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Buiding listening room from scratch - need advice

I am finally in a position to build a dedicated listening room in a new addition we are building onto our home. It will be in the basement and the room will be about 12' x 18'; not huge but the most space due to some limitations. I plan to hire Rives to consult on the design of the actual space. What I am looking for is recommendations on equipment. This will be a two channel setup with a turntable, cd player and ability to play computer audio. I am looking for a new amplifier, preamp, speakers and interconnects. I will probably have about $25k to $30K to spend on equipment depending on how the rest of the renovation goes. I have listened to a few setups with Moon electronics and B&W and Sonus Faber speakers. I actually preferred the Sonus Fabers over the 802Ds even though they had a $75K stack of equipment powering them versus the Sonus Fabers that had $20K stack. Lastly, I am intrigued by Wilson Audio Sashas and Lamm hybrid amps that I have read about on Audiogon - never heard them. Okay, that is the background, please let me know your thoughts. Thank you in advance!
128x128mmporsche
minorl
1,014 posts
 
I wouldn't get caught up in the solid state vs tube discussions. Simply come up with a list of equipment in your price range, go listen to them, regardless of whether they are solid state or tube and decide what you like from there. If you fall into the prejudiced arguments, you really are hurting yourself as there are some great solid state equipment and alternatively some great tube equipment. Decide by closing your eyes, play your favorite music and decide for yourself. $20k to $30k isn't bad at all, especially if you don't limit yourself to new equipment and are open to used. Since you want computer audio, I would expand it a bit to include a separate DAC capable of USB input. Anyway you look at it, take your time, decide ahead of time where the equipment will be located in your room and run as many (at least three) dedicated lines (separate ground, neutral and hot per dedicate line as you can while the walls are down) and enjoy the hunt with no stress.

enjoy
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,870 posts
 
So many ways to go....can't Rives help you select equipment as an extra bonus for the money you spend building them a home?

Otherwise I would recommend a system similar to mine. No joke. Of course, that is what most happy listeners here will recommend....what they like of course.

It sounds really good if that is any help. You are welcome to come listen if ever in teh area.
mmporsche's avatar
mmporsche OP
144 posts
 
Thank you to all the responses. To be clear, I am looking for a replacement amp, preamp, etc.-new to me. I am certainly open to used and believe that will stretch my dollars considerably.

I also realize this is very personal, however, I would like opinions and some examples of what people have found that just blows you away. I am open to SS and tube and hybrids as I mentioned the LAMM amps. I want bang for my bucks and don't care about brand names.

Rives was recommended by my local shop and they have a number of services and price ranges ($1100 to $15K). Again the budget I proposed is just for the equipment mentioned, not the building of the room. I expect that to be at least $5K to $10K in treatments, design, etc.

So that being said, please express your opinions and tell me some example setups that you love, doesn't have to be your own. I just need to narrow the focus as the selection is a bit overwhelming.

Thank you!
mapman's avatar
mapman
21,870 posts
 
Start with speakers that will meet your listening needs and fit into and work well in your room and go from there.

Consider omni versus more directional versus everything in between for example. Omnis will sound similarly good from any listening position while more directional designs will sound best by far in a small sweet spot for listening.
pryso
1,910 posts
 
+1 with Mapman, start by selecting speakers. Find something that "speaks" to you. I can recommend auditioning Janszens, either the zA2.1 or new stand mounted zA1.1 if you can find any near you, but there is a huge array of choices.

Speakers can determine room design. Are they best suited for traditional positioning 2' to 4' out from the front wall? Maybe dipoles better situated 5' + from the wall. Or the currently more rare against the wall or even in corner placement designs. Obviously which design type appeals to you should be established before beginning any room design.

Also, following speaker selection your search for amp(s) and then source components should begin to be focused down to fewer options.

Good luck.
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