I've attended the Chicago Symphony for many years. Here the first few rows of the main floor (orchestra) are the cheapest. For Bruckner 8 on 10/20/22 Row A is $35, Row B is $65, Row K is $115, and Row U is $65. The first few rows of the lower balcony are $175, then $145 and $115. The Gallery (topmost level) seats are $35. The lower balcony seats are very nice but at five (5) times the price of the Gallery?
I took a look at the LA Phil website for seating and pricing for a concert on 11/25/25. Being used to CSO pricing, I was very surprised to find that the very first rows of front orchestra were $190, at Row L $158 and row Q (orchestra 2) $137; Terrace row J - $70, and Balcony - $55. Seating behind and to the sides are considerably less than front orchestra seating.
Presumably management prices seats relative to desirability - visual and acoustic. I would never buy main floor front row seats. I prefer elevated seating where I can watch all of the musicians (and get some direct sound). Other than to watch the conductor, I would not buy seats behind the orchestra.
amplifiers and line stage pre-amp: Brian Berdan will be delivering these components in the next two or three weeks.
phono stage: Jim White is working on the Io Eclipse.
cartridge: in hand
turntable and racks: David will be going to New Jersey in the next few weeks to inspect and to arrange packing and shipping.
loudspeakers: I am arranging for a moving team to evaluate how to get the speaker crates down to the lower level the listening room is on. I am in contact with Rune Skov regarding him and Joe Cali possibly supervising the un-boxing.
tape machine: Charlie Bolois is still working on it.
interconnects: almost ordered
speaker cables: almost ordered
power cables: David is providing
I think I am taking Peter’s advice to have everything delivered initially to my garage for storage. That way the moving company can move the loudspeaker crates and the turntable and rack cases in one long, difficult visit.
The other, more expensive way, but maybe more desirable way, is to get the speakers set-up first, so I will have a functioning system (with an old Sony CD player and a borrowed line stage pre-amp) when David unpacks and installs the racks and turntable.
Ron, my only advice was to collect and store everything in your clean dry garage so that when the room is ultimately finished you’re not waiting for the delivery of equipment to delay things further.
Nothing I suggested prevents you from setting up the speakers, electronics and a CD player before David arrives to set up the turntable. Just have the movers take the turntable and the racks down to the equipment room to await David’s arrival.
Good luck. You must be getting very excited, and I look forward to reading about the unpacking, set up, and listening impressions.