Need advice on building a system from a mishmash of components!


Hi, 1st time at posting so I apologize in advance if I screw up.

As a result of wonderful gifts, purchases and inheritance I have the following components.  Is anyone interested in providing some recommendations on how to pair them up for a good system or two? Purchase new components to improve?  I listen to jazz, a little classic rock. I listen to a lot of vinyl and many CDs

Thank you in advance.

MacIntosh Amp SS MC2105 - Great condition Refurbished by Audio Classics 105 watts/channel  1972 I believe

Adcom Amp GFA535 60 watts into 8O  1987  Good condition

Adcom Pre-amp 555 1987 Good condition

Golden Tube Audio Pre-amp SEP-1 No phono  1995  Excellent condition

Rega Saturn CD Player 2007 or so, very good condition,

 Pioneer Tuner TX6800 Very good condition 1980-81

Luxman Turntable Quartz DD, PX99  1980's?  Good condition, Grado red cartridge, under 10 hours

Niles SVCC Speaker Control System  1980s, 4 volume controls for 8 speakers  Very good condition

2 B&W 705 speakers (curved top) with stands, 2004 Excellent condition

2 Totem Mite speakers with stands.  2005  Excellent condition

2 Magnepan Ribbon speakers - very good condition, with oak sides, metal feet.  MMG I believe (They are wrapped up)  As I have a fairly small house I'm not sure that these will fit...

Definitive Technology Super Cube 3 - Excellent condition, maybe 5 hours,   Active.  7.5" woofer with 2 radiators 

KLH Small Sub - passive, cheap piece.

 

I am not sure of the best pairing of components to make one good system, and where I should jettison and / or invest in other components.  Or if I shoild look at making 2 systems... I realize that this is not high end stuff, but its the best I have at the moment!  Thank you for any and all suggestions.  

 

 

 

scooneytunes

Take your time and try the different combos and compare. Older gear is always somewhat more unpredictable regarding how well they work and resulting sound plus in the end what sound one prefers is always highly subjective to start with.  

I would list them all on ebay and other sites. Use hifishark.com to find what they are worth.

The best value you have the B&W speakers. If you like them, keep them. I personally favor the Totems.

Next is the McIntosh amp. If it’s in great shape, you can sell it for a few grand.

The Rega CD player is highly rated too.

The rest might take a long time to sell and will give you time to play with it.

I don’t see the point of owning more than of anything (but on this site there are people who own 10+ speaker sets or 150+ cartridges but those are clinical cases) unless you have 4 heads but of course you can have 2nd and 3rd systems. My sense is that what you have doesn’t add up to a sweet 1st or 2nd system.

If you don’t want to do a lot of research, just take the easy route, CDs or streaming. You have great speakers (not the subs), a decent CD player and you can get a good integrated amp for a $1000 that’s better than anything you have.

I won't append my first comment. But I reread your post and I am totally confused.

you wrote: "wonderful gifts, purchases and inheritance" 

I assume these three things didn't happen overnight. So you must have a history of building a system or systems and you have plugged (some) these together?

What is your objective? Are you hoarding these items? 

Main System (existing pieces until future upgrades bit by bit)

McIntosh AMP

Adcom Preamp.

***Full Featured: Phono MM and MC; Capacitance choices; Mono; Balance; Tone Controls; and Contour (their version of low volume compensation, boosts bass)

***Two sets of Outputs (allows second system: use Adcom Amp, Golden Preamp with Totem Mites with self powered sub)).

Luxman TT

B&W Speakers

Existing Tuner/CD Player

Sell all the other stuff, including the Tuner if you have no use for it.

Niles speaker Selector: they make good stuff, but for what? You need wires to and from for the main system, not good. Nearby Kitchen Speakers? Better to buy a little compact Bose or other gizmo for the kitchen.

...........................................

Then, bit by bit, upgrade the main system, and use pieces from the main system in the 2nd system if appropriate.

Wish the GTA had phono. 

Just add an outboard phono-pre. Many to choose from, some very good and affordable.