1. Home
  2. misc-audio
  3. 198184-92076

Where to get advice on a new system build

 

Hello, 

I’m jumping back into stereo stuff again after a long hiatus, I was in the high end industry for quite some time before I changed careers.

I haven’t heard anything in 5+ years, so listening is going to be first. 

 

The question I have is, who can I work with to help me sort this out?  I have no idea what I will end up with, and I would love to explore for a bit, subsequently, until I listen to some equipment I couldn’t commit to a product line / dealer (if that’s what I will need to do).

 I know that there are dealers on this site, and I would like your thoughts too.  I was a dealer and I thoroughly enjoyed helping people with their journey, when they picked up something elsewhere I felt a little bad.

I have a dedicated and treated room, and I would prefer used equipment.

 

bke1
parkergetdean
1,032 posts
 

efficient 3-way speakers, 50-60 watts musical amps any day

bke1 OP
17 posts
 

@mrdecibel I worked for a guy that has great ears and he taught me a lot about how everything works together, and then unapologetically kicked my backside to consistently deliver. It’s been a while so I appreciate the refresher.

the original watt/puppy was a little harsh to me, the x1’s just worked better for me, more robust and satisfying.  And they were fun as heck to play with. 
 

@daledeee1 , @parkergetdean, @mrdecibel .  I am so dated that I am curious about everything at this point, although I hadn’t thought of low watt high efficiency speakers.  I have little experience with that world. I’ve always been a fan of class a, began with threshold sa 1. 

squared80's avatar
squared80
313 posts
 

First tip, don't listen to anyone who says to spend big money on cables. They aren't audiophiles.

daledeee1's avatar
daledeee1
675 posts
 

Yes.  Pass, Luxman, Sugden, First Watt with a tube preamp.

Klipsch CW4

Those 3 items used are about 8-10k.  A streamer and DAC is about 3K for good quality and sound.

About 15k including isolation, filter, cables.  

parkergetdean
1,032 posts
 

my budget is tiny so probably irrelevant to you. I feel that the speaker is a material and financial choice (get the best you can for your budget capable for the sound you are looking for), while the amp is a an emotional one. Make those speakers sing in ways I have not heard music before...

For simplicity sake, not looking at separates, these were my favorites out of about 15 amps I tried lately.

  • Creek Evo - most neutral, overall best
  • Quad Vena II - most musical (most regretted not to have kept it)
  • Classe CP-100 - fast and detailed
  • Vincent SV-500 - most dynamic
  • Hegel H95 - brightest, biggest range/present in every frequency (punchy?)

They were all fantastic But I ironically moved on to Musical Fidelity and low sensitivity speakers, couldn't pass on the speaker deal.

 

 

More to discover