If it is for a new house that you hadn’t taken possession of, and you were starting from Ground Zero, you bought reasonable components and will probably be happy. Did you not have old components that you could have started with until you figured out the room acoustics, etc?
Bought a system without auditioning, thoughts?
Long story but I ended up buying a system without auditioning a single component and haven’t set it up, what are your thoughts? Technic SL 1210 GR, nagaoka mp-500, eversolo dmp-a6, pass labs xp 17, pass labs int-250, klipsch forte iv, Cardas clear Cygnus speaker cable, Cardas clear interconnects, Cardas clear Cygnus phono cable. I know I don’t need the int-250 for the klipsch but got a great deal.
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Congrats @jshira on the gear purchase... You’ll love it all I’m sure. Honestly the biggest regret you may have is that given the money you’ve spent and once you start listening to your system you will think about other gear and possibly other pieces that may have been "better" given your circumstances. Getting a great deal is always a huge win regarding HiFi, lessens the blow of off-loading things if you trade up for other items, but listening to and then buying said gear is another kind of rewarding experience that you inherently are missing out on. And this is also another major aspect of the hoddy side of HiFi, learning about different gear as you the listener learn about your own tastes and preferences regarding what you’re hearing. You grow as your gear grows and again, you’ll love your set up I’m sure... but not as much as you’ll love the next piece of gear you end up getting after listening to what you have and parsing out exactly what particular sound you’re looking for. Let people know your thoughts once settled... helps others along the way in their journey in this hobby. |
Don’t overthink or obsess. Set up and connect the system. Stable support for the electronics. Do some reading about the Forte IV and take your time to decide the positioning for best sound. Enjoy your favorite music. Hopefully, it sounds great to you and you are all set. If, after spending some time with the system you want a change, then different speakers would probably make the most difference. Fortunately, the Pass allows you to use speakers with a fairly wide range of efficiencies. you have the ability to try less . |
@OP If you had to buy a system unheard (which I don't recommend doing), that's not a bad shot at it. The speakers wouldn't be my cup of tea but at least the Pass amplification is pretty refined so it's a pretty good match, even if it has more power than you need. But it does give flexibility of you don't keep the speakers. |
Well, you obviously had some thoughts about what you were purchasing right? If you're happy with the equipment and feel the price was right then that's all that really matters and not what I or anyone else thinks. Personally, I never make a purchase without an audition or two or three. Good luck in your new home. Celebrate it with a bottle of champagne and your new audio gear. |
What the hell. Go for it. I've done something similar in the past. It's your $$$$. This is a crazy hobby, and you felt so inclined to put a system together the way you did, just because you could. No sweat. Anyway, if it turns out you aren't satisfied with any part of the system, you can always opt to return an item (if possible), or sell it on the used market. |
The Cygnus and standard Clear are not overly warm, more on the side of neutral. If any of your gear is new, you are going to appreciate the speakers, amplification, cables a bit more after everything has settled in place for a few months of play time. Seriously, give it time before making any quick judgements or changes, fwiw. |
The digital source, comprising the streamer/dac A6 priced at $860, accounts for only 3.6% of the overall $24k investment in digital components. While I don't intend to judge sound quality solely by its monetary value, it's worth noting that the investment in the critical source component appears to be relatively low. I understand that, although not being able to audition beforehand, OP likely conducted extensive research and put significant thought into creating the system list. While the A6 has earned praise as a budget-friendly and solid performer within its price range, it may not fully match the overall value and potential of the entire system. Notably, blind tests and reviews have shown favor toward the A6's Master Edition, which costs only slightly more, as well as the Volumio Primo, priced below $1,000 when played with their own app. Additionally, there are many higher-fidelity streamers and DACs available in the market. |
In my opinion, auditing for a few hours in a room that isn't yours, with equipment that isn't yours is no match to listening in your room with your own equipment for a few weeks. I like buying really good used equipment at a good price. I change equipment and cyle things through and eventually sell what I no longer use. I've done remarkably well not losing my shirt and I've been able to audition some different gear over the years which is really what it's all about. |
I did the same thing after my divorce..... I revamped everything over the past two years. I think music was the only thing that got me through it, so to me it was a good use of funds. She wanted to get my system in the divorce so I packed it all up and put it in storage. I listened to my Quicksilver headphone Amp and Klipsch HP3 for about 6 months until I got my life sorted out. Then when I did, I bought the Forte and that started a chain of events leading to my current system. I didn't exactly buy the Forte sight unseen.... they weren't shipping them yet so I listened to Forte III and the other new IV series speakers. I bought my Amp without audition and it turned out to be the best piece of gear I have ever owned. When times are bad I have always used music to get me through. Now things are great , have someone new in my life ...she also loves music . She thinks this hobby is a little insane but she gets it. |
Many people cannot listen before buying... For many reasons... Anyway the final optimal S.Q. of components is determined by SYNERGY and by embeddings mechanical, acoustical and electrical controls...
