My last rodeo


Ready to buy new equipment after 20 years without.

I'm going to take this in steps and it may take me a year to a point where only minor tweaks may be all that remains. Ultimately, I may have about 30K available. 

I want to start with amp and speakers by telling you what I had. MFA 200C mono blocks, Audio Concepts Saffire III's with a pair of powered Sub 1's. The reason I mention this is because I was pleased with the results. As a matter of fact, I looked forward to coming home from work everyday to enjoy the music. A similar or better match would be great. Thanks

 

tburdwin

I plan on CD and streaming. What I have left over from the past is a PS Audio Lamda transport, PS Audio Ultra Link II and 2 passive stepped attenuators. I wanted to plug those in first and then go from there.

Audio Concepts had some really good speakers. I had a pair of the Jaguars for a while and they were excellent. Their only downfall was that they couldn't play really loud, which is the only reason I sold them.

Good luck with your search.

 

I doubt many people are familiar with your speakers, so it’d help if you could share what you loved about them and what sound characteristics are most important to you so we know better what you’re looking for.  Also, are you looking for a tube amp again, and would you prefer separates or an integrated amp and are you looking for a warmer sound or more neutral?  Would you be buying new or used?

@soix 

I'll do my best to explain. The final sound through the component chain was detailed, large soundstage, focused, good bass extension and great front to back layering.  I was happy with the final sound. I probably would prefer tubes but maybe SS amp with tube preamp would do.  Would say I'd prefer warm/ neutral and not analytical. Used is a possibility. I hope this helps. Thanks

 

For monitors I’d look at the Joseph Audio Pulsar, ProAc K1, and Acora QRB for neutral yet very natural sounding and musical speakers that excel at producing a layered 3D soundstage among other things.  For something that leans a tad warmer the QLN Prestige One or One v7 would be very worth exploring.  I’d pair any of these with a Spatial Audio Raven preamp and a Coda S5.5 Class A amp, and I’m not the best resource for tube amps so I’ll leave that to others but hope this at least gives you some ideas.  Best of luck. 

@tburdwin Keep the transport, sell the rest. Not needed. and there are better preamplifier implementations in 2025 than the PS Audio Ultra Link II

Since you’re keeping the transport, you need a DAC/Preamp with AES/EBU input, coaxial and Toslink inputs too so you can route from any of the corresponding outputs on the transport into the DAC/Pre.

I’d recommend a DAC/Pre that has DSP system onboard for seamless subwoofer integration (also has streaming capabilities built in. Get this witht he added UMIK-2 and Tripod - miniDSP SHD

Get two of this monoblock - Purifi EIGENTAKT 1ET9040BA

Analog XLR cable to link each XLR output from the SHD to each monoblock. - Balanced XLR Cables

Two of this large stand mount stereo pair with incredible imaging, tonal coherency and precision of soundstage cues - In Black or In Walnut

Stands. Get two - Custom Speaker Stand Made Upon Order

Get two of this subwoofer - Hsu Research VTF-TN1

this AES-EBU cable - Supra AES-EBU XLR cable

I assume you have speaker cables

 

And then use the rest of the money to dedicate to making iterative, room treatment decisions backed by science and not vibes.

@soix 

Those are great recommendations, IMO. ;-)  A friend of mine, a professional musician, heard the small Acoras in Tampa last year and was blown away.  The video online is very alluring, even if it can't convey everything about them.  I've also always liked ProAcs (still using my original Response 2's with replacement drivers) and Joseph Audio (wonderful realistic mid-range).  I'd like to hear the Coda amp.  Tube amps can be wonderful but they're a lot of work.

@tburdwin 

What about the room it will be in? More important than any one component. Good luck ! 

@tburdwin 

Look at getting some used PS Audio BHK equipment.  Both the Signature preamp and the 300 mono blocks are hybrid,  with tube input sections so you can configure the sound to your tastes.  Together you should be able to get them for $9-10K, leaving you at least $20k for speakers and a streamer. Speakers are a more personal choice, so I’ll leave it to others for suggestions, but I will add another vote for getting an Aurender  streamer.  
 

All the best.

Have you budgeted for 5% of the overall budget to get out in the thick of audio world and receive demo's, or is it 0.01%, for the accompaniment's whilst using the Keyboard.

The idea of not receiving demo's when making plans to part with $30Kish on audio equipment is not good.

@curiousjim 

 

Good suggestion on the PS Audio BHK equipment.  PSA are clearing out the old stock and you can get a new BHK 300 amp for $8,499.  I paid about the same for mine used and love them.

