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totem arro or rainmaker or von schweikert vr1

I am a college student getting into my first real audiophile system, i have a budget of only about 1500 for amp and speaker, and that is sort of pushing it. I am considering a set of totem arros or rainmakers or possibly a set of von schweikert VR1. Each of which i can find for around 700 or so on audiogon. as far as amplification im leaning towards a musical fidelity x-150 or maybe saving some money and getting an NAD c320bee or c352 or Cambridge Audio 640A. IF anyone has experience with any of these combinations or if you have any suggestions considering my budget i would apreciate all feedback good bad and ugly
Thank you
robferg

Showing 1 response by mimberman

mimberman
299 posts
 
I'd also go for the Arro's. I don't love NHTs, and while I like the Rainmaker's and VR-1s, I think the Arro is the is most impressive. The comment above that their narrowness could make them easy to tip over is applicable to many speakers (and those on stands) and while I don't believe these can be mass loaded (like many stands can) I've used them and as long as you're not careless, you should be fine (if you have a big dog or kids, then maybe you'd want to rethink these speakers, or just close the door).

In terms of an amp, I think the nad is fine, but there are other units which would match better with the Arros.

My bets would be a used Musical Fidelity A300 (should set you back about 7-800), a Music Hall Mambo (there's one for 750 right now) which also gives you the added bonus of an upsampling DAC, or this lovely YBA Integre Initial, which would be a super mate for the Arros (but is pricy at 920):

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1126417835

While I'm at it, there's a Simaudio celeste someone has up, and I love the Sim-Totem combo:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1125424222

Maybe a Classe?:

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?intatran&1123788062

Happy hunting
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