If you had 6K to build a system with used gear?


Hi there I was curious to see what people would put together for around 5K give or take $500

I put together a second system based around tubes and was curious to see some other Ideas from folks.

Mccormack RLD-1 CD (My buddys player but I'm putting it here)
VTL Ultimate Preamp
VTL ST-150 Amp
Velodyne SMS-1 Equalizer
Adcom GFA-5500 Amp (For the Subwoofers)
Custom Speakers that are overbuilt with focal woofers, accuton tweeters in a MTM and over $1200 in crossovers, with matching 12" Compund subwoofers in 4 Cu. Ft. or so 1" MDF Boxes that were lovingly and masterfully built. (Score of a lifetime!)

Equitech son of Q, old MIT Cables

Its always cool to see what people can do on a budget and I feel past 6 grand diminishing returns come quick
128x128systembuilder
Jeff Rowland Concentra-2 $3k-$3.5k without phono
Primare CD-31 $1K
Revel-Performa F30-F32 $1.5-$2K

If you want to allocate more $$$ on cables a Primare I31 could be implemented. This system will gave you dynamics-neutrality and bass below 40hz.
McCormack DNA 225, Promethius Ref 4 TVC, Magnepan 1.6QR, and a ModWright modified Oppo 95. If you could go 6K, you could probably get a new ModWright Oppo 95. This may look like a head scratcher to anyone who hasn't heard Dan Wright's stuff. Anyone who has will understand.
Hi, I also have an Ultimate. An amazingly versatile unit. Any manuals or upgrade suggestions? Thank you.
Anyone should be able to do this with relative ease.

Merlin VSM, Audio Physic Virgo II, Quad ESL57, or Fried Studio V loudspeakers - it depends on your tastes and what's available at that time.

Deja Vu, Jadis, Dynaco, Audio Note, Rogue, or Quicksilver amplification. Getting an integrated will definitely save you some cash.

Audio Note DAC with a cheap (maybe a $99 Samsung or something like that) universal transport, Sony SACD player, or a Music Hall or Rega CDP. I much prefer the DAC route, as it insulates one from the achilles heel of audio - CD player transports.

For myriad reasons, I'd advise staying away from Chinese kit to the greatest degree possible. No need to spend for power conditioning, as it often robs the system of muscle and/or emotion. And, don't go crazy on cables; get copper stuff that will complement what you have and where your tastes lie.
Digital only, right? Everything used.
Devore Super Gibbon 8 speakers
Rowland Coherence I preamp
Rowland Model 5 power amp
CEC belt drive cd-player
Purist Audio cables and power cords
Audio Research CD3 MKII
Manley Stingray (original)
ProAc Response 1SC
REL Storm III
Chord speaker cables
Chord interconnects
I'd start with a Naim Uniti, as it has everything in one box (CD, DAC, streamer, FM and Internet tuner) and sounds great, and not just great for a 'receiver.'

Depending on room size, tastes, and second hand prices - Totem Arro or Sttaf, Vandersteen 1 or 2.
1st Gen 160Gb Apple TV as music server $ 150.00 +/-
Bench Mark DAC/Pre $ 750.00 +/-
Parasound HCA2200II $1000.00 +/-
Magnepan 1.6 $1200.00 +/-

Plenty left over for;

Cables
Cords Power Cond
Room Treatment
Aerial 5 speakers
Pathos Classic One MkIII integrated
Eastern Electric Minimax DAC modded
Imac source.
Good cables all around