The Audiophile Bug Is Biting…

jbreezy5

Lately, I’ve been thinking I want a major overhaul in my system(s) as I have some gear that is either long in the tooth, but still good; or I’m just ready to try something different.

I’m actually looking at buying new, because that is not how I usually shop, but want to treat myself.

I have lots of ideas, but am interested to hear from forum members, presupposing a $10k budget, what you guys would put together for that amount.

To narrow this down a bit, I have recently decided the following are my system priorities:

1) I am considering CD players/transports, DACs, Preamps, amps, and speakers.
2) Prefer silver aesthetic; or duotone black/silver
3) I’m not considering turntables at this time.
4) I’m not looking for cables at this time.
5) Would like to steer clear of ugly gear (e.g. W4S, for example 🤷🏼)

Following is some of the equipment I intend to keep in case that may influence suggestions/combos, or how much you might allocate to a certain source/preamp/amp/speakers.

DAC:
* Jolida Tube Dac III

Transport:
* Audiolab CDT6000

Preamp:
* - -

Amp:
* PrimaLuna Prologue Five

Speakers:
* Bookies - Wharfedale Diamond 10.1 & 10.2; Kef Q100 & Q300; Monitor Audio Silver 1
* Floorstanding - Dynaudio Audience 82 (sometimes think about modernizing, but they usually dissuade me after comparisons; had since 2004!)
* Subs - REL HT1003; SVS SB-1000 Pro (about to purchase)

jbreezy5

Some of my considerations so far:

* PrimaLuna Evo 100 Preamp + Klipsch Cornwall IV = $9400

* Jays Audio CD transport + Kinki Studio (EX-M1+) + Denafrips Hestia + Martin Logan Electromotion ESL = $9,500

* Jays Audio CD transport + Denafrips Pontus II + Kinki Studio (EX-M1+) + Martin Logan ESL = $10,300

* Denafrips Hestia + Pass Labs X150.8 + Martin Logan Electromotion ESL = $11,000 😬

* Denafrips Hestia + Pass Labs XA-25, or (INT-25 only) + Klipsch Cornwall IV = $12,600-$13,850 😬

jdjohn

The struggle is real.

Clipdat

Instead of transport + DAC take a look at the SA-KI Ruby.

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/184660/marantz-sa-ki-ruby

Also don't overlook Benchmark. A LA4 & AHB2 will bring out the best of any speaker you connect them to.

jbreezy5

Nice photos of the SA-KI Ruby player. Thanks for the suggestions also.

The Benchmark LA-4 has R2R volume control, which is of particular interest to me.

jdjohn

jbreezy5 wrote: »

The Benchmark LA-4 has R2R volume control, which is of particular interest to me.

Yeah, that volume control is a noisy, clicky thing when turned, but it works well, and has 0.5db adjustments.

Clipdat

@jbreezy5 I forgot that I reviewed it as well lol: https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/191957/marantz-sa-ki-ruby-my-reference-dac

jbreezy5

jdjohn wrote: »

jbreezy5 wrote: »

The Benchmark LA-4 has R2R volume control, which is of particular interest to me.

Yeah, that volume control is a noisy, clicky thing when turned, but it works well, and has 0.5db adjustments.

I actually like the clicks; the sound of precision. 1/2 dB adjustment is nice too.

I’ll be looking at this more.

nooshinjohn

Check out dCS and Esoteric as well. Used components from them will still beat new from anyone else.

Clipdat

Now there is two brands I wouldn't mind getting ears on!

jbreezy5

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Check out dCS and Esoteric as well. Used components from them will still beat new from anyone else.

Any particular model you’ve experienced that you’d suggest considering?

Amp/Cd Player/Pre?

Clipdat

You could consider having your Dynaudio Audience 42 crossovers upgraded. Stock ones appear to have a lot of room for improvement:

Edit: Apologies, that is from the 42 not the 82, but guessing yours uses equivalent parts quality.

jbreezy5

Mine are the Audience 82s, they were the top floorstanders of that line; 3-ways.

I’m certain they’d also benefit from a crossover upgrade.

I like this suggestion!

nooshinjohn

https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisaahif-dcs-paganini-dac-da-converters

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649760739-dcs-paganini-dac-rossini-predecessor-with-volume-control/

ZLTFUL

There are only 3 pieces of audio gear that I ever regretted selling. One of those was an Esoteric DV-50S. Even though it was a "universal" player, it was leaps and bounds above the quality of any other disc spinner I have owned.
47lbs, Esoteric build quality, balanced analog stereo outputs as well as digital outputs if you wanted to run it through a DAC...

Anyway, enough rambling, I am in total agreement with John. Esoteric used gear is still better than so many new.

heiney9

Buying new higher end gear you really take a beating, so if you don't care for the new piece and want to sell it, in many cases you'll loose 15-20% right away, plus the sales tax you paid. Just letting you know if you buy an amp for $5K new don't expect to get $4900 selling it used. As a round figure 10% sales tax on a budget of $10K is $1K.

If your patient there are always very lightly used pieces at a good savings over buying new from a dealer. I also have noticed that they are in the same boat as any other product. Meaning prices have increased, very few discounts and little to no stock. Supply and demand means fewer deals. I just bought a new integrated amp/dac for the office rig and I was able to get in before a price increase from $629 to $749.

Not trying to be a buzz-kill just something to think about. I am in the same situation in wanting to upgrade/get something different so I've been doing a little research.

