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Need to downgrade any advice??

Hello everyone.

Well I am in the process of moving into my first place. Although it is good to move out of my folks place, I never realized how much money I would spend. The above, along with the space available at my current place, and my girlfriend nagging has lead me to the conclusion that I need to downgrade until my funds replenish.

Currently I own Green Mountain Audio Europas, a fully modded Bolder Squeezebox 2 with separate ac power unit, and a Onix sp3. One option is to sell my speakers and the sp3 and simply buy self powered 2.1 speakers. The second option is to sell everything and simply get a self powered 2.1 speaker and use airport and my mac.

Here my question. Based on what I have said what is the best option for me? I know I can get the most out of my squeezebox and I honestly haven't used it as much as I should have over the years. Yet I don't really want to get rid of it. Overall, I need a system that is more flexible, in terms of inputs, takes less space, and eliminates a lot of the cables. It also has to be user friendly considering my girlfriend is computer illiterate. Can I still get a good sounding system by downgrading and getting powered speakers?

Any recommendation on self-powered speakers and so forth are greatly welcomed.
daimbert
reubent
6,973 posts
 
I'm using the Quad 12L Active speakers and really couldn't be happier.

Enjoy,

TIC
elf73
104 posts
 
I'd keep the Onix and monitors. Sell the squeezebox and use the Mac/Airport express and buy a DAC when the time comes.

Self powered speakers are still going to cost you at least $300, and you wouldn't be happy.

The only experience with downgrading I did was when I decided to sell my tecnodec and keep my Rega Planar 2. $1600 vs $300. I should have gotten a second job.

Don't know if your current set-up is head and shoulders above powered speaker set-up. It probably is, and once you've heard something better, it's going to stick in your head every time you listen.
scpetscott
47 posts
 
keep your europas and get a good used amp to power them. my mac mini is connected to a pass labs clone from the headphone out jack and powering a pair of Spica TC-50s. I've also used cheap adcoms that work very well as well.
daimbert OP
56 posts
 
Well I have the onix sp3 tube amp which although sounds great does take more room than usual and has a bit more maintenance than other amps I have gotten. I want to get at least 1000 to 1500 from downgrading if possible. You think it's possible?
bdgregory
1,712 posts
 
I want to get at least 1000 to 1500 from downgrading if possible. You think it's possible?

I'm not sure of the used value of everthing you have, but if you sell - Europas - $500-600, SP3 - $500-$600, and buy something else, you can't get much and save $1000.

What am I missing?

I would probably keep the Europas and replace the SP3 with something else. Would a Trends Tripath or equivalent drive them? $100 would get one used.
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