My system is what I consider outstanding poor man’s high end, but it’s exactly what I like to hear and what I think it should sound like, so depending on what you like...YMMV. It’s important to please your own ears. I’m all about clarity, natural sounding subtle detail without sibilants, open, spacious, soundstage, separation, and quick transients. I want to hear the hall, and feel like I’m there. I was exposed to some amazing high end systems expertly setup that I couldn’t come close to affording, but I loved the sound and mimicked that as best I could with the budget available. Not all of my components can even be purchased now, but I think tubes and vinyl is the best way to achieve that engaging realism I seek, and there are some really, really good performers that are reasonable that sound far better than average mid-fi components. I’ve owned some really good solid state amps, but none have floated my boat like a good tube amp, and vinyl still offers that resolution I look for that I’m don’t quite get from CD, though I do own both.
- The Wharfedale Denton 80th anniversary speakers are on sale for $500/pr (50% off)., and are extremely well balanced, high resolution, neutral, smallish speakers. (for a larger room, more deep bass, I’d add a decent low cost powered subwoofer like the and Dayton SUB1200 for < $150, and would keep the crossover point low, and the gain down) - If you want to stretch the budget for larger speakers - The Wharfedale Evo 4.4 Towers are $1500/pr. Speakers are very subjective - I’d also listen to Elac, Rodgers, PSB, Focal, Paradigm, Spendor, or Harbeth.
- VTA ST-70 - 35 watts per channel in ultralinear mode, or 20 wpc in triode - kit to stretch your budget, or assembled if you can’t/won’t solder. Absolutely the finest sounding, best built amp anywhere near this price range. Excellent clarity, dynamics, and soundstage. An incredible upgrade from the original Dyna ST-70 that was very good. It’ll hold it’s own against many amps over $3000. You can pick your tubes to tailor the sound. $800-$1300
- Audio Technica LP-120XUSB with the VMN95SH shibata stylus (or VMN95ML). $425. This is the new and improved version, and offers the most advanced stylus profile in this price range, thus the best chance of getting really highend sound from a modest deck. The arm is decent and is perfectly matched with the cart, the motor is quiet, the platter benfits from some help from an upgraded slipmat (cork, rubber, cork/rubber, leather, etc), the external RCA jacks allow for cable upgrade, and the nude shibata stylus is stunning. You can add a record weight for increased mass. Many audiophiles look past this deck, but it’s a true sleeper that’ll more than hold it’ own. Better tables exist, but for a lot more money and offer diminishing returns.
- Schiit Mani phono preamp - $130s
- Cables and interconnects to suit - suggest SWK cables, and Monoprice 12 awg OFC cables in bulk - terminate yourself (< $60 and are as good as any well marketed brand names I’ve tried.)
$2500-$3000 for a system I could listen to as my main system for years.
- The Wharfedale Denton 80th anniversary speakers are on sale for $500/pr (50% off)., and are extremely well balanced, high resolution, neutral, smallish speakers. (for a larger room, more deep bass, I’d add a decent low cost powered subwoofer like the and Dayton SUB1200 for < $150, and would keep the crossover point low, and the gain down) - If you want to stretch the budget for larger speakers - The Wharfedale Evo 4.4 Towers are $1500/pr. Speakers are very subjective - I’d also listen to Elac, Rodgers, PSB, Focal, Paradigm, Spendor, or Harbeth.
- VTA ST-70 - 35 watts per channel in ultralinear mode, or 20 wpc in triode - kit to stretch your budget, or assembled if you can’t/won’t solder. Absolutely the finest sounding, best built amp anywhere near this price range. Excellent clarity, dynamics, and soundstage. An incredible upgrade from the original Dyna ST-70 that was very good. It’ll hold it’s own against many amps over $3000. You can pick your tubes to tailor the sound. $800-$1300
- Audio Technica LP-120XUSB with the VMN95SH shibata stylus (or VMN95ML). $425. This is the new and improved version, and offers the most advanced stylus profile in this price range, thus the best chance of getting really highend sound from a modest deck. The arm is decent and is perfectly matched with the cart, the motor is quiet, the platter benfits from some help from an upgraded slipmat (cork, rubber, cork/rubber, leather, etc), the external RCA jacks allow for cable upgrade, and the nude shibata stylus is stunning. You can add a record weight for increased mass. Many audiophiles look past this deck, but it’s a true sleeper that’ll more than hold it’ own. Better tables exist, but for a lot more money and offer diminishing returns.
- Schiit Mani phono preamp - $130s
- Cables and interconnects to suit - suggest SWK cables, and Monoprice 12 awg OFC cables in bulk - terminate yourself (< $60 and are as good as any well marketed brand names I’ve tried.)
$2500-$3000 for a system I could listen to as my main system for years.