given cwlondon's description of his malady, which must have been brought on by years of self-denial--no, dammit, i'm a music lover, not an audiophile- here's what i'd suggest he do with his hypothetical $5,000 audio budget: (1) purchase a used airtangent reference airbearing tone arm (original MSRP $14,000- but i know where i can buy a mint used one for ~$5,000); (2) buy a tivoli audio henry kloss model one radio ($100); (3) listen to music only on the kloss radio, nightly, whilst scrutinizing the airtangent tonearm, unmounted, in its fitted aluminum flight case; (4) wait. in about a month or less, cw's audiophile instincts will take over, imagining the turntable that'll best mate with the sensuous tone arm, the perfect multi-tube phono to drive a koetsu onyx platinum, the speakers, the amps, the wire, the cable, the conditioner. and the quest will be on again. will it lead to bliss or skepticism? that's practically a cosmological question: will the expansion of the universe continue or will it slow down, collapse and end in a singularity? damned if i know. but i do know that cw suffers as an audiophile, a condition that won't allow one, if he has the means, to live long with a $5k system. course that's just my opinion, FWIW. -kelly
Best 5K HiFi system for Cwlondon
Cw....don't mean to be presumptuous, but this could be an interesting exerise for any "audiophile". So, if I had just $5K to spend on a stereo system, I'd audition the following: (1) Linn Majik integrated $1200., or Classe CA80 for not much more (2) PSB Stratus Mini speakers w/stands, about $1200. (3) Sony XA7ES CD player (used) $1250. Of note is that, at this time, I'd not go with SACD or DVD-A-- yet. Total is now at $3650., and I'd use the rest for ICs, spkr. cables, power cord, stereo stand, and room acoustic treatment; maybe a sub if needed? Any other suggestions?