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Help in putting together my system with used equipment on Audiogon and eBay.

I’m looking for the best bang for the buck. What equipment can I find that would make the best system for my budget ($8000)? I'm starting out with:

Pass Labs X1 Preamp, my rock to start with. I got it for $2500 This is where you can help me the most. Let me know your best match for this pre-amp, or the ones you have found to be the best you have heard!

Bryston 4B SST amp for about $1700. It’s been my experience that more power wakes up a speaker and pins it’s ears back. At 300wpc and the reviews on this amp I picked it, but just to start. I really need some experienced people to give me recommendations for the amp, or if the Bryston is a winner. I can sell this for a better amp.

Do I need a DAC?

Phono. I’ve realized that might be a big reason why people go to separates isn’t it? I’d like to hear some comments on this. If you have separates and no phono, what do you use? Stream music? CD’s?

CD player? I do have a lot of CD’s. With separates, it’s either phono, cd, or streaming correct?

I’m not really a phono guy, but I know which albums I would buy so it is an option. I wouldn’t know a good phono if you hit me with it. Please recommend a few.

I’m leaning toward B&W speakers just because of their reputation. I may spend up to 5k on a good pair of speakers, but I want them to be used and costing much more when bought new. I know how to spot a good deal and not buy speakers on their death bed (from reputable sellers), but I need your recommendations too. You all have heard more speakers than I ever have and will.

**I’m going to check this post often and answer any questions and write down your recommendations.
I WANT TO THANK YOU ALL IN ADVANCE FOR THIS, IT IS A BIG DEAL FOR ME!
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sfseay's avatar
sfseay
496 posts
 
Separates and integrateds have their pluses and minuses. I recently went back to separates from an integrated and have no regrets.

Take all opinions you read here with a grain of 🧂. Many of the people that post here just make noise and challenge everyone else’s assumptions. You can learn a lot on this forum, but there are better forums where you get more wheat and less chaf.
bdp24's avatar
bdp24
10,010 posts
 
Where do you live? You need to get out and listen to some loudspeakers for yourself. Find a pair you like a lot using your own music, and work your way back to the front end. Recommendations and suggestions here will get you only so far.
djones51
4,947 posts
 
Your pre and amp should work well together, I’ve had B&W 804’s and found them a bit fatiguing with all solid state gear but not bad either. I know a lot of people will say I’m crazy and you can take for what it’s worth a grain of salt as sfseay says but you might want to look into the Paradigm Prestige series the 85f is a pretty good speaker in your price range, also you might look at Ohm speakers that you could get new, but try to listen to as many as you can. I know it’s hard now with so many things by internet.
imabucfan's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
imabucfan OP
52 posts
 
It used to be that you could go to your local audio store and audition a lot of gear and find what you like. Now there just aren’t many audio stores around, maybe because of eBay/Amazon? It makes putting a system together much harder.

As far as speakers are concerned, I'm going off your recommendations and online reviews. I do want a full range speaker since it's a stereo system.
geof3
1,129 posts
 
Wow, this forum is nuts... but whatever. At some point you've got to dive in. Get solid basics, whether separates or integrated. These days, a good integrated can be as good, if not better, than some separates combos. Either way, start there and make sure your preamp has all the inputs you might want to grow into. If you aren't into vinyl yet, don't spend the money. That's an easy add later when the desire and budget allows. Regarding tweaks? Those can wait as well. Gotta start with a solid foundation and build. Tweaks can be, and are, a slippery slope. YMMV. Picking speakers is tough too, and as mentioned, if you have access to a good shop see if you can demo some in your price range. Speakers can be very personal. One's fatigue is another's nirvana. Have some fun with it, that's the key.
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