Best set-up under $20K


Hello!

I´m starting to look for an upgrade.  What would you buy with a 20k budget?  (new or used)

My actual system is bw803d2 with hegel h360.
I started looking at bw802d3 with mcintosh ma8900 + streamer (?)

I mostly listen to digital (Tidal) through iphone/airplay.  

Will install it in a big room (about 6mts x 10mts); listenning & dinning room. 

Tks 

gfguimaraes

I agree with upgrading the streaming end of things.  One thing to put out there--I recently purchased a Bluesound Node X and have been extremely happy with it in my heritage McIntosh system (2125 amp, C28 pre amp, Mc XR 5 speakers).  It is a more resolving DAC than the last generation Node.  See a couple of Steve Huff reviews on the node X.  A final thought would be that after carrying this Mac system to different homes over 40 years, is how crucial is the room itself and speaker placement. The sound is far superior in my current room with my older Mac speakers pulled out from the wall, than/ earlier smaller rooms with speakers in the corners.  I prefer the sound in my current room/system to much higher end speakers (Wilson Sabrina, Sonus Faber Nova III)  in the dealer showrooms.   Have fun....

Legacy focus xds will easily fill up a large room 96db efficiency and pair well with hegel

 

The speakers have true subwoofers built in

They also throw a huge soundstage

 

Next look at a 432evo standard music server this server will get a far better sound out of the hegels dac

Dave and Troy

AUDIO INTELLECT NJ

Hegel legacy and 432evo dealers

I love the Focus XD also, but pairing with an external integrated amp is not straightforward. The subs internal to the XDs must be powered by the internal 750 watt amp, and that amp has no input trim. It's unlikely that the gain on the integrated is exactly the same as the XD internal amp.

The Legacy And Wavelet external crossover is a popular solution, but at $8k, it's a budget buster in this case.

The Focus SE is a good option when there's a desire to use an external amplifier with minimum fuss. Where there's no external amplifier, the XDs can be entirely powered via the internal amp.

Aesthetix Calypso Sig, Ayre VX-5 Twenty, Lumin U1 Mini, Line Magnetic LM 502ca & Graham LS5/9. All connected with several sets of Audience AU24 XLR, speaker lines & digital cables w/Transparent PCs. All purchased pre-owned & all in excellent condition - perfect in my med size room. All tubes NOS Amperex, Telefunken & RCA. Just over the $20K mark total investment.

I agree with others: add a dedicated streamer and a high quality external DAC .  Breath new life yes it will.