A few years ago, I sold my Linn Sondek LP12 and Naim CD5 SX , along with all my records, CDs, RCM and other associated bits.
To make it easier, I part exchanged the LP12 and CD5 SX for a Linn Klimax DS/3 Katalyst. I sold the LPs and CDs to a dealer in bulk. (Spared the hassle of selling individually, pricing them up, buying packaging material, advertising them, posting them, arguing about condition, non-delivery, etc.).
Doing it this way made for a cleaner break and transition into streaming. I did keep my existing Naim amplification and Kudos speakers. By part exchanging, there was nil cost to me, with some money back that I put towards some boutique cables.
Never had any regrets and embraced streaming using Qobuz and listening to Jazz24.
Two years later, I decided on a massive change to downsize. Part exchanged the Linn Klimax and nine Naim black boxes for a one box solution. Went for the Linn Selekt DSM Edition with two Stereo Power Out Cartridges and two Organik DACs going active into the Kudos Titan 606 loudspeakers. As part of this, also part exchanged the two SimRacks, boutique power and interconnect cables. Again, it was all part exchanged and essentially was a straight swap, so no cost to me.
Not only did I get a significant improvement in sound, but it freed up a huge amount of real estate in the living room. Other benefits included, no cable dressing, no cable spaghetti, neater room aesthetics, easier cleaning, plus a significant reduction in my electricity bill
The Selekt is on all day, either playing Jazz24 for background music or for a serious listening session using Qobuz. For me, using the streamer is like playing a record, flip through your collection, select the one you want and then play it, sitting back enjoying the music. I must admit though, that I always play the album in full, I’m not one for switching tracks.
One big benefit I found with streaming, is that I experiment with different music now, albeit, Jazz based. Previously I’d hear something on Jazz24, them buy the LP only to find the quality was poor and / or often warped requiring it to be exchanged. I was buying around 5-6 LPs a month, so in the end this was getting annoying.
Now with streaming, it’s much easier. If I hear something I like or is different on Jazz24, it is much easier to explore it on Qobuz, with no quality issues. As a consequence of this, the breadth of Jazz that I listen to has increased, as I’ve been exposed to new styles and new artistes.
Keeping in line with the budget constraints, If you were starting anew today, getting into streaming is very easy to do and to get a reasonable level of sound quality. As mentioned, some of the kit coming out of China is very good, Wiim, SMSL, for example. My second system is SMSL based and is very good.
Streamers being produced by Wiim and
paired with a reasonable pair of loudspeakers is a good starting point and would certainly be under a £3k budget.
As with anything, there are so many variables; reasons for doing so, room size, family constraints, change of circumstances, etc. that there isn’t a simple one answer solution.
So to summarise, downsizing can work very effectively with a better sound quality and can work out cheaper. (But may not be for everyone).
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