I stumbled (actually using an automated stumbling software) upon a website I had never visited before and about whose existence I obviously had no knowledge. But the article is not about the website but about something I have found browsing it and which truly made me hold my breath: Mikel's (for this is the name he used when posting the materials) home theater.

Out of respect for what he has managed to build, I have also used the „little" word. Mikel is a 53 married guy working in retail and having a big crush on audio which sounds best. Former Bang & Olufsen and Bose user, he has turned towards the highest of the high-end equipment in his desire to attain the perfection he had been chasing for so many years during his life.

And in my (this time, most humble) opinion, I daresay he's damn close to what almost any rational being on the face of the Earth would call an almost perfect home theater; and it's not about the whole installed power or the most intricate specs of the gear Mikel has been using, nor about the way he grew to fulfill his utmost dreams in what sound is concerned - this time everything is about dedication and following one's dream until actually grasping it and making it really happen. It's a very small story of believing in what one likes and about complete devotion.

Mikel's very words when speaking about his home theater and its bad sides (if any) have struck me into writing this article: „At this point it is quite amazing. I see my listening limitations as the system limitation." It is by far the most sincere confession of a man who knows what's going on inside the room he loves best in his home.

Von Schweikert "boxes" with true full range speakers which go from 15 to 35.000 Hz (yes!), DarTZeel amps sitting on GrandPrix Monaco stands with "Formula shelves and Apex footers" as Mikel specifically adds and Jena Labs power cords. I admit I have never heard of such things in my life, maybe because I am not a fan of high-end equipment (other than B&O and BW and very few more). Nevertheless, I just feel I have to "kneel" in front of what Mikel is displaying because things look really serious.

Separate 1000W amping for each subwoofer placed in the 6-way Von Schweikert loudspeakers pump out the signal coming from the also noble sources: Emmlabs CDSD and digital to analog converters for the 3500 CDs and 675 SACDs, a Rockport Sys III Sirius turntable ready to be equipped with state-of-the-art cartridges from Nordhost, Vand Den Hul and Dynavector for Mikels approximately 6000 vinyls. Is your breath somehow faster now that you've read this? :) Even Mikel's vinyl cleaning section is a piece of "high-end craziness" and he states that the same gear will come in for the CD-cleaning as he intends to go into burning some special discs soon. As for the visual part, Mikel stands proud as well: Marantz projector, Lexicon (Lex rocks!) processor with Proceed amps, Performa, Paradigm and Velodyne speakers and Pioneer, Sony and Comcast DVD/VCRs.

I really feel I should stop; the more I look at the pictures on my screen I realize that there are "bigger things out there" and that there is but a very faint end-limit to where high-end and professional audio can go. Enjoy the pictures!

Photos courtesy of Mike Lavigne.