If you buy the B&W's, try AudioQuest speaker cables. They really perform at their best bi-wired. If you buy the Revels, MIT Shotguns or Transparent are a great match. I own the Revel Ultima Studios and I use MIT 750 Magnums. Really a good match but too expensive at your price point. The Vandersteens are a good choice as well, but you should try to find a pair of Vandy Signatures. They are wired with silver throughout and I have heard both and it makes a significant difference with very little difference in the cost. Forget the receiver! There's nothing to listen to on FM anyway. Get yourself a good integrated with at about 100 w/ch. If you get less power than that, you may want to upgrade your speakers in the next couple of years and may have a power limitation. I don't have a recommendation for the integrated. I don't know the Musical Fid. product. I would recommend the Mark Levinson integrated if you can find on Audiogon, but I think it will be beyond your budget but really worth the stretch if you could do it. For the CD, just make sure it has upsampling to 96K if not 192K. This makes an extroadinary difference in performance. I am not a fan of tubed cd players in general. Be careful with that one since they are often lacking in detail.
Best system to be done for $4500-5000.
I have been lurking here for a while but am finally about to move into a new house and want a new system. I have searched the archives and current posts and the following is where I am stuck. The room in question is 20 x 15.5, with a 10-foot high ceiling. I want to build a very nice sounding 2-channel system that is 5.1 capable and phono capable. In other words, I am going to spend the money now on 2-channel for digital music, but want to be able to just buy center, effects, sub, and turntable at a later time when I save up money again. I will most likely use the system 80% music/20% HT.
I have gone to the few hi-fi shops in my area and auditioned what is available here, but I think my money could be more wisely spent on used gear on Audiogon. I did enjoy an Arcam system driving Linn speakers, and also a pair of B&W 703s driven by a Denon (these are with my virgin, untrained ears). However, without being able to audition a lot of pieces in my area, I need advice to achieve the synergy that is needed to help me get to audio nirvana. The music I enjoy are live recordings made off soundboards and mics at concerts, Jazz, Rock, and Classical. I will be incorporating a Tascam DA-20 mkII DAT deck for my live recordings and possibly a Denon 3803 for future HT (I am not opposed to selling this if in my best interest.)
From the reading and research I have done with the little auditioning I have done, pieces that I am interested in are as follows:
1.Integrated amp and Receiver (both - what else should I consider?)
a.Integrated amp – Musical Fidelity A3.2 (Aux 2 provides direct amp input for HT bypass) and also has phono - used ~$1100.00
b. Receiver ( for future HT use ) - Denon 3803 great for movies and will be bypassed for 2-channel stereo with MF – I currently own.
2. CD Player ( one of these )
a. Jolida JD-100A used ~$750.00 (may modify)
b. Music Hall CD-25 used ~$375.00 (may modify)
c. Rega Planet original/2000/Jupiter. Used~ $325/575/1350
3. Speakers (one pair of these)
a. B&W 703
b. Von Schweikert Audio vr2 used~$1750
c. Linn Ninka
d. Revel Performa F-30 used ~ $2200.00
e. Magnepan MG-1.5qr/1.6qr used ~ $600/1100
f. GMA Europas ~ $880
g. Vandersteen 2ce/3/3a – used ~ $1100/1500/2200
Any money left over will be used for cables, interconnects, line conditioner, and other things I have read but know nothing about. I appreciate any and all comments, and am open to any suggestions. I guess I just want to get a feel if I am on the right track, or should I consider a different way to get great sounding 2-channel with HT upgradability.
Thanks - tig
I have gone to the few hi-fi shops in my area and auditioned what is available here, but I think my money could be more wisely spent on used gear on Audiogon. I did enjoy an Arcam system driving Linn speakers, and also a pair of B&W 703s driven by a Denon (these are with my virgin, untrained ears). However, without being able to audition a lot of pieces in my area, I need advice to achieve the synergy that is needed to help me get to audio nirvana. The music I enjoy are live recordings made off soundboards and mics at concerts, Jazz, Rock, and Classical. I will be incorporating a Tascam DA-20 mkII DAT deck for my live recordings and possibly a Denon 3803 for future HT (I am not opposed to selling this if in my best interest.)
From the reading and research I have done with the little auditioning I have done, pieces that I am interested in are as follows:
1.Integrated amp and Receiver (both - what else should I consider?)
a.Integrated amp – Musical Fidelity A3.2 (Aux 2 provides direct amp input for HT bypass) and also has phono - used ~$1100.00
b. Receiver ( for future HT use ) - Denon 3803 great for movies and will be bypassed for 2-channel stereo with MF – I currently own.
2. CD Player ( one of these )
a. Jolida JD-100A used ~$750.00 (may modify)
b. Music Hall CD-25 used ~$375.00 (may modify)
c. Rega Planet original/2000/Jupiter. Used~ $325/575/1350
3. Speakers (one pair of these)
a. B&W 703
b. Von Schweikert Audio vr2 used~$1750
c. Linn Ninka
d. Revel Performa F-30 used ~ $2200.00
e. Magnepan MG-1.5qr/1.6qr used ~ $600/1100
f. GMA Europas ~ $880
g. Vandersteen 2ce/3/3a – used ~ $1100/1500/2200
Any money left over will be used for cables, interconnects, line conditioner, and other things I have read but know nothing about. I appreciate any and all comments, and am open to any suggestions. I guess I just want to get a feel if I am on the right track, or should I consider a different way to get great sounding 2-channel with HT upgradability.
Thanks - tig