I should start with speakers. This I know. I’d like to establish a new system.

@yoyoyaya   +1. The audio system has to be viewed as a whole entity not just an individual component. An outdated view is the speaker is the most important link in the audio chain. Why is it outdated? It's the most flawed component, most room dependent and can be the least expensive item in a highly resolving system. The mainstream audio media/merchants has this backwards for a reason,. They want you to keep upgrading all other gear to find the correct balance with a speaker that did not fit in your original budget. 

For $20k, KEF R7 Meta ($,5,000/pair), KEF KC92 Powered Subwoofer ($2,000), NAD M23 amplifier ($3,749), NAD M66 DAC/Streamer/PreAmp/Dirac/Dirac Bass Control ($5,499) plus ~$1,000 for cables and you are comfortably under $20k, much less so on the secondhand market.

What a big, beautiful dedicated listening room you have!

FWIW, here is Grok's reply to your question:

Welcome back to the audio hobby! It’s great to hear you’re diving back in with enthusiasm, and your budget of $20k on the used market in the SE USA gives you some solid options to build a high-quality streaming setup. Your room—12’W x 30’L with a vaulted 11’H ceiling—offers a spacious canvas, though the length and vaulted ceiling might present some acoustic challenges we can touch on later. For now, let’s unpack your two divergent paths: the horn-driven Volti Audio with Cary SLI80 vs. the BBC-inspired Harbeth 40.2 with VTL MB185 Series III, all paired with Tidal and Qobuz streaming.

 

The Two Paths: Horns vs. BBC Sound

 

You’re absolutely right that these represent two different sonic universes. Horn speakers, like those from Volti Audio, tend to prioritize dynamics, efficiency, and a visceral, "live" presentation—think bold, immediate sound that fills a room with energy. The BBC sound, exemplified by Harbeth, leans toward tonal accuracy, natural midrange (especially for voices), and a more laid-back, refined listening experience. Your schizophrenia here is understandable; each scratches a different itch.

 

Option 1: Volti Audio with Cary SLI80 Integrated

 

• Volti Audio: Volti’s lineup (e.g., Rival or Vittora, depending on what’s available used) is known for high sensitivity (often 95-100 dB/W/m), making them a great match for lower-powered tube amps. They deliver a big, engaging soundstage with punchy bass and a lively top end, thanks to their horn-loaded design. In a 30’-long room, their ability to project sound could be a real asset.


• Cary SLI80: This integrated tube amp (around 40Wpc in triode, 80Wpc in ultralinear) uses KT88 or 6550 tubes and offers a warm, musical signature that could complement the Volti’s boldness without overwhelming it. It’s got enough juice to drive high-sensitivity horns, and the triode/ultralinear switch lets you tweak the balance between sweetness and power. Used, it often goes for $2k-$3k, leaving room in your budget.


• Synergy: Horns and tubes are a classic pairing—think Klipsch with SET amps. The SLI80’s richness should tame any horn edginess, while the Volti’s efficiency maximizes the amp’s modest wattage. Expect a fun, dynamic sound that excels with rock, jazz, or anything with impact.


 

Option 2: Harbeth 40.2 with VTL MB185 Series III

 

• Harbeth 40.2: These are large standmounts (or floorstanders, depending on setup) with a reputation for midrange magic, thanks to Harbeth’s Radial2 cone. They’re less efficient (around 85-86 dB/W/m, 6 ohms) and demand more power to shine, but they reward with coherence, detail, and a natural, unforced sound. In your long room, they’ll need careful placement to avoid bass bloom or a distant soundstage.


• VTL MB185 Series III: These monoblocks (200Wpc tetrode, 100Wpc triode with EL34 tubes) are overkill for the Harbeths in terms of power, but that’s not a bad thing. They bring a refined, balanced tube sound with tight bass and adjustable damping factor, letting you dial in control over the 40.2’s 12” woofer. Used, a pair might run $8k-$10k, eating a chunk of your budget but delivering serious performance.


• Synergy: Harbeths love tubes, and the MB185’s power and finesse could elevate the 40.2’s strengths—think lush vocals, precise imaging, and a fatigue-free listen. This combo leans toward classical, acoustic, or anything where nuance matters.


 

Streaming Integration

 

Since you’re all-in on Tidal and Qobuz, you’ll need a streamer/DAC to feed these setups. Options within your budget:

 

• Bluesound Node (~$500 used): Simple, supports both Tidal and Qobuz, decent built-in DAC. Pair it with an external DAC later if needed.


• Cambridge Audio CXN V2 (~$800-$1k used): Better DAC, same streaming versatility, a step up in refinement.


• Used Roon-ready streamer (e.g., Auralic Aries, ~$1k-$1.5k): If you’re open to Roon ($150/year), this unlocks a premium interface for Tidal/Qobuz and future-proofs your setup.


 

You’ll also need interconnects and speaker cables—budget $500-$1k used for decent brands like AudioQuest or Cardas to keep signal quality high.

 

Budget Breakdown

 

• Volti + Cary:
  • Volti Rival (~$8k-$10k used, depending on model/condition)
  
  
  • Cary SLI80 (~$2k-$3k)
  
  
  • Streamer/DAC (~$1k-$1.5k)
  
  
  • Cables (~$500-$1k)
  
  
  • Total: ~$12k-$15k, leaving room for tweaks or upgrades.
  
