"Blaineaf"
First of all........ hello, and welcome to "Audiogon". If you have any questions concerning audio, you definitely have came to the right place. You will definitely will be endowed with a lot of different options for you to choose from.
Secondly...... before you can settle upon something definite, you will need to disclose your room size, acoustics and your musical tastes in the future so that someone who has similar tastes to yours can give you some more insight as to what type of equipment you need to buy in order to make the most of your room and acoustics, as well as do justice to your music.
So then, in saying that, I'm going to come up with a recipe of my own
For an $8K "Audio Only" system for 2003, here is what I would go for:
Speaker System: Vandersteen 2Ce -- $1,000.00 (used).
Power Amplifier: McCormack Power-Drive DNA-0.5 (Solid-State) -- $800.00 (used).
Power Amplifier: conrad-johnson Premier 11A (Tube) -- $2,000.00 (used).
Preamplifier: McCormack TLC-1 Passive Line Stage (Solid-State) -- $700.00 (used).
Preamplifier: conrad-johnson Premier 17LS (Tube) -- $2,500.00 (used).
Compact Disc Player: Sony SCD-777ES + Musical Fidelity A3[24] D/A Converter -- $1,500.00 + 1,000.00 (used).
Cables: MITerminator 2 (Solid-State) or DH Labs (Tube) -- $500.00-to-$1,000.00 (all the way through) (used).
I have put together two systems for you just in case your equipment/musical biases run in either camp. If you listen to pop, rock, funk or r&b/hip-hop, then I have put together a solid-state system because if you listen to these styles of music, you're going to want the punch and impact that only a solid-state system can provide. But now, if you listen to jazz, classical, or if you're into accurate renderation of male and female vocals, then you're going to want the intimacy and immediacy that only a tube system can offer. In either case, the playback system remains the same, as I am convinced that right now, outside of going for cheaper, but needlessly complicated multi-channel, but slightly inferior sounding newer digital playback system, I have put together what I feel is still the gold standard in high resolution digital playback today. You can use the Sony SCD-777ES alone to playback SACDs. I have also included a separate DAC into the system as well so that you can use the Sony SCD-777ES as a transport, and use the DAC to playback and get the most out of your existing CD collection. I have also given you some references for you to go by as far as cables are concerned. But if there are others that other posters want you to become aware of, I am sure they'll let you know what they are. One of the first upgrades I would make as soon as my budget recovers is I would invest in a good power filtration system (Monster Power, Eqi=Tech, Panamax, etc......). Another (and more simpler way) to build this system (if the the idea of separates don't exactly suit you) is that I would keep the speakers above, but then I would go for:
Integrated Amplifier: Classe CAP-151 -- $1,200.00-to-$1,500.00 (used).
Integrated Amplifier: Balanced Audio Technology BK-300X -- $2,200.00 (used).
Compact Disc Player: Meridian 508.24 + Sony DVP-S9000ES (for Two Channel SACD Playback Only) -- $1,500.00 + $600.00 (used).
And I would stand pat with the cable selections I that I have mentioned above.
So given the various components I have mentioned above, then the system pricing would go as follows:
The Vandersteen/MITerminator/McCormack/Sony + Musical Fidelity System would cost only $5,000.00 + Cables,
WHEREAS
The Vandersteen/DH Labs/conrad-johnson/Sony + Musical Fidelity System would cost only $8,000.00 + Cables.
On the other hand, if you decide to go with integrateds as opposed to separates, then you may get off a little cheaper in the long run:
Vandersteen/Classe/Meridian + Sony System would be $4,600.00 + Cables,
AND/OR
Vandersteen/BAT/Meridian + Sony System would be $5,100.00 + Cables.
Hopefully, that should be enough to go on for now.
Good Luck, Welcome to Audiogon, and Let Us Know What You End Up With.
Regards..........
--Charles--
First of all........ hello, and welcome to "Audiogon". If you have any questions concerning audio, you definitely have came to the right place. You will definitely will be endowed with a lot of different options for you to choose from.
Secondly...... before you can settle upon something definite, you will need to disclose your room size, acoustics and your musical tastes in the future so that someone who has similar tastes to yours can give you some more insight as to what type of equipment you need to buy in order to make the most of your room and acoustics, as well as do justice to your music.
So then, in saying that, I'm going to come up with a recipe of my own
For an $8K "Audio Only" system for 2003, here is what I would go for:
Speaker System: Vandersteen 2Ce -- $1,000.00 (used).
Power Amplifier: McCormack Power-Drive DNA-0.5 (Solid-State) -- $800.00 (used).
Power Amplifier: conrad-johnson Premier 11A (Tube) -- $2,000.00 (used).
Preamplifier: McCormack TLC-1 Passive Line Stage (Solid-State) -- $700.00 (used).
Preamplifier: conrad-johnson Premier 17LS (Tube) -- $2,500.00 (used).
Compact Disc Player: Sony SCD-777ES + Musical Fidelity A3[24] D/A Converter -- $1,500.00 + 1,000.00 (used).
Cables: MITerminator 2 (Solid-State) or DH Labs (Tube) -- $500.00-to-$1,000.00 (all the way through) (used).
I have put together two systems for you just in case your equipment/musical biases run in either camp. If you listen to pop, rock, funk or r&b/hip-hop, then I have put together a solid-state system because if you listen to these styles of music, you're going to want the punch and impact that only a solid-state system can provide. But now, if you listen to jazz, classical, or if you're into accurate renderation of male and female vocals, then you're going to want the intimacy and immediacy that only a tube system can offer. In either case, the playback system remains the same, as I am convinced that right now, outside of going for cheaper, but needlessly complicated multi-channel, but slightly inferior sounding newer digital playback system, I have put together what I feel is still the gold standard in high resolution digital playback today. You can use the Sony SCD-777ES alone to playback SACDs. I have also included a separate DAC into the system as well so that you can use the Sony SCD-777ES as a transport, and use the DAC to playback and get the most out of your existing CD collection. I have also given you some references for you to go by as far as cables are concerned. But if there are others that other posters want you to become aware of, I am sure they'll let you know what they are. One of the first upgrades I would make as soon as my budget recovers is I would invest in a good power filtration system (Monster Power, Eqi=Tech, Panamax, etc......). Another (and more simpler way) to build this system (if the the idea of separates don't exactly suit you) is that I would keep the speakers above, but then I would go for:
Integrated Amplifier: Classe CAP-151 -- $1,200.00-to-$1,500.00 (used).
Integrated Amplifier: Balanced Audio Technology BK-300X -- $2,200.00 (used).
Compact Disc Player: Meridian 508.24 + Sony DVP-S9000ES (for Two Channel SACD Playback Only) -- $1,500.00 + $600.00 (used).
And I would stand pat with the cable selections I that I have mentioned above.
So given the various components I have mentioned above, then the system pricing would go as follows:
The Vandersteen/MITerminator/McCormack/Sony + Musical Fidelity System would cost only $5,000.00 + Cables,
WHEREAS
The Vandersteen/DH Labs/conrad-johnson/Sony + Musical Fidelity System would cost only $8,000.00 + Cables.
On the other hand, if you decide to go with integrateds as opposed to separates, then you may get off a little cheaper in the long run:
Vandersteen/Classe/Meridian + Sony System would be $4,600.00 + Cables,
AND/OR
Vandersteen/BAT/Meridian + Sony System would be $5,100.00 + Cables.
Hopefully, that should be enough to go on for now.
Good Luck, Welcome to Audiogon, and Let Us Know What You End Up With.
Regards..........
--Charles--