Your Second System

I have three high quality audio systems - each in a different part of our house and each designed with a different purpose in mind.

The reference system resides in a dedicated listening room and really does all types of music exceedingly well. I built the room and the system with the primary objective of getting as close as possible to the sound of a live orchestra. In order to achieve this, the system involves serious amplification horsepower (almost 1kW per channel, including the amplification built into the woofer module of the speakers), speakers that can move a lot of air, and a room with acoustics engineered for optimal two-channel reproduction. All the components were chosen with an eye toward exceptional refinement, timbral accuracy, and tonal neutrality. The system also excels at dynamics, PRaT and truly full-range frequency extension.

I designed a second system for our living room area based around low-powered 300B SET amplification and MTM two-way floorstanders. The objective of the system is to reproduce small scale acoustic music (small-group jazz and classical chamber music) with all the presence and intimacy you can get with this style of system. The reference system is technically better even with the music that plays to the strengths of the smaller system, but there is an engaging warmth, presence and intimacy to the SET system that has a certain attraction. As a practical matter, this system also provides music in areas of our house where we often dine or entertain and where the big system does not effectively "reach."

There is a third system in our bedroom that is designed to be a manageably sized system capable of very high fidelity reproduction of small scale music at low to moderate volume levels. The system is based around single point source, crossoverless, speakers using full range drivers and Gainclone amplification. The components were chosen at least in part for their small size and their ability to be left powered up 24/7 with minimal generation of heat. This little system is fast as lightning and exceptionally coherent. At the same time, it is very musical. The tonal balance is excellent.

Even though the level of investment in these three systems varies widely, each one of them provides a very engaging, musical listening experience.

Kthomas, my advice is to initially devote most of your budget to your dedicated listening room. I suspect you will find that the construction and remodeling costs (including the cost of designing and installing acoustic treatments) when coupled with whatever upgrades you might have in mind for your reference audio system will probably get pretty expensive.

If you want to have a two-channel system in your living room when you move your reference system out, I would suggest that you start with reasonably priced gear and a digital source that can gradually be upgraded to include an analog source. As long as you start your living room system off in the direction you see for that system long-term, you should be happy gradually upgrading it without ever feeling the need to make any wholesale changes. For example, if you decide that you would like for that system to be a small scale system based around tube amplification and efficient speakers, you could start with a pair of reasonably affordable used speakers (DeVores or Zu Druids for argument's sake), some affordable amplification, and a competent digital source all within a roughly $5k budget. You could do an even less expensive system using an NAD BEE series solid-state integrated amp, for example.

Then you could gradually upgrade with higher end components in the same school of design and even add an analog source at some point in the future when the funds are available and the mood strikes. Over time, as you upgrade components in your reference rig, you might find yourself in the habit I have formed - that is, retiring your superceded components to your living room system instead of turning them into cash here on Audiogon...

Just some food for thought.

Good luck with your projects. We look forward to future updates!