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

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 ;--)

How about this...

Ayre AX-7e (Used) - $2050.00
Ayre CX-7e (Used) - $2050.00
Ayre P-5xe (Used) - $1700.00
Green Mountain Audio Callistos (Used) - $1600.00
Purist Audio Design Musaeus XLR (x2) (Used) - $600.00
Purist Audio Design Musaeus Speaker (Used) - $300.00
Martin Logan Dynamo (x2) (Used) - $1000.00
Technics SL-1200 mk II (Used) - $400
Audio-Technica AT-150MLX cartridge (New) - $300

Total - $10,000.00

Give me digital room correction below 100hz and any good monitor (Maggie, Ohm, Merlin TSM, etc., etc.) over the mega-bucks loudspeaker of your choice. With a pair of good subwoofers, you're looking at $2.5K to $5K for your full range loudspeaker system. In many rooms - certainly including my current one - bass response will be just as deep, just as clean, and much, much smoother at a fraction of the cost. Choose your monitor carefully, and the differences over the rest of the frequency spectrum (with the exception of max SPL if you need to go there) -IMHO- will be dwarfed by the improvement in the bass.

Just MHO.

Marty

For sheer musical enjoyment, and forsaking the "last octave" pursuit, this is the system I'd put together:

All used equipment:
Jean Marie Reynaud Offrandes - ~$2,500
Jean Marie Reynaud Magic Stands - $250
Audiomat Opera integrated - $3,000
K & K Audio Phono Stage SE - $1,500
Townshend Rock Reference turntable w/ Excalibur tonearm - $3,500
GARROTT P77i with MicroScanner II stylus( the classic is back! ) - $500

Ok, Ok, I went over by $1,500 and didn't even get cables. Tough call where to shave money, I guess it would have to be on the Townshend. But, damn that really is a reference level component.

I'm gonna have to put some more thought into this to make the $10k limit.