This ultra-high-end system climbs the Mt. Everest of audio – CNET

Before we get to the audio system, check out Alex’s view of Central Park!

Those JBL Everest DD67000 speakers look pretty standard, but Alex bypassed the speakers’ internal crossover networks to improve the speakers’ performance.

Alex consulted with ex JBL engineer Greg Timbers about how to tri-amplify the Everests with Marantz and Pass Labs electronics. Timbers designed the Everest and the sound Alex is getting is so effortless all you hear is the music.

Sorry the pictures can’t do full justice to the look of the speakers dramatic Bi-Radial horns. Fun fact: Each speaker weighs 313 pounds (142 kg)!

Alex selected this crossover to go “active” with the JBLs, so he could bypass the speakers internal passive crossover to achieve better-than-factory sound from the big JBLs. Alex isn’t afraid to roll up his sleeves and tweak the sound. He takes real joy in making his system sound better and better.

Alex uses two of these made-in-Japan 300 watt monaural Marantz amps on each speaker, one for each 15-inch (380mm) woofer! That’s a total of four MA-9S2 amps in the system! Alex is fascinated by the tech behind the products in his system, and the designers who make the tech.

Alex uses a single XA60.8 Pass 60 watt amplifier to drive the JBL horn loaded 4-inch (100mm) pure beryllium midrange and 1-inch (25mm) pure beryllum tweeter. So if you’re keeping score, Alex has a total of six mono power amps; each speaker is tri-amped with two Marantz and one Pass amplifiers.

Not sure what it’s for, but the meter looks cool.

Alex has some remarkable art in his apartment, and I couldn’t stop staring at this Joe Andoe painting.

Alex puts his faith in Ed Meitner’s digital converters for a couple of reasons, starting with the sound quality of course, but also because Sony uses Meitner converters. Also, Meitner offers upgrades for his converters so they never go out of date.

Alex uploaded 1,600 CDs to his Macbook Pro, which he uses as a server. He no longer plays CDs, and hasn’t played LPs in years. Alex plays rock, classical and other genres for pleasure, for time to think, and as background sound.

There was quite a bit of art in Alex’s apartment. This one hangs in his home office.

Thanks for checking out this installment of Show Us Yours. If you want to see more, we have plenty to look at here.