Tough hypothetical question....

[CnoEvil]

......Spending no more than the value of your existing kit, what alternative system would you get (without using any of your existing brands).

For me, I'd swap everything for this:

Pathos Musiteca + Plinius Tautoro/SA-Ref + Sonus Faber Anniversario + Telurium Q Ultra Black

I would get a Panasonic Plasma.

 

[the record spot]

The new AVI 9.1T Red Dots and either an iPad or my Touch, with the ATV.

 

[Big Chris]

In the interest of domestic harmony, probably an Olive 06HD and ADM9s + sub.

 

[Electro]

Actually it is not as tough as it sounds

I would not bother with any vinyl playing equipment and put all the money into a pure Cd playing system which would consist of -

Bow Technologies ZZ8 Cd player ,

http://www.tmhaudio.com/Bow.htm

Abrahamsen SA1 power amp .

http://www.classicseries.no/pic.asp

and with the PA1 preamp

http://www.classicseries.no/products.asp

Sonus Faber Cremona M speakers.

http://www.sonusfaber.com/en/collection/cremona/

Easy

Check out the Abrahamsen PA1 and SA1 amps I think they are right up your street CNO

 

[CnoEvil]

Check out the Abrahamsen PA1 and SA1 amps I think they are right up your street CNO

Combined with the Cremonas, I think you might be right (lots of current, and 50% Class A)......have you heard them?

 

[WishTree]

I have not heard the complete set up but I am pretty sure that I can swap to Pathos Ethos (with DAC) along with Vivid Audio B1 or V1.5 speakers.

 

[Electro]

Check out the Abrahamsen PA1 and SA1 amps I think they are right up your street CNO

Combined with the Cremonas, I think you might be right (lots of current, and 50% Class A)......have you heard them?

Unfortunately no I have not heard them as they are only available to special order in the UK but I just instinctively know they are rather special and have unique qualities and even though they only deliver 25 Wpc they would drive anything connected to them with ease .

The PA1 preamp has a function called dynamic feedback control that seems very interesting , here is the description .

DFC (dynamic feedback control)
A special feature never done in any sound reproduction equipment is a DFC (dynamic feedback control) concept.This concept has different feedback for different frequencies. With the remote control the value of the DFC can be adjusted while playing, changing the control of the low frequency and compensate for room problems.

I would seriously consider the pair if I did not have my Electrocompaniet amps .

 

[steve_1979]

Some Dynaudio BM5A active speakers with a Cambridge Audio DACmagic Plus.

 

[plastic penguin]

Wouldn't bother with another full-blown kit. I'd probably buy a decent midi and one of these

 

[amcluesent]

Buying 2nd hand again...

Linn Majik DS, Quad QSP, Quad ESL-2905

or

Linn Majik DS, ATC SIA 2-150, Neat Ultimatum MF5

I guess they would sound quite different! Can't really think other tuners or CD spinners at the mo!

 

[CnoEvil]

Buying 2nd hand again...

Linn Majik DS, Quad QSP, Quad ESL-2905

or

Linn Majik DS, ATC SIA 2-150, Neat Ultimatum MF5

I guess they would sound quite different! Can't really think other tuners or CD spinners at the mo!

You are allowed to spend the full list price of your current kit, if that makes a difference!

 

[amcluesent]

OK, I reckon when new the main set-up would have been £13,500 or there abouts, say £15000 with inflation; so buying new today -
Linn Akkurate, Quad QMP*2, Quad ESL 2905, or Linn Akkurate, ATC SIA 2-150, Ultimatum XLi
Linn Akkurate DS, Quad QMP*2, Quad Elite FM tuner, Quad ESL 2905

or

Linn Akkurate DS, ATC SIA 2-150, Naim NAT05 XS tuner, Neat Ultimatum XLi

That leaves £1500 cables and sundries...Now I want to go and audition :doh:

 

[CnoEvil]

OK, I reckon when new the main set-up would have been £13,500 or there abouts, say £15000 with inflation; so buying new today -
Linn Akkurate, Quad QMP*2, Quad ESL 2905, or Linn Akkurate, ATC SIA 2-150, Ultimatum XLi
Linn Akkurate DS, Quad QMP*2, Quad Elite FM tuner, Quad ESL 2905

or

Linn Akkurate DS, ATC SIA 2-150, Naim NAT05 XS tuner, Neat Ultimatum XLi

That leaves £1500 cables and sundries...Now I want to go and audition :doh:

