Here's a challenge:a class A sound system for less

Bartkofan,More people need to put systems together like yours.This is the future of high end value.Kit speakers,direct purchases from manufacturers and use of cheap cables that still sound good.Well done!Why pay exhorbitant retail mark up and inflated pricing due to advertising costs when you dont have to.
And in this light did I mention Supratek!

JT

Jtgofish, most people here have money, and feel no need to look at a kit. In fact I'd guess 20% of the members here change out their speakers every 3 to 4 yrs.
Look at all the used speakers on the Gon.
I'm interested in the Tyler's and my have to drive to his showroom to see what his Seas' are all about.
I hope to give a report.
I trust no ones ears but my own.
But you're right a kit offers you best value, and you get to see how the Xover is designed, even if you don't know what all the components mean.
And you get to see exactly what the drivers look like, most speaker manufactures have the drivers locked in palce so that you can't remeove them and see how cheap they are.
Order 1 of Seas' Excel, midwoofers, the W18, just so you can see what this gem really looks like in your hand.
Then you can resell it on ebay for 25% less.
Also Tyler has some customers around the country who offer home demos of their Ty's, I emailed the one in jackson Miss, but received no answer, so not sure whats uo with that.
I would never ever buy a speaker unless I heard it on my amp first.
BIg expensive ads, and audio "reviews" are absoluetly nothing to me. Some offer no showrooms, or local dealers. Like the Theil. "oh they are the greatest...you don't need to listen before buying" And other such nonsense.
Only judge based on listening with my amp and my cdp.
I paln to visit Tyler in a yr or 2.
Will post some comments.

Yes I did buy the Thors w/o a demo listening. always exceptions to the rule, but I knew 99% these are the speakets I would be most happy with. And it paid off.
But don't go on what I say, do the test listening for yourself.
If anyone is near Baton Rouge, look me up, bring your amp
The only "complaint" i have with the Thors ,a s they are a MTM design, is the too much midrange, abit too forward, and lacks a tad of the deep bass.
Which is why I want to haer Ty's design with the W22 (8 inch, 3 way) and W26(10 inch) 3 way.
However woth a 3 way there may be less of the seamless image I get with the Thors.
Besides the Ty's with the W26 go for like $4500, and they weigh a ton. Mine weigh 80 lbs each.
I pd $2K includes ship.
I might be able to boost the lower hz's by a heftier amp, making it un-necessary for the big Tylers. Most classical does not demand deep bass, only for the cellos and timpini.

ph is
2252161232

Paul

Baton Rouge

Jaybo's quote: "most 50k systems don't sound much different than 10k systems."

That is an interesting assertion, but perhaps tells more about the person saying that then about audio.

What I mean is that- depending on what aspects of a music reproduction you care about - you may be able to build a 10k system that sounded as good as a typical 50k system to you. If your sonic priories are things like inner resolution, imaging, etc, then you can do this for not huge $$$

However, if you are like me and have different sonic priorities, Jaybo's statement is a complete untruth. For reproduced music to interest me it needs to be HUGE. Massive attack, dynamics, major soundstage, strong transients. This is what I like.

Try as you might, but you simply cannot have Wilson MAXX (used) + Atmasphere sound in a 10k system. Something like a VR4JR and a plinius amp would for sure have a very pleasing sound.... but it is not a well thought out 50k sound, and it never will be.

Visiting back to post a new system with some of the old:
Still have:,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, merlins $1500
New used amp:,, Conrad johnson premier 4 $300
new used preamp:,,,,, audio experience a2se $750
phono stage:,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, JLTI $1000
Turntable most parts used:,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,,, tnt $7500 including all those motors, outer rim, sds speed control, plc, lead shot, flywheels, extra platter as flywheel, bla bla bla, but hey it beats some pricier tt!
Total cost======================$11,050. Just a bit over $10,000. But really worth it! What really took it over the mountain was me getting into tube components, this is pretty close to the best I ever heard, and as for all the other rooms I heard they just don't compare!

Mr. P: I was totally charmed by your old/new/used system choices. As I visualized what you had put/kept together, the (very rare) thought came over me, "Gee, I'd be interested/curious what that bunch of stuff sounds like!" -- I consider that (probably) my highest complement ;-)

What was fun (for me) was that the combo included NOTHING I would have thought to select. I know all of it, but probably none of those pieces would have registered with me as I scanned the used equipment pages here on AgoN.

But starting with the Merlins, as I read down your list, I was going, "Hmmm that's an interesting choice! Hmmm . . . . " And all taken together, it makes a weird kind of sense. Very creative! So how does it sound? You din't say nuthin' 'bout cables ;--)