System for Under US$10,000 MSRP

[Ron Resnick]

A dear friend of mine in Manhattan would like to purchase a brand new stereo system for his apartment.

-- loudspeakers

-- phono stage

-- line stage

-- amplifier

-- or integrated

-- turntable/tonearm/cartridge

He wants a turntable, but would prefer a clip-in cartridge which does not require alignment. He would like a system where he could just himself pop in a replacement cartridge. Does such a thing exist and which also provides good audio quality?

The speakers can be stand mounts or floor-standers.

Subjectively, he likes a system on the slightly warm-balanced side; nothing sterile or clinical or dry.

Please put together complete systems with a total MSRP under US$10,000 that I can submit to him for his review.

Thank you!

 

[bonzo75]

This sounded good in Munich. See if you get it used. Someone else can advise on the TT with clip on.

the benefit of this system is also that he does not have to think, just buy whole package.

You could always think about sourcing one speaker, another amp etc but then he gets into the trap

McIntosh MXA80 Integrated Audio System

McIntosh MXA80 | Trade in + Interest Free Credit Available | Free Delivery | Nationwide Installation | Authorised McIntosh Series Dealer + Stockist

nintronics.co.uk

 

[Argonaut]

I assume solid state as apposed to tube ? It would be useful if you could elaborate .

 

[tima]

Have we been here before ?

Best-Sounding System for $10,000?

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...

www.whatsbestforum.com

$10k doesn't go as far as it did.

 

[Massimo66]

VIENNA ACOUSTICS

Vienna Acoustics Beethoven Concert Grand Floorstanding Speakers; Pair​

$2,496.59

Gold Note IS-1000 Streaming Stereo Integrated Amplifier; Gold; Deluxe; MM/MC Phono​

$4,018.57

Clearaudio Concept AiR Turntable​

$2,500.00

AudioQuest Rocket 44 Speaker Cables; 12ft Pair Spade​

$449.00
To this I would add. an ortofon m2 Black and that's it. For the head line, being your friend you can take care of it
The prices are taken from a well-known store located in Colorado

 

[zerostargeneral]

Klipsch Cornwall iv.

Rogue Audio Sphinx.Rogue Audio-SPHINX V3 Hybrid Integrated Amplifier With Remote-Integrated Amplifiers|Acoustic Sounds

Music Hall Audio Stealth Direct Drive.Music Hall Audio-Stealth Direct Drive Turntable With Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge-Turntable|Acoustic Sounds

Kindest regards,G.

 

[DLS]

KLH Model 5 -$2,500

Technics SL-1500C $1,300 (includes mounted Ortofon Red Cartridge - can be upgraded to Blue by switching stylus)

Marantz Model 40n Integrated Amp $2,500

Marantz 30n SACD/CD Player/streamer - $3,000

Without accounting for tax, it leaves a few hundred for decent cables.

This is simple, plug and play, enjoyable, not idiosyncratic and covers all source formats but tape...

 

[Rexp]

It's very easy to spend $10K and NOT get high-end sound. Ken Kessler offered a solution here:

SoundStage! Hi-Fi | SoundStageHiFi.com - Ken Kessler's New Stereo System: Part One

www.soundstagehifi.com

 

[daytona600]

Project with Detachable headshell MM/MC or even SPU
100s of matching phono stages / sspeakers / cables / stands in dozens of colours
if required in the future matching cd players . streamers etc

 

[Ron Resnick]

KLH Model 5 -$2,500

Technics SL-1500C $1,300 (includes mounted Ortofon Red Cartridge - can be upgraded to Blue by switching stylus)

Marantz Model 40n Integrated Amp $2,500

Marantz 30n SACD/CD Player/streamer - $3,000

Without accounting for tax, it leaves a few hundred for decent cables.

This is simple, plug and play, enjoyable, not idiosyncratic and covers all source formats but tape...

Thank you, no digital or streamer is wanted by my friend

 

[DasguteOhr]

Thorens td 1601 with ortofon 2mm bronce or better cart van beethoven 2mm black

Thorens TD 1601

Thorens TD 1601 High-End Subchassis Plattenspieler. Mit elektrischem Lift, Endabschaltung, symmetrischen Ausgängen und Tonarm TP 92.…

www.fono.de

Musical fidelity m6si amp with mm/mc phono

Musical Fidelity M6SI, Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC Phono-Stage black buy at hifisound.de

Buy Musical Fidelity M6SI, Integrated Amplifier with MM/MC Phono-Stage online at hifisound.de » 2649 € ✓ Your online hifi specialist retailer for Amplifier

www.hifisound.de

Joachim gerhard collection speaker surveyor

Surveyor | Joachim-Gerhard-Collection

www.joachim-gerhard-collection.de

Cable kimber 8tc .
Love that sound

 

[Lee]

A dear friend of mine in Manhattan would like to purchase a brand new stereo system for his apartment.

