2. amps-preamps
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Starting from scratch and say $5000

my original post (written, edited, then lost to the cloud) was: "Will I regret selling my McIntosh gear"  I will let it remain in the netherworld and rephrase as above. Truth is I bought an MC2155, C33, and XRT 18 speakers about 15 years ago but because of moves and family stuff, never got a chance to deploy them until this last fall when we became an empty nesters (not the speakers; bad surrounds). Lugging the heavy McIntosh amp told me I needed to sell it because I expect to be moving again soon and it is just too much of a beast that I'm also afraid to damage. But now that it is playing I am enjoying it, even driving mediocre 90s Acoustic Research AR208 speakers I had previously dismissed until hearing them with the MC power. Anyway. contemplating a completely new system to be financed with the sale of the Mc gear and even though I know this is an absolutely unanswerable newbie question, I need the therapy of talking about it to get any sort of orientation in the hundreds of brands and technologies of today. So here goes: I would like to put together a pre+amp+speakers somewhere around $7000 and have no idea where to start.

thanks in advance and apologies for such a vague question. details can follow

ps I like the sound signature of the mc but don't really know anything better; curious about class D. used is fine but not so much vintage unless it is still a value/performance contender. I like diy and projects but hitting 60 next year and starting to value my time in early (unplanned) retirement 

kidcreole123
kennyc
1,554 posts
 

Demoing speakers yourself is best. I’ve demoed many speakers before purchasing recently.

That being said, generally safe choices (based on common very popular reviews):

  • +1 Hegel - both the H360 and H390 get great reviews, and the (optional?) DAC is very good also. Buy used to save $
  • +1 Mofi SourcePoint 10 was designed by Andrew Jones, a well-respected veteran loudspeaker engineer with highly regarded models from KEF, Infinity, Pioneer, TAD, and ELAC in his resumé. This bigger budget plus a blank slate gave AJ the opportunity to better use his creative talent so iirc 3 years he came up with this speaker. Fantastic reviews, excellent sound and imaging, satisfying bass. I don’t need but I’ll probably purchase a pair someday.
  • GoldenEar Triton speakers - many positive reviews, images well (3D), narrow/slim profile
  • Monitor Audio - Silver, Gold - many positive reviews
  • Tekton - sonic bargain, but large - not a good downsize choice
  • Audio Alchemy and later Elac Alchemy - are very good high value pre+amp designed by seasoned Peter Madnick. The DAC is very good also. Check out used.

If streaming, you'll need to account/budget for a streamer.   Also, upgrade the stock cabling.

kennyc
1,554 posts
 

also add:

  • Odyssey Audio Khartago amplifiers - cutting edge top of the foodchain Magico speaker designer Alon Wolf occasionally uses it. An extremely rare sonic bargain
kennyc
1,554 posts
 

The “MoFi Source Point 10 speakers + HiFi Rose RS520 integrated amp/streamer/DAC” combo got a fantastic review in the TAS May/June 2023 issue as one of the top 5 systems at AXPONA 2023. 

paulcreed
564 posts
 

There’s a lot of good gear out there.  Conrad Johnson cav 45s2 used $2500, Fritz with BE tweeter if you can find a good deal used. Or the Carbon 7. Throw in a r2r dac. All would make nice relaxing music. Probably easy to sell if you need to move on. 

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