Help! Trying to choose between 2 integrateds that I haven't heard to pair w/Vandersteens

I've been reading up on the Supratek Chardonnay, and it sounds like an amazing preamp and value. He's doing a blog again.

http://supratekaudio.blogspot.com/

Thanks folks! 

wlutke  I've thought about Vandersteen Treo CTs (I love the Vandy sound), but would miss the bass extension. They are excellent, as are some others in that $8-12k range. That opens a can of worms...bringing up the entire system to the next level! If I only had more money, right? The greatest frustation for me is trying to solve an equation with more than one variable at a time (you can't) and it's impossible in my experience to find dealers that carry a broad range of components and speakers to mix and match while auditioning carefully, without traveling far and wide and spending more time than I have. I'd love to find my dream speaker and work backwards, but not sure how. 1st world problems. That, and 64 year old ears with some tinnitus, so I'm trying to be practical and not spend more $$ than I can practically enjoy, with ears that aren't getting younger. All I want is a system (one as simple as possible) that I can forget about and just enjoy the music with and stop worrying about hardware! Oy.

Thanks, mdemaio
I’ve spoken to John... he’s great. He loves the Mimas, btw. He also love Ayre and Belles, depending on budget.

tomic601 - I live in Port Angeles, 2.5 hours W of Seattle. I used to live in north county San Diego for 10 years (until the mid-80s, then LA for 16 yrs), and have shopped at Stereo Unltd. I talked to Ray not long ago, because my pal in Calsbad/Encinitas shops there sometimes and I learned they were an Aesthetix dealer so I called for info. Nice guy. He’s been in "the biz" for what, 40+ years?

You have the charmed life...PacNW in summer, SoCal in winter!

wlutke5

Your speakers got a glowing review! Do you love them? I love the Vandy sound, but ponder what I would do if I had $10-20k for speakers? Quatro CT? Or? I also dream of some really efficient (>93db) speakers with which to drive a low powered integrated like the Linear Tube Audio, maybe for a 2nd system.
https://www.theabsolutesound.com/articles/acoustic-zen-crescendo-loudspeaker

Thanks, Jim tomic601. I recall that you’ve set up 2 systems with the Mimas and Treo CTs (which I still want, and almost got used, a 1 year old mint pair for $6k and then I dawdled and missed it), and that’s one reason I became Mimas-curious. So you’ve heard their DAC? For $1200, to have that built in as a base DAC, while able to experiment with external DACs, seems a great option. QUESTION: Have you tried the Mimas with headphones? I listen with cans about 30% of the time so it’s important to me. The 1/4W output of the standard phones output would I hope drive my Sennheisers, but they’re planning a 1W output phones card, they say, which I would want. I love the idea of the Mimas with the Quatros too ... my pal has them and they are amazing.

charles1dad - I may be unwisely assuming that with an MSRP of $5000 more than the Mimas, that the Ayre integrated is "better" but if I am wrong, that makes the Mimas an excellent value. I would love to audition them side-by-side with Vandys, but the only dealer I know of that carries all 3 brands is John Rutan in NJ (who also carried Belles). If I weren’t as far as one can get from him in CONUS (I live in W. WA state), I would for sure make the pilgrimage.

OK, a hypothetical for anyone not bored with my questions!

WOULD YOU upgrade to TREO CTs first, and keep the front end I have for now (my Odyssey Khartago amp is well-regarded and sounds good)

OR

Upgrade to the Aesthetix Mimas (for example, or the Ayre integrated) now, and then the Treo CT (or Quatro CT if I was very fortunate) later?

There probably is no wrong answer, but I am looking for the biggest improvement now, with an upgrade path later. THANKS!

tvad

Good logic! Thx

Thanks, Jim tomic601

I lived in MT for 12 years after LA, so the big city is only a place to visit for me now... I've been ruined by smaller towns. I could probably live in parts of San Diego, if I could afford it. Shoulda never left SD :(

There may be a dealer locally...I'll check.

I don't have my room on A'gon. It's 12 X 15 with the speakers on the long wall. 2CE's sound good, and the Treos would too (and might be better, as I can place them closer to the wall). I do have access to a 14 X 24 room downstairs, in a lower level mother-in-law apartment, but it has a separate outside entrance so is less convenient to pop into for short listen sessions. I know it would be a better hi-fi room, but wife for now wants it for guests and her office.