Anyway even if you listen a component in another room and in other acoustic condition coupled to different components , what will you buy for your own component and acoustic environment, will it be the same experience ? Not the same at all... It is better to study all USERS reviews there is for few months, after determining your needs exactly .... The worst thing is buying new hyped products with sparse USERS information... I bought a pair of box speakers well reviewed 12 years ago by Steve Guttenberg among others .... It was in the beginning of my acoustic and audio journey... I was so ignorant i put them on my desk out of the box and i hated them...😁 They sound awful to my ears...Boomy and not clear and with a lack of amplification power... For 12 years they were demoted to be youtube interviews computer speakers not for music at all... 😁 Life had going on in his own way, after many speakers tryings and my acoustic room lost when i sold my house, i own now an audiophile headphone system and guess which low cost speakers are my audiophile speakers and which i love much now ? The same low cost speakers i once hated for 12 years ...😊 Because i was ignorant about any embeddings controls, being it electrical,mechanical and acoustical... I was unable to optimize them... There is no relation between their S.Q. before my optimization and now... Their specs indicate 85 hertz of bass extension... I go with 50 hertz now with their 4 inches driver... Among other improved acoustic factors... The last time i tried to upgrade a well chosen component, my Sansui alpha, I lost my money....A vintage flagship of the past does not become a piece of junk now.... Synergy matter too...I lost almost 500 bucks this month in postal fees, insurance, customs... I dont need any upgrade now...😁 I dont need to listen what i had bought even if it can help in many case, but do not trust the hype, trust your ears AFTER optimizing your system and what you had already bought ... Often you dont need an upgrade but you dont even know it becvause you want tp put an upgrade plaster on a synergy problem or o0n a real embeddings problem unsolved and unbekknownst to you...... My small low cost speakers are real studio monitor audiophile one now, no reviewers say this, they only stated that they are good but no real audiophile monitor; they claimed so because no reviewers never optimized them at all....They listen them right out of the box and sell them as they appear to them with NO ACOUSTIC CARE ... But why there is no relation between my small speakers right out of the box and now ? It is not the same speakers even in his bass specs floor... Acoustical, mechanical and electrical embeddings control... Synergy also; i pair this very precise and clear active speakers with a NOS warm dac and the coupling is magic with no fatigue and no harshness and water clarity with a honey feeling in fluidity of timbre... Think about the conditions around any components and experiment simple things in their working dimensions before upgrading... |
A modest-output class-A solid state amp should be able to drive those Fortes with ease (you haven't mentioned wanting tubes, which could also do well with the Fortes, but probably beside the point.) A Schiit Aegir or Musical Fidelity A1 or a Sugden would all fill the bill well. An Accuphase class-A integrated would be an excellent choice, but for significantly more money. |
Congrats. Great system you’ve put together. Unless you’re a real “vinylfile”, I think you’ll appreciate the simplicity of the XP17 and of course how good it sounds. I used a XP15 and Int60 for quite awhile in one of my setups. There is always a very nice synergy with Pass and don’t worry about too much power. Pass and Klipsch partner very nicely. I remember years ago a buddy of mine had 4 Klipschorns with some humongous Mac amps. We had to go outside in the middle of the cul-de-sac in front of his house to listen. |
