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System assembled; only a final decision about speakers remains

Thanks to many posters on this forum, I have nearly completed assembling an audio system.

Because I started off my questions on this forum regarding speakers, I’m posting my outcomes here. I’ve not finalized speaker choice. While I took "Speakers first" to heart and attempted to do things that way,  slow production times and the virus prompted me to research and purchase in multiple areas. I wound up getting everything but speakers first.

I am enjoying my system with some loaners at the moment (review to come), and then (if the cosmos allows) I will seek synergy between this system and speakers. My hope is that the speakers ordered (Salk SS6M) turn out to be keepers, but they'll have a 30 day trial period. No idea when I will receive them. Oh, and I need to do some additional thinking about power and wiring, etc. And furniture.

So, to the various posters who chimed in with suggestions and information (I took extensive notes and you are now part of my informal library), here’s what I assembled:

SPEAKERS
  • SALK SS 6M — these are being built (well, after the shutdown is lifted) and then I’ll TRY them for 30 days to see if they work. Others are being considered. Opinions are welcome.
  • Sub: REL 328
AMPLIFICATION
  • QS Linestage
  • QS 60 Monos amp
SOURCES
  • CD transport: Cambridge CXC
  • Streamer: Bluesound Node 2i
  • DAC IT (peachtree) — older; just to tide me over
  • DAC ORCHID — this is my keeper

CABLES

  • Toslink: for CD player
  • Coaxial digital: Analysis Plus Digital Crystal & Audioquest Forest
  • Interconnects RCA: Analysis Plus Copper Oval
  • Power for sources and amps: Pangea Audio AC 14 & 9 SE MKII
  • Speaker cables: Analysis Plus Oval 12

POWER

  • Conditioner: Panamax 1500

128x128hilde45
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hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,842 posts
 
Thanks to you both. Good accounts which give me enough confidence for a modest investment.

Two further questions:
1. Would my Panamax 1500 "surge suppressor/line conditioner" be able to simple serve as the power strip? If so, then all I’d need is the Audience?
2. Also -- how old is too old for these Audience units? I see one for sale for $345 but it’s date of mfr is indeterminate.
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Q1) My strong instinct would be to not use anything other than a pure power strip/outlet multiplier in series with a quality conditioner/surge suppressor.  (The Shunyata Venom Defender in my setup is not in series; it is in parallel with the outlets on the power strip).

Q2) Various published reviews of the aR2p go back at least seven years.  But since the surge protection it provides is described as non-sacrificial my guess is that you probably wouldn't go wrong buying an older used unit.  But of course if a very nearby lightning strike ever occurred when it was in use it might be a different story.

Best regards,
-- Al 
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,842 posts
 
Thanks, Al. I just bought one online -- 2016. First, I wrote to Audience and found out (a) warranty is still good for 6 more years and (b) warranty will be honored even if I'm not the original owner. Good product, good company. Done. (Just need to get that power strip.)
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
4,842 posts
 
P.S. Anyone want to weigh in on power outlets that are not crazy expensive (e.g. under $100)?
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