Hi Dr. Linn,
Personally, i have not explored KEF in a long time, but if you look in Audiogon - Sonus Faber, for 6K you can get the Cremonas, for 9K the Extremas. For another 6-9K you can get Krell FPB600 or FPB350mcx monos...a stunning combination with either of the above speakers...comfortably in the realm of state of the art. for another 2-3K you can get a Krell amp to run the other 3 channels. Add a sub plus 3 other speakers for another 3K and you are just about at your 20K budget.
As for used amps, the benefit is not so much that technological improvement have not moved on...it is that the rate of depreciation is far faster than the rate of advancement of nearly any piece of audio equipment. Not too different from a car.
The key to watch for is that used/demo items work. What i have done is agree with the Seller they ship it back to the original manufacturer or distributor in my country. I pay for that shipping so they know i am serious. If the manufacturer/distributor confirms good working condition, i pay in full and have the distributor ship it to me. If not, then the Seller and I renegotiate repairs, or he can pay for shipping to take it back.
Good luck. Hope that is helpful. In terms of a system on that budget i would be serious about, that would be the one for me. The older generation SF and Krell imho are a magical combination, with the warmth and liquid beauty of voices for which SF are famous, but with the power and dynamics from a Krell (in particular these older generation Krell).
In terms of subs, i have owned Velodynes for 12 years or more. I now use the DD18, you can prob get a second hand one for 2.5K. Depending on size of your room, the DD18 and the DD10 are both excellent, but the DD18 adds an effortless majesty that is tough to match. I think there is a lot of 'bang for your buck' in going the extra 1.5K to get the bigger boy.
Personally, i have not explored KEF in a long time, but if you look in Audiogon - Sonus Faber, for 6K you can get the Cremonas, for 9K the Extremas. For another 6-9K you can get Krell FPB600 or FPB350mcx monos...a stunning combination with either of the above speakers...comfortably in the realm of state of the art. for another 2-3K you can get a Krell amp to run the other 3 channels. Add a sub plus 3 other speakers for another 3K and you are just about at your 20K budget.
As for used amps, the benefit is not so much that technological improvement have not moved on...it is that the rate of depreciation is far faster than the rate of advancement of nearly any piece of audio equipment. Not too different from a car.
The key to watch for is that used/demo items work. What i have done is agree with the Seller they ship it back to the original manufacturer or distributor in my country. I pay for that shipping so they know i am serious. If the manufacturer/distributor confirms good working condition, i pay in full and have the distributor ship it to me. If not, then the Seller and I renegotiate repairs, or he can pay for shipping to take it back.
Good luck. Hope that is helpful. In terms of a system on that budget i would be serious about, that would be the one for me. The older generation SF and Krell imho are a magical combination, with the warmth and liquid beauty of voices for which SF are famous, but with the power and dynamics from a Krell (in particular these older generation Krell).
In terms of subs, i have owned Velodynes for 12 years or more. I now use the DD18, you can prob get a second hand one for 2.5K. Depending on size of your room, the DD18 and the DD10 are both excellent, but the DD18 adds an effortless majesty that is tough to match. I think there is a lot of 'bang for your buck' in going the extra 1.5K to get the bigger boy.