Recommended one make systems?


Man, do I love music! I am so thankful to have grown up in the South were just about everyone plays an instrument or sings. Being a part of those Saturday evening pack porch picking sessions, Sunday morning worship services, riverbank practice sessions...whatever....really ingrained a deep reverence and appreciation of music. Anyway, on to adulthood and only having time to myself late in the evenings to enjoy music. My present system just does not have the presence that live music has. But, then again, does anything?

What one make system really makes the hair on the back of your neck stand up? What gets your toes tapping? What stirs your soul? I've read tons of reviews from noted reviewers, but how do these one make systems compare in real life? I think I would like to try the Quad 909/99 CD-P2, Krell 400xi/SACD Standard, NAD M3/M5, NAIM NAIT 5i/CD5i, Ayre AX-7e/CX-7e or maybe even the Cambridge 840A/840C. Which systems have I missed that are head and shoulders above these? Granted, these would have to be used to fit my budget, but I am a patient man.
My present speakers are Quad 21L's, which may need replacing to bring out the beauty of these systems. Care to share your thoughts?

Thanks!
6stringsling

Showing 1 response by mechans

The real reason that Rega is always for sale is that people don't really like that numb wool blanket sound. It sure ain't live sounding. Clearly the true all one brand but without a Turntable are those boom box stacks with everything all wired up already no fancy pants cables. They take a little getting used to but its really about the music right?
Don't we spend our time talking about which pressing of Apalachian Spring is really the best and why. Also if the small original piece conveys the essence of what Copland trully intended to convey versus the big orchestral long version which is more mellodramatic. Jeeze every post you see is about one piece of music or great new music one after another.
Come off it will you guys. Get your above calling people who enjoy the art of putting together a good system for it's sonics for the simple minded dear Professor. This unsophisticated obsession with the toys is primarily what this site is about. Honestly we all know live sound is what you think sounds live emphasis on think. Beyond which there isn't anything that I ever heard, that sounded as if there were really a live orchestra in the kitchen. Sure some solo instrumental pieces I guess would sound similar.
What is important is that you like it.
Audio note for a guy who is not really in this deep is like asking a guy who usually thinks a perfectly sodded lawn is pleasing to think he rather be in a cramped rock garden. Most people really start off liking a saturated warm colored euphonic sound, with a touch ofextra bass even audiophiles seem to like sound effect bass, given all the subs people talk about.
Therefore I am sorry to inform you that the best single make is Accuphase but you have to sell your house to get all the pieces and those quads will need to be replaced by something like Pipedream line arrays. Yes I know they aren't made by Accuphase.
For just a tad less you could get the starter amps and everything else from McIntosh even the speakers.
Then Krell but not that silly excuse for a real Krell amp. Go for it, get the big monoblocs they have everything else too, speakers and all , All these will get your toes tapping as you avoid the bill collector!