2. analog
  3. 131223-99020

My jazz collection told me to get a *real* system

So I’m determined to put together my first serious analog system, having subsisted on entry-level NAD TT, integrated and phono amp for over 10 years. My tastes are very eclectic, but I’ve put together a nice jazz collection and that’s what’s really crying out. I’m looking at a budget of about $8K over the next 12-18 months. Yeah, that’s the trick: This ain’t gonna happen over night. But I’m willing to be patient with imbalances in my system as long as I’m headed in the right direction. And I’d rather go the route of buying the gear I really want for the long term rather than stop gaps and labor intensive upgrade paths etc. My life just doesn’t have room for that.

N.B.: Looking to stay SS, likely integrated+phono preamp configuration. Really just talking about the table, cart, and amplification ... speakers and ICs are OK for now.

Questions:
1) How would you divvy up the dough?
2) In what order would you buy the components?
3) Top 3 recommendations within each component category?
4) Other crucial considerations?

Appreciate the wisdom!
jazztherapist
inna
7,923 posts
 
My advice would be to hold it until you are ready to upgrade your speakers and probably cables too. You want, I think, a competely new system at a totally different level. $8k is pretty good amount for a system including speakers if you buy mostly or exclusively used and are patient. I saw decent speakers here for about $1.5k-$2k used, Vienna is an example. I heard a few models, not my dream speakers but I could easily live with them for a long time. I strongly prefer floorstanding speakers that go down confidently to at least 35hz. Some like Harbeth and Spendor, I am ambivalent to them.
Pass is a good general recommendation, anyway. Nottingham and VPI are sure no-nonsense choices for turntables. Pass or Sutherland phonos are good.
jazztherapist's avatar
jazztherapist OP
21 posts
 
So let me ask this: Why not enjoy the benefits of incremental system upgrade rather than waiting? I mean, I'm sure flipping the switch on a whole new system would be really satisfying, but it's also pushing it down the road a couple of years rather than starting to piece something together now and hearing some improvements sooner. Just curious how folks weigh those different approaches ...
inna
7,923 posts
 
You might have to change electronics when you change speakers. Besides, speakers are half the system, at least. And you don’t appear to want gradual upgrades, you want to jump, and this is generally my approach too. But you won’t have to upgrade table/arm/cartridge with new speakers. As for the phono, there are some compatibility issues with preamps. So, if you insist on your approach, I suggest you get the source right first, with decent but not outstanding phono and integrated. Cables and power cords are important too, especially power cord on the integrated - integrated is two components or three if there is onboard phono stage.
But..Charles is right about tubes, of course. I don’t have tube electronics for now only because I am hard to please and that means serious expenses. I used to listen a lot of classical jazz.
jazztherapist's avatar
jazztherapist OP
21 posts
 
Besides, speakers are half the system, at least.
Interesting. I guess my impression has been that I need to stretch the most on the table and cart.
inna
7,923 posts
 
This doesn't mean that speakers should cost half the system, it depends. I have about $3k in current dollars speakers and $7k table/arm/cartridge/phono. I like my speakers and brought just about everything out of them, I guess. Next step would be big speakers upgrade, $5k used speakers, at least.
More to discover