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New speakers and guidance

I am retiring soon and I am going to reward myself by upgrading some of my equipment.  For a budget, I am looking to keep total cash outlays in the net $20k range meaning that I can go beyond $20k with any subsequent funds resulting from the sale of my existing equipment.   My current equipment is listed below for reference. 

I was at AXPONA last year and I listened to the Daedalus Apollos and Apollo 11s.  I absolutely loved the sound of them.  Compared to my existing system, they felt more dynamic and open which are two things that I am looking to improve upon.  They still retained a strong sense of presence and warmth that I enjoy with my current system.

My question is in regards to how best use said funds.  A couple of options come to mind:


  1. Purchase a new set of Apollos and upgrade phono pre to something like Herron or Coincident.

  2. Buy a used set of Daedalus Ulysses/Argos/Athenas and upgrade line stage, amp, phono pre and turntable. 


I appreciate the combined wisdom and advice from this wonderful forum!

 

Room:                18x21x10

Speakers:          Sonus Faber Cremona Auditors

Amp:                  McIntosh 275 mk IV

Line stage:          ARC LS5 mk II

Phone Pre:        ARC PH5 with GNSC mods

Turntable:          VPI Classic

Cartridge:          Dynavector XX2 mk 2    Enter your text ...
annika
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Well I would be leery of buying based on a show demo. There’s a lot more to the sound you hear than the speakers. But I assume you know all that and love them anyway. So the one bit I would add, having come from an ARC PH3SE, the Herron is a huge, monster, step up. Which I’m sure the ARC PH5 with mods is not a PH3SE, but the Herron is so far into another league while the ARC, let’s face it the 5 is just a better 3. While the Herron is a whole different thing altogether. Dynamic and open? In spades. Not to mention a high value for dollar component. Super reliable too.


annika OP
26 posts
 
@miller
thanks for the thoughts.  I understand being leery of show impressions as conditions are less than ideal to say the least.  Would love to demo the Apollos  in my room but likely not going to happen. Daedalus do not seem to come up used often, and if I did buy used and they did not work well in my room, I could resell them. Less risk than buying new.... but not likely to find Apollos used vs. other models. 

I tend to agree with your thoughts on upgrading the phono pre as I would like to do that for either option 1 or 2. 
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
If you do I think you will be shocked. I was. The ARC was compared with a LOT of phono stages back when I bought it, and I mean home auditions. Never in my life would I have believed it was as colored, closed in, and veiled as the Herron revealed it to be. I mean it was huge. My wife heard it even through a closed door. You can find my review around here somewhere. 

I got a whole slew of things you can do that will unbelievably upgrade your system and will be great to do in retirement because they involve a lot of time consuming hands on. But I'm kind of close myself and can appreciate wanting to just buy something to celebrate and sort of commemorate, and a fine set of speakers sure fits the bill.  

My advice with the speakers would be get whichever ones sound the best. I know that sounds cliche but a lot of people would look at the cost/value of new vs used. When the real value isn't the money its your time. You worked hard all your life. Spend the rest of it enjoying the sound you love. That might sound trite but I trust you will get it.


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