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

@inna > thanks.

Get out of my head man! lol

You’re beginning to scare me some. You are pretty close on what I’ll seek in the end. Your input is immensely appreaciated don’t think it isn’t.

The Epsilon Alias’s I feel are gonna be out of reach and yep, I saw the ones listed lately as well. I just can’t justify that much money. Yet. It would mean less investment in other areas unquestionably. Likely ‘speakers’.

Just ‘cause I might be able to wade that deep into the pool doesn’t mean I should.

These last speaker choices are, at least one of, are what I’ve been looking into lately. Kharma and Verity seem quality speakers. I’m also interested in the Devore X and or something that resides in the 92 – 95db area so < 100wpc tube amps can be used. That’s the best choice IMO. However, a great tube pre that can outrun my thor line stage and a pair of nice SS monos also are a combo I’d live with happily, given a decent enough pr of speakers synergistic to them were had. I’m not opposed to adding subs either, although I’d like to avoid it.

As for KEF and VA, I ljust like their looks. Never heard either one.

Never heard of the other two speaker options you pointed out.

FYI… I did not care much for the BAT VK 60 I had briefly. I did love the Thor EL34 30wpc monos and later the Dodd 120s also EL34 but up to 60wpc in PP.

I also loved the BAT VK500 w/BAT PK plus Thor line stage and wish I still had it and the Dodds. Running separately, not vertically. Funny how life is at times. Then it was sell these if you want something else. And I did. Or thought I did. It helped a lot having the 93db Silverlines too.

My aim in any event is to ultimately garner as much ‘they are here’ as is possible with the sonic presentation… often settling for ‘you are there’ scenarios. I found in my limited exp tubes is the answer for the former more often than SS, although as with EL34s as you said of VAC, the lower end simply is not well addressed requiring sub (s) or higher eff speakers… and maybe subs then too if limited tube power is the amp in use..

There’s no way I can get into VACs statement series. The Sig II line stage ($28K MSRP) would be the absolute limit then I’d be looking for SS power. It bugs me too the cost of the Sig Ii is where its at and not having heard it at all. There may be a shot at an audition in the area later on though.

I will go on rep only so far. After that, I’ve just gotta get some ears on things before I could justify pulling out that level of 5 digit money. I’d have to.

The Gryphon Diablo INT sure seems a fair bet as a default for one size fits all without breaking the bank. Which actually means its scaring me too much.

Do you know if the Diablo has the ability to run each amp separately? Use it with a different preamp, or use its preamp with different amps? I’ve not been able to clearly determine that aspect.

One thing for sure, this is the most interesting hunting and gathering trek for me yet. Especially given the duckets I could be dropping into it. Time will tell. Hopefully this ain’t an effort in ‘time well wasted’. I want a new house for all this crap to go into as well. So there’s that.

One thing for sure is I am not a card carrying certifiable high res detail oriented freak. Organic and natural is always the target for me.

I will !
I am not sure about Diablo, take a look at Gryphon website or you can just ask the US distributor - On A Higher Note.
But if you consider $28k retail line stage you could probably go significantly higher than with any integrated, though it would be 2-3 times the cost? If you do you should definitely also consider Lamm tube preamp and hybrid power amps. A word of caution - some or all, I am not sure, I just heard it, Lamm preamps need to be permanently powered on for the best sound. If not they need to be on for a few days before they reach this level. You can ask Vladimir of Lamm. Better Kharma/Lamm/Purist cables is a well known great system, but this doesn't mean your preferred system, and the bloody thing would really be expensive. There is a pair of Kharma for $33k here. But..in your place and with this budget going up and up, I would not buy absolutely anything before seriously auditioning Ypsilon electronics.

Gryphon or Ypsilon/Kharma match? I have no idea but somebody does. It appears that the Diablo only has stereo subwoofer and tape out.

I mean, Gryphon will drive Kharma, no problem, and the sound will be excellent, just not necessarily the best to your liking possible. Gryphon also makes speakers, but this I know nothing about. Lamm doesn't make dac, Vladimir is very conservative, nor do Lamm preamps have onboard phono, but I remember you are not interested in it, certainly not an important point.
In any case, this company of Ypsilon, Gryphon, Lamm and VAC is a great one.
I do know that the Flemming of Gryphon likes large scale music, which is of course more difficult to record and reproduce. I think, though I am not sure, Vladimir is a classical music fan. You can ask him this too.