  
   


• Harbeth + VTL:
  • Harbeth 40.2 (~$5k-$7k used, 40th Anniversary editions pop up often)
  
  
  • VTL MB185 Series III (~$8k-$10k)
  
  
  • Streamer/DAC (~$1k-$1.5k)
  
  
  • Cables (~$500-$1k)
  
  
  • Total: ~$15k-$19.5k, pushing closer to $20k but doable.
  
  
   


 

Room Considerations

 

Your 12’x30’ space with vaulted ceilings favors the Volti’s projection—horns can energize that length without strain. The Harbeths might feel swallowed unless placed 3-5’ from the front wall with the listening position closer to the speakers (say, 8-10’ away). The vaulted ceiling could diffuse sound nicely but might also muddy bass—some rugs or panels ($500-$1k) could help tame reflections.

 

Listening Opportunities in SE USA

 

Sampling these pairings is tough without dealers nearby, but here’s where travel could pay off:

 

• Atlanta, GA: Audio Alternative often carries high-end gear; they might have Harbeth or similar BBC monitors. Volti’s less common, but call ahead.


• Charlotte, NC: Audio Advice occasionally stocks premium speakers and tube amps—worth a trip.


• Asheville, NC: Smaller scene, but shops like Soundwave might have tubes or horns to demo.


• Florida (Tampa/Orlando): Suncoast Audio has handled Volti and high-end tubes in the past—check their used inventory.


 

If none pan out, audio shows like Capital Audiofest (Nov ’25, if timing works) or Florida Audio Expo (Feb ’26) could let you hear similar setups. Volti’s Greg Roberts might even arrange a demo if you’re near his SC/NC border base—reach out directly.

 

My Take

 

• Volti + Cary: Go this route if you crave excitement and a “big” sound that fills your room. It’s cheaper, leaving budget for room treatment or a better streamer. Risk: Horns can be polarizing—some find them shouty if not paired right.


• Harbeth + VTL: Choose this for a sophisticated, intimate listen that rewards long sessions. It’s pricier and les


 

Ai is quite amazing, useful and insightful.  I continue to be impressed with responses to questions like the one above.  Anyone else have this experience with Ai, whether Grok, ChatGPT or others?

@toontrader start with your speakers.  You need to pin down the type of sound you value.  Some are more analytical and others more romantic or possibly organic.  Traditional box, open baffle, horns or something else.  It depends on your musical taste.  Do you want an all rounder or geared to a specific type of music you listen to.  I would then probably jump to the source component and get the best to satisfy your need.  The amplifer section probably leads you to an integrated solution depending on it's capabilities since they can contain a dac and streamer. Last but not least is how all of this equipment plays together (synergy).  I would probably lean on trusted dealer advise since it's really difficult to get all the elements right by just picking up a component here or there.    

Im not going to push any personal faves that are generally highly biased . But may I offer some SYSTEM synergy general decision factors to consider

.Picking your speakers first in isolation without a contemporaneous proper equal consideration to the upstream amplifier options is a high-risk and likely roadway to disappointment. Total system budget allocations matter upfront.

(1) amps vs speakers budget matrix

The philosophy is clear. An affordable speaker with decent amplification (and source) makes more sense than an expensive speaker with a cheap amp and source.

(2) Don’t ignore Amplifier power ratings and your speaker choice impedance curve & speaker efficiency ratings

Another word on amp power: though it’s less of an issue now compared with the days of valve amplification, if your speakers are demanding to drive, you’ll need a suitably muscular amplifier to support them.

Don’t look only at the headline power figure - see what happens when the impedance drops to four ohms. If the number nearly doubles, then your amplifier has good current delivery and will be capable of driving more demanding speakers.

Here is my system :

Wiim Pro Streamer $149

Schiit Yggdrasil+ GS2 DAC $1699

Schiit Freya+ Pre-Amp with 6SN7 Tubes $1049

PS Audio S300 Amp $1999

Harbeth 30.2 XD Speakers $5990

REL T/5X Subwoofer $699

Tom Trager Speaker Stands $1600

Cables $800

About $14k

Similar room to yours. I listen to jazz and rock. Everything in this system is recommended by The Absolute Sound and Stereophile magazines. The WIIM isn't but it's a great product. The DAC is as good or better than their current versions imo but still available from Schiit. This is a soft tube sounding system. I spent a lot of time picking what I believe are the best components available in their price range. TMR has a used pair of Harbeth 40.3 XD with Trager stands for $11,500 right now which would keep you around $20k.

 

Hello @toontrader , So many ideas and options!  I am  not into BBC or horns or panels, but will nonetheless add my thoughts.  I have a big room similar to yours, with high and vaulted ceilings.  After several old pairs, I found the Revel Studio and Salon 2 speakers.  I first bought the Studio 2's, but needed more pressure for the big room.  I traded up to the bigger and taller Salon 2's and they fill the room wonderfully.  Great bass and smooth treble.  They can still be found used for around 9-12k, and have held their price for years.  For amps I would buy the best Audionet amps you can afford, if not perhaps the Coda S5.5.  The Audionet amps bring speakers to life, with resolution and sparkle without fatigue.  The Max amps are the sweet value spot, with a used pair maybe for around 16k, but well worth it.  If you can find a pair of the Salon 2's, you can likely use them forever or a year or two and sell them for near what you paid.  Come for a visit in Mayland if you like!