Modest/Simple System Building Help Wanted...


Hello!

I am looking for some advice on building a modest, simple system. Preferable using a good integrated amp with a digital front end...preferably a universal player for the occasional movie viewing. I listen to a wide variety of music from rock to blues, classical, jazz and acoustic. I lean toward a warmer presentation and find the Thiel sound fatiguing to my ear. In the end I am budgeting (all from AudiogoN of course!) ~ $800-1200 for the amp, ~ $500-800 for the front end & ~ $1000-$1500 for speakers. Cabling can get crazy in a hurry but of course a necessary part of the system. I can see spending ~ $1000 for a pair of good speaker cables and interconnects. That puts the budget in the $3500 - $4500 range. To my way of thinking this should be enough to put together a musically satisfying system without getting a second mortgage.

Thanks for your time and interest...Steve
ssettle
as far as cables go, I just bought a set of nordost blue heaven ic's from a fellow a'goner for $100.00 and they really opened up the sound of my system.
My recommendation for a $4500 killer system:

Wadia 830 $1600
Wright Sound 2A3 Mono Blocks $900
High efficiency single driver speakers ~1,000
Auralex diffusors $700
Bass Traps DIY $200
Cables DIY $100

Yes the Wadia is a bit pricey, but a bargin high-end CDP.

Google Chris VenHaus for DIY cable recipes. I especially like the CAT5 speaker cables.

The diffusors could also be DIY. See the Decware web site for plans and excellent white papers on acoustic treatments.

Enjoy the audio journey.
I second the Naim/Denon suggestion. For Speakers check out the Epos M16i, Quad 21L2 or 22L2.