new turntable i forgot CDs.

Just can't help it. Even with my old, never serviced amps etc music touches me in a different, more pleasant and involving way.

The cartridge - a Colibri XGP:

Chord Hugo TT

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