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Starting from scratch and seeking advice as to how to proceed...

Dear fellow Audiogoners,
After residing abroad for a number of years, we are moving back to the U.S soon, and I am taking this opportunity to sell all of my current modest gear before we leave this country, to start again from scratch as we settle into a new home in the Washington D.C area.
a) My current gear (total purchase value = $5.000, as some of the gear was acquired second hand):- Peachtree Audio Nova 125 integrated- Buchardt S300 MK2 stand mount speakers- Magnepan MMG- OPPO BD93 Universal player- Bluesound Node 2i streamer
- SMSL SU8 V2 DAC
- SVS SB12NSD sub- Bluejeans/Audioquest  cables throughout
I have a brand new, still in the box,  ProJect Debut Carbon Esprit DC turntable with a Ortofon 2M Blue cartridge but it is in 220V version, so I don't know if I can use it in the U.S...(can anyone tell me if I can use it in the US?)

b) Listening room: will most probably be integrated into a living/dining/family/TV room to start with -- As we move back after several years abroad, we will start with a modest two room apartment/townhouse for the first year or so, in order to take our time and learn the market anew before embarking on the purchase of a more permanent, larger home.
I do plan to add essential room treatments, starting with oriental rugs on the floor, pictures and frames on the walls, boosted by a few specific sound enhancing wall/corner absorbers... (not sure what exactly I'll need, depending on the actual room I guess, my reading on the subject, and YOUR advice).

This means that I get to go through this lovely process twice! At first, a smaller, more modest system with a limited number of pieces (integrated + DAC/Streamer + speakers + turntable/CD), something that can easily be integrated in the multi use room, yet, that will provide better sound quality than my current setup, which is OK by me, but nothing transcendental.
c) My music tastes and medium: I listen to Modern  and vocal Jazz, classic rock, some pop, world music, alternative rock, and classical. In short, my tastes are eclectic and sources multiple and of varying quality (Spotify, Qobuz, CDs, around 300 old LPs accumulated over the past three decades, internet radio, poor quality files, YouTube..). I listen at normal volume (not too soft, not too loud), but sometimes need to crank it up when we have guests...
My questions:
In general, what is the ideal order in which I would purchase my new/used gear: speakers? amplifier? Source? DAC? etc.
How to best match components with each other...? and the rooms they will be installed in?
It would be nice to have a setup that we can use for both two channel and home theater use...(cable TV & movies)

System A (temporary gear, or foundational pieces on which I can built up later, when we eventually move to a bigger place, hopefully with a dedicated listening room...).
My budget for the first "foundation" system is around US$ 5.000, perhaps a little more, if it results in substantial SQ improvement.
I am OK with good used gear... such as ones found here!
There you have it! I tried to provide as much information as possible so as to allow you all to target your advice and suggestions.
When I get there, I will take some time to go and listen to recommended gear at pertinent stores in the D.C area and/or member's homes, should I be invited...
Thanks in advance for your informed advice, I am not so much interested in actual brands and models of specific gear, but rather on proper/optimal system building rules, while taking into account my specifics.
Regards,
jlr261
jlr261

Showing 5 responses by jlr261

jlr261's avatar
jlr261 OP
34 posts
 
Dear Slaw, djones51, twoleftears and pragmasi,
Thanks a bunch for your input !

Seeking others' opinions doesn't necessarily mean to automatically rely on it blindly... but as a relative novice, I do value input from fellow aficionados.
Note that I am not asking for specific gear suggestions and recommendations...just a recommended order of purchase.

Proof that sharing info and asking question IS great? My brand new TT will run on 110V!!! Just read it on the box... THANK YOU PRAGMASIThe box mentions 100-240V 50/60Hz

The fact is, I'm still wondering which component I should focus on first, then second, etc... (Speakers, then Amp, and then source, etc. ? or, Amp, then speaker,and then source, etc.?)

I agree that a HIFI system's sound will be the result of the combination of several components, and that it is not a good idea to just add components based on individual reviews and popularity, they have to "match" each other, and more importantly, the sound that pleases my specific ears... Is this correct?
Given the above, I am merely asking how you guys proceed(ed) when putting together your own setups, what mistakes you may have made, what were the good decisions.

My end goal is to put together the best possible setup at my given budget keep it that way for some time to come...a few years at the least.

However, when I was a very young man, someone sold and setup a fantastic system for my father, whom knew nothing about HIFI... and I'm the one who got hooked to good sound...

As far as keeping my existing gear until we settle in a permanent home, I decided to sell all of my other gear as shipping costs from Africa, where we live today, and the USA is crazy stupid!