-- loudspeakers

-- phono stage

-- line stage

-- amplifier

-- or integrated

-- turntable/tonearm/cartridge

He wants a turntable, but would prefer a clip-in cartridge which does not require alignment. He would like a system where he could just himself pop in a replacement cartridge. Does such a thing exist and which also provides good audio quality?

The speakers can be stand mounts or floor-standers.

Subjectively, he likes a system on the slightly warm-balanced side; nothing sterile or clinical or dry.

Please put together complete systems with a total MSRP under US$10,000 that I can submit to him for his review.

Thank you!

You might look at the new Kii 7 system for $4k which would be active speaker with DAC, then add a $4k table and cart. Spend $1k on decent cables and power cable.

Kii SEVEN Lifestyle & Listening - Kii Audio

Kii SEVEN Lifestyle & Listening Professional Audio The Kii SEVEN is a lifestyle agile speaker delivering best-in-class sonics. Effortlessly integrate how you want and where you want! • Wireless & Wired Connectivity • Multiroom & Multizone Capable • Single or Multiple Speaker Operation Bluetooth...

www.kiiaudio.com

 

[KeithR]

Luxman integrateds have phono, so that plus speakers and a Rega or Technics should be good.

 

[Ron Resnick]

Luxman integrateds have phono, so that plus speakers and a Rega or Technics should be good.

What speakers would you recommend for something on the slightly warm, slightly smooth side of things?

 

[Ron Resnick]

Luxman integrateds have phono, so that plus speakers and a Rega or Technics should be good.

Thank you, Keith!

Which is the least expensive Luxman integrated with phono?

 

[Ron Resnick]

With Rega Planar 3?

Which cartridge?

 

[Ron Resnick]

I would buy for myself the following, but I’m not sure your friend would want to deal with used gear.

used VPI record cleaning machine. $300
Vintage Denon DD table with stock arm and vintage MM cartridge. $1700
Refurbished Fisher or Scott integrated or even monos and full pre with phono. $3500
Used Klipsh, JBL or Mitsubishi Diatone speakers. $4250
Stock power cords and radio shack RCA’s and speaker cable. $100
Cartridge set up tools. $150

Thank you, Peter. But, no, my friend does not want to deal with vintage or used components.

Please see opening post: ". . . friend of mine in Manhattan would like to purchase a brand new . . ." (emphasis added).

He does not want to learn cartridge set-up and alignment. That is why I wrote: "He would like a system where he could just himself pop in a replacement cartridge."

 

[Another Johnson]

The McIntosh Integrated Turntable with a pair of Sonus Faber Sonetto IIs on stands lists for $9998.

The TT is actually an integrated amp/TT combo. I’m pretty sure the cartridge is already set up, though it is not a P-mount

McIntosh MTI100 Integrated Turntable|Paragon Sight & Sound

Looking for McIntosh MTI100 Integrated Turntable? Paragon Sight & Sound carries the best turntables by McIntosh Labs. Learn more online or visit our showroom.

www.paragonsns.com

$7000

Sonus faber Sonetto II Bookshelf Speakers | Paragon SNS

Looking for Sonus faber Sonetto 2 Speakers? Paragon Sight & Sound carries the best speakers by Sonus faber. Learn more online or visit our Ann Arbor location.

www.paragonsns.com

$2998

Small footprint. No muss, no fuss. All on warranty. NYC McIntosh dealer will probably deliver it and set it in place for free.

Here’s a review of the MTI100

The McIntosh MTI100 Music System

Not just anyone could build something like this, to the level it's made. Who better than McIntosh, a company now in their 70th year of production, with a considerable amount of expertise in vacuum tube, solid-state electronics - both analog and digital, to come up with something like this… At...

www.tonepublications.com

The McIntosh and SF dealer in Manhattan is House of Sound.

House of Sound: The Art of Sound Experience.

A world where audio, art, & design collide. The House of Sound is a sensory journey featuring audio products from McIntosh, Sonus faber, Pro-Ject, Rotel, & Sumiko.

houseofsoundnyc.com

 

[PierreB]

Rega P3 + Exact : about 1595$
Rega Aria : about 1695$
Rega Elex mk4 : about 1875$
Rega Saturn : about 3400$
Dynaudio Evoke 30 : about 1995$

 

[beaur]

How about this system;

Klipsch Heresy IV
Technics SU-G700M2
Technics SL-1200GR
Ortofon 2M Black

These's plenty of headroom for the cables he would need. Pretty much a one time set up with the cartridge, then he can replace the sylus when he wears it out. If that's too intimidating tell him I'd come over and set the cartridge up for him.

If he wants bookshelf speakers there are also plenty of options in the Heresy price range.

Beau