Best-Sounding System for $10,000?

Ron Resnick · Sep 3, 2017

I am sure many of us occasionally are asked to suggest a complete audio system for an all-in price of $10,000 or less (excluding sales tax).

For the purpose of this discussion:

-- let's work only with new components (putting systems together for non-hobbyists with used components is two steps further than they want to go!) and the current MSRPs thereof,

-- select either an analog source or a digital source (but not both or multiple sources),

-- size does not matter (meaning you do not have to limit yourself to bookshelf or stand-mounted speakers), and

-- tubes are okay.

Please feel free to nominate the components you wish for such a complete system. (Please refrain from criticising the components of the systems suggested here by others. There are many other threads for component comparisons and debates.)

RogerD · Sep 3, 2017

Is that sales tax only? Lol...10 grand, I like it. This should be interesting. I'll work on this.

asiufy · Sep 3, 2017

Great idea, Ron!

Right off the bat:

ELAC Adante AF-61 floorstanding speakers $5000
Hegel Röst (integrated w/ DAC) $3000
Innuos Zen Mini (streamer/server) $1299

Evolution Acoustics MicroOne $4000
Technics SU-G30 integrated w/DAC and streaming $4000
Technics SL-1200GR turntable $1700
Ortofon 2M Blue - $236

RogerD · Sep 3, 2017

Speakers Focal aria 948 5k
Denon DN700AVP Preamplifier .7k
AB Systems 2300 amplifier 300w x2 8 ohms 3k
Oppo UDP 205 1.2k
Gepco cable

http://denonpro.com/products/overview/dn-700avp
https://www.abamps.net

Ron Resnick · Sep 3, 2017

Magnepan 1.7 ($1,995)

PrimaLuna DiaLogue Premium HP integrated amplifier (96w) ($4,399)

PrimaLuna ProLogue Classic CD Player ($2,999)

DH Labs cables

(I couldn't figure out how to replace the CD player with a vinyl front-end and phono stage and stay within the price cap.)

asiufy · Sep 3, 2017

Good call on the Prima Luna stuff, as well as the Magnepans!

I believe you can do a Technics TT ($1700) + Ortofon cart ($236) + iFi Phono ($500) for less than that CD player

If you want to slightly go over the $10k limit, you could go for KeithR's Octave EQ2 phono, which I believe costs $1800 or so.

Ron Resnick · Sep 4, 2017

I like KeithR's phono stage.

bonzo75 · Sep 4, 2017

If the person has space.

Speakers: Maggie 1.7i
Amps: Krell Integrated s300i or Devialet for a one box everything.
Source, either an unversal player like Oppo, or a one box like Lumin. If he gets one of these, then Devialet not required obviously.

If the person does not have the space or desire to have such big speakers, then Kef LS 50 active. Just stream.

If a turntable is required, Hana SL for cartridge (500 quid), EARphono, used under 1k GBP, and STS Thorens 124 (2600 USD), he adds on a low priced arm.

You can balance out the costs depending on requirement.

Sablon Audio · Sep 4, 2017

Here goes my punt.......

- Sonore micro rendu ($0.7k)
- LKS mh-da004 dac ($1.6k)
- Line Magnetic LM219 IA integrated amp ($2.5k from cattylink)
- Heco Direkt speakers ($3k)
- balance on rack and diy cables

bonzo75 · Sep 4, 2017

Sablon Audio said:
Here goes my punt.......

- Sonore micro rendu ($0.7k)
- LKS mh-da004 dac ($1.6k)
- Line Magnetic LM219 IA integrated amp ($2.5k from cattylink)
- Heco Direkt speakers ($3k)
- balance on rack and diy cables

+1 on Heco Direkt. And I heard them with STS MOtus (suspended DD), Hana SL, puresound electronics. Best sound at the Windsor hifi show.

