Let's help a music lover DOWNSIZE!

[Johnny Vinyl]

Tim started a wonderful thread on how to help a music lover spend $2K to improve his current system. There were some great suggestions and opinions, and they were also quite varied. I chose an AMP upgrade.

I thought with this thread I'd give you an opportunity to provide suggestions/opinion for my imaginary friend who needs to downsize. He's recently retired, the kids are long gone, the house is too damned big and he's tired of cutting the lawn. He just bought a 2-bedroom Condo and there is no room for his setup . He's decided to sell everything except his analog and digital front-end. Yes folks...he enjoys both! . He kept his Oracle Delphi Mk VI turntable and his Oppo 105.

He's decided that $20,000 should do the trick. Space is at a premium.

 

[Bruce B]

I've had to Downsize 3 times..... .it's called D-I-V-O-R-C-E

I'm an Expert!!

 

[RogerD]

I've had to Downsize 3 times..... .it's called D-I-V-O-R-C-E

I'm an Expert!!

Common problem with a lot of Docs I know....funny how that works.

back to the OP....a novel idea purchase a good vintage pair...say an Accuphase C200 and P300,have them recapped and then spend a grand on a sub,and the rest on speakers. I think you would spend 2500 on the electronics leaving 17,500 for the speakers,with some discretion for cables. If unbalanced works,maybe not,but I always thought some vintage had plenty of features that seem to have gone away.

 

[FrantzM]

Hi


I ti an interesting exercise:

Very simple, no-fuss , high quality system here :

DeVialet 200 about $8500 MSRP
Von Schweikert VR35 about $10,000 MSRP
The rest for Cables.
Done!

If he negotiate hard enough there will be room for some Room treatment and a pair of decent subs. I hope the room is at least adequate, else I wonder how DeVialet would work with the current platter of DSP software, things like Acourate, Dirac etc... If it were only digital that would have been easy, since he has a TT, DRC with the DeVialet could be a problem..

One happy fellow. .

 

[puroagave]

working back from the speaker end, the joseph audio pulsar ($7700) stand mounts are perfect for a small listening space. I've owned them along with Raidho X-steam baby (now replaced by the x-1). imho, both SOTA within their somewhat limited freq range - with the pulsars, your guests will think you have a sub hidden somewhere.

Aesthetix Janus (line + phonostage w/ 75 db gain) $7000
Music Reference RM-200 $4200
Pulsar + Stands $8500

total $19200

 

[Bruce B]

The best bang for the buck speakers I've heard and owned, are Maggies. Get a used Classe' amp or YBA Integre' DT or even an inexpensive Class D amp. You'll have most of the $10k left over for a great front end!

 

[FrantzM]

The best bang for the buck speakers I've heard and owned, are Maggies. Get a used Classe' amp or YBA Integre' DT or even an inexpensive Class D amp. You'll have most of the $10k left over for a great front end!

I concur but they tend to eat Real Estates to sound their best. Not your typical no-fuss speakers. if the person want to go used. Snagging a pair of gensis 501 and retain the Devialet is another world beater, no fuss .. The possibilities are endless. For 20 K one ought to have a great system, IMO ...

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

The best bang for the buck speakers I've heard and owned, are Maggies. Get a used Classe' amp or YBA Integre' DT or even an inexpensive Class D amp. You'll have most of the $10k left over for a great front end!

He kept his front-end ........

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

Downsize? Same recommendation I made on the other thread, but honestly, while I think active delivers sonic advantages and the most efficient solution, passive would be ok too. But downsized = sats and subs to me. He'll have money left over. Tell him to buy a great pair of headphones for private listening that's more "enveloping" than $90k worth of glass.

Tim

 

[Audio_Karma]

Yamaha a-s3000
And matching CD Player too
Yamaha Soavo ns f901 speakers
Crimson RM Music Link cables...

 

[JackD201]

If I were to personally downsize to a 20sqm room and have a limited budget I would do this. This combo carries a very similar signature to my big system. The big thing is the adjustment will not be a dramatic one tonally. I've gone to show with this combination and tested it out off site prior to the show in yes, our old 2 bedroom condo.

Von Schweikert Unifield 1 ~4k
2 Rythmik 12" (love the secondary EQ) ~2k
Valvet Soulshine ~6k
Valvet A3Rs ~6k

Lots left over for NOS tubes

I'd use my old cables which would perversely cost more than the rest at this point but hey, it's already there, why not?

 

[Garth]

Hi


I ti an interesting exercise:

Very simple, no-fuss , high quality system here :

DeVialet 200 about $8500 MSRP
Von Schweikert VR35 about $10,000 MSRP
The rest for Cables.
Done!

If he negotiate hard enough there will be room for some Room treatment and a pair of decent subs. I hope the room is at least adequate, else I wonder how DeVialet would work with the current platter of DSP software, things like Acourate, Dirac etc... If it were only digital that would have been easy, since he has a TT, DRC with the DeVialet could be a problem..

One happy fellow. .

For a condo plus 1 on the DeVialet speakers totems are in the price range and good size wise. Some Cardas cables and your done.

 

[jazdoc]

DeVore Gibbon 88 Speakers - $5800
Line Magnetic 219i Integrated Amp -$7500
Killer set of tubes -$1000
Found-Music Speaker Cables and Interconnects - $2500

Software -$3200; you are retiring and will have a lot more time to listen to music!

 

[Phelonious Ponk]

DeVore Gibbon 88 Speakers - $5800
Line Magnetic 219i Integrated Amp -$7500
Killer set of tubes -$1000
Found-Music Speaker Cables and Interconnects - $2500

Software -$3200; you are retiring and will have a lot more time to listen to music!

So far I haven't found this to be true, but it is a lovely thought.

Tim