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Best system for the budding audiophile?

What began as a search for new speakers has rapidly evolved into the development of a new system. After reading many reviews (none of which are negative - Hmmm?!), I am humbly turning to this sage group for recommendations.

I am an avid listener of classical and jazz. I occasionally listen to select blues and rock, but that's not my first love. For me, I like a piano to sound like a piano, a guitar like a guitar, etc. No coloration, just the facts, so to speak. I am not a bass hound but prefer a detailed midrange and clear highs. I also look for a open spacious sound stage for symphonic pieces. I have a large room 15' by 20' but can't be too fussy with placement. I am budgeting around $5,000 for my new system.

Based on this information, what system would you build (Amp, CD player, speakers)? which is better bookshelf speakers with stands or floorstanding? I appreciate any advice you might have.

Thanks in advance,
cdilascia
garfish
1,840 posts
 
C; Lot'sa good advice above, but Neubilder makes a good point, ie don't make things too complicated to begin with. While recognizing the importance of good source components, I'd pick out speakers that I liked first and build my system around them. Why? Because speakers are the most "colored" of all components you'll be dealing with, and they are usually the most conspicuous too. AND it sounds like you might have speaker placement issues, but as Physicanimal notes, speaker placement really is important (critical?)-- so get some you like and can live with sonically and aesthetically. After you've settled on speakers, go from there.

If you like big, near full range floor standers, either Vandersteen 2Ce/sig or PSB Stratus Silver/Gold are a good choice (new or used makes a big difference in price for all this stuff). and for stand mounted, I like the Proacs too-- if you can live with the bass limitations. Good Luck
soix
9,681 posts
 
If piano is a big thing for you I'd strongy recommend hearing the Soliloquy 6.2(around $2700/pr.)--makes many other speakers sound like they leave half the sound of the piano behind. They're a pretty forgiving load and sound good with lots of electronics, but I'd do something like a Placette passive pre(the one with 3 inputs at about $1400), an Odyssey Stratos amp, and maybe something like a Cambridge CD player or a Sony CD/SACD player that you can get modified later. I'd worry about the cables later--get the components(especially the speakers) right first. Best of luck.

Tim
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docwarnock
63 posts
 
Here is a fourth for considering speakers as the starting point. Based on the description of your musical tastes and priorities for system sound character, I strongly recommend planars. Find a Magnepan dealer and demo the 1.6's, a good fit for your budget. Once you hear piano, voice, or guitar rendered by Maggies, you will look at dynamic (cone) speakers differently.

If the Maggies float your boat, then consider Bryston or McCormack amplification, as Maggies demand stout amplification with loads of current. A Conrad Johnson tube preamp and Rega Planet CD for the front end will round out what should be an extremely satisfying system within the confines of your budget.
swampwalker's avatar
swampwalker
5,138 posts
 
Lets see, how about
BAT VK3i used at about $850-$1250 depending on +/- phono stage and/or remote
McCormack DNA 0.5 Rev B 100 wpc/8 ohms, used for about $850
Vandersteen 2cesigs or Maggie speakers used at about $1K
SONY 9000 or CAL CL-15 for about $700-$1000.
Balance for cables and ICs
or Substitute Vandersteen 3A sigs for about $2-2.2K, bump the amp up to a DNA 1.0 (185 wpc) for about $1K, and go with DH Labs T-14 Silver Sonic cables and BL1 ICs. Slightly over budget, but very musical sounding system, with plenty of bass and great timbre on acoustic instruments.
phil0618
49 posts
 
I put together the following system recently and I love it. All equipment was purchased used.

Proac Response 1.5's $1700
Threshold FET 2 pre amp $350 (amazing quality, inc phono)
Sonographe SA250 amp $500
VPI Jr w/RB600 $800
Clearaudio Aurum Beta S $350
SONY 333 ES SACD $350
Speaker and I/C cables $500

your mileage (and tastes) will very but this is a very satisfying system. I'm sure there are a million other combinations that you can assemble that would sound similarly good. You might also get a coopy of Stereophiles Recomended Components and use it as a guide to get you started.

I've just added a PS Audio P300 power conditioner as well to feed the system some clean juice but you don't need it to hear some wonderful things from the system.

Most of all... HAVE FUN

Phil
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