$35K to spend, how will you build a system?

Buy used or demo to make your dollar stretch farther. I would start with speakers. I would spend 10-15K on speakers. 

I assume spending $35k without further upgrades except cartridge and tubes for the next, say, ten years. That's tough and may not be enough even if you get almost everything used.
Roughly, $10k for the new table/arm/cartridge, $10k for the used speakers and $15k for the used electronics and cables. But when buying used one may get pleasant and unpleasant surprises in terms of prices, so those $25k might be spread somewhat differently.
Also, when setting the budget I always think that it might go 20%-25% up, and that could make a major difference. I would not save $2000 on tubes or $1000 on cartridge at this level. In your example I would probably be working within $30k-$40k range.

I agree with ricred1 too ... always start with the speakers that are appropriate to the room size and fit your music taste.  

Then find the matching power amp.   The rest gets easier after that.

Cables would be 2nd to last.  

Room treatment / racks / isolation tweaks et al are more like icing on the cakes, and thus I tend to leave them the last.

Roughly $30k for records and other media and $5k for the rest of stuff.

ricred1 > …buy used. I would spend 10-15K on speakers.

Blindjim > pre-owned is a virtual certainty. Though not entirely. Sounds right on the spkr apportionment. Thanks much.


Inna > ….may not be enough even if you get almost everything used.
….when buying used one may get pleasant and unpleasant surprises in terms of prices
…. when setting the budget I always think that it might go 20%-25% up, and that could make a major difference.

Blindjim > TTs are off the table, so to speak, in my particular scenario. Ie., phono pre, carts, etc.
I feel the budget is not sufficient either despite the fact no vinyl is going to be a source. The prospect now of a RTR could well be however. I’ve not researched Reel To Reel tape in decades, though I did buy one in Italy way back when. TEAC middle of the line. RTR would be an afterthought and well down the road.
Thank you.


Bsimpson > always start with the speakers that are appropriate to the room size and fit your music taste.

Blindjim > thanks so very much. Agreed. Mostly. Hmm.

Here is where I always will disagree with the spkrs first theme. Principally, the decision on how to power the system comes first. Not the spkrs you like or even want. SET amps of 12wpc or so, even those with 100wpc or less, won’t get anyone too far with demanding spkrs. No matter how well they do with some other sorts of amps.
Consequently, it’s the tuype of power and its power output first, than speaker congruent or germaine to which ever power amp type is chosen , IF you want to really optimize the spkrs performance.
Then its their overall presentation using the chosen power plant..

Thereafter, if the spkrs do indeed fit the room, that’s another factor.

Everything can be in place but the fit to room usually makes or breaks the deal, unless one is not thinking with their head but with their heart.
Same thing goes for great sounding spkrs being driven by lesser powered amp of varying tuypes.

Few people would want a four cylinder motor in a brand new ‘Vette.

Beyond that, their sound is going to migrate with any changes upstream, if indeed they are transparent enough. Change to an upscale source and the sound changes. Change the amp or amp type, again, the sound and presentation from the spkrs also changes. Same for racks, cabling, PL conds, room treats, etc. “IF’ the spkrs are revealing enough.

With respect to the power supplying them, My tact on which spkrs I’d buy is simple, they need to be as transparent as possible, present excellent imaging, produce a legitimate or believeable stage, be well heeled with the bandwidth, and not look like someone put them together after they took a couple tabs of orange Sunshine.

To save on the spkr expense, adding subs is my usual path. Despite that thought, sometimes, and quite often subs are a must.


Czarivey > Roughly $30k for records and other media and $5k for the rest of stuff.

Blindjim > Excellent!!! Better yet, Jabbar BT Head phones, an Ipad, and subscriptions to several music streams. Total cost: $500 or less + music subs. $2K if you go with half and half on USB DAC and better HPs. Thanks. lol

I feel the conundrum for myself, is deciding which way to go with the power train. Tubes or not tubes. I enjoy both, but tubes have the lead. 60/40 or 55/45. And if a SS type amp or amps are the ticket, a tube preamp will more than likely be in the chain as I’ve not yet heard a fully non tube power line that really floored me… though one or two came pretty close. Regardless, $35K would not get me either of those systems.

Personal issues force the use of self biasing amps as well, so that furthers the mystery.

This theme ought to be interesting to see how others would approach things going forward.