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System forclassical music

Some friends are looking to upgrade their home stereo system from something that is probably 30 years old with in-wall speakers wired throughout their house.  They are classical music buffs, which makes me leery of giving them much advice (I prefer rock, female jazz vocalists and Argentine tango).  They are discerning listeners, but probably because of their current system their expectations were low - they really didn't think that a home system could come anywhere close to a concert hall experience until I streamed Chapotier's Te Deum from Qobuz on my (modest) system and their eyebrows went up.  I told them that they could reasonably do even better, but I really wouldn't know what to advise them.  I realized that I actually don't know a dealer I would trust sending them to!  Sad, but true.

So let's say a budget of $5 to $10K for a core system (streamer, DAC, amps, sub, speakers - TT and CD transport to be added later).  Integrated is fine.  Assume a 15x20 multi-purpose room (I alerted them to room correction, but first things first).  Any suggestions as to what might be a good fit for them?  Thanks.
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Showing 3 responses by jjss49

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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
op

are they buying new gear at retail or are they willing to buy very good condition used? latter will get them better sounding gear, obviously, but may take some add’l effort

and what cosmetic limitations or constraints do they have?

if it were me in their situation i would buy the following:

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649742043-spendor-sp91-floor-stand-speakers/
https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649756198-hegel-h-120-integrated-amp-w-dac/
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisab1hg-bluesound-node-2i-wireless-network-streamer-white-open-bo...
use the node2i digital output to feed the digital input of the hegel
plus a qobuz annual subscription

5 grand, done... for classical this system will make no apologies to any system up to 3x the cost imho
jjss49's avatar
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
those sp9/1 being floorstanders, go quite deep, and with proper placement allowing a little bass reinforcement from the room, they can be effectively full range for all but the most ardent bass lovers (40 hz -3b)

http://ukhhsoc.torrens.org/makers/Spendor/SP9-1_hifinews_publicity_reprint.pdf

having said that, most systems even with purportedly full range speakers can still benefit from well integrated subs for subterranean atmospherics...

come back and let us know what your friends end up doing -- graduating from an in wall system certainly sets the bar low for them to pleased with any proper in room hifi rig :)
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jjss49
6,612 posts
 
@mahler123

Do people really believe that some systems are good for Classical and bad for everything else, and vice versa? I would hope that a good system should excel in all areas of Music


my take on this is that yes, most good systems will play all musical genres pretty darned well, make them sound very good

but all systems, even good ones, have specific strengths and weaknesses in the soundscape they present and volume level they play best at ... for classical music, especially symphonic music, benefits from speakers which have refined, not splashy treble -- and which presents music with scale, meaning large wide deep soundstaging, furthermore, there needs to be very natural and pure timbre

other systems that do rock or modern popular music very well may have great visceral impact and speed and might be more forward in their treble presentation to allow the listener to hear layers and layers of multitrack detail

some lovely single driver systems do smaller scale jazz and vocals very persuasively but could sound overwhelmed with hard driving rock for instance... and so on...
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