Ming Da MC-88 tube integrated (true active preamp stage, not a cheap passive volume pot, UL 50w/triode35w/ch): $800 used @ www.responseaudio.com ("specials" link). I own Ming Da preamp and monblock amps and have dealt with Bill Baker of Response for mods on both. He is an authority on Ming Da products and will back what he sells;
Usher "U2.5" speaker kit: $1000 @ www.zalytron.com ("Usher Kits" link) - buy the kit WITHOUT crossovers and email the crossover diagram to George Short @ www.northcreekmusic.com for him to assemble boards with his "mid level" parts: about $300;
The North Creek crossover modules will come with wires and slip on connectors so all you need do is stain the boxes, attach the crossover boards to the inside of the boxes with a $20 hot glue gun, slip on the connectors to the driver and terminal cup tabs, screw in the drivers and terminal cups and you're done. Takes about 4 hours and ANYONE can easily do the final assembly - NO soldering iron needed! The Zalytron boxes are 1.5 inch MDF. Line the inside walls with Black Hole 5 adhesive-backed sheets and you have nearly full-range loudspeakers that cost aboout $1200 and sound as good or better $3k range commercial offerings. I built a variant of the Zalytron "Phenomenal 3" kit and had North Creek build the crossovers. I will never part with these speakers - they are that good.
You now have spent $2200 and need a CDP and ICs/speaker cables. Choose your CDP wisely (I've heard the Music Hall CD25 @ about $400 new - fine for its price and Sound Odyssey on 'Gon offers nice mods when you're ready...) and you'll embarass many others with far costlier systems.
jb
Usher "U2.5" speaker kit: $1000 @ www.zalytron.com ("Usher Kits" link) - buy the kit WITHOUT crossovers and email the crossover diagram to George Short @ www.northcreekmusic.com for him to assemble boards with his "mid level" parts: about $300;
The North Creek crossover modules will come with wires and slip on connectors so all you need do is stain the boxes, attach the crossover boards to the inside of the boxes with a $20 hot glue gun, slip on the connectors to the driver and terminal cup tabs, screw in the drivers and terminal cups and you're done. Takes about 4 hours and ANYONE can easily do the final assembly - NO soldering iron needed! The Zalytron boxes are 1.5 inch MDF. Line the inside walls with Black Hole 5 adhesive-backed sheets and you have nearly full-range loudspeakers that cost aboout $1200 and sound as good or better $3k range commercial offerings. I built a variant of the Zalytron "Phenomenal 3" kit and had North Creek build the crossovers. I will never part with these speakers - they are that good.
You now have spent $2200 and need a CDP and ICs/speaker cables. Choose your CDP wisely (I've heard the Music Hall CD25 @ about $400 new - fine for its price and Sound Odyssey on 'Gon offers nice mods when you're ready...) and you'll embarass many others with far costlier systems.
jb