add a minidsp studio to this system plus a musical sub and enjoy the music https://audiophilemusings.blogspot.com/2015/03/
Helping a friend build a new system
A good family friend has recently retired and is looking to build a system for his home office. He used to own a nice sound system some 25 years ago but hasn't been actively pursuing the hobby. He was visiting my home a few weeks ago and I guess listening to my system must have inspired him to finally build a new one. He asked me to help set up a new system (new to him, he's willing to buy used). I asked him a bunch of questions to find out what he wants and how much he is willing to spend. His responses are summarized below:
1. Budget -- since he's retired he wants to keep the total system budget to around $7-8K (including cables)
2. Components Needed -- bookshelf speakers, integrated amp, cables. He already has a CD player which would do for now, but he might get into streaming later on. He owns a few hundred CDs.
3. Room size -- around 10x12 with 10 foot ceilings. Fully carpeted with some furniture.
4. Music genres -- jazz, blues, vocals (he's a big fan of Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker, Billy Holiday, etc.), and R&B
5. Listening preferences -- he is looking for an 'intimate' and cozy experience and wants to try tube amps with high sensitivity bookshelf speakers. He mostly listens at a moderate volume and can be sensitive to high frequencies.
He also mentioned that he has some hearing loss since he's in his early 60s and suffers from a mild case of tinnitus. I'm not sure if this plays a role in the choice of components but I thought it's worth mentioning just in case.
I will really appreciate it if you guys can provide some pointers. Please remember that he is retired so $8k is absolutely the max he can do. System synergy is important. And, please no Tekton or class D recommendations. He really wants to try some affordable tube gear as a starting point.
1. Budget -- since he's retired he wants to keep the total system budget to around $7-8K (including cables)
2. Components Needed -- bookshelf speakers, integrated amp, cables. He already has a CD player which would do for now, but he might get into streaming later on. He owns a few hundred CDs.
3. Room size -- around 10x12 with 10 foot ceilings. Fully carpeted with some furniture.
4. Music genres -- jazz, blues, vocals (he's a big fan of Frank Sinatra, Chet Baker, Billy Holiday, etc.), and R&B
5. Listening preferences -- he is looking for an 'intimate' and cozy experience and wants to try tube amps with high sensitivity bookshelf speakers. He mostly listens at a moderate volume and can be sensitive to high frequencies.
He also mentioned that he has some hearing loss since he's in his early 60s and suffers from a mild case of tinnitus. I'm not sure if this plays a role in the choice of components but I thought it's worth mentioning just in case.
I will really appreciate it if you guys can provide some pointers. Please remember that he is retired so $8k is absolutely the max he can do. System synergy is important. And, please no Tekton or class D recommendations. He really wants to try some affordable tube gear as a starting point.
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- 105 posts total
Raven Nighthawk or Prima Luna Evo integrated and Reynaud Bliss Jubilee's with their Magic Stands. Money left for appropriate cables from Audio Envy or other quality ID company and if found to be needed a pair of small subs from SVS, HSU or Rythmik. I've pushed the Bliss Jubilee's with both the Mystere (Prima Luna) 40 wpc EL-34 amp and the 30 wpc Music Reference RM-10 with no issues. I've owned four different versions of what started out as the Twins and this is by far the best version yet and with it's front transmission line port easy to place. An alternative would be the Fritz Carbon 7 SE Mk2. Both would be easy to drive but Fritz is rear ported. |
@arafiq room is small, but workable, listening will be semi nearfield... 6-7 ft triangle option 1 https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649764784-proac-future-point-five-speakers/ https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649740533-audio-research-vsi60-glorious-sound/ haunting sweet vocals, brilliant synergy between proac and arc tubes (how stew tyler voices em...) option 2 https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649643178-spendor-fl10-speakers/ --or-- https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisac7b6-vtl-it-85-tube https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649770311-limited-addition-vpi-299d-integrated-with-additional-tubes/ no classic series spendors out there right now used, this is closest thing... fl10 lovely top to bottom tonality, tweeter a bit bright, but offset by vtl or vpi, integrateds with rounded sound, brilliant vocal truth - fl10 won’t overload the room with good placement, the tweeter mid integration is excellent for semi nearfield option 3 https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisac832-harbeth-c7es3-monitors https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisac9h9-linear-tube-audio-z10-integrated-tube --or-- https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisaahaf-new-sealed-croft-phono-integrated-tube-amp-fabulous-hand-made-in-uk-tube c7’s beyond reproach for vocals and jazz, with bass weight too -- needs a little high end life sprinkled in, croft or lta will provide that while giving tubey goodness in midband and imaging having said the above, i think the best option given his room his tastes, and the likelihood he will be hooked once he streams, i would do option 4 https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisac832-harbeth-c7es3-monitors https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649763295-hegel-h90-black-finish/ bluesound node and https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649769481-audio-note-dac-21/ -- or -- an mhdt tubed dac for a grand my guess he would be happiest with option 4... c7’s ideal for semi nearfield lovely vocal reproduction with full range coherent response, hegel clarity and control of bass, tubey goodness from the lovely lovely ank dac, using rca dig input from node... he will be in streaming heaven will forget his cdp within a month :) hope this helps you along bud... it all comes in under his budget leaving room for cables and tidal or qbz subscription |
Two things: what I like and what your friend likes may be very, very different. The only sane way to buy hardware is to audition, audition, and audition some more. Then make a decision. A specialist dealer is your friend. But remember: your ears, your money, your decision. Second, cables (power, interconnect, speaker) offer the least bang for the buck. I suggest that you spend the money on better components, which, if chosen correctly, will offer much better return on investment. Connect them with literally the cheapest cables you can buy. Yes, cables can make a difference. Just not much of a difference compared to upgrading a major component. My interconnects are made from microphone cable, $1 a foot, connectors $30. That’s good enough for a system with a phono cartridge valued at more than your budget. I suggest that you set up with cheapest cables and test any cables before you buy. Compare cheap to expensive. Your ears, your money, your decision. IMO |
- 105 posts total