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Best $5,000 system for a small apt. in Stockholm

My sister is taking a new job in Stockholm starting next week. She will be living in a small apartment during the week, and commuting to Paris to be with her family on weekends.

Anyway, she needs a small system for music on those nights she'll be alone in Stockholm. She has been a professional musician (First Flute for NJ Symphony Orc. and a substitute flute/piccolo player for the Metropolitan Opera), so she has a keen ear.

Ideally the system should have the following characteristics:
* CD-based playback
* Small footprint
* An iPod dock
* stand-mounted 2-way speakers
* ability to work with different AC power standards (switchable power supply, for instance).

If it were for me, I'd probably get a Jadis Orchestra amp, some Green Mountain speakers, and a decent CD player and call it a day. But she can't/won't deal with tubes, altho she appreciates listening to my all-tube systems. Also she has no room for vinyl (and besides, I have all her LP's!!)

So I'm looking for recommendations for the best Solid State $5k system for a small apartment. Also I have no local knowledge of what great speakers might be available locally in Stockholm. But I'll probably get the electronics here and take them over to her.

I'm not looking for a who's who list of components. I'm looking for system synergies, something you've heard that sounds good together. For instance, what sounds great with a Naim Nait integrated, or a Creek Destiny amp, or whatever. Or the ideal one-box solution from Linn or Arcam or the best small Triangle or Reynaud systems you've heard.

Then I'll go shopping/listening & see if I can help her set it up. Don't know room size yet (she doesn't have an apartment yet). But this is a sector of the market I've never shopped so I can use all the help I can get!

Thanks in advance!
dfhaleycko
magnumpi205
504 posts
 
Heard the Guru set up at the RMAF.
Integrated amp, CD payer and speakers built to work together. No matching problems.
Exceptional sound for the money.
dfhaleycko OP
178 posts
 
Just wanted to update this thread...

I returned yesterday from Stockholm. I took the advice of several members on the board here and bought most of the system locally. My sister ended up with the following system:

Sources:
Musical Fidelity A5 CD player (used)
iPod dock (ugh)

Amplifier:
LFD Zero Mark IV integrated amp
LFD interconnects

Speakers
Locally sourced Sweden-only floorstanders (sounded fantastic with ribbon tweeters/dual 6" woofers in MTM configuration)

Should have taken pictures, but forgot. Setup was not straightforward given odd apartment dimensions, but we finally settled on an approach that worked.

Thanks to all for help.

If you ever get a chance to visit Stockholm, I highly recommend it! Some really great helpful audio retailers there, and almost everyone speaks exceptionally good and idiomatic English. Easy to be there (in the summer). Sun comes up at 4:30, sets after 10:00pm and the Swedes love to party!
gawdbless's avatar
gawdbless
1,235 posts
 
$5000 = 3500(?) euro.
Stockholm being one of them most expensive cities (and countries) to live in on this planet, your sister maybe limited equipment wise. Best find a local hi-fi dealer when there as has been suggested.
mjcmt's avatar
mjcmt
710 posts
 
Linn - Awesome sound and international voltage selection)

Classic Music - all in one (cd, tuner, pre, power) http://www.linn.co.uk/classik_music

K400 speaker cable http://www.linn.co.uk/music_systems_k400_loudspeaker_cable

Classik Unik speakers and stands http://www.linn.co.uk/music_systems_classik#
sumadoggie's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
sumadoggie
62 posts
 
(1) Guru QM-10 speakers - get a demo pair for $1400 right now (search net for astounding reviews);
(2) speaker stands for $100;
(3) Hegel CDP2A CD player - about $2800 I think;
(4) Xindak or Shanling integrated - about $600 (very high end performance for very little money coming out of China);
(5) take your pick to integrate an iPod dock or simply RCA connect to the integrated; and
(6) inexpensive rack system.

Bingo. It would probably put you just barely over the $5k goal, but well worth it. And you have a system that sounds like $20,000.
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