£5k, starting fresh with a complete new system. What would you do?

[KidKomet]

Hypothetically, you have £5k to burn on a completely new (or S/H items if you prefer) stereo system. What would your choices of equipment be and why? (Including stands, cables, plinths etc)

The reason I ask is because I'm seriously considering doing this. If all goes well, I should have the finances by the end of the year and I'm interested to see the various options that you lovely folk come up with.

 

[matt49]

I think people will want some info about

(a) sources: vinyl, CD, streaming services etc?

(b) room size and speaker format preference?

:cheers:

Matt

 

[BigH]

Yes as Matt says, also type of music and volume etc would help. Consider some room treatment as well.

 

[KidKomet]

I purposely didn't include those details as I wanted to make it less specific to myself to further broaden peoples responses. That and I'll have moved by then but currently don't know where to so room conditions can't be listed. As for source, that's your decision again. Naturally, if you already own a computer then you could use that but CDP's, TT's etc would need to be included in the budget.

 

[CnoEvil]

Linn Majik DSM + Kef R700 (ex-dem)

 

[Vladimir]

Speakers (s/h): Sonus Faber Electa Amator

Amplifier (s/h): Accuphase E-260

DAC: Meridian Explorer

Cables: Vertere Pulse

 

[drummerman]

Cyrus Lyric and the best £1k standmount I can find.

The rest goes on a Giant Defy Advanced 2.

Alternatively perhaps a pair of AVI ADM's and a lovely shiney Pinarello Dogma.

I am a well balanced individual.

regards

 

[lpv]

Active monitors of your choice ( check this thread http://www.whathifi.com/forum/hi-fi/the-active-speakers-club ) decent preamp with DAC ( Audiolab M-Dac, Benchmark, Cyrus - I would check s/h market), if TT then Rega RP... with Rega phono..

 

[CnoEvil]

Speakers (s/h): Sonus Faber Electa Amator

Amplifier (s/h): Accuphase E-260

DAC: Meridian Explorer

Cables: Vertere Pulse

Lovely system

BTW. To what extent have you heard Vertere cables......did you think they made a difference?

 

[Vladimir]

Speakers (s/h): Sonus Faber Electa Amator

Amplifier (s/h): Accuphase E-260

DAC: Meridian Explorer

Cables: Vertere Pulse

Lovely system

BTW. To what extent have you heard Vertere cables......did you think they made a difference?

Me and couple forum mates made DIY clones from stuff laying around and the results are stunning compared to our branded stuff. Touraj is a masterful at his craft.

Butchered some bathroom hosing, extension cord, telephone wire and 2 different types of CAT5 wires I had from WLAN. Really easy geometry to replicate. No idea how the original impacts though.

Sorry for hijacking the thread with cable stuff. Carry on.

 

[ID.]

Hmm, I had my eye on the Beolab 20s, but they're a bit pricey.

Maybe a Linn network player, Luxman L-507u and some Sonus Faber speakers. Which ones exactly would probably depend on what I can pick up at what prices 2nd hand.

Either that or Benchmark DAC or Linn Sneaky DS running into the best active speakers I could afford with the remaining funds.

 

[KidKomet]

Some really interesting replies so far, keep them coming guys! :cheers:

 

[manicm]

NaimUniti, + the best speakers for the remainder. Actually no, an AV amp that will satisfy me with stereo music and has USB connection, and the remainder on speakers.

 

[Electro]

A pair of second hand PMC AML1 active speakers ( or AML2 if within budget ) with dedicated PMC stands about £3000 , a second hand Electrocompaniet EMC1 or EMC1UP Cd player around £1500.

A simple balanced preamp with maplin balanced XLR interconnects, cheap well made mains cables, and a simple strong wall shelf for the EMC1 , £ 500 .

 

[AlbaBrown]

I'd guess I'd go for:

Well Tempered Simplex+Nagaoka MP110 (£1630ish)

Naim NAC-N172XS (£1650)

Naim NAP100 (£650)

Focal Aria 906B (£900)

and spend the rest on some Tellurium Q cables

 

[matt49]

For a source, I'd use an old PC running JRiver, with JRemote on an iDevice. A modestly priced DAC will be fine: at most a Musical Fidelity V90 DAC.

For speakers, I'd want to try some panels: Maggie MG1.7s (if space allows) or Martin Logan Electromotion ESLs. I'd add a BK sub to the Maggies.

