$50k - $80k Budget…Opinions please.


Long story short, I sold my beloved 2-channel to reduce family debt. In about a year-ish, I’ll be in a position to rebuild with a hefty budget. I loved my Harbeth + Pass Labs combo. My REL sub died before I really got to integrate it, so opinions wanted there as well. I fully understand the diminishing margin of returns when moving into some arenas, but that’s ok, opinions are strongly encouraged.

I listen to a lot of Miles Davis/Coltrane, Radiohead, Tool, Pearl Jam, Brent Cobb. I’ve often preferred “organic” or neutral, not sure how technical that is.

toddcowles

Room and system synergy are the main items to work on. If you don’t have a good dedicated room that you can place your speakers say 10’ out into the room if you need to and it’s treated, don’t waste your money. If you have to place your speakers up against the walls and next to furniture because of the WAF, nothing will sound their best. Buy the appropriate speakers that fit your room, then buy the amp(s) that will make your speakers sound their best.

I have gone to dozens of audio shows (ces, rmaf, Tampa, northwest audio to name a few) and there have been probably 100+ rooms with hundreds of thousands of $$$$ of gear that sounded like sh$t mainly because the wrong setup for the room.

But I also think you build a system with the correct synergy with the room and all the system components, the more money you spend will get you better sq, until the difference in sq isn’t worth the much more $$$$ you will be spending to achieve it.

While most of us have unique opinions, Miles Davis sounds like he is standing in front of me on my system. The room, I place the system in the corner but the walls are broken up with irregularities and lots of absorbing features, curtains, etc, and the back two walls broken up as well. The result is zero secondary reflections, one perfect spot with full 3d definition. 
in this strange room, Project turntable, McIntosh phono preamp, VTL 5.5, VTL S200, custom cables, feeding Totem Acoustic Element Metal speakers with Thunder Sub II as I listen to organ music and like the solid low end.  
My previous system was Quad 63ESL’s, Vandersteen's, driven by Mark Levinson and was fabulous with isolating vocalists.  My current system does the same, and my opinion is the room treatment is so critical to eliminate secondary reflections. 
One disappointment in searching is many high end dealers have crappy listening set ups. I wish the best for you, may your ears be blessed.

For $80k I’d do Magnepan 3.7i with 1k GR-Research crossover upgrade. Bryston 28b cubed monoblocks with Audio Magic Masterpiece fuses. Chord DAVE DAC with silver lvl 2 Farad power upgrade, and Chord Mscaler with dual Shunyata Omega 75 ohm BNC cables. Mutec REF 10SE120 Master Clock with 2 Shunyata Omega word clock cables to Aurender W20SE Network Player, and Jay’s Audio CDT3-MK3 CD transport. Shunyata Everest and Omega power cables to power everything. Cardas Clear Beyond XLR’s and Speaker Cables. SR Master fuses in Word Clock, Streamer, and CD. 80k ultimate system imo.

Harbeth 40.2 XD

Kubala Sosna Sensation XLR and Speaker Cables

kubala sosna XPander power distribution and a kubala sosna Elation power cable for that and your amp.

Audionet Watt Integrated Amp…It’s much bette than Passlabs.or if you can wait until October the new Gryphon Diablo 333 integrated.

These new level of amps are as good as separates. Audionet will have a better synergy with Harbeth and are made in Germany.

If you want an even better speaker I would get the Sonus Faber Amati G5 and same electronics but they are $34,000.

I would get a Lampizator Baltic 4 DAC to get in some tubes.

Streamer would be new Auralic Ares G3.

With that budget, you might be able to build a dedicated listening room.  Depending on many factors, of course (such as the amount of work you do yourself and your existing floor plan).