Your practical Dream System - $50K limit

[sqlsavior]

The New Gear - Values forum has a "best system for $1000" thread and a "best system for $500" thread. We should have a corresponding thread here in the New Gear - Performance forum. IMHO.

And although one could easily spend half a million on a stereo, or more even, most here never would, so let's be practical. Not so practical as to invest in the stock market instead, or pooh-pooh the whole idea of high end - such responses are disinvited, per the (No Discussion of Value) rule in this forum's subtitle. But practical enough that we might get some ideas and perspective from each other, instead of just lists of amplifiers that cost more than a new truck, and speakers that cost more than a house.

Sometimes the rationale behind people's choices is as interesting as the choices themselves - explaining why is encouraged. I'm asking what you would build, either if you had more money, or were forced into austerity. I'm thinking new pieces/prices, but whatever...

 

[sqlsavior]

For me, I'll want nearly the same sound as I already have. Any improvements will be delightful, but are frankly not expected. Speakers first. In the spirit of building an new system, I'll forgo choosing the exact speakers I have, nor any any other 'stats (although Sanders would be a big temptation) and go with Harbeth Super HL5 Plus.

I built Kilpschorn copies when I was nineteen, and bi-amped them with two G.A.S. Grandsons for a friend who bought them, so I've been down the maximum-dynamics path already. For the record, I think good dynamics has got to mean more than how loud it will go. I'm retired and settled in house with my wife, so I'm figuring on using the room I'm using now, our living room. As beautiful as the Harbeths are, I think I would still be stepping down a little in the looks department, but I'm sure that I'm more than a bit partial.



The Harbeths are $6695. I know some people think of them as too polite, but I want a sweet top end with no gratuitous tizz. I heard a pair for 15 minutes at RMAF 2016, and when Paul Seydor of The Absolute Sound says they sound like his Quads, I believe him. I'll rationalize this choice as being more reliable than 'stats, but I'll reverse that rationalization in the next choice.

 

[sKiZo]

Point of order ... we've stretched the definition of "practical system" to $50k?

Dang - I didna get the memo ... ;-}

(carry on)

PS - Maybe I missed it, but are you looking for new production only? Lot of "classic" stuff where the price can go up substantially based on availability, demand, and restoration ...

 

[sqlsavior]

Well, $50K wouldn't be practical for me, but I can Dream, can't I?

Not necessary only new production, although that was my original idea. I'll keep my Quads until they or I can't be fixed, but this is mostly about starting from scratch. Re-choosing current gear is not disallowed, but I was hoping to avoid posts like "I'd buy the system I have and save $46K"...

 

[sqlsavior]

So, with a $50K budget, I sure didn't spend 50% on speakers, did I? The monkey coffins are more like 13%.

Next choice would be an amp. I'm going to ignore my previous criteria of more reliability, and try tubes one last time.

The McIntosh MC-276 VI re-issue is reviewed here, and the C-22 III along with it. Worth a read, IMO. I trust Paul Seydor's ears.

I've been a best-of-breed buyer - never a same-brand stack, but I'll again go against my grain and buy the set - preamp and amp both. Hopefully my bad-luck streak with tubes would be broken forever with these two pieces. List prices in 2016 were $6K for the preamp, and $5500 for the amp, but I understand the amps are selling for more than list, so I'll call it $7K.

Speakers: Harbeth SHL5+, $6695
Preamp: McIntosh C-22 III, $6000
Amp: McIntosh MC-275 VI, $7000

Total so far: $19,695 - I'm probably not going to be spending the whole $50K, actually. We'll see!

 

[Old Guy8]

If I could ask a question? Why not the Harbeth M40 Anniversary in eucalyptus finish? Aren't they only around $16k? I heard these and the 30s at an Axpona show. If your room is big enough.
The Devore 0-96, (think that's its designation), were also nice. $13k.

