Need compact end of life audio system to shoehorn into a corner of a compact living space


My thinking is a MacMini as the volume pre control into a DAC running off iTunes ALAC out to an amp, possiblly an XA30.8 into speakers and possibly subwoofer to fill out the bottom. that can move some air with warmth over accuracy more 70's stereo than 2112 accuracy using Kimber 8TC.

What DAC, amp and speaker options are there to consider beyond noted xa30 that will burn less power and not require retubing each year and non paper cones to last a generation.  Alexia/Sasha are likely too large and sizzling so O93/96 are more the flavor with an 8' listening wall and 10'ish to main listening point in a very compact 9' tall room. 10' open space behind, 10' left with glass wall immediately right of listening area that likely will little to no treatment other than see through roller blind or heavy drapery at best.


sayas
That "end of life" phrase is really disturbing! I myself am of an age to which the phrase can (and is) used appropriately, and I don't like hearing it ;-) .
No reason to stop listening just because you pass. Catacombo systems available for caskets with option for random play or playlist. 
What, I wonder, would you audition such a system with?
Thriller? Or anything by the Zombies?
Hey I resemble that remark...

Compactness is underrated, and your suggestions are still too room-intensive for most situations.  A one-box system is ideal, and maybe all that is needed depending upon what you expect from your music at that age.

For best SQ, one approach would be a great head-fi system.  I favor Stax with a Blue Hawaii amp, fed by (pick a streamer) perhaps the new Bryston 3.1x? streamer/DAC running Roon.  

From observation, most old EOL'ers find themselves in smaller and smaller spaces, and the music system is often traded off for living space.  Would you rather have a small refrigerator for your food (the food your nurse/caregiver doesn't prepare) or would you rather have great sound? 

And how good is your hearing anyway?  My grandmother was a professional musician, but by age 96 she was very nearly deaf.  All she needed was enough cues from the recording to be able to fill in all the rest of the music in her own head.  Of course we would all leave the room when she started singing the Arias.  She loved music until her dying day.


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Not sure if it is in your budget, but I might suggest an Ayre EX-8, integrated with built in DAC along with some custom speakers from Fritz.
Let him know you need actual bookshelf speakers, not stand mounts, and he can design you a pair of sealed speakers that will be top notch.