 

Seems like the OP needs a new audio chain:

  • server/streamer
  • DAC
  • preamp
  • amp
  • speakers
  • cabling
  • maybe power conditioning 

Decisions​​​​​​​:

  1. tube vs SS
  2. Separates vs integrated (preamp+amp). Integrates saves on casework and cabling, but less flexibility in upgrading vs separates.  Integrates built in DACs are often subpar to stand alone DACs since they are often built as an afterthought to a cost point, but a few integrates have good DACs.  Even fewer integrates have a built in streamer.

Starting from scratch, one can choose amp first then speakers, or speaker first then amp (which is my preference)

Both speaker and amp choices are highly subjective- there are many great sounding components, but few that would subjectively resonates with you (pulls you into the music).  So best to demo yourself to find what you like.  Check out high-end audio stores and audio shows like AXPONA.

Seat time first. Without your credit card, check or cash. Go listen to the best on offer and hear what is possible. Then figure out what you like, and why. References are good, but I’d listen to as wide a variety of music as possible to hear the man behind the curtain. Every system has some weaknesses. But the strengths often outweigh those, based on your ears. And you should save money by doing this as part of your personal "due diligence" to educate yourself as to your own preferences in today’s market. I didn’t look up where you are, but a plane flight is still cheaper than an expensive component or raft of them that takes you in the wrong direction. I express no preference. You can look up my system here, which represents where I’m at on one system; my other system is a vintage system that replicates what I ran in 1975-- based on the Quad Loudspeaker, also all tube, vinyl. 

But that’s my preference. Yeah, I can do digital and use it. Some of it sounds amazing. I’m still vinyl heavy but that’s the result of almost 60 years of buying LPs. Hit or miss. No one way. Have a riot. :)

@tburdwin As a forum member without too much activity but possibly a regular reader I typically post for individuals with this type of profile.

I would also like to suggest that you investigate if an audio club is functioning local to you or at least at a distance that can be covered to make a meeting or two.

An interaction with likeminded people with the shared interest, especially individuals without an interest in your intention to spend, will bring into your hobby a substantial amount of experiences to assist with how to consider structuring your new direction. There is only gain and absolutely nothing to lose, when being active in a social encounter with audio as the common theme. 

 

@whart I'm just back to this thread. I may have to fly. It's about an hour 1/2 drive to the Spokane airport. Any recommended dealers in Washington or Oregon? I might actually prefer to drive, not because I'm afraid, I hate the hastle and love to drive. I used to live in LA, Should have done it before I moved. 

@pindac I'd be lucky to find one conveniently close but you never know, I'll have to look. 

Thanks all

 

 

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@tburdwin - you are correct.  In my speakers search, in addition to audio shows I went to many high-end brink n mortar stores in the Bay Area and LA area - many storefronts.  Likely the Seattle/Tacoma 
 

The Pacific Audio Fest may be the closest local audio show. 

@kennyc Thanks for the heads up. The timing couldn't be worse as we are headed up to Canada for a week or 2.

@tburdwin -sorry, have little first hand experience with audio dealers in your neck of the woods- I know that one person took my recommendation to visit pitch perfect (which I think is now in Cathedral City, Ca) at a time when Shindo was still a very active brand, and bought into that sound. 

I guess the other bit of advice I would offer is to seek out dealers who promote different things--such as planars, dynamic speakers and horns or high efficiency speakers, and consider the amplification most appropriate for that type of load-- 

 I guess at this point, we’d need to talk about your room, size, dimensions, materials and surfaces, etc. 

and remember that no one dealer is going to have all brands/lines and will promote what they think is best to them. If you get enough seat time (and especially if you have multiple dealer options available that are close), you should really let your ears tell you what sounds most real to you, recognizing that an effective demonstration is going to maximize the results and your experience at home may differ. 

PS: as an after thought, I guess conceptually the best way to look at this is that you are building a system and synergies are real things which are very hard to know if you are buying X amp, Y speaker and are left to your own devices, such as reading reviews or listening to a sales pitch. 

I am at my last rodeo and just have to decide on a turntable/tonearm. I have had the pure joy of owning Kharma Grand Ceramique speakers for 15 years and highly recommend them. There happens to be a pair available for 12.8K on Audiogon. They originally sold for 68K and were the flagship for Kharma at the time. Enjoy the journey! 

@whart The only room I have ATM is our living room . 20x20 A-frame with about a 19’ peak. Carpet with wood walls and ceiling. Close to perfect as it gets.smiley I do have a shop I could dedicate for listening but I’d be guessing at the dimensions, it is rectangular. I’m at the age where the end is in view and I hate to put things off. I may not be able to due all the due diligence and I’m willing to accept that fact. I was happy with my last system and know it was far from perfect but I was happy. I never once balked at firing it up. I am in awe of all the knowledge and experience here at Audiogon.