 

[RGA]

There seems to be no limit to Audio. I have been fortunate to live in a country that values and pays high school teachers well. I have built a mostly all Audio Note system usually getting stuff second handor demo or at reviewer discount price 20% off what other customers would pay.

Audio Note E/SPx AlNiCo Hemp speakers $29,500

Audio Note TT3 turntable Arm 3/ii and IQ3 cartridge $10,700

Audio Note M3 Mkiii Phono Balanced preamp $11,300

Audio Note Empress Silver 2a3 monoblock amps $11,500

Audio Note SPe Speaker Cables $1,500

Audio Note Lexus and AN V inteconnects $1200.

Audio Note 0.1x DAC $1,700

Cambridge Audio CXC CD transport $350.

But I have no car and have not had one for 10 years. I don't smoke and I don't drink. And I have no wife or kids to support.

EDIT: Some photos

Audio Note Empress 2a3 Parallel Single Ended Monoblocks left and right (8 watts per channel). KingKo KA 101 Pro integrated in the middle (usually in second room).(12 watts per channel).

Audio Note E/SPx AlNiCo. Blue Hemp AlNiCo woofers and tweeters. 15 ply no void Russian Birch in Poplar Burl finish.

Audio Note M3 left - TT3 turntable center (external power supply not in view)

TT3 power supply on right controls the turntable's three Papst motors delivering the equivalent of 50kg of torque. The pitch stability is about as good as it gets. Of course they have 5-6 models above this one but that's Audio Note - why make one model when you can make 9?

 

[sqlsavior]

@Old Guy8 - Those would possibly be better choices, but they never even entered my mind, really. I'd seen and heard the SHL5+ and thought: "I could live with these". So, no reason, but I've had the three choices I've made so far in mind for awhile now.

Has anyone else had a combo in mind? Symphonic Bombast Sevens driven by strapped Imperial Starblasters for one horsepower per channel? I know we're in the doldrums here in the New Gear - Performance forum, but here's a chance to liven things up!

 

[GChief]

I'll play along. All new for the Tiny House Listening Loft:

Klipsch Hersey IV's: $2998
DH QMB-25's: $3995
Schiit Aegir: $799
Schitt Freya +: $899
Audio Lab 6000n: $649
Audio Lab 6000cdt: $649
Linn Klimax LP12: $25,260

Thats leaves me $14,751 to figure out a cart and stylus

 

[sqlsavior]

@RGA you have a beautiful system in a beautiful setting. You've done in real life what I'm talking about, and I've no doubt it sounds glorious! Thanks for sharing the specifics, and for the pictures.

@GChief - I think see what you did there.

Classic Klipsch plus either SE tube or class A solid state. Shootout coming?

Then going big on the TT. I wouldn't have thought of TOTL Linn, but you are making sense to me here. You'll need a phono preamp, too, don't forget.

 

[GChief]

You'll need a phono preamp, too, don't forget.

I have the one in my sig

Edit: if I had more room I would probably be trying one of the Tekton Perfect Sets. Growing up with Heritage Klipsch I think the Hersey's would be a good for my space.

 

[Johnny 007]

$50K for a system? I suppose it's possible, especially if expensive cables and speaker wires are included. Realistically, though, I usually don't think like that. Usually, I try to figure out how I can get great sound for not too much money. I'm in between houses right now, so my current system is sort of temporary. It sounds good, though.

Benchmark AHB2 amp $2999
Benchmark HPA4 preamp/headphone Amp $3099
Benchmark DAC3 $2199
Roon Nucleus $1398 (I think I made less than that, but that's what's showing up now).
KEF R3 speakers $1999
Technics SL1210GR $1699
Audi Technica Cartridge $329

That's $13,722. And it sounds fine to me.

 

[sqlsavior]

That's $13,722. And it sounds fine to me.

