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What is your favorite system for an Office or a Secondary System

Hello everyone, we just put out a fantastic little audio system that is the perfect kind of thing for an office, or a secondary system or for getting a newbie into high end audio.

The system we put out sounds amazing, Is is the Quad VA One a 12 watt tube amp, with usb dac $1,600

http://quad-hifi.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=41 plus a pair of the Quad S2 monitors a $1,000.00 pair of monitors with a superb ribbon tweeter, that are really impressive, see Ken Mcalf review in this months Stereophile. He loved em so we decided to try a pair.
Quad S-2 loudspeaker | Stereophile.com
https://www.stereophile.com/content/quad-s-2-loudspeaker

This entire system minus cables is $2,600.00 and you can even stream via Apt X bluetooth or usb input from a computer.

So with that in mind, what geat secondary systems that would be perfect for a newbie, that you have heard that offer much of what a great much more expensive does at a fraction of the price?

We would start with the KEF LS 50 wireless as a perfect example, the Quad VA 1/S1 combo.

What other kinds of systems would you guys recommend and like to talk about?

Dave and Troy
Audio Doctor NJ
128x128audiotroy
mountainsong's avatar
mountainsong
422 posts
 
KEF wireless. Second to none.
singsaint
1 posts
 
First time poster so I can speak as a newbie. When I hear “secondary system”, “office”, and “newbie”, I’m thinking small and reasonably priced. I just put a second system in my office a couple of weeks ago. I’m using a Parasound Zamp v.3 with their Zpre2, to go along with a pair of Klipsch KG 3.5s. I know, Klipsch is a love/hate thing, but the Parasound equipment does a very nice job of rounding out the high end. Bought the equipment used for a total of $600 (and $200 of that was shipping costs!). Going simple on the players with a Sonos Connect and an Oppo DV-981HD.

I got a chance to listen to a Quad VA One driving a pair of Ryan R610s, very impressive little integrated!
sdake's avatar
sdake
4 posts
 
For a high end office system (I know, not entirely the OPs question) with only digital:
Leben 300CSX ampifier (~4k)
DCS network bridge with Roon support (~4750 + $500 for lifetime roon + 20$/mo for Tidal lossless) - alternatively I am a fan of the affordable Oppo USP 205 which also offers a roon implementation) (~1300 direct)
KEF LS 50 wired speakers (wireless?  Z U G) (~1500)
Choose your dac wisely :) - I use a LM 205 - which works well (~1800) however I am planning to change it around.

If you want analog as well (and don't mind nosebleeds):
Feickert Blackbird (~10k)
Kuzma 4 point 11" or 14" (11" is a little more flexible on cartridge selection to reduce resonant frequencies as the mass is less - 14" is well, 14" of glory :) (~6k or ~10k)
Nagra VPS with MC and MM cart loads with VFS (10k)
cartridge selection is a personal choice, but can't go wrong with an MC cartridge from Ortofon (500-2k).  If you really want to bust the budget, EMT VM (~5k)
garagesale
5 posts
 
@singsaint, i actually really love the parasound/klipsch combo myself. highly under rated for a casual background music system.

i just put a small system in my kitchen where I tend to spend a lot of time. rather simply, its a Bluesound Power Node $800 retail with some leftover M&K 950's and a M&K SB8 from an older system. I think it sounds phenomenal for what I need it to do. retail for everything would be less $3500 for sure, and for when I have company over, its rather ridiculous the SPL I can get. 

In my office, I have my old set of Parasound Halo P3/A23 combo running a pair of Martin Logan Scenario's with a Sunfire TrueSub JR.  
mariovidal65
34 posts
 
Coctait Audio X12
Scott 222c
Sonus Faber Signum

Three ages of hifi and a global attitude for a charming, refined, incredible sound.

Mario
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