If you were building a 10k analog system...

Discussion in 'Audio Hardware' started by Greenmonster2420, Feb 13, 2019.

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  1. Greenmonster2420

    Greenmonster2420 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    If you were building a $10k vinyl only system, all in cost, how much would you spend on each component? The number $10k is a bit arbitrary aside from the fact it makes it easy to extrapolate the percentages.

    How much would you spend on each component, accessories, etc? Would you buy the component used or new? If you want to go so far as to specify the make and model of each component you would choose, all the better, but I am more interested in the first two questions.

    Interested to hear all or your thoughts!!
     
    btltez likes this.
  2. jdsher

    jdsher Forum Resident

    Location:
    Plano, Texas, USA
    I would prioritize it this way, from most important:
    Source-turntable/cartridge $4k 40%
    Amplification/preamplification $2k (probably integrated) 20%
    Speakers-$2k 20%
    Cables/rack/rcm, etc.-$2k 20%
    If someone was willing to buy from the 'gon I think you could put together something pretty sweet sounding.
    Jon
     
  3. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    Difficult to make a specific recommendation. Sometimes there are component synergies so hard to make a percentage by component recommendation.

    That said, I would focus on the amp-speaker pairing as the biggest determinant of sound. Given $10K, I would likely spend at least $4K on the speakers.

    More context would be ideal. How big is the room and can you do two-way monitors with medium but respectable bass?
     
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  4. SquishySounds

    SquishySounds Yo mama so fat Thanos had to snap twice.

    Location:
    New York
    loudspeakers 50%
    cables $30
    turntable/pre-amp/amp 40%
    scented candles $970
     
  5. LeeS

    LeeS Music Fan

    Location:
    Atlanta
    Lol. You could buy a set of Synergistic HFTs for $500, fix your room acoustics, and still have $470 left for scented candles.
     
    timztunz likes this.
  6. Quake1028

    Quake1028 Future former fatass

    Location:
    Tampa, FL
    Aren't they killing your family?
     
  7. dividebytube

    dividebytube Forum Resident

    Location:
    Grand Rapids, MI
    I'm a source first kind of guy - so I would throw 50% at the cart/turntable, then 25% on the preamp/amp combo, and then 25% on speakers.

    Cables, tweaks, etc would be for a rainy day.
     
  8. Tartifless

    Tartifless Forum Resident

    Location:
    France
    Klipsch Forte 3 : 50%
    Maybe Rega p8 + Alpheta + Aria
    And why not some Rega Elicit Amp or a McIntosh tube amp.

    Maybe try KEF or B&W instead of Klipsch, an all UK system could be fine, I don't know how the Forte pairs with a Rega amp but should be fine...
     
  9. Diskhound

    Diskhound Forum Resident

    Location:
    Canada
    1. I would definitely buy gently used aiming to buy recent or current production components and speakers for a maximum of 50% of original retail.
    2. To keep cable costs to a minimum I would buy an integrated amp with a high quality built-in phono amp.
    3. I would drop 30% of the budget on used speakers first then pick my used integrated amp with the next 30% of the budget to drive them properly with synergy.
    4. I would then spend 25% of the budget on the best used table complete with a cartridge that I could find.
    5. I would use the last 15% for some effective used, passive power conditioning and cables.
     
    