I'm sure it would sound fine to me, too.
That's about the same as I've spent on my system. It's possible to spend far more than $50K, and some members here have, I'm sure. I don't have that luxury, but I don't think it's unreasonable. If someone wants to buy an old truck and a $50K stereo instead of a new truck, that doesn't make them a spendthrift, any more than the new truck buyer, IMO.

Thanks for playing!

 

[sqlsavior]

OK, I'm going to need sources! Given that I have the exact CD and SACD sound that I want already with my Marantz SA-15S2, but in the spirit of a new system, I'll go for the top-of-the-line Marantz, the SA-10, and hope for the best! $7000 in round numbers. This one does have something that my current player doesn't - you can use the SA-10's DAC with other digital inputs. I really wish that was true of mine, but I bought one model too early, I guess.

For a turntable, I've decided not to pursue determining the best choice empirically but instead go with my instinct for personal satisfaction and get one I've always wanted - the Michell Gyro-Dec SE. Believe me, I've spent a long time daydreaming about turntable choices, and had at one time settled on a VPI Classic Signature in Rosewood. I suppose it's possible that I'd change my mind. But this is a system that I think I should be able to be satisfied with, not a best-possible exercise, for me at least. $3769 with an RB-303 tonearm. I probably am leaving some performance on the table with this choice, but I'm not ready to think about it any more at the moment. For a cartridge, I'll go with a London Decca Jubilee, a model up from mine, for $3000.

Speakers: Harbeth SHL5+, $6695
Preamp: McIntosh C-22 III, $6000
Amp: McIntosh MC-275 VI, $7000
Disc/DAC: Marantz SA-10, $7000
Turntable: Michell Gyro Dec SE, $3769
Cartridge: London Decca Jubilee, $3000

Total so far: $33464. I guess I'm being frugal!

 

[sqlsavior]

@RGA - I could see all your photos when you first posted, but not anymore. That seems common around here, for me at least. I wonder what causes it?

Edit: And now they're back. If that was you, thx.

 

[BOUXY]

Should be more like a practical system for most around here of 5K tops dreaming or not!

 

[GChief]

Should be more like a practical system for most around here of 5K tops dreaming or not!

I probably wouldn't have much left after my next new speaker purchase

 

[RGA]

@RGA - I could see all your photos when you first posted, but not anymore. That seems common around here, for me at least. I wonder what causes it?

Edit: And now they're back. If that was you, thx.

I might have an explanation for this. I take photos and then send them to myself in Facebook. Then I select Copy image location and post them here.

This is a guess but if the person who looks at this site is not logged in to Facebook perhaps the pictures don't show up. Or you know it's a weird internet thing with no explanation

 

[Bill Ferris]

Easily $ 50K + , starting in Nov. 2003: with Mc. XRT 30 speaker & matching center channel speaker system upgrade.

2006: purchase of (2) Mc. MC 1201s SS power amps upgrade, for the same living room`s tri-amp configured system.

2010: (4) Mc. MC 275LE tube amps, (2)Omni Drive BSS-FDS366T loudspeaker management( a very HQ 96khz. digital speaker crossover)(1) in use, other is a back up, Integra DHC40.2 pre/processor for the same living room system, plus some pricy (DQ Labs? ) balanced interconnects, and the speaker cables for the H/M frequency connections to the (4) mono configured Mc. MC 275LE tube amps. ,
All equipment purchased new.
That`s my final substantial investment into the living room`s system`s upgrade for the rest of my life..

Never been married, no children, & live alone with a simple life style, so was not too difficult to start saving up, after paying off house note in 1999, and doing it in stages.

Multiple postings with pics of this system can be found on the A/K forum, so I won`t waste server space by re-posting pics.

Ciao

 

[Hawkeye83]

I think at one point I had around $100k worth of gear, spread throughout 3-4 systems...NEW PRICES...of course I didn't pay anywhere near that. Never focused on one system though...I'd have to think for a bit on that...I have some "ideas" but I could go any number of ways, depending on if the system is just for music vs. music + home theater.