Hi, your brain will hurt before this thread ends! So many opinions and a broad question. My thoughts:
1) you have a great pre amp; so stay with separates and wait on amp purchase until you know your speakers and have listened. It's easy to wrap your head around how speakers compare in any given environment than it is to find the right amp to speaker combination. So for that I like to hear advise and recommendations... I like a warm SS amp like my old Classe CA 2300 or the hybrid sound of the PS Audio BHK. I have not heard a lot of Pass but everyone seems to love them. $$
2) I have happily ripped my CD's, started streaming, and then bought a nice DAC and never looked back. Vinyl (to me!!!) is as much about the experience of choosing, cleaning and cueing up an album...and chilling and listening. Bad digital is bad, but it can get quite good (to me!).
3) I have both a PS Audio Direct Stream and an Auralic Vega G2. They sound great with my Roon Nucleus and separates. Again, vinyl looks and is cool and I keep thinking about it..but it would never be my core listening, just a fun thing to play with. (flame away!).
3) People love to trash B&W. I have had two sets of the original Nautilus 802's and they are awesome. I have auditioned all the successor 802's. Diamond versions (?3) and the newest. Somehow I think they got less smooth, more analytical sounding and less attractive.
But I like cars from the 60's. You can get the 802N's for a great deal I agree. I paid $4200 for mint ones two years ago. They can be very revealing, and love a warm environment (carpeted basement!) Mine are staying.
4) I also think the Revel Ultima 2's either the Studios or especially the Salons are a great used value. They are so smooth and calm and easy yet everything is there. But so many choices in speakers and how they look in the room etc. Ive been told pretty cabinets means less focus on the components but I think why not be beautiful as long as you like the sound? I did audition and pass on the most beautiful Italian ones...
5) a couple of years from now, when everything sounds perfect, audition some nice power cables or interconnects from the Cable Company. For a deposit and the price of shipping, its fun and educational. I did not want to believe it could make a big difference, but in my systems and to my ears, upgrading my main power cables (conditioner and amp) and interconnects (Two sets XLR), made significant improvements. They let you try the cables for two weeks, so easy to hear for yourself. Good Luck! Ken
1) you have a great pre amp; so stay with separates and wait on amp purchase until you know your speakers and have listened. It's easy to wrap your head around how speakers compare in any given environment than it is to find the right amp to speaker combination. So for that I like to hear advise and recommendations... I like a warm SS amp like my old Classe CA 2300 or the hybrid sound of the PS Audio BHK. I have not heard a lot of Pass but everyone seems to love them. $$
2) I have happily ripped my CD's, started streaming, and then bought a nice DAC and never looked back. Vinyl (to me!!!) is as much about the experience of choosing, cleaning and cueing up an album...and chilling and listening. Bad digital is bad, but it can get quite good (to me!).
3) I have both a PS Audio Direct Stream and an Auralic Vega G2. They sound great with my Roon Nucleus and separates. Again, vinyl looks and is cool and I keep thinking about it..but it would never be my core listening, just a fun thing to play with. (flame away!).
3) People love to trash B&W. I have had two sets of the original Nautilus 802's and they are awesome. I have auditioned all the successor 802's. Diamond versions (?3) and the newest. Somehow I think they got less smooth, more analytical sounding and less attractive.
But I like cars from the 60's. You can get the 802N's for a great deal I agree. I paid $4200 for mint ones two years ago. They can be very revealing, and love a warm environment (carpeted basement!) Mine are staying.
4) I also think the Revel Ultima 2's either the Studios or especially the Salons are a great used value. They are so smooth and calm and easy yet everything is there. But so many choices in speakers and how they look in the room etc. Ive been told pretty cabinets means less focus on the components but I think why not be beautiful as long as you like the sound? I did audition and pass on the most beautiful Italian ones...
5) a couple of years from now, when everything sounds perfect, audition some nice power cables or interconnects from the Cable Company. For a deposit and the price of shipping, its fun and educational. I did not want to believe it could make a big difference, but in my systems and to my ears, upgrading my main power cables (conditioner and amp) and interconnects (Two sets XLR), made significant improvements. They let you try the cables for two weeks, so easy to hear for yourself. Good Luck! Ken