Try checking out a pair of active speakers like these JBL’s. It is a preamp, power amp, speaker with Dirac room correction. There are many other brands to choose from (Dynaudio, KEF, SVS. Klipsch, etc):
Recommended Integrated and Bookshelf Combo for Secondary System
My primary system has a large tube preamp and large tube amp, and I am looking to incorporate a small solid state system (integrated + bookshelf) into the same large cabinet for leave-on-all-the-time casual listening. I have a simple digitial front end that will serve both systems (All digital, will use the same Roon core, balanced outputs from DAC running to the main system, and the single ended outputs available for the secondary system). My overriding goal is sound quality, with an emphasis on musical, "wet" presentation of finer sounds like female vocals (not worried about ultra resolution, bass punch etc.)
There are SO MANY nice used integrateds on the market and SO MANY nice used bookshelf speakers on the market!!! This is a green fields project, and my only requirements/parameters are that the bookshelf speakers are on the smallish (12" high) side (this rule could bend, if I get stands) and that the integrated is solid state (can be rather low powered). I guess I am open to new fangled ideas like wireless powered speakers (educate me if that is the right path!), but I have a bias to get a traditional integrated and passive speakers (and use my own extra cables!). I'd love to wrap this up under $2500 but let's call budget $5k for kicks. So....
Are their known magical PAIRINGS of integrateds and small bookshelves?
If not, I assume speakers come first, so what would be your top choices?
And then sweet matched integrated - I am assuming I would get best value in an older, higher-end model, but I don't know to what extent claimed advances in technology are real. Thanks!
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