Greetings all. First post. I'm looking to build a system and struggling with price point a bit. I listen to mainly: alt, punk, acoustic rock (Dave, Tim, Jack, Ben, etc.) SOME: rap, r&b, electronic, funk, jazz, classic rock. Tastes are quite eclectic. I have started a vinyl collection and I have Apple Music (may switch to tidal)
I play around a little with guitar, trumpet/trombone but I'm barely intermediate. My friends are beasts and I've managed bands and been through the recording process at Capitol in Nashville and Retrophonics in Florida, both totally analog. I really want a system that accurately reproduces drums and bass, but really want a full range system that is neutral and close to live. I know what the instruments sound like live so I want to get close to that, if that makes sense.
First what I have now:
From an old HT system
Denon AVR-987 (used to drive a 2.1 system)
KEF Satellites on KEF stands (HTS 3001 I think)
KEF Sub HTB2
Music Hall 2.2 with no mods <-- added last year
System is setup in dining room (12x15 with 2 windows and 2 8 foot openings, wood floors, area rug, 11' ceilings), but I will be moving it into a 'loft' type space in the next year or so, unknown size but larger.
I'm considering 2 options:
Option 1:
replace Denon with Music Hall a15.3 ($550)
replace speakers with ELAC Debut B6 ($280)
AQ Dragonfly (100-150)
upgrade platter to pro-ject acrylic, add pro-ject speedbox, upgrade cartridge (to what I have no idea) ($3-400)
Upgrade speaker cables to Kimber or AQ (2-300)
Upgrade/tweak setup where possible
I think this is a pretty solid setup but total cost or around 1500 or so, well UNDER my budget (which is not a set number per se)
Option 2:
Magnepan .7 <-- This is the centerpiece of this system, I've always wanted Maggies! ($1400)
Amp Parasound Halo Integrated or Schitt Ragnorak (will need phono pre, no ideas here but to keep it apples to apples, lets say $600) So I really like the Parasound (which I can actually audition with the speakers) and it has a built in phono stage). I'm leaning parasound here, bc the specs make perfect sense with the speakers. My only hesitation is how strong Stereophile felt about the Ragnorak, with the .7's no less!
If I go this route, I will not bother messing too much with the phono, I will upgrade to a Music Hall mmf7.3 (will also look at Rega/Pro-Ject/maybe VPI or anything else that's a good VALUE ~$1500)
Cables and tweaks as above (2-300) All in at around 6k give or take and I can start.
Questions:
--Thoughts comments about these strategies, as they both have their points with me that have made them my finalists in general?
--Thoughts about the Ragnorak? Why was it reviewed so well, but didn't fare so well in recommended components (was surprised to see it did NOT get the $$$ designation (I'm a value shopper)
--Cartridge recommendations (and other phono tweaks I missed) for option 1?
--Should I bother with the cables in Option 1 (I currently have monster wire and banana plugs bought with old system a while ago)?
--I really came away from my reading thinking the MH a15.3 was the way to go (considered PS Sprout and NAD 3020 D) anything else within a 100 or so of the MH I should be thinking about?
--Any amps that I can get on the cheaper side that will drive the the Elac's for now and the Maggies later on down the road?
--I want to be efficient, I don't want to *waste a bunch of $$ upgrading, but I think I can probably sell system 1 and get half of my money back down the road, so that would be a $750 loss but may learn some valuable lessons along the way? I don't want to become a habitual upgrader, if at all possible :)
--I don't do a lot of headphone listening but I just ordered some thinksound On2 but guess I will play through dragonfly/iPhone, so headphones use is in play but nothing serious at this time.
--Thoughts on the sub, I have it labled as good enough for now, but not opposed to upgrading, if I go option 2 Maggie bass panels at some point??
Thoughful comments, questions, and debate :)
So sorry this is so long!
Greetings all. First post. I'm looking to build a system and struggling with price point a bit. I listen to mainly: alt, punk, acoustic rock (Dave, Tim, Jack, Ben, etc.) SOME: rap, r&b, electronic, funk, jazz, classic rock. Tastes are quite eclectic. I have started a vinyl collection and I have Apple Music (may switch to tidal)
I play around a little with guitar, trumpet/trombone but I'm barely intermediate. My friends are beasts and I've managed bands and been through the recording process at Capitol in Nashville and Retrophonics in Florida, both totally analog. I really want a system that accurately reproduces drums and bass, but really want a full range system that is neutral and close to live. I know what the instruments sound like live so I want to get close to that, if that makes sense.
First what I have now:
From an old HT system
Denon AVR-987 (used to drive a 2.1 system)
KEF Satellites on KEF stands (HTS 3001 I think)
KEF Sub HTB2
Music Hall 2.2 with no mods <-- added last year
System is setup in dining room (12x15 with 2 windows and 2 8 foot openings, wood floors, area rug, 11' ceilings), but I will be moving it into a 'loft' type space in the next year or so, unknown size but larger.
I'm considering 2 options:
Option 1:
replace Denon with Music Hall a15.3 ($550)
replace speakers with ELAC Debut B6 ($280)
AQ Dragonfly (100-150)
upgrade platter to pro-ject acrylic, add pro-ject speedbox, upgrade cartridge (to what I have no idea) ($3-400)
Upgrade speaker cables to Kimber or AQ (2-300)
Upgrade/tweak setup where possible
I think this is a pretty solid setup but total cost or around 1500 or so, well UNDER my budget (which is not a set number per se)
Option 2:
Magnepan .7 <-- This is the centerpiece of this system, I've always wanted Maggies! ($1400)
Amp Parasound Halo Integrated or Schitt Ragnorak (will need phono pre, no ideas here but to keep it apples to apples, lets say $600) So I really like the Parasound (which I can actually audition with the speakers) and it has a built in phono stage). I'm leaning parasound here, bc the specs make perfect sense with the speakers. My only hesitation is how strong Stereophile felt about the Ragnorak, with the .7's no less!
If I go this route, I will not bother messing too much with the phono, I will upgrade to a Music Hall mmf7.3 (will also look at Rega/Pro-Ject/maybe VPI or anything else that's a good VALUE ~$1500)
Cables and tweaks as above (2-300) All in at around 6k give or take and I can start.
Questions:
--Thoughts comments about these strategies, as they both have their points with me that have made them my finalists in general?
--Thoughts about the Ragnorak? Why was it reviewed so well, but didn't fare so well in recommended components (was surprised to see it did NOT get the $$$ designation (I'm a value shopper)
--Cartridge recommendations (and other phono tweaks I missed) for option 1?
--Should I bother with the cables in Option 1 (I currently have monster wire and banana plugs bought with old system a while ago)?
--I really came away from my reading thinking the MH a15.3 was the way to go (considered PS Sprout and NAD 3020 D) anything else within a 100 or so of the MH I should be thinking about?
--Any amps that I can get on the cheaper side that will drive the the Elac's for now and the Maggies later on down the road?
--I want to be efficient, I don't want to *waste a bunch of $$ upgrading, but I think I can probably sell system 1 and get half of my money back down the road, so that would be a $750 loss but may learn some valuable lessons along the way? I don't want to become a habitual upgrader, if at all possible :)
--I don't do a lot of headphone listening but I just ordered some thinksound On2 but guess I will play through dragonfly/iPhone, so headphones use is in play but nothing serious at this time.
--Thoughts on the sub, I have it labled as good enough for now, but not opposed to upgrading, if I go option 2 Maggie bass panels at some point??
Thoughful comments, questions, and debate :)
So sorry this is so long!