So, we decided just to sell everything and start anew when we reach the land of plenty... it's gonna be fun too.
There you have it! So do tell me, I seek a pleasant, laid-back and non fatiguing sound, but that can also shake and rattle the room from time to time, mostly when Madame is out...
jlr261's avatar
jlr261 OP
34 posts
 
I forgot to ask... jjss49, have you heard either of my speakers with other amps that you feel would be a definite step up in SQ from my peachtree?Thanks, jlr261
jlr261's avatar
jlr261 OP
34 posts
 
Good evening,
elliottbnewcombjr and jss49 ! Thanks for your respective input, I do appreciate it.
Efficient speakers does  appear to make sense, for the very reasons you mention. I do want to try tubes at one point. Just starting out in this hobby.
I have only mated both speakers I own with the Peachtree thus far, and if I really like the MMG's sound, the Buchardt, while great, sound somewhat muffled... However, I can tell they have great potential.
I unfortunately live in a country where I am not able to try other amps with my speakers... and have decided to sell them as it will cost too much to ship them to the US when we return at some point this year... hopefully.

I may just move up the chain and purchase 1.7s and S400 when I am settled, and try them with various integrated - amps/preamps combinations... taking advantage of the possibility to return gear after trying them if it doesn't work.
One thing for sure is that I will always own a pair of maggies...
Back to my original motive for posting: should I focus on speakers first and then try out amps to match, or the other way around, or completely differently?

I am open minded and have described my eclectic musical tastes and circumstances and would really appreciate your guidance, if that makes any sense to wonder which component to purchase first, second, etc...
Have a pleasant sunday!
jlr261's avatar
jlr261 OP
34 posts
 
Hello daledeee!YES, I shall definitely look into room treatments as it makes 110% sense to ensure the listening room allows for the best possible interaction with whatever setup one has at any time.

However, this may have to wait until we move into a more permanent home, where I certainly hope to have a dedicated audio-video room!
Thus far, it's looking like I'll focus on trying as many efficient speakers as I possibly can, taking advantage of the trial periods offered by a number of good manufacturers and stores, as well as a good integrated amp and possibly a better than average DAC.
That should be sufficient to hold me over until we are fully settled back, at which time, I can take more time to try more equipment and fine tune my setup until I'm satisfied.
Thanks again everyone for your suggestions and opinions, half the fun of this hobby is to share and learn from each other, like many things in life!
jlr261's avatar
jlr261 OP
34 posts
 
Hello johnto,
Thank you! Your advice is right up my alley, budget and SQ wise...
I already own a Bluesound Node 2i and a pair of Magnepan MMG's that I'll be bringing back with me, so my first task will be to acquire an amplifier in order to have music in our home quickly.
I can then take my time to tryout in view of acquiring the various elements of a new setup, preferably on the used market to maximize value for $$ spent!

As I've never had the possibility of listening to different setups, due to our living in countries where there were no decent audio shops to speak of, I intend to take advantage of the possibility of ordering, listening/testing, and returning unsatisfactory gear, allowing me to experience different sound signatures, etc., finally allowing me to distinguish between OK, great!, and WOW setups... within my budget range.

As I wrote in my original post, I'm just starting in this hobby, although I've loved music and good sound quality for decades...
Within the context of my modest experience, I do like the Peachtree Audio sound very much.

Have you had a chance to listen to the Nova 300 with maggies ?

This iteration amp has received numerous accolades, is currently available on the used market for less than 1.5K, and also, reputed to be much "better" than my  Nova 125...
How much "better" than the MMG's are the 1.7i?

Would the Nova 300 drive the 1.7i with proper authority?

Of course, acquiring another, larger, pair of Magnepans will largely depend on the space I will have to devote to an audio-video setup.

From reading dozens of threads here and there,  I shall proceed as follows:
  • Set aside a dedicated audio-video room in our new home, if possible;
  • Start with the purchase of a used amp to drive my exiting gear (MMG/Node 2i) as a foundation;
  • Improve room acoustics early on, making modest but noteworthy improvements;
  • Visit stores/ attend shows, and use in-home trial possibilities to sample a wide variety of gear that suit my situation (room, music, budget, etc.);
  • Keep an eye out for exceptional gear that becomes available on the used market from time to time... Put together a system that will decisively improve on what I already have, and go from there...
  • In fact, it is entirely possible that I will be satisfied with the new amp driving the MMGs, using the Node 2i, and perhaps adding one or two good sub-woofers?

Voilà! Thanks again for chiming in, I am certainly reading many good things about Parasound's great compatibility with maggies, and the Hint integrated is definitely a hit as far as the various professional/private reviewers are concerned.




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