@inna
would you mind PM me?

Sorry I’ve been busy with the fallout left by Irma. Been cutting off the trees it left planted onto my roof. Whew! Thus far no tremendous devastation. All seems easily mendable. The amount of tree debris is astonishing. It could well have been disasterous. The clean up will still take a while!

I’ve found thus far, better upstream doesn’t dictate top level speakers are required. Merely very capable and honest ones yield great results once the signal path is well heeled in advance of them.

RE Lamm tube preamp and hybrid power amps
Yeah. Saw that constant on biz too. My Thor line stage is similar. Left on muted it plays better later on and or the next day. It migrates from SET-ish to more agile and insightful sitting there just under power. Not passing signal.

I must have missed something as I’ve not realized Lamm produces hybrid amps. Thought they were SET 20wpc or so amps only. Hmmm.

I’ve heard too, their sound is ‘dry’.

A big draw back for me with Lamm is the biasing. Can’t see well enough to do it myself. That’s a problem. It was convoluted doing it with the Dodd monos. Sight is worsening. True too, there’s simply too many options for me to bother with manual biasing going forward as things will only deteriorate further with time.

RE Ypsilon/Kharma match?
If the Kharmas are NOT a polite or veiled sounding system that could be a great arrangement.

RE Ypsalon – Gryphon – constellation, VAC – haegel – Master Sound (d’agostino) and even PSA hybrids (depending)

I’ve given separates and upscale INTsa considerable bit of rumination. It seems a great idea so long as one loves the house sound of the makers kit, ie., Master, Gryphon, Ypsalon, etc.

The point I have to keep in mind (which is an easy task to forget) that cost is something of an object here, and that is the “point of diminishing returns” bridge. I’d not wish to cross it chasing mere percentiles of barely noticeable gains. Meaning getting into amps or speakers above $15 - 20K MSRP is littered with questions IMO.

Having spoken but briefly with Kevin Hayes whose outfit is not far from me, I like his notions on the sound he tries to or does, achieve with his amps. what he ‘trickles’ down into his entry level kit is above many others mid level or higher choices IMHO. Something in me wants to experience that sound. The sole caveat is I’m likely not able to play in his sandbox given his MSRPs. Well, not 100% anyhow. $42K and in mylocation , PLUS tax is ‘spensive fare for a pre amp and amp! just the taxes would be 3K if bought directly from VAC!

Regardless, I’m sold on putting most $$$ of the initial investment fairly equally into the source, control, power, setup, room and then speakers. Usually in that order. Give or take a bit here or there. Its all a juggling act anyhow.

Ypsalon has released an INT. and upgrades for their Alias monos.

Another thought exists too that very likely I’l miss the bullseye with the first volley. Hopefully it will be a matter of wires, not gearSo exchanging and or upgrading speakers if needed, is a definite do agle thing later. If I’m not married to them at the onset due to their investment. $20K, $25K, $30K or more.

Me thinks once one gets into the clouds of audio selling off $15K to $30K gear is not the speedy hot bed of transactions one might believe it really is. Of course too, A’gon ain’t the only match in the box to light those fires either.

It does however mean mistakes there can be extremely costly.

The main issue I see in my deal is first getting resolving speakers in house. Not expensive, or destination sorts, but very honest capable ones which will enable me to make better decisions about the rest of the rig. That logic persists quite plainly as the likely first step. The caveat then is not to try compensating the system to fit to them. Sounds dangerous doesn’t it? It does knowing myself better of late. It would be easy to for them to trickle down into another system elsewhere in the home.

As you said to seriously audition the gear at these prices, and I certainly agree, if I hear this or that somewhere that kills, well then, all other notions, ideas, themes and theories I have are out the window! lol

I’m not all about the chase. I’m more, ‘are we there yet’?

Perfect is not the goal. Great and or incredible? Well, those are the obvious objectives. I’d happily settle too for merely Wow! Whatever that means.