2. misc-audio
  3. 187341-118236

Help me spend $100,000 on a new system

I’ve recently been considering moving and downsizing my home. While exploring how much I might sell my house and land for, I was shocked that I might have an excess of $100,000 after selling and buying a smaller new home with less acreage. I’m 71 years old and can’t take it with me, so I’m trying to figure out how to spend that potential resource.

One possibility would be to purchase a new stereo system with all that cash. I would like to demo a system costing that much to see what sound quality you could get for a stupendous amount like that. But I don’t have any idea what brand/model components to look at. Perhaps you could suggest components you might consider if you were setting up a system at that price point. Also how would you budget the total amount per component including wiring.

I am not interested in adding streaming or anything else I might not already have to the system. I would be open to buying separates to replace any single component such as the integrated amplifier. Maybe a separate DAC, phono stage, preamp etc. Please tell me what you would do.

Following are the components I already have to upgrade. My system consists of Magico A3 speakers, a Luxman 507uX MK2 integrated amp, a Marantz Ruby KI CD/SACD player, A VPI Classic 2 turntable with a Fatboy tonearm and a Lyra Kleos cartridge. Wiring consists of Audioquest Rocket 88 speaker cables, and VPI house brand wires that connect to the tonearm. I forget the brands of the other wires and cables, but they are of similar quality to the above.

I also have a Shunyata Hydra Denali 4000 power conditioner with a Venom power cord (I think) that I will continue to use without upgrading.

I would welcome any of your suggestions and utilize them next time I go up to Washington DC to visit dealer showrooms for demos. Thank you much.

It does sound weird to consider spending that much on a system costing over three times what I paid for my first home, so I hope I’m not sounding uppity here.

Mike

 

 

skyscraper
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,870 posts
 

If you are advertising spending $100k there is a good chance there are a few dealers or other high end industry affiliated folks around here licking their chops and offering “unbiased” advice. So be aware of that.

Also the people advising to not change anything until you know what you have in a new house and room are absolutely correct. You can’t know how anything will in fact sound there until you are there and listening. Anything is possible including ending up with your dream system for a lot less. Make one change at a time and the room and it’s acoustics will likely be a big one up front that does not change again.

I am also older and approaching retirement. I want the best sound and a system that is physically manageable. That means smaller and simpler is better. That’s just me but worth considering. Would you really want to deal with a large heavy bulky and hard to manipulate bunch of gear at this point that $100k could easily buy? Good things can come in smaller packages. Just something to consider perhaps.

terry9
2,242 posts
 

My suggestion is "hang onto those cables." Cables are the least bang for buck and tend to be system-specific. Make any new cables show their superiority in your new system at your convenience. IMO

As for the room, there was a feature about 4 years ago in Absolute Sound or Stereophile on construction technique, which I mostly followed. Also, dimensions matter, down to the fraction of an inch.

There's all kinds of snake oil about dimensions from the usual suspects, very definitely including equipment manufacturers. But the real deal has ben done by the famous acoustician Cox, at the University of Salford (UK). His results are available there - basically, he says that 80% of rooms are bad, 18% are OK, and 2% are good. I built according to his specs, and the results are excellent. I now have the best room I've ever heard.

Good luck. YMMV

ronboco
748 posts
 

@skyscraper 

I would say to that your amplifier choice will depend alot on what speakers you decide on. I have Rockport Avior ii speakers and would highly recommend an audition. Good luck with your search and have fun! 
 

Regards 

Ron 

terry9
2,242 posts
 

Sounds like you might be pretty good with your hands. Consider DIY - much higher performance, much more fun.

skyscraper OP
825 posts
 

mapman, I fortunately know how to build, having built my current 3000 square foot home myself, and should be able to buy a house that will either suit any equipment I might demo and really like, or can be modified to do so. That’s kind of backwards from buying equipment to suit a given room, but fortunately easy pickings having some carpentry skills.

At this point I’m really only wanting to hear what $100.000 can buy and sound like. I could head in a completely different direction, as I am happy with my current system and home, albeit it's way bigger than I need with my wife having passed, and ten acres is a lot to keep up anymore, making me consider downsizing.

terry9, I’d especially like to read that Absolute Sound article on room construction. If anyone knows what issue of Absolute Sound it was in that would helpful.

Ron, thanks for your recommendation on your Rockport Avoirs. I’ll look into them.

Mike

More to discover