2. amps-preamps
  3. 184609-86238

$50k - $80k Budget…Opinions please.

Long story short, I sold my beloved 2-channel to reduce family debt. In about a year-ish, I’ll be in a position to rebuild with a hefty budget. I loved my Harbeth + Pass Labs combo. My REL sub died before I really got to integrate it, so opinions wanted there as well. I fully understand the diminishing margin of returns when moving into some arenas, but that’s ok, opinions are strongly encouraged.

I listen to a lot of Miles Davis/Coltrane, Radiohead, Tool, Pearl Jam, Brent Cobb. I’ve often preferred “organic” or neutral, not sure how technical that is.

toddcowles

Showing 2 responses by elliottbnewcombjr

elliottbnewcombjr
5,139 posts
 

think preferences thru before reviewing specific equipment:

1. tubes or SS: TUBES,

both preamp and amp, or integrated. 

2.  speakers: EFFICIENT, to keep power need down, heat down, size down, increase flexibility of placement, remember line of sight of any remote beam.

3. type of drivers:

Horns and Big Woofer, no ports;

no horns, lots/enough bass, no ports;

no horns, no ports, stereo pair of subs.

f. Features: many or purist. i.e. Stereo/Mono; Remote Balance; fletcher munson 'loudness' eq for very low listening; some defeatable tone controls; tape loop; dual output

g. Vintage or New or mix.

h. Phono, a big category, keep options and future options, and flexible gain/flexible impedance in mind. SS or Tubes? TUBES

i. Turntable: DD or belt or idler? Plinth size to fit Long Arm

j. Tonearms: Single, Two, Three {MC, MM, Mono ready to go back and forth in any listening session

elliottbnewcombjr
5,139 posts
 

Heart of the System:

Vintage Tube Tuner Preamp McIntosh mx-110z.

No matter what budget, what system, if mine was stolen, I would order a  replacement immediately, send it to Audio Classics, have them get it back to specs (not upgrade), and have them replace all the old rca jacks with new gold plated ones like they did to mine. I'm a fan of original lighting, not new LED.

McIntosh Mode Switch gives versatility, Mono Mode, other functions I particularly need it for balancing my speakers that have L=Pads for mid horn and tweeter horn. 

here's one, all the text is in good shape front and rear. 

https://www.ebay.com/itm/125375766529?mkevt=1&mkcid=1&mkrid=711-53200-19255-0&campid=5338381866&toolid=10001&customid=2469a996-fa93-11ed-b93c-313461313663

Wait for a great unit, no need to settle in your budget.

I would have seller pull it out of the case to see condition of parts and deck, to confirm not kept in damp location.

This is what convinced me to try it:

https://positive-feedback.com/Issue77/vintage_mcintosh_experience.htm

Most people have never heard a wonderful FM tuner. This one needs a strong signal, I have a dedicated antenna in the attic right above it, aimed at WBGO Jazz station. Everything they say about it is true, Richard Modaffari said there is NOTHING he could do to improve it.

https://www.audioclassics.com/mods

MM Phone stage (2) sounds great, I use a SUT for MC into it. Tape LOOP, ....

I solved remote control volume with a more modern integrated amp.

 

More to discover