chaskelljr63
Super Member
Hello All:
Well, I'm not new here. I have been a member of Audiokarma.org for a better part of two years now, and more importantly, I am a seasoned audiophile for more than 35 years.
Now, as I am on the outskirts of 53 Years Old, and on the frontier of my 54th Birthday in two months, I am now beginning to think about getting an audio system of which I hope to be enjoying in what would be my golden years, as I would like to continue rocking and grooving well into my 60's and beyond that.
Now, as I take stock of what I have now, I am now beginning to decide what I would like to get starting in a couple years time.
And as I now approach the later half of my 50's, I now am starting to look at the following. I am going to want:
(01). A Speaker System that's going to offer me more in the way of refinement. If I move to a larger dwelling (like a larger room for example), I'm probably going to look at a stand mounted three-way speaker system with high quality drivers and crossover components, and furniture like cabinetry. Or otherwise, if I end up moving to a smaller dwelling, then I am going to look at a high quality active speaker system. And in either case, high quality headphones are mandatory.
(02). If I end up getting a passive speaker system, then instead of getting a separate preamplifier and power amplifier like I have now, I'm more than likely going to look at a high quality integrated amplifier that has ample inputs and outputs to connect the very few pieces I am likely to incorporate into my system at the time I am likely to purchase. For digital sources, a 24/192 DAC is more than adaquate, but a 24/384 DAC would be preferable. And it must have more than enough power to satisfyingly drive my chosen speakers to more than satisfying levels. Otherwise, if I end up going with active speakers instead, then I am likely to go for a preamplifier with a similar feature set, but without power amplification circuitry.
(03). Other sources are going to be, a music player/streamer, a CD/SACD Transport/Spinner (maybe), and a high quality turntable with a high quality phono cartridge. I feel I have a high quality phono stage in my current system now in the PS Audio GCPH. So, unless something I like better comes along, I going to be making plans to retain that (the PS Audio GCPH that is).
So then, if I were to go shopping today, my system (for age 60 and over) would look like this:
For a larger listening area:
Speaker System: Vandersteen 2Ce Signature II (in Polished Cherry/Rosewood) -- $2,560.00
Integrated Amplifier/DAC: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851A (Dual-Mono Configuration; 120 Watts Per Channel @ 8 Ohms/200 Watts Per Channel @ 4 Ohms; XLR Balanced Inputs (x2); and 24/384 DAC) -- $1,850.00
Network Music Player/Streamer: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851N (with 2 Digital Inputs; 1 Digital Output; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- $1,800.00
Phono Preamplifier: PS Audio GCPH (MM/MC Capability; Stereo/Mono Capability; Phase In/Out Capability; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- Retained From Current System
Turntable/Tone Arm: VPI Scout Jr. -- $1,600.00
Phono Cartridge: Sumiko Blackbird -- $1,250.00
NAS Server: Synology (2 3TB Drives) -- $1,000.00 -/+ (depending on configuration)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650 -- Retained From Current System
Tablet: Apple iPad Mini 4 (Cellular + Wi-Fi; 128GB) -- $630.00
TOTAL PRICE: $10,690.00 Plus XLR/Balanced Cables and Bi-Wired Speaker Cables.
For a smaller listening area:
Active Speaker System: Focal Alpha 80 (2-Way Stand Mounted Studio Monitor with 8" Woofer and 1" Tweeter; 140 Watts Total Power Each Speaker; Frequency Response is 35Hz. to 22kHz.-- -/+3dB; RCA and XLR Balanced Inputs) -- ($550.00 each) -- $1,100.00 Pair
Speaker Stands: Pangea LS300 Speaker Stands -- 140.00 Pair
Preamplifier: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851E (Dual-Mono Configuration; RCA and XLR Balanced Inputs and Outputs) -- $1,850.00
Network Music Player/Streamer: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851N (with 2 Digital Inputs; 1 Digital Output; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- $1,800.00
Phono Preamplifier: PS Audio GCPH (MM/MC Capability; Stereo/Mono Capability; Phase In/Out Capability; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- Retained From Current System
Turntable/Tone Arm: VPI Scout Jr. -- $1,600.00
Phono Cartridge: Sumiko Blackbird -- $1,250.00
NAS Server: Synology (2 3TB Drives) -- $1,000.00 -/+ (depending on configuration)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650 -- Retained From Current System
Tablet: Apple iPad Mini 4 (Cellular + Wi-Fi; 128GB) -- $630.00
TOTAL PRICE: $9,370.00 Plus Balanced/XLR Cables.
Now, if you're building what appears to be your final audio system right now, if you've been an audiophile almost all your life, and you have finally reached age 60 or over, how would you go about it, what would you buy or consider buying, and how would you build it?
I'm curious to know how your tastes run and what your rig would look like when you finally reach age?
Thanks and Regards (In Advance)...