Now you've just stumbled on the threads hidden agenda! :shifty:

(There's more than one way for it to be tough)

 

[MajorFubar]

More and more I find I'm playing very little other than ripped CDs and Spotify so if push came to shove I wouldn't bother with a multi-source amp nor a CD player, I'd probably just buy some AVIs to plug into my Mac.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I'd get the upcoming Pioneer SCLX86 (because I can't think of an equivalently priced processor I'd buy), and a set of PMC Twenty.21's all round. Maybe a B&W DB1 or SVS PB13 Ultra subwoofer. Projector would be a Sony HW30, with probably a Sony 780 Bluray player (or whatever the equivalent tos at the moment).

 

[a91gti]

Easy question for me as my system cost maybe £50.

I'd do well to get a Brixton briefcase for that.

 

[CnoEvil]

I'd get the upcoming Pioneer SCLX86 (because I can't think of an equivalently priced processor I'd buy), and a set of PMC Twenty.21's all round. Maybe a B&W DB1 or SVS PB13 Ultra subwoofer. Projector would be a Sony HW30, with probably a Sony 780 Bluray player (or whatever the equivalent tos at the moment).

I thought you had a Pioneer....if so, you are going to have to choose a different brand....and what are you going to replace the Bryston and Blades with!

 

[CnoEvil]

Easy question for me as my system cost maybe £50. I'd do well to get a Brixton briefcase for that.

It may have done, but I bet it sounds good.

 

[nopiano]

I think the pairings I would seek out first would be:-

a. Primare 32 series amp, universal player, tuner, and Elac 247 speakers

OR

b. Naim amp, cd, and/or streamer (or Uniti 2) with PMCs maybe twenty 23s (or whatever model balanced the books)

Would want a reasonable turntable too, so maybe a Rega RP6, and a used Yamahe cassette deck.

Not the most obvious systems, but have heard both within the last 18 months or so and both struck me as musical and eminently liveable with.

 

[Frank Harvey]

I'd get the upcoming Pioneer SCLX86 (because I can't think of an equivalently priced processor I'd buy), and a set of PMC Twenty.21's all round. Maybe a B&W DB1 or SVS PB13 Ultra subwoofer. Projector would be a Sony HW30, with probably a Sony 780 Bluray player (or whatever the equivalent tos at the moment).

I thought you had a Pioneer....if so, you are going to have to choose a different brand....and what are you going to replace the Bryston and Blades with!

The Pioneer went last year to make way for a Rotel 1575 and Onkyo 5509 - I've since changed the Onkyo for the Audiolab 8200AP though

I sold the Bryston 7B's last year too - have my sights set on specific brand....all to be revealed

 

[CnoEvil]

I sold the Bryston 7B's last year too - have my sights set on specific brand....all to be revealed

A more Classe alternative perhaps?

 

[FennerMachine]

Not sure as but I like reviews of these:

CD player: Cayin SP-CD300

Amplifier: Pathos Logos

Speakers: Diapason Karis

May end up sounding too warm and I would have to get at least the amplifier second hand to meet the budget, maybe CD player and/or speakers ex-demo. It would likely sound amazing though!

 

[Frank Harvey]

I sold the Bryston 7B's last year too - have my sights set on specific brand....all to be revealed

A more Classe alternative perhaps?

Maybe...

 

[oldric_naubhoff]

analog: Clearaudio Performance TT + EAR 834P deLuxe phono stage

digital: Shiit Audio Gungnir DAC + some transport (Squeezebox Touch or Heed Audio Obelisk DT). would rather prefer an integrated player but I'm not so much into CDPs anymore so wouldn't know what's worthwhile over my Digit and I don't know any worthy files' players.

amp: most likely Icon Audio Stereo 40 (due to cost constraints)

speakers: definitely planar dipoles but not much choice here at this budget; probably Audiostatic MDi or S/H Quad ESL 2905 if I could find any.

 

[BenLaw]

I'm really struggling to answer this. There is no price comparable pair of speakers I would rather have - even for those who don't like them, I think it would generally have to be admitted that ATC is the pinnacle of their particular direction in hifi. I guess I could redistribute finances to give a greater proportion to speakers, but I think I'd still want to stick with ATC. I could probably find some alternative electronics, tho for me they would probably be different rather than substantially better. I would consider getting active speakers but again would struggle with your rule of having to change manufacturer Maybe some Event Opals, but I haven't heard them. Also not heard electrostatics, so who knows?