If panel speakers don't float your boat, then I'd try some old Sonus fabers (as already suggested) or some Audiovectors (very different presentation!) or Harbeths or ATCs. These four cover quite a range of different tastes. Suck and see.

I'd buy a second-hand amp, without a doubt. There's a Lavardin IS at Fanthorpe's just now: a classic. If you can find a reasonably priced s/h Luxman or Accuphase, you'll be lucky. Who knows?

Also worth trying some active speakers from Genelec, Adam or Event. £5K buys a lot of active speaker.

But out of all these my preference would be the panel speakers.

:cheers:

Matt

 

[nopiano]

Would be tempted to get a Naim Unitilite with a pair of Guru Juniors (c £2500) and add a Linn LP12 Majik or Michell Gyrodec for the records. Plus a used Nakamichi or Yamaha deck for a few cassettes I still have.

However, patiently shopping used I could probably get a used Krell integrated and CD for around £1000 - £1500 apiece (newer than my current gear!) and then could choose any speakers from KEF LS50 onwards, though would probably lean towards Sonus faber again, but standmounters this time as we've downsized living space. Would have to have a TT and cassette machine though. Less bothered by cables than once, I'd nevertheless incline towards Chord or something middle of the road, though I'm sure someone will soon be saying they make zip (geddit?) difference!

 

[nima]

Cyrus Lyric and the best £1k standmount I can find.

The rest goes on a Giant Defy Advanced 2.

Alternatively perhaps a pair of AVI ADM's and a lovely shiney Pinarello Dogma.

I am a well balanced individual.

regards

Kudos X2, Specialized Roubaix SL4, whichever Naim Uniti fits the bill

 

[tino]

As mentioned mentioned previously... Cyrus Lyric 09 + 1K speakers. 1K or more left over to spend on something else.

 

[Overdose]

Oppo103

Apple TV

iPad mini

Western Digital My Cloud

ADM9RSS

ADM Sub

Plenty left over for a vinyl setup and/or lots of music.

The above should allow you to browse and play back just about every conceivable and relevant media from the comfort of your seat. I didn't include stands, as they will need to be chosen depending on furniture. Additional cables are irrelevant as the supplied ones more than adequate.

Basically, a multi media streaming system plus vinyl capability.

 

[drummerman]

Cyrus Lyric and the best £1k standmount I can find.

The rest goes on a Giant Defy Advanced 2.

Alternatively perhaps a pair of AVI ADM's and a lovely shiney Pinarello Dogma.

I am a well balanced individual.

regards

Kudos X2, Specialized Roubaix SL4, whichever Naim Uniti fits the bill

I can see that working too

regards

 

[Superaintit]

I would still choose the beolab 9 + play streamer if I had to stay under 5000. When funds allow the new beolab 20's.

Why? After 1,5 year of owning them there has not been a single regret. Lovely sound will all sources. Very natural sound with voices, sparkly top end, great bass. All in a speaker that's not even a 80 cm high.

 

[lindsayt]

Starting with the speakers, which is as good a place as any to start.

I'd be tempted by these MBL 100 Radialstrahlers as I've not tried any speakers like these:

http://www.ebay.de/itm/MBL-100-HighEnd-Lautsprecher-Radialstrahler-MBL-4021-HighEnd-Equalizer-SELTEN-/291161385237?pt=DE_Lautsprecher_Martin&hash=item43ca922915

Or I might go the PA route. 18" drivers in these. Nice.

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/JBL-loaded-SPEAKER-CABS-/131200597402?pt=UK_Sound_Vision_Speakers_Monitor&hash=item1e8c2a3d9a

Or a pair of classic Altec horn hybrids:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/ALTEC-MODEL-19-Studio-Monitors-/251547902808?pt=Vintage_Electronics_R2&hash=item3a916c6358

I'd also like to try one of the more modern line array touring PA systems some day:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/EV-XLC-127DVX-XLC215-Line-Array-Speakers-W-fly-Bars-dollys-face-plate-wires-/390852158111?pt=US_Pro_Audio_Speaker_Drivers_Horns&hash=item5b009aa29f

I'm not really into boring run of the mill speakers.

 

[Vladimir]

Lindsayt you are completely mad.

 

[ISAC69]

I'd guess I'd go for:

Well Tempered Simplex+Nagaoka MP110 (£1630ish)

Naim NAC-N172XS (£1650)

Naim NAP100 (£650)

Focal Aria 906B (£900)

and spend the rest on some Tellurium Q cables

+1 for the Tellurium Q cables :cheers: