Helping a friend build a new system

@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

Unison Research S2K with Proac Response Dr2. $7000 on the nose. ProAc are 88.5 dB which is good for bookshelf speakers. UR S2K is very good with them and smooth enough to love jazz and blues.

Some amazing recommendations and ideas! A huge thanks to everyone who contributed.

So I talked to my friend on the phone a few hours ago and told him to take a look at this thread. I want to clarify a few things though ...

1. At this point, he really wants to experiment with tube amplifiers. This is not to say that he considers SS inferior, but I guess you can call it an itch that he must scratch. So I want to respect his wishes and only focus on tube integrated amps.

2. He was using the terms standmount and bookshelf interchangeably. He is fine with using speakers with stands. He was a little shocked when I told him the prices for some nice stands, but I think he should be fine with reasonably price stands from the likes of Pangea.

3. A few of you are wondering why I didn’t suggest Harbeth speakers. After all I have owned P3esr’s in the past, and currently own SHL5+ and M30.1s. So why not just suggest Harbeth? I don’t know, for some reason I feel that with Harbeths you have to match them with good solid state to get the best of out of them. If you must try tubes then you have to go for the big iron, class A, KT150 type of tube amps which can be expensive. That’s why I am a bit hesitant. My thinking is that if he gets high efficiency speakers ( >90 db), he can get away with modestly powered tube amps ... basically, more affordable choices.

4. He feels that he can stretch his budget much farther when buying used equipment, and I concur. Obviously, buying used has its disadvantages and risks. He won’t be able to audition and has to choose between what’s available. I told him to give himself 3 months instead of rushing to buy whatever is currently available in the used market.

II’ve asked my friend to compile a list of speakers and amps mentioned in this thread as a starting point. Hopefully, he is going to make a decision soon.

Another piece of advice I gave to my friend is to buy something that has brand recognition. This is not to suggest that lesser known brands are inferior, but I have a feeling that it will take him a few tries before he settles for something he loves. So if he has to sell in the meantime, I don't want him to take a big hit.