2. amps-preamps
  3. 157290-105988

Sub 1k integrated?

A couple of years ago, I reached out for budget speaker advice, and ended up with the original Elac debut b6's. After an underwhelming beginning, I am onboard and have been very happy, though I do run the treble tone control a bit hot. Currently (huh huh) driving them is an about 20 year old Yamaha HTR-5560 avr receiver that I am looking to upgrade. Although is it now considered vintage and thus better than anything out there today? Maybe an interesting concept to explore in another thread...

Now to the point. On paper I've limited my choices to a Yamaha A-S801, Outlaw Audio RR2160, or the recent YouTube darling IOTAVX SA3/PA3 stack. Anyone with experience with these? Will any of these be a decent anchor piece as I slowly but surely wind on down the road?

I listen to mostly rock, post rock, metal, space rock, blues and jazz. If you are tempted to assume the metal and post rock stuff is without dynamic range, let me know and I'll send some album recommendations.  This source material is primarily played from a healthy yet strangely still expanding CD collection, played by the Onkyo 7030 with the onboard Wolfsons. Streaming is done with a Chromecast audio puck/Schiit Modi 3 setup using Google Play Music and Spotify. No vinyl in the future, and I don't need it to do home theater duty.

Thanks in advance!

iron57

Showing 6 responses by iron57

iron57 OP
81 posts
 
Hmm, interesting. So glad I posted, each reply so far has given me something to ponder...

Thanks!
iron57 OP
81 posts
 
I will be sticking with the b6’s for now though, or to your point is that a bad play?

Save for higher performing speakers first then amp? Or build around a new amp? A question that has been posted and pondered many times in this forum and others. Emotionally, I think I am more ready to let go of the AVR right now and upgrade speakers down the line.

I am not chasing hi-end (obviously) I have three future college tuitions as bad roommates right now, I am after something entry with a respectable sound to price ratio.

Great point on the YouTube darlings too.
iron57 OP
81 posts
 
If I am being honest, not really ready for a tube world, constantly worrying when they'll go out, if there is another matched set better than the other, etc. Maybe this isn't the experience and I'm totally naive, but my trip down memory lane with vinyl a few years ago made it obvious that I don't have the stamina for next level analog.
iron57 OP
81 posts
 
What a terrific picture you have painted, makes me want to go back to a dorm, ha ha!

But sorry, I was trying to be creative with the language, and being a scientist likely fell flat. To clarify, I am solidly middle-aged with three kids, hopefully who will all go to college at some point, so we are preparing for that financially. Hence my "good enough" and budget conscious approach to the hobby. I have been in love with stereo since my first mid-’80s Technics, and now with a bit of disposable income I am feeling like climbing at least one rung up the ladder. Still have the Technics which did witness the beer days of undergrad though, and it is faithfully serving as the garage rig with my old (vintage?) Bose 301 *edit* Series II’s.

And yes, Klipsch heresy IVs are on the long term aspirational radar.
iron57 OP
81 posts
 
Running blue jeans now for speakers and interconnects
iron57 OP
81 posts
 
Well, haven't procured anything yet, but was able to score a pair of Focal Aria 906's, despite my earlier thinking that I would hold on to the Elacs for a bit.

Having taken this new turn, any $1k amp recommendations that would be a good match for the Focals?
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