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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!
128x128jazztherapist
inna
7,296 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
7,296 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.
salectric
751 posts
 
As a fellow jazz fan, I second Charles' recommendation about tube gear.  In my opinion, tubes, vinyl and jazz just go together like a magic potion.  They bring out the best in each other.  That said the right solid state gear can make some special music too.  My recommendation is to find a friendly dealer who can steer you in the direction of a satisfying long term setup.  I would concentrate first on the vinyl playback setup since the source quality is so important.  The amplifier and speaker choices are interrelated so I would make those decisions at the same time even if you have to delay the actual purchase of replacement speakers to a later date.
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Jazztherapist,
Inna offers some good suggestions. The speakers are important "but" so is every other part of the audio signal chain, thus the weakest link (in the chain) analogy applies. In my opinion the Epos M5 are not the weak link in your system. I’d put available resources toward better turntable, Phono stage and integrated amplifier.

In you stated budget range you can research and find a high quality solid state integrated (especially if you buy used). Stereophile found the Epos M5 to have a good balance of detail and an organic character (that’s good). J.A. said measurements were impressive for such a modest priced speaker, surely a compliment.

So based on your financial realities and long term plans I’d keep the Epos (for now) and focus on improving your analog source and amplifier quality. The Epos seems good enough to be able to reflect and exploit upstream upgrades.
Charles
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