New system advice?

Well, this is a tough call, because you have to split the $4k between a phono rig and an amp. They are both important, and you have some good quality other stuff to match up to.

If I had to make this call myself, and had 4 ohm 92db speakers, I'd look at a good used 300B tube amp. Like a Sun Audio, or Welborne Laurel for around $1200 used(tough, but can be done).

Then I'd spend $2800 on the Analog rig. A Teres model 245 in rosewood for $2k new, an Origin Live OL-1 arm for $450 new, Expressimo Heavyweight counterweight for $90 new, and Denon DL103R for $230 new.

The Supratek Syrah has a phono stage capable of handling the DL103R just fine. I have already gotten feedback from people who have used this combination succesfully.

Then go to the Triode Guild website, and follow the recipe for home brewed cables for SETs, that Harvey had cooked up before he died. That's what I use. Cheap and Good.

This will yield you an extremely good, all-tube system, with a killer analog front end. You will not be prepared for how good this will sound. It will shock you.

i have lived with the tyler linbrooks since august and have been very happy with my purchase. they are not going anywhere...

i drove them with a rogue 88 amp, non-magnum, for months and was quite pleased

however i recently purchased a cary v12, sold the rogue and couldn't be happier when i sit down to listen to some music.
this combo is very smooth and liquid without being syrupy or overly soft/rolled in the least. i have found that i can sit and listen for as long as i want, there is never any build up of fatigue of any kind, and the musical involvement i experience increased by several orders of magnitude with the introduction of the cary v12. if it means anything to you, i feel as though i'm listening to the music instead of the gear when i sit down with my tyler/cary/rogue/metronome system. and this is only my third iteration. i'm sure things will change for me and become permuted, etc but right now i'm very satisfied.

i cannot complain about the rogue 88 in anyway whatsoever so please don't read this as an indictment of rogue gear. the rogue was very good in the bass department, the mids were great, build quality was solid, etc selling the rogue was simply the only way i could afford the v12. if i had my way, i would still be the owner of that rogue 88.

if you have a good line on the cary v12 or a chance to audition a v12 once the linbrooks arrive, pursue this with great urgency, i think you will be pleasantly surprised and satisfied long-term.

btw, there are many amps out there that will drive the linbrooks quite well, i'm sure, but i have not had direct or sustained experience with any but 2 of the 3 you mentioned (that in itself is sort of weird)
hope this helps

Do not forget to factor in some money for decent cables and good support for the TT. I am not trying to suggest any particular brand (I have my favourites, fo course).

Neither do I want to suggest what percentage of the total should go towards cables and stands; there are no firm rules although some people will tell you that you should spend ten percent on cables.

It takes a bit experimenting because the number of combinations are endless. I am sure that there are people here on 'gon who have experience with what works well with SETs.

Thanks to all for the insight.
BTW the "Bigbottle" moniker originated with
my passion for large format bottles of wine,
but it seems to be a good fit here as well.
Any thoughts on the CAT vs Syrah pre?
If I do decide on the Syrah, I will probably
want to try something else in the interim until the
Supratek arrives.(Couldn't wait 6 months to listen) Any suggestions on a decent pre with phono, that resells well?
Rogue 66 maybe?

TWL, on the TT, would I be better off to buy used?
(More bang for the buck?) or is that a risky proposition, given the sensitivity of the equipment?

Thanks to all for the feedback thus far.

Hey Bigbottle,

I was in the same predicament, waiting four months for Mick to finish my Syrah. I spent $650 for an Audible Illusions Mod 3, and wound up selling it for just over $600 once I got the Syrah. In effect, I "rented" the Audible Illusions pre for several months for less than fifty bucks. The Mod 3 is a terrific preamp and will make a great stopgap for you until your Supratek is ready. You might also look at a Rogue 66, which can be had for about the same $$$ and is highly regarded. Both should hold their resale value.

I really was surprised by how good the Audible Illusions was. Good phono stage, too.