All:
Given roughly $3,500 as the upper ceiling for each component; including speakers, what would be your best system to reveal a truly immersive, holographic, 3D soundstage with DIGITAL source? Let's have fun with this but keep it realistic. Also, list reasoning behind your choices or an overall summary describing your strategy.....Here is my very rough first draft:
1. Auralic Vega DAC ($3500)
From Stereophile: "the Vega combined outstanding low-end weight and high-frequency extension with an exceptional sense of space, said JA, who also noted measured performance that was beyond reproach. "It's DSD and digital done right!" he exclaimed."
2. PRE-AMP: Ayre Acoustics K-5xe ($3500) got excellent reviews and noted for DEPTH of soundstage and were compared against each other.
3. AMP: Pair of NAD C275BEEE (~$2500) in mono block mode pushing out 330Watts @8Ohm to drive Maggies.
I believe NAD to be a solid performer, though certainly not "Hi End" at this level, I have to make budget realistic. Any losses in dynamics should be made up for when I place them in mono-block mode to give ultimate separation. I know Musical Fidelity has achieved exactly this same concept for only $800 for a pair of their M1PWR amps which can be set to mono-mode.
Note: I am tempted to substitute Krell Duo 125 here ($5,500)... I am guessing it should be able to drive the Maggies; or get a lightly used Krell with greater power.
3A: PRE-AMP and AMP could be combined into Musical Fidelity's M6PRX: ($3495) It has that dual-mono design and comes well recommended CLASS A from stereophile. only concern may be power vs. the two NAD's.
3B: Another very worthy contender for an Integrated would be Krell's Vanguard Integrated at ($4500). even though going integrated is against my philosophy of separates do each task optimally, when we get up into this range, that philosophy weakens with names like Krell and Musical Fidelity.
4. Magnepan SUper MMG. Maggie's with Bass. Need I say more? ($1200)
5. Macbook or iMac ($1000 or free (already have it))
6. Cabling ($1200 or so). Utilize AudioQuest entry level for all interconnects and speakers. I've already discovered this benefit but don't feel spending any more would get me much more bang for the buck.
7. Power conditioning ($1500) Shunyata strip with filter and proper AC Cords.
SUMMARY:
My reasoning for such a system to give a truly immersive 3D soundstage for reasonable cost is derived from many ideas:
1. mono-blocks separate stereo signal down into just one signal per amp. I think this design approach is critical. An amp with internal dual-mono design could be substituted with the same principle, like Musical Fidelity's $3500 offering.
2. Instead of going the Integrated Amp approach, I believe Separates also allow each component breathing room to do what they do best; as well as simplify the required electronics for each component.
3. I believe dipole and bookshelves with ribbon tweeters to be the speakers to have the best sound staging from both personal auditions of Martin Logans (similar concept) and the specs. The Maggies have always intrigued me as the "best" in this dipole category, and with their new sub-panel for Bass, sounds like they finally have the Bass problem addressed.
4. I am going by Stereophile recommendations alone for the Auralic DAC and Pre-amp.....I have found their judgments to be accurate, and with no real hifi stores near me, I gotta go with reviews many times.
I went all solid state because I'm just a solid state guy I guess and think it has the edge in detail over tubes...but tubes are welcome!
My only caveats to this particular system is system synergy. Maybe it would all work... I think the dual NAD's driving the Maggies is a safe bet... and the Auralic Vega probably works with anything... but one never knows until they have it all together. This is one area where my little Creek Integrated, Epos Speakers, and PS Audio DAC shine: synergy.
Anyone else care to take a crack at it?
Listen On!
Ron
All:
Given roughly $3,500 as the upper ceiling for each component; including speakers, what would be your best system to reveal a truly immersive, holographic, 3D soundstage with DIGITAL source? Let's have fun with this but keep it realistic. Also, list reasoning behind your choices or an overall summary describing your strategy.....Here is my very rough first draft:
1. Auralic Vega DAC ($3500)
From Stereophile: "the Vega combined outstanding low-end weight and high-frequency extension with an exceptional sense of space, said JA, who also noted measured performance that was beyond reproach. "It's DSD and digital done right!" he exclaimed."
2. PRE-AMP: Ayre Acoustics K-5xe ($3500) got excellent reviews and noted for DEPTH of soundstage and were compared against each other.
3. AMP: Pair of NAD C275BEEE (~$2500) in mono block mode pushing out 330Watts @8Ohm to drive Maggies.
I believe NAD to be a solid performer, though certainly not "Hi End" at this level, I have to make budget realistic. Any losses in dynamics should be made up for when I place them in mono-block mode to give ultimate separation. I know Musical Fidelity has achieved exactly this same concept for only $800 for a pair of their M1PWR amps which can be set to mono-mode.
Note: I am tempted to substitute Krell Duo 125 here ($5,500)... I am guessing it should be able to drive the Maggies; or get a lightly used Krell with greater power.
3A: PRE-AMP and AMP could be combined into Musical Fidelity's M6PRX: ($3495) It has that dual-mono design and comes well recommended CLASS A from stereophile. only concern may be power vs. the two NAD's.
3B: Another very worthy contender for an Integrated would be Krell's Vanguard Integrated at ($4500). even though going integrated is against my philosophy of separates do each task optimally, when we get up into this range, that philosophy weakens with names like Krell and Musical Fidelity.
4. Magnepan SUper MMG. Maggie's with Bass. Need I say more? ($1200)
5. Macbook or iMac ($1000 or free (already have it))
6. Cabling ($1200 or so). Utilize AudioQuest entry level for all interconnects and speakers. I've already discovered this benefit but don't feel spending any more would get me much more bang for the buck.
7. Power conditioning ($1500) Shunyata strip with filter and proper AC Cords.
SUMMARY:
My reasoning for such a system to give a truly immersive 3D soundstage for reasonable cost is derived from many ideas:
1. mono-blocks separate stereo signal down into just one signal per amp. I think this design approach is critical. An amp with internal dual-mono design could be substituted with the same principle, like Musical Fidelity's $3500 offering.
2. Instead of going the Integrated Amp approach, I believe Separates also allow each component breathing room to do what they do best; as well as simplify the required electronics for each component.
3. I believe dipole and bookshelves with ribbon tweeters to be the speakers to have the best sound staging from both personal auditions of Martin Logans (similar concept) and the specs. The Maggies have always intrigued me as the "best" in this dipole category, and with their new sub-panel for Bass, sounds like they finally have the Bass problem addressed.
4. I am going by Stereophile recommendations alone for the Auralic DAC and Pre-amp.....I have found their judgments to be accurate, and with no real hifi stores near me, I gotta go with reviews many times.
I went all solid state because I'm just a solid state guy I guess and think it has the edge in detail over tubes...but tubes are welcome!
My only caveats to this particular system is system synergy. Maybe it would all work... I think the dual NAD's driving the Maggies is a safe bet... and the Auralic Vega probably works with anything... but one never knows until they have it all together. This is one area where my little Creek Integrated, Epos Speakers, and PS Audio DAC shine: synergy.
Anyone else care to take a crack at it?
Listen On!
Ron