If you had 10k for used gear.....

[tackleberry]

I’m keen to know what people would buy if they had 10k to spend on a source, amp/s and speakers what they would choose. 
 

ive got to the point where I have bits of kit all over and wondered about pooling the value. Or would it be a case of diminishing returns? I’ve never spent more than £1800 on a unit.

 

[kernow]

Similar to what I have now with the speaks, amps, but definitely digital only.

Or.... If I went that route I'd go £4k powerdac, pi into it and the rest on speakers 

Same DAC, into a power amp like a 909 or ion (£500 or £2500), DAC £1600. £6k left for some used Kensington SE and a raspberry pi? 

Come at me bro 

 

[t1no]

A couple of choices around a similar theme:

Option 1 (new) : 2 x Cabasse Pearl

Option 2 (used) : Avantgarde Zero 1 + Streamer e.g. Bluesound Node or NAD equivalent

 

[Lee M]

I'd extend the width of my garage room. 

 

[manicatel]

ATC SCM40a’s and a decent pre amp/streamer DAC unit.
Plus a phono stage & turntable if you’ve already got a record collection.

 

[DomT]

Auralic Altair G1 or Innuos Zen Mini/power supply, Benchmark (doesn’t need to be better than this for digital unless chasing extreme resolution) + Audio Research or Accuphase level of amp (better amps make a big difference) + Harbeth P3ESR for small room or Harbeth, ATC or Proac if a bigger room.

Surprisingly would put most of budget towards the amp based on my current testing at various price levels as cheaper amps don’t always have enough resolution, tone and punch; they might have two of these attributes but probably not all three. Wouldn’t buy a new amp but might for digital or speakers. 

 

[AlmaAtaKZ]

A streamer and D&D speakers

MacMini, a Benchmark DAC/Pre and ATC SCM 50A

 

[uzzy]

I’m keen to know what people would buy if they had 10k to spend on a source, amp/s and speakers what they would choose. 
 

ive got to the point where I have bits of kit all over and wondered about pooling the value. Or would it be a case of diminishing returns? I’ve never spent more than £1800 on a unit.

Just about managed my loudspeakers for £10k  :rofl:

 

[bigrod]

Ten grand is a lot of disposable money ..save some more and create the space first ..you will get a much bigger return in the long run

 

[tuga]

I’m keen to know what people would buy if they had 10k to spend on a source, amp/s and speakers what they would choose. 
 

ive got to the point where I have bits of kit all over and wondered about pooling the value. Or would it be a case of diminishing returns? I’ve never spent more than £1800 on a unit.

I'd spend (at least) half on speakers, 30-35% on amplification and 20-15% on a digital source.

.

Edit: which speakers would depend on the room but definitely full-range (or at least a 2.2 speakers system).

 

[CnoEvil]

Linn ADS + Arcam A49 + Kef Ref 3

 

[Beobloke]

I’m keen to know what people would buy if they had 10k to spend on a source, amp/s and speakers what they would choose. 
 

I'm assuming you're coming from the point of view of everything I currently own got lost/destroyed/stolen and I needed to start again from scratch? If so, I'd go for a full B&O Beolab 8000 system, (Beogram 8002, Beomaster 8000, Beocord 8004, Beovox MS150.2s) and a Beogram CDX CD player. This should leave me about £8000 for vinyl, alcohol, coffee and Oreos.

If you're not coming from the lost/stolen/destroyed angle and are just thinking of actually choosing to start over, then I wouldn't actually buy any of this as I already own all of the above and so wouldn't need two of everything.

 

[hiesteem]

I agree with Manicatel here.

I'd go with good quality active speakers. Probably Atc 19a or active 40's. This would guarantee amplifier and speaker compatibility. Then I might indulge in Restek's later version of the Cd player that I own, or try cheaper Cd transport and Dac.

These decisions would be based on my music collection being all Cd and wanting to minimise cost and maximise enjoyment of listening experience.

What this exercise does bring home is, "I might not/would not", be willing to spend the amount of money, originally spent when I purchased my system 23 years ago.

 

[Nopiano]

For ten grand I should be able to get the updated version of my Linn Akurate DSM, which is both streamer and preamp.  Then I’d just need some ex-dem ATC SCM40 Actives, and I’d be done.  If I had to include funds for a turntable and CD player too, then I would pretty much buy what I already have. 

 

[Lurch]

Used 4 box Lector CDP

New Line Magnetic 805iA

Used Quad ESL 2905

 

[Griff500]

I wouldn't spend it on used gear but I'd upgrade my SCM40A to SCM50ASLT and put the rest toward a DC4. Those are the only things I can see myself changing in my system.

 

[Jules_S]

I'd spend it all on cables....  :rofl:

Seriously, I'd like to try a high-end cartridge like one of the stone-bodied Koetsus, or something like that. Maybe the Lyra Atlas? Would definitely need a better phono stage to get the most out of it too. That would probably take a chunk out of the budget. With anything left over it would be room treatment I think.

 

[hifinutt]

Used to spend thousands on items but now just as happy with some lower stuff which is very enjoyable.  If had 10k I might be tempted by some verity speakers but they would have to be good to beat present speakers 

 

[robbie010]

Not too dis-similarely, I recently did away with my plethora of boxes, including turntable and most of my vinyl and switched to a very simple setup:

Gato DIA-250s NPM
Harbeth Super HL5 40th Anniversary

TonTrager Stands

With cables and other bits’n’bats it wasn’t far off £10k but I am very happy with this very simple setup.