Rodney Gold · Sep 4, 2017

Kef ls50 wireless $2.2k
2 x svs sb 13 ultra subs $3k
DIRAC $0.5k
Laptop and tablet $2k
Roon $0.5k
Tidal @ $20 a month

audioguy · Sep 4, 2017

Rodney Gold said:
Kef ls50 wireless $2.2k
2 x svs sb 13 ultra subs $3k
DIRAC $0.5k
Laptop and tablet $2k
Roon $0.5k
Tidal @ $20 a month

+1 A man who thinks like I do. That would be one incredible system.

bonzo75 · Sep 4, 2017

Rodney Gold said:
Kef ls50 wireless $2.2k
2 x svs sb 13 ultra subs $3k
DIRAC $0.5k
Laptop and tablet $2k
Roon $0.5k
Tidal @ $20 a month

That should be pretty good

853guy · Sep 4, 2017

Was really impressed by the LS50 Wireless I heard in Belgium, and actually preferred it to the passive LS50's I heard with the gigawatt Chord amps, so I'll third Rodney's suggestion.

But being the contrarian I am, I'd go:

Macbook Pro running Tidal (€1700 + $20 a month)
Job INTegrated ($1699)
Quad Musikwiedergabe ESL 57 (€5250) or Boenicke W5 SE (€5150)
DNM solid core cables (the rest)

Bam!

853guy

JackD201 · Sep 4, 2017

SO I'm reading this and feeling nostalgic. What might just have been the most ubiquitous of all tube amps in it's day. Dynaco ST70 has got to be one of them at least. Sold assembled and in kits, I wonder how many of today's tube amp designers cut their teeth building this at home. Ron says new and well, the ST 70 lives in modern terms through Frank Van Alstine and his extensive proprietary work on them. This for $1,600 We'' need a preamp to go with that and Frank has one the FET Valve (12ax7s, 12Au7s)with Phono for.....a shade over $2,200. Tube full function pre, a classic power amp, Made in the USA, $3,800. Frank VA does not believe in power cords. The PCs are all captive. Thank him for saving us from temptation. A whopping 6.2 Grand to go. Okay now I'm starting to conjecture. The ST70 isn't a 70 watt amp. Divide that number by two to get the watts per channel. I've not hear ST 70s on any speakers lately and most in the price range don't exactly fit in the price without serious trade-offs in efficiency. Except maybe... Clayton Shaw's Open Baffle Speakers from his company Spatial Audio. These are fairly high efficiency speakers at around 95dB and better yet are 16ohms. Tube friendly indeed. at 4k we've got still have 2.2 k to go.

Now here's the thing. We've got a system that is totally mid-century modern in theme. Can't have space age looking turntable here. Problem is, the 600 buck heavy wood plinthed Denon 500 series is not available in the US. If it were...throw on a Denon 103r, $350.

$1,350 to go. Lets take out the 350 for some generic ICs and SCs following the FVA spirit. A grand. Lets get a DAC. LH Labs Pulse 860. $140 dollars. Get a really good bottle of Scotch. Done.

c1ferrari · Sep 4, 2017

Approximately, 20% more and I would have a suggestion.

Ron Resnick · Sep 4, 2017

Sorry, Sam! I wanted this to be a challenge.

c1ferrari · Sep 4, 2017

Ron Resnick said:
Sorry, Sam! I wanted this to be a challenge.

Hehe
Hmm Maybe, I can come up with something...

marty · Sep 4, 2017

I love this thread! We should all be thinking like this!

Job integrated $1700
Vandersteen 2Ci used $600
JL Audio F 110 used $1200
Kimber 8TC speaker cables w WBT connectors $850
Kimber USB HD19e $150
MacBook Pro w Tidal ($1200 + 20/mo)

About 5600 out the door

Bruce B · Sep 4, 2017

Ron Resnick said:
Magnepan 1.7 ($1,995)

(I couldn't figure out how to replace the CD player with a vinyl front-end and phono stage and stay within the price cap.)

I will have to echo this recommendation...

I have the Maggie 1.7i speakers with a Parasound Halo Integrated. The Halo includes a decent phono pre as well as a built-in DAC that will do all sampling rates. I've paired this with a custom built laptop connected with my NAS. Can't get much better as far as I'm concerned. Someday I will pair it with a bang for the buck TT.

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