The best system you can have?

[madmax]

Lets say you could spend any amount you need to put together the best audiophile system you can. What would it consist of? I'm talking minimal sources, no gimmics, not necessarily the most expensive, just the best of the best. Some source, speakers, amp, pre-amp?, sub?, interconnects and cable, whatever. This is your shopping list! ???
madmax

[mantis]

Easy,
Martin Logan Prodigy's
Audio research tube mono blocks
Audio Research tube preamp
Audio research transport with external dac
Transparent reference balanced interconnects
Transparent reference speaker wire
This system we have set up in room 2, its the most breath taking system I have ever heard.I fell in love after the first time I heard audio research with Martin Logans...this is a match made in heaven.

[TroyD]

Gee, I been thinking about this for a couple of days....hard to say really because I really don't give a LOT of thought to gear I'll never afford. The danger in that is that once you aquire a taste for that kind of gear by proxy, it can be tough to enjoy the gear you have......

Plus there is so much I haven't heard.

BDT

[gidrah]

I'd go with EdgarHorns driven by a Cyrus Brenneman pre/amp combo. Probably not the most auccurate combo possible, but they sound so fricking good.

[Aaron]

Well, I haven't spent too much time listening to stratospherically priced systems, so I couldn't say for sure what I'd get. However, I can roughly say what I'm looking for in my next system.

speakers: Revel M20 w/stands
subwoofer: Rel Strata III or Paradigm Servo-15
amp: probably MF, Classe, or Bel Canto
pre: probably MF or Classe
CD: probably MF
power: PS Audio Ultimate Outlet and Juice Bar

Aaron

[jmierzur]

Pre : Sim Audio Moon P-5
Amps : (two) Sim Audio Moon W-10
Speakers : Dynaudio Evidence
CD : Audio Research CD3
SACD : Sony (model ??)
TT : ?? (I am sure I could find one)

Power for amps : (two) Equitech ET3Q (20 amps of balanced power each)
Power for source : Exact Power EP15A and Equitech ET1Q (15 amps of regulated and balanced power)

ICs : XLR and speaker cables selected by listening evaluations
Room : ASC tube traps as required

[rskarvan]

Simple. Big Krell Monoblock 650's with SDA 1.2TL's. <wink>

[madmax]

Good input,
It sounds like most of you are like me. I can't look much further ahead than my next upgrade. I would be interested to hear some of the combinations you guys came up with.
madmax

[gidrah]

What are yours?

The EdgarHorn Slimlines can be had for about $1500. Having heard these (on quality tube equipment in a dedicated room) I'd say they annihilate anything I've heard in this price range. Food for thought.

My original reply was not for the Slimlines, but WTF, I went for the best.

[RuSsMaN]

Just to throw a couple out....

Old AR9's on McIntosh monoblocks maybe?
Perhaps a clean ProAC tower on Mistral amps?
Any big Hales or Thiel, possibly on Anthem or Proceed?

Money no object, I probably go Jm Lab Utopia on some big bad Krells.....

Cheers,
Russ

[mantis]

McIntosh...........now your talking......still making some of the best sounding setup's at any price.Awesome simply awesome.I saw the new NHT100 receiver, what a beast it weighed like 70 lbs.
O before i forget ,(they support THX)

[madmax]

What are mine? I just recently got into tubes and am very impressed. I guess some really high quality tube stuff but I'm not sure what. Also, I have not lisened to many high quality speakers so I really don't know. One of the reasons for this post was to get a handle on what I need to find to listen to. My next upgrade is a pair of home made speakers and after that possibly a good DAC. I did listen to some of the higher class B&W speakers and find them to my liking.
madmax

[jeberhart]

Robert Johnson reincarnated, standing in my living room with a bottleneck slide and a fatboy Gibson acoustic.

[STUFFMD]

I'm still trying to live up to my dad's old system 15 years ago. McIntosh amp 300 watts per(miss those big blue meters), pre-amp, tuner, 2 pairs of Dahlquist DQ-10's, B&O turntable, Nakimichi Dragon Deck. Between the amps and those speakers, sound would move right through the house. Anybody remember the old Power and The Majesty Album. The Train would move right through you.......

[joe logston]

i would like the have the old big geneiss electrostatics with conrad johsons mono blocks conrad johson pre amp, the geneiss was the best, easly beating out appgees and martin logan.