Please tutor me on some integrated amp basics.

Twoleftears, thanks for some excellent advice/ I'll isolate one of the three 20 amp circuits I wired into the Entertainment (Listening ) Room for the stereo system  only.  I won't buy any cables until after the speakers arrive and I'll check with Uptown Audio and Audiotronics locally to see what they offer and could provide as loaners.  Dealers form DC might be willing to parcel post wires around as opposed to items like amps.  

I'll research isolation transformers too and can probably still haul them around. Maybe not in a few years though. Gravity appears to increasing if you as me.

Ieales. first link is working perfectly now, thanks. Second looks interesting too. I'll read it soon as I'm done with these replies. If we could roll back some of these laws of physics you mentioned maybe the isolation transformers might get a little lighter to deal with.

Builder3, thanks for the link. That wire is almost being given away compared to some of the rest I've run across. Might be a good temporary fix. 

Inna, the VPI cable does sound like a logical choice that wouldn't break the bank. Stupider things have happened, but I don't think VPI would sell a cable that would make their own equipment sound poorly. I think there is some kind of upgraded wiring on the tonearm already with the VPI Classic 2's SE model. Speaker cords and power cable first it is, then. The CD player isn't in the same league as the other equipment anyway.

Amortized over time, none of this is that expensive if you look it it that way. And once an item is paid off it doesn't seem to matter anyway. It's just on to the next thing. I would like to have all this wrapped by the Spring though, so I can get on to my new wood working shop build, incidentally where my old stereo equipment will be utilized. I've got to get that done before I'm too old to lift heavy,  trusses plywood, and shingles up to the roof too. 

Again appreciate all your helpful suggestions. They're music to my ears.

Mike

Here's another option in that same price range for a tonearm cable. I don't have one, but my speaker cables & interconnects are from DH Labs, and I like them a lot.
https://silversonic.com/products/phono-cables/dimension-phono-cable/

Mike, sure it would make little sense to buy cables without already having the equipment.
Best cables are often those that you cannot find used, especially for a reasonable price !

  I’d look real hard at the Modwright KWI-200. Absolute beast in its price range . 200 wpc doubles to 400 wpc at 4 ohms. Great amp for demanding loads . I had one without the DAC , I use a Schiit Yiggy. It was paired with Acoustic Zen Speakers . In your price range , good power,  nice sound  and excellent support . The unit with a DAC would allow you to purchase one really nice power cord, some 9 gauge speaker cables and drive your speakers. Mark O Brian is one sharp designer and they are good with repairs and mods . I was introduced to Modwright by a friend that went into law , but was a former music shop owner . He had Rogue, Modwright, Parasound and Bryson. He has examples of them still at his home. At a lower price point the Parasound is nice , but the Modwright is sweeter and something you could live with for a long time . I haven’t played with the Hegel, but would definitely audition one before making a purchase . Cheers , Mike B. 

Hey Mike, with regard to cables I would really urge you to test first. Most retailers in the UK will allow you to test the Cable first (or offer you a guaranteed refund if not happy) and in the US I believe there is a cable lending company. And importantly: how a cable sounds in your system is not correlated to its price. You’ll probably find some cheaper or mid price cables sounding better than expensive ones.

My recommendation would be to get everything up and running with the basic cables (including your 1970s speaker cable). Then take one bit at a time and experiment with different cables.

Personally I’d start with speaker cables, as you only need one set of cables it is the easiest to work with. So, order up 3 or 4 types and compare. It’s actually really interesting and I find it great fun to do this.

Then power cables. I’d experiment with the component they attach to: keep the standard power cables on everything except one component and test each component in turn. Don’t listen to reviews or other forum views as mains cables are so dependent on your system and your electrical supply. I find some cables make zero difference, others a massive difference. If I take my cables to a friends hifi he gets different results. Then when you find the components that appear to benefit from better mains cabling order up a few types and repeat the experiment.

Finally interconnects. As you have an integrated amp it is a bit simpler, but once again order a few types to compare and don’t believe the hype that you have to use the same interconnect between each pair of components. That is nonsense. You may find your record deck very sensitive to the type of interconnect whereas your CD player may be fine with 10$ cable. Doing the research on my system (integrated Vitus amp and CD player) I found cables by Transparent, costing $1400, sounded no different to $20 cable from an electrical store, yet a $800 Townshend interconnect sounded sublime.


By the way I think your Luxor is a great match to Magico. I have a Vitus amp but before buying it I demoed a bunch of amps: the Luxor sounded fantastic. There is a real organic warmth to that Japanese Luxor sound, almost Tube-like. They sound more musical, less hifi. Just a note: the Luxor I tried sounded a lot better when it was warmed up so you might want to leave it switched on.  I also demoed a bunch of speakers, Magico included. I didn’t actually like the Vitus/Magico combo as for my ears it was a bit too detailed and clinical, but I reckon attached to the mellower Luxor the Magicos will be a dream. It’s all personal taste but for my ears on some modern American amps Magicos can sound dry and clinical, but with the Luxor to tame them I think they will be outstanding.