@blindjim
I took a few minutes to ready your answers to others questions above. I feel like I'm sorta in the same boat. I'd like to put together a new system as the one I'm using now is ten years old. Nothing wrong with it, but wouldn't mind a change either.
I've been to the Show at Newport four years or so, the recent LAAS show, and many get-togethers at various dealers here in SoCal. I've heard systems from less than $10k total to well over a half a million large. And, in my price range, if I allow myself to dream and spend some of my savings, were several systems that just keep popping up as very good. Here they are:
Mbl - The Corona line. for $32k you can get an integrated, CD/DAC, and a pair of Mbl 126 speakers. I've heard a great number of Mbl electronics/speakers over the last four years and I can't get enough. I always sit in their room much much longer than any other room. And for some perspective, I've heard the Xtreme speakers, the 101E MkIIs, and others on down to their lower end. When I heard the Corona line I had just been listening to the 101E MkIIs with Noble Line electronics and a server for front end for some time. I was amazed at how close the bottom of the line Corona Line system sounded - very close to the 101E MkIIs with much more expensive electronics. Mbl has had a huge affect on me and they have, for me anyway, voiced all their gear to work seamlessly together. Few audio companies make a full line of gear but Mbl is amazing. But there is another system I've really liked..........
ARC LS28/VT80 RefCD9 source with Wilson Audio Sabrina speakers. Yes, I do understand that they are two different sounds, the Mbl and the ARC/Wilson sound. But they both make such nice music. I've also heard the Sabrina with the ARC GSi75 integrated and found that experience very nice as well. Same dealer, different day so no comment on which was best. They were both glorious.
After hearing a lot of gear, I keep coming back to these two systems. I've heard other systems that were very nice, but none that bring me the emotion that these two do.
Finally, and I guess to my point, when you can hear a system set up in total and purchase it that way, you know what you are gonna get. It may not sound exactly the same at home as it did at the dealer, but you do have a good idea that the synergy you are hearing can be brought home. And that is what so many are looking for, synergy among electronics and speakers. I found it in spades with the systems noted above.
Have fun!!
I took a few minutes to ready your answers to others questions above. I feel like I'm sorta in the same boat. I'd like to put together a new system as the one I'm using now is ten years old. Nothing wrong with it, but wouldn't mind a change either.
I've been to the Show at Newport four years or so, the recent LAAS show, and many get-togethers at various dealers here in SoCal. I've heard systems from less than $10k total to well over a half a million large. And, in my price range, if I allow myself to dream and spend some of my savings, were several systems that just keep popping up as very good. Here they are:
Mbl - The Corona line. for $32k you can get an integrated, CD/DAC, and a pair of Mbl 126 speakers. I've heard a great number of Mbl electronics/speakers over the last four years and I can't get enough. I always sit in their room much much longer than any other room. And for some perspective, I've heard the Xtreme speakers, the 101E MkIIs, and others on down to their lower end. When I heard the Corona line I had just been listening to the 101E MkIIs with Noble Line electronics and a server for front end for some time. I was amazed at how close the bottom of the line Corona Line system sounded - very close to the 101E MkIIs with much more expensive electronics. Mbl has had a huge affect on me and they have, for me anyway, voiced all their gear to work seamlessly together. Few audio companies make a full line of gear but Mbl is amazing. But there is another system I've really liked..........
ARC LS28/VT80 RefCD9 source with Wilson Audio Sabrina speakers. Yes, I do understand that they are two different sounds, the Mbl and the ARC/Wilson sound. But they both make such nice music. I've also heard the Sabrina with the ARC GSi75 integrated and found that experience very nice as well. Same dealer, different day so no comment on which was best. They were both glorious.
After hearing a lot of gear, I keep coming back to these two systems. I've heard other systems that were very nice, but none that bring me the emotion that these two do.
Finally, and I guess to my point, when you can hear a system set up in total and purchase it that way, you know what you are gonna get. It may not sound exactly the same at home as it did at the dealer, but you do have a good idea that the synergy you are hearing can be brought home. And that is what so many are looking for, synergy among electronics and speakers. I found it in spades with the systems noted above.
Have fun!!
