£5 grand faves?

'ello everyone!

what would be your favorite bits of kit for approx £5k in the following categories?
(new or s/h):

cd player

floorstanding full range loudspeakers- to replace Alon IV mk2's
(currently considering von schewert VR4 SR + nola viper reference)

pre amplifiers- probaly valve, current is audio research sp14

power amplifiers- probaly solid state, current is krell ksa100 mk2

my turntable is remaining a cranfield rock, music loud with deep bass and huge soundstages/dynamics

many thanks, look forward to hearing your recomendations!

gav:JOEL:

 

Is that £5k each? Or in total?

 

if you liked KSA 100 sound, probably the most natural progression of old krell class A power amps sound (i.e. power & control & neutrality) could be found in today's nelson pass designs

within your budget, the winning combination is X2.5 pre & X250.5 power.

you will not need any valves - you will have all the humanity of them and non of the colorations, as well as tremendous control, dynamics and precision of pass class A amps.

US high end freaks usually reject pass products for a tiny lack of ultimate resolution, which might be the case comparing them with XXXXXXXXXXXXX $$$$$ systems. i found that totally stupid, this combo can't be beaten for that money and it doesn't sound like valve, nor SS, it just sounds right - natural, easy and involving so you don't waste your time contemplating details, resolultion, micro or macro dynamics and other b***hit.

try to buy it in the states, i have a feeling that local dealers will rip your head off here.

 

Bluenote Stibbert CD with Valve output £2995. It is a giant killer
ASR Emitter 1 or 1 Exclusive £3800-£5200 Awsome solid state
EVA Proteus integrated £4600 ovet the top build. Stainless.
A pair of Gershman Avant garde's £5000. Huge sound stage
There may be a chance of an FM acoustics 222 £POA

 

The ASR Emitter is Cheaper here then the US!!

Honest

 

Shame the stibbert is yawn inducing though, looks cool
Emitter isn't too shabby in fairness

 

that's £5grand each, bud

can anyone find a review of the boulder 500ae?
(or have opinions of their own)

thanks
gav

 

ah, yes, passlabs

2*X600 (s/h)fall just outside my budget...shit, another contender!

so now its YBA Passion600 stereo versus 2* Boulder 500 AE monos
versus Emitter versus 2*Passlabs x600.

have i missed anyone?

besides Chord's spm 1900 or Cello Duet 350 i mean?

this could be a tricky dem to arrange unless i narrow the field a bit

help?!

 

Boulder 500AE can be bridged as monos or used a stereo amp.
I personally did not like the sound of the X600's but love the looks.

My favorite Monos were the Gryphon Ref1 monos Awsome!

 

I'd personally prefer a three hundred quid valve amp, but there you go....

 

Wise choice sir.

 

I'm going to play anyway..

SPEAKER SHORTLIST (£5k)

Altec VOTT - new! http://www.alteclansing.com/legacy/specs.asp

JBL 4338 http://translate.google.com/transla...4&ct=result&prev=/search?q=jbl+4338&hl=en&lr=

Tannoy GRF/Autograph repro's
http://www.users.bigpond.com/kfleming/tannoygrfhorn1.htm

Vitavox S2/Vitavox 15"
http://www.zerogain.com/forum/attachment.php?attachmentid=807&d=1160088933



Amps -

For a good all-rounder, I'd probably go with an '845 SET amp, which will give me somewhere in the 14-20w range normally.

That's enough for all of those speakers.

Probably a Viva Solista
http://www.profundo.us/viva/solista/solista.htm

 

I wonder if the build quality of the new Altec A7's is on par with the old ones? Very good idea to start building them again, though. There surely is a (niche) market for that kind of speaker. With the recent rise in popularity of valve amps, there should be a corresponding interest in efficient speakers, including horns.

Has anyone got to hear those 4338s? Trouble is, they are only available in the Far East because Harman doesn't see Europe or even the US as a viable market.

 

ooooh, luvely!

http://66.249.93.104/translate_c?hl...e/4338.html&prev=/search?q=jbl+4338&hl=en&lr=

 

mike (merlin) has a pair.

They are excellent - especially if you like bass.

To compare them with something vintage vitavox/altec, you'd have to say they lead from the bass-up, rather than treble down.. if that makes sense.

I personally prefer the midrange of an altec/vitavox driver, but it's not as amazingly neutral as the JBL, which has no noticable horn colouration, and as a speaker needs no sub for very low/deep bass.

A fantastic 'one box' solution.

 

If you are referring to the sound then agreed. Otherwise they are certainly not "ooooh, luvely!" whatever that means .

 

Hmmm. Personally, I quite like the styling of that 4338 and, being single, the only one to possibly object is the cat, which doesn't seem that fussed, although tends to prefer boxes that she can actually get inside! But, granted, the JBLs would be rather imposing in a living room. That said, if you saw my Tannoys, you'd know I wouldn't have much problem with the styling of the JBLS :

http://www.tannoy.com/System15DMTII

Briefly looking at the specs for the 4338, it appears to be essentially a 2-way. But I wonder if it crosses over at weird points like the K2s did?

Back to topic, I've no real wish to go for megabucks equipment so a 5K limit on each component would be fine- and the gear really ought to be good for life without much necessity for more.

Speakers. Probably something with horns and large but there would be no point until I had the space. Wouldn't mind giving the B&W 801Ds a listen, based purely on the hifi world review but they are 10K. I would definitely get something 3-way, as the biggest weakness of my current speakers is that they are only 2-way imo.

£5k worth of decks- Would split it between 2 decks- a NA Hyperspace (not sure I'd ever really need more for a belt drive) and 70's technics or EMT. Or maybe one really high-end direct drive.

£5k of digital. Split between something like a Resolution Opus 21 CDP and a new high resolution player. Or maybe a top 16bit player/dac.

Power Amps, would need to have a good listen- there's so much out there! Would be very dependant on the speakers, of course.

Having 5k to play with would be a great opportunity to get a valve line stage that had the same degree of transparancy as a TVC but with added scale and drive- something like an Audio Research Ref 3 or top Audio Note level 7 job. No idea what they cost, so might need to go s/h. I think this is the area that I would most appreciate having 5K to spend on.

Phono stage- something really pricy with valves- No idea what.

Also top solid silver cables throughout.

Anyhow, back to work. I've got load of sweeping and washing dishes to do

 

Nothing wrong with the DMTs at all mate . It is a studio monitor so the hard surface is good for a hard life in the studios.

I think the same applies to the JBLs. They are fine for studios but for home use, if you look closely, you'll notice the cheapish plastic and fake wood etc. Oh, and that is with the grills on. However, they sound great and that is what really matters.

 

TAD Exclusive 2251

 

if the original poster is watching, just take Joel's excellent advice - or get the JBL's imported.

Forget all these fancy shmancy ants in yer pantsies hifi guffery... get some proper big uns.