Good luck
H9

jbreezy5

ZLTFUL wrote: »

There are only 3 pieces of audio gear that I ever regretted selling. One of those was an Esoteric DV-50S. Even though it was a "universal" player, it was leaps and bounds above the quality of any other disc spinner I have owned.
47lbs, Esoteric build quality, balanced analog stereo outputs as well as digital outputs if you wanted to run it through a DAC...

Anyway, enough rambling, I am in total agreement with John. Esoteric used gear is still better than so many new.

Ah, yes, Esoteric had the legendary high quality transport mechanisms on their players. I will definitely be looking at these.

What were the other pieces of gear you regretted selling?

jbreezy5

heiney9 wrote: »

Buying new higher end gear you really take a beating, so if you don't care for the new piece and want to sell it, in many cases you'll loose 15-20% right away, plus the sales tax you paid. Just letting you know if you buy an amp for $5K new don't expect to get $4900 selling it used. As a round figure 10% sales tax on a budget of $10K is $1K.

If your patient there are always very lightly used pieces at a good savings over buying new from a dealer. I also have noticed that they are in the same boat as any other product. Meaning prices have increased, very few discounts and little to no stock. Supply and demand means fewer deals. I just bought a new integrated amp/dac for the office rig and I was able to get in before a price increase from $629 to $749.

Not trying to be a buzz-kill just something to think about. I am in the same situation in wanting to upgrade/get something different so I've been doing a little research.

Good luck
H9

Much appreciated wisdom.

Particularly with Pass Labs, I like going through Reno HIFI, but, as you said “supply and demand”; he just doesn’t have the used deals like he used to.

Going to be patient and watch for clearance deals. I’ve purchased a lot of NIB stuff through authorized dealers with steep discounts like my PL Prologue Five ($1100) and Monitor Audio Silver 1s ($600/pr.).

Good luck with your upgrades!

nooshinjohn

Serious high performance right here...

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649806659-pass-labs-xp-20-preamp-preamplifier/

nooshinjohn

Where are you located @jbreezy5?

BlueFox

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Serious high performance right here...

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/649806659-pass-labs-xp-20-preamp-preamplifier/

If you get the Pass XP-20 then you definitely should upgrade the stock interconnect cable.

https://forum.polkaudio.com/discussion/161895/review-revelation-audio-power-umbilical-for-pass-xp-20-preamp

jbreezy5

nooshinjohn wrote: »

Where are you located @jbreezy5?

MO

jbreezy5

For me Pass amps > Pass preamps in terms of priority at this time.

Not that I wouldn’t consider a Pass preamp, but would more likely go for the XP12 as I like single box solutions where possible.

My curiosity on R2R volume control sound is most piqued right now, so The Denafrips, W4S STP-SE (if it wasn’t so fugly), Benchmark LA-4, etc. are the direction I’m leaning if I get a preamp.

Obviously, aesthetically, Pass pre/amp is quite ideal; I don't doubt sonically either.

Right now, no cable upgrades on the agenda.

jbreezy5

As far as preamps, came across BAT VK-33 and VK-33SE; very pricy, but have R2R volume controls AND tubes!

6922s in the regular VK-33, and 6h30s in the SE version (which also has output transformers) 🤤

Man, this is the kind of thing to make one stop and re-think everything already being considered.

Anyone heard either of these two pres?

jbreezy5

I went to Best Buy last night and listened to some ML ESL 13x, I think. WOW!

Too big for my space and out of my price range though.

Also listened to ESL X, which has two 8” woofers, would fit in my space, and is $4,500/pr. in gloss black.

Sonically, wasn’t a comparison for the 13s, however, the ESL X was only being driven by a slimline Marantz surround receiver and streaming; while, the ESL 13s were driven by a Marantz surround processor/Rotel Huge amp (not sure the model), and Marantz cd6007 cd player.

So not apples to apples in terms of source and amplification.

Both sounded really good though.

Honorable mention goes to the Marantz CD6007, it had a smooth disc tray and opened at a moderate pace. I didn’t note mechanical noise during playback; nice work Marantz.

Still forming opinions and planning. But this was a fun visit.

ZLTFUL

jbreezy5 wrote: »

ZLTFUL wrote: »

There are only 3 pieces of audio gear that I ever regretted selling. One of those was an Esoteric DV-50S. Even though it was a "universal" player, it was leaps and bounds above the quality of any other disc spinner I have owned.
47lbs, Esoteric build quality, balanced analog stereo outputs as well as digital outputs if you wanted to run it through a DAC...

Anyway, enough rambling, I am in total agreement with John. Esoteric used gear is still better than so many new.

Ah, yes, Esoteric had the legendary high quality transport mechanisms on their players. I will definitely be looking at these.

What were the other pieces of gear you regretted selling?

Cary Audio SLP-03 Preamp
Musical Fidelity A5CR Amplifier

Those 3 pieces together had some seriously magical synergy.

jbreezy5

I eye-balled the SLP-03 quite a bit through the years. Circumstances prevented pulling the trigger. That’s a beauty.

Clipdat

You're getting distracted. Keep your eye on the prize. Benchmark LA4 & AHB2 combo.

jdjohn

The Benchmark LA4 has a great headphone amp as well, and includes a 4-pin XLR jack as well as the standard 1/4" jack.

Clipdat

**The HPA4, that is. LA4 is the version without the HP amp.

jdjohn

Doh! Of course...thus the HP part.