--Charles--
Well, I'm not new here. I have been a member of Audiokarma.org for a better part of two years now, and more importantly, I am a seasoned audiophile for more than 35 years.
Now, as I am on the outskirts of 53 Years Old, and on the frontier of my 54th Birthday in two months, I am now beginning to think about getting an audio system of which I hope to be enjoying in what would be my golden years, as I would like to continue rocking and grooving well into my 60's and beyond that.
Now, as I take stock of what I have now, I am now beginning to decide what I would like to get starting in a couple years time.
And as I now approach the later half of my 50's, I now am starting to look at the following. I am going to want:
(01). A Speaker System that's going to offer me more in the way of refinement. If I move to a larger dwelling (like a larger room for example), I'm probably going to look at a stand mounted three-way speaker system with high quality drivers and crossover components, and furniture like cabinetry. Or otherwise, if I end up moving to a smaller dwelling, then I am going to look at a high quality active speaker system. And in either case, high quality headphones are mandatory.
(02). If I end up getting a passive speaker system, then instead of getting a separate preamplifier and power amplifier like I have now, I'm more than likely going to look at a high quality integrated amplifier that has ample inputs and outputs to connect the very few pieces I am likely to incorporate into my system at the time I am likely to purchase. For digital sources, a 24/192 DAC is more than adaquate, but a 24/384 DAC would be preferable. And it must have more than enough power to satisfyingly drive my chosen speakers to more than satisfying levels. Otherwise, if I end up going with active speakers instead, then I am likely to go for a preamplifier with a similar feature set, but without power amplification circuitry.
(03). Other sources are going to be, a music player/streamer, a CD/SACD Transport/Spinner (maybe), and a high quality turntable with a high quality phono cartridge. I feel I have a high quality phono stage in my current system now in the PS Audio GCPH. So, unless something I like better comes along, I going to be making plans to retain that (the PS Audio GCPH that is).
So then, if I were to go shopping today, my system (for age 60 and over) would look like this:
For a larger listening area:
Speaker System: Vandersteen 2Ce Signature II (in Polished Cherry/Rosewood) -- $2,560.00
Integrated Amplifier/DAC: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851A (Dual-Mono Configuration; 120 Watts Per Channel @ 8 Ohms/200 Watts Per Channel @ 4 Ohms; XLR Balanced Inputs (x2); and 24/384 DAC) -- $1,850.00
Network Music Player/Streamer: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851N (with 2 Digital Inputs; 1 Digital Output; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- $1,800.00
Phono Preamplifier: PS Audio GCPH (MM/MC Capability; Stereo/Mono Capability; Phase In/Out Capability; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- Retained From Current System
Turntable/Tone Arm: VPI Scout Jr. -- $1,600.00
Phono Cartridge: Sumiko Blackbird -- $1,250.00
NAS Server: Synology (2 3TB Drives) -- $1,000.00 -/+ (depending on configuration)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650 -- Retained From Current System
Tablet: Apple iPad Mini 4 (Cellular + Wi-Fi; 128GB) -- $630.00
TOTAL PRICE: $10,690.00 Plus XLR/Balanced Cables and Bi-Wired Speaker Cables.
For a smaller listening area:
Active Speaker System: Focal Alpha 80 (2-Way Stand Mounted Studio Monitor with 8" Woofer and 1" Tweeter; 140 Watts Total Power Each Speaker; Frequency Response is 35Hz. to 22kHz.-- -/+3dB; RCA and XLR Balanced Inputs) -- ($550.00 each) -- $1,100.00 Pair
Speaker Stands: Pangea LS300 Speaker Stands -- 140.00 Pair
Preamplifier: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851E (Dual-Mono Configuration; RCA and XLR Balanced Inputs and Outputs) -- $1,850.00
Network Music Player/Streamer: Cambridge Audio AZUR 851N (with 2 Digital Inputs; 1 Digital Output; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- $1,800.00
Phono Preamplifier: PS Audio GCPH (MM/MC Capability; Stereo/Mono Capability; Phase In/Out Capability; XLR Balanced Outputs (x1)) -- Retained From Current System
Turntable/Tone Arm: VPI Scout Jr. -- $1,600.00
Phono Cartridge: Sumiko Blackbird -- $1,250.00
NAS Server: Synology (2 3TB Drives) -- $1,000.00 -/+ (depending on configuration)
Headphones: Sennheiser HD-650 -- Retained From Current System
Tablet: Apple iPad Mini 4 (Cellular + Wi-Fi; 128GB) -- $630.00
TOTAL PRICE: $9,370.00 Plus Balanced/XLR Cables.
Now, if you're building what appears to be your final audio system right now, if you've been an audiophile almost all your life, and you have finally reached age 60 or over, how would you go about it, what would you buy or consider buying, and how would you build it?
I'm curious to know how your tastes run and what your rig would look like when you finally reach age?
Thanks and Regards (In Advance)...
--Charles--