Guess I’ll touch on cables as researching that can be very daunting.
For interconnects, I choose Siltech Classic mostly from this review here where the reviewer seem surprised at how good they sounded and that they were extremely transparent. However, subsequent Hijiri reviews especially on Agon here seem like their “million” line is a great choice and somewhat affordable.
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
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I optimized my analog chain - VPI Avenger, VDH Grail SB (a used sonic bargain), Kuzma 4point (great price/performace, many rave reviews), Schroeder CB-L, and a few top carts. But trying to get digital to a high level seemed financially daunting. The top DACs like from MSB, Lampizator, Wadax, Aries Carat, were way out of my price range. The musical Playback Designs Dream DAC was my someday target, but was bummed at their subsequent price increase. But then read the review of the Linn Klimax DSM/2 with the Organik DAC upgrade here so I purchased it for $12.5k - feels like I got a fantastic sonic bargain sonically competing with top DACs. |
@skyscraper great post and fun to think about. First of all you've built a great system (and not just saying that because of our shared good taste). The law of diminishing returns is very real IMHO, and you'll have a tough time getting more than a few % improvement over what you have with this budget. If you did pick up some more space a bigger Magico (A5 or S3/S5) would serve you well. Looking outside of that line others have suggested Joseph Audio, YG and those are worth a look. If I were upgrading my Luxman gear for my Magico's I'd be considering Accuphase, Gryphon and maybe D'Agostino. My initial thought was much like others, focused on the room and ensuring a dedicated listening space. If nothing else I might collect some rare first edition vinyl. But I'm going to take the conversation in a different direction that no one has picked up on. You mentioned in your original post the possibility of a Mercedes convertible. If you have no toy/fun car today than my unequivocal vote is to buy that, paired with your current system.
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