Recommendations for Amp/speaker combo for $10,000

Tjm1964...do you insist on preamp and amp separates or will you also entertain integrated amp? Also, are you talking about only new or would you consider used as well (obviously you can get more performance for your $10K if you are willing to buy used)?

Cmalak- preference would be mono amps and a preamp. However, if you think at this price point I'd get more bang for the buck with an integrated, I'd entertain it. I would consider used although I have never purchased used before.

I'm pretty sure that you won't take this recommendation seriously but here it is. Ayre V5, Ayre K5 and Vandersteen Model 2's.

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/full-range-wilson-audio-sophia-i-fly-yellow-2012-12-16-speakers-77429

http://app.audiogon.com/listings/tube-einstein-absolute-tune-hybrid-integrated-2012-12-17-integrateds-20880

I dunno, I think I would first identify speakers that sounded the best in my room. Then I would probably begin my search for an amp/premp combo that worked correctly with my speakers and the room in which they are placed.

After all, *everyone* here knows that the room/speaker interface is, BY FAR, the most critical metric used to obtain the best sound quality from any sound system. This is closely followed by using the very best source material available for the music I like to listen to.

After you get those parts of the system identified, you can then begin the search for the cables and such needed to eke out the last little bit of sound quality that you seek....

-RW-