I haven't tried anything in that price range. Could look for an XLR to RCA isolator/ interface box like Jensen etc. and use the Korg described above?
Also, depending on what you are doing, a studio pci card for a computer DAW maybe ( if you have a suitable machine already )? Lynx can sound...
I have a pair of Reference 3A MM gen II Serie Master speakers ( made in France pre current Reference 3A ownership ) sitting around. Have had them +20 years. They are very ugly ( imho ) but can sound very good vs their value. Super minimal crossover and easy to drive.
If NY friend is tired of...
Setting aside what you had and looking forward:
1) Are you the kind of person that could be happy with say 25-30 tightly curated analog albums? Or would it need to be 100+? ( considering you have digital for 'everything'...)
2) Space constraints... How does this affect media storage allocation...
The AS1000 belongs in a short list of beautiful industrial design. Minimalist and organic. Luv that hammered finish. In 1970 that thing must have been very exotic...
Never heard one but I am sure it sounds ok too ;)
Since you responded to @Kal Rubinson - "bottom line, though, is whether the value of DSP is worth the price of digitizing your analog sources" I am curious:
What is your hardware/software signal chain for digitizing and processing analog sources ( presumably vinyl but maybe tape?)? Channel D?
The rather broad use of the term DSP makes this a tricky thread. Possible uses that come to my mind:
1) Loudspeaker Crossover. May or may not include delay, etc
2) System EQ
3) Dynamic or automatic EQ that responds to room anomalies
4) emulations that 'add' distortion or other euphonic elements...
Brings up a good question. In mastering studios there are eq's used to gently shape sound, mostly by virtue of how the device sounds when inserted in the chain with minimal eq inputs. Then there are the eqs they use to fix problems, implementing larger and more focused frequency shaping. Which...
As Ked writes often, after a certain point in gear quality, the quality of the pressing played ( performance, recording, mastering, production, etc ) is a larger variable than the gear.
On that note, and in view of your stated music preference ( iirc includes lots of subculture rock, maybe not...
I have tried neither, so cannot comment. I have used studio eq's a fair bit in past endeavors.
Both eq's use inductors in the filter section so a reasonable analogy to more common audiophile gear would be phono pre's using LCR topology for that eq function.
In the end it's down to who builds a...
So far 8000 level Micro's really hold value, a nice bonus if it ends up sounding good to you :)
Not sure if will be far ahead of the Melco already discussed...
This and size of room, and construction ( glass and concrete tower, old stone, etc...) will be a big factor in speaker efficiency which will in turn dictate amp type / topology.