Setting up an audio system

This is my 3rd view of this thread and I have been hesitant to respond not knowing if or how to do so. I am in no way the most astute contributor on this forum, and my system budget was, as I take to be, about 1/2 that of yours. However, I find myself very interested in your situation. And regardless of budget, the intent in development of a high end system is more to maximize value than expense.

I was in a similar situation as yourself 4 years ago. I had a system that I owned for over 25 years and desired to develop a new one post retirement. At that time I owned more LPs than CDs, being slow to convert to digital in the 80s and 90s. I came to recognize that times have changed and digital can be made to sound very good. Hence, in the construct of my new system, a process that took ~3 years, I decided to focus toward a digital front end. This resulted in the use of a disc player and a computer as transports into a DAC. I kept my turntable that I purchased in 1983, and bought a new phonostage and cartridge commensurate with what I thought to be its sonic value, to enable continued playing of my LPs. Since then I have expanded my music collection both in style and number greatly(CDs). My system is as it will remain, likely for some time, as I am not prone to upgraditis. I now spend most of my audio funds on music.

Given that you also seem inclined to 'stay put’ with a system once developed, and based on the cost of the speakers you are considering, I suggest the following:

Take your time. The system is more important than the stand alone components. With your budget a truly fine system can be yours.

Be sure that the B&Ws are indeed the speakers for you and the environment in which they will be used. There are many high quality speakers in and under their price range that surely would satisfy.

Research amplification that will match electrically and sonically with the speakers you decide on. To get any speaker to sound its best requires amplification commensurate to the sonic value of the speakers.

The character and quality of sound from a set of speakers is highly dependent on the quality and character of source components. If you decide to pursue vinyl you will likely want to upgrade your turntable/cartridge/phonostage. If digital becomes your primary direction, the 6005 player is a good player, however I would think it an underachiever as a stand alone player for a B&W 802 Diamond terminated system. It however would serve nicely as a transport for a DAC. An outborad DAC will allow further expansion in the future.

As you continue your research you will develop more specific questions. Continue to take advantage of the many experienced contributors on this forum via additional posts.

The trip can be a enjoyable as the destination. Good luck!

Thank you all for the input particularly Mesch. I found on this site a " used " McIntosh MA 7900 integrated amp for $5600 . I've contacted the seller and hope to make a deal although I have never bought anything "used" sight unseen and for me it's a leap of faith to do this .

I started with the speakers as I'd read such good things about B&W 802 D speakers . The stuff I read about these speakers is really what piqued my interest in setting up a system . I haven't ever heard them yet but plan on "auditioning " a pair at a dealer next week ".

I, like Mesch was hesitant to comment about your post too. However now I feel that I should. I am sure the seller of the MA7900 won't like this, but I would hold off buying anything, especially an amp, until you have auditioned and selected the speakers first. Key word being auditioned! Per your post above, you're interested in 802 D's but haven't even heard them yet! Yes, they are fine speakers but also not for everyone. There are many more out there, some that retail for far less, that many would argue sound better.

The point is no one can recommend a speaker to you, especially a review in a magazine. But it should be the first component selected and the system should be built around them. This can only be done by auditioning them and making a short list of sounds best to you. Not a bunch of strangers on the internet, or even paid reviewers in the mags. Once you have decided upon the speakers, then find an amp that matches their quality and will properly drive them. If you get the amp first, whats happens if its not the best match for the speakers you find later that you have fallen in love with? The amp, that you dropped a lot of cash on, suddenly limits you to what speakers you can have.

So my advice is to cool your jets a little, go out and start auditioning the speakers to make sure the 802 D's are truly the right ones for you. Then select the rest. And above all, have fun doing it!

Paraneer : thanks for the advice. I suspect your right I need to probably "cool my jets " a little . I may be a little too over enthused about setting up the system . I think also part of the fun in taking the journey is listening to different " pieces" of the system and picking and choosing based on what the parts sound like to me . Like anything I started with researching the subject as best I can reading other peoples opinions about equipment , deciding on what I think is reasonable to spend and based on that trying to put a system together on "paper " that I would expect to sound good and now as you've said I need to audition the players.

Two options: Take piles of time auditioning various things and make well thought out decisions regarding the compatibility of the components and how they will work with your music preferences, room size, refined esthetic sense, flannel shirt collection, and personal hygiene schedule...or buy decent stuff and start having fun. By the way, regardless of which option you choose, if you become trapped in the life if the Audiophiliac you're gonna change all of it anyway.