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System assembled; only a final decision about speakers remains

Thanks to many posters on this forum, I have nearly completed assembling an audio system.

Because I started off my questions on this forum regarding speakers, I’m posting my outcomes here. I’ve not finalized speaker choice. While I took "Speakers first" to heart and attempted to do things that way,  slow production times and the virus prompted me to research and purchase in multiple areas. I wound up getting everything but speakers first.

I am enjoying my system with some loaners at the moment (review to come), and then (if the cosmos allows) I will seek synergy between this system and speakers. My hope is that the speakers ordered (Salk SS6M) turn out to be keepers, but they'll have a 30 day trial period. No idea when I will receive them. Oh, and I need to do some additional thinking about power and wiring, etc. And furniture.

So, to the various posters who chimed in with suggestions and information (I took extensive notes and you are now part of my informal library), here’s what I assembled:

SPEAKERS
  • SALK SS 6M — these are being built (well, after the shutdown is lifted) and then I’ll TRY them for 30 days to see if they work. Others are being considered. Opinions are welcome.
  • Sub: REL 328
AMPLIFICATION
  • QS Linestage
  • QS 60 Monos amp
SOURCES
  • CD transport: Cambridge CXC
  • Streamer: Bluesound Node 2i
  • DAC IT (peachtree) — older; just to tide me over
  • DAC ORCHID — this is my keeper

CABLES

  • Toslink: for CD player
  • Coaxial digital: Analysis Plus Digital Crystal & Audioquest Forest
  • Interconnects RCA: Analysis Plus Copper Oval
  • Power for sources and amps: Pangea Audio AC 14 & 9 SE MKII
  • Speaker cables: Analysis Plus Oval 12

POWER

  • Conditioner: Panamax 1500

128x128hilde45
zx10man123
11 posts
 
I could have sworn the original question was speaker suggestions. Hmmm....On that issue I would suggest value leaders Elac and Tekton Design, especially TD as I thoroughly enjoy my OB Sigmas with Hsu Research subs. Eric @ TD will be more than happy to allow you to sample anything in his lineup...you probably won't be disappointed.
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twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
5,318 posts
 
The Panamax isn't really a power conditioner; it's a distributor/surge protector.  To get noticeable results, you'd need to stretch outside your budget range, to the Inakustik 3500.
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,974 posts
 
@zx10 Appreciate your input on speakers — Elac, Tekton.
@twoleftears twoleftears — I didn't know that the Panamax fell into that category. Good to learn that distinction.
@tvad Tvad — who could resist a comfy Eames chair? It might almost cause me to take up pipe smoking.
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,274 posts
 
Hilde45, 
I had great results on a previous setup just using a PS Audio Quintet.  I used a Pangea AC9 on the Quintet.  I used Pangea AC14se’s for my dac, cd player, and streamer whichI plugged into the Quintet.  I then used a Pangea AC9 for my Amplifier which I plugged directly into the wall.  My wall outlet was / is a Porter Port (search Albert Porter here on Audiogon!)

You can achieve a nice tidy layout of your power cords with a set-up like this.

Another nice thing about this set-up is that when we get one of those nasty afternoon Colorado thunderstorms, I could unplug two powercords from the wall and my entire system was then disconnected from the power.

Lightning striking anything electrical in your home will blow through most (if not all) powerstrips / surge protectors.

And lastly, even if you have zero hiss coming from your tweeters with the volume levels high, you can still lower the musical noise floor.  Having a black background / low noise floor really is apparent with how images appear out of nowhere and allow you to pick up more easily on micro details and ambient cues.  

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