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Help a recovering audiophile build a system

Hello there! I have been out of this hobby (sickness) for about 2 years now. In 2008 I sold my entire system (look up Beauty and the Beasts) and decided to take a little breather. I am now ready to get back into this hobby, determined this time to stay focused on enjoying the music and not spend a ridiculous amount of money (no more than $4K per component).

My system now consists of a pair of Sonus Faber Cremona monitors and a huge digital music library. I am looking for advice on the following:

Integrated Amp
DAC
CD transport (instead of a DAC a CDP that has digital inputs would be nice)

My goals are clarity, dynamics, and speed with just a touch of sweetness.

Thank you in advance for your help!
128x128tboooe
9 responses Add your response
inna
7,296 posts
 
Thank you. Well, ipod is, let's say, $400 and Grado $300-$650. Not a pocket change but not too much. And you could easily sell the Grado and give your ipod to your brother.
Whatever you decide - good luck.
tboooe's avatar
tboooe OP
1,009 posts
 
Thanks for the response everyone!

Dpac996, the Pass Int is on my list as well as the Ayre. As for dacs, I am looking at the Ayre and Esoteric. These are all brands I have had in my system at one point. Of course I am open to others.

Daverz, I currently have a Sonos system that will act as the transport for my digital library. Thought the SB is nice, I have so many zones of music that the Sonos makes the most sense.

Inna, my brother suggested the same thing. I must admit headphones intrigue but I am afraid that is yet another rabbit hole that could easily suck my time, resources, and money.
inna
7,296 posts
 
I would start with ipod touch and Grado headphones and see how much I really want to go into that repetition.
daverz
487 posts
 
I'd suggest a Squeezebox Touch for the transport.

I use a Cambridge Audio 840C as a CDP/DAC, which I do like very much for the DAC, but you might consider going CDPless as it only takes a few minutes to rip a CD and rescan the music collection. That would give you a lot more choices for a DAC.

For the rest, I'm sort of in between gear myself, or maybe just getting restless.
stanwal's avatar
stanwal
3,147 posts
 
If I was buying new I would look at the Krell S 300i, which you can get for $2000. Used opens a wide field, Blue Circle isn't famous but I like their products. CJ 2000 looks good, I saw one on here for $3200 the other day. I like the Naim DAC, there was one on here used last week for $2000 OBO. I offered $1750 but was outbid [don't tell my wife!] I would look for products that have a rep of being musical rather than analytic, a lot of high end products sound too bright to me. I was going to get a pair of Cremonas but got a very good deal on another European speaker instead. Happy hunting. Stan
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
hey, you could buy my whole system.

then I would have to buy a new one.

AWESOME!!!
buconero117
2,311 posts
 
I will not be your 'enabler'. I have enough problems of my own.
dpac996's avatar
dpac996
696 posts
 
Impossible. You will be posting beauty and the beasts squared by springtime-- Lol. You could try a pass int 150 with ps audio dac3. Or for less how about naim nait integrated?
macdadtexas
1,794 posts
 
Stay away, don't do it, don't get dragged back in....

Hey, if you need a fix though, I've got cables, good cables, cheap.... Change your life man.
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