"Momma's got a squeezbox, daddy never sleeps at night."
My sincerest condolences on your upcoming nuptials. Losing your stereo system is but the first step in your emasculation.
That said, if you insist on downgrading, get a nice tubed integrated amp, like a PrimaLuna, hopefully it has a built in phono stage. Keep your analog gear, you could probably sell your Cary CDP and get a inexpensive replacement (Marantz CD-63SE). For speakers, you could get a pair of Proac or Dynaudio monitors.
Last word of advice, grow a pair and let her know that you can simplify, but it will cost more $$$, like a pair of Dynaudio Special 25 Anniversary speakers. I've been married for 25 years now, and I have trained my wife to stop asking for 'downsizing'. As each time I do it, it costs more and more $$$. Yeah honey, I can go from seperates to an integrated amp, because I love you. Then she finds out the $2K in seperates changes into a $5K integrated amp.....these new, smaller speakers cost $8K compared to those bigger, uglier speakers.....she learned fairly quickly.
I'm not a bad guy, I buy her some very nice toys too (diamonds, vacations, etc), but you have to train them that it's not ALL for them and NOTHING for you. Otherwise you will be in for a long, miserable experience.
Best Wishes,
John
My sincerest condolences on your upcoming nuptials. Losing your stereo system is but the first step in your emasculation.
That said, if you insist on downgrading, get a nice tubed integrated amp, like a PrimaLuna, hopefully it has a built in phono stage. Keep your analog gear, you could probably sell your Cary CDP and get a inexpensive replacement (Marantz CD-63SE). For speakers, you could get a pair of Proac or Dynaudio monitors.
Last word of advice, grow a pair and let her know that you can simplify, but it will cost more $$$, like a pair of Dynaudio Special 25 Anniversary speakers. I've been married for 25 years now, and I have trained my wife to stop asking for 'downsizing'. As each time I do it, it costs more and more $$$. Yeah honey, I can go from seperates to an integrated amp, because I love you. Then she finds out the $2K in seperates changes into a $5K integrated amp.....these new, smaller speakers cost $8K compared to those bigger, uglier speakers.....she learned fairly quickly.
I'm not a bad guy, I buy her some very nice toys too (diamonds, vacations, etc), but you have to train them that it's not ALL for them and NOTHING for you. Otherwise you will be in for a long, miserable experience.
Best Wishes,
John