I'm not sure why you think selling off something will require him to buy some "Junk" Elizabeth. regardless of the prices involved, as that's irrelevant as all used equipment has taken the depreciation hit.
Who's to say he can't trade in his mono blocks for another lower powered stereo amp and preamp (with a phono section) from McIntosh or a top shelf integrated with similar sound quality.
Also that trade in money would go a long way to optimizing his whole system and room treatments.
you have some good points though about trying it first and if that's a possibility go for it.
in the end he will have to spend money to get the system working up to par with room treatments and a proper preamp with phono stage of similar quality (or what's the point). lets not even get into wires-cables-stands and racks etc.
This is why I feel he's better to trade-sell and start a system approach rather then try to make something work in his room that was designed for a larger space.
Who's to say he can't trade in his mono blocks for another lower powered stereo amp and preamp (with a phono section) from McIntosh or a top shelf integrated with similar sound quality.
Also that trade in money would go a long way to optimizing his whole system and room treatments.
you have some good points though about trying it first and if that's a possibility go for it.
in the end he will have to spend money to get the system working up to par with room treatments and a proper preamp with phono stage of similar quality (or what's the point). lets not even get into wires-cables-stands and racks etc.
This is why I feel he's better to trade-sell and start a system approach rather then try to make something work in his room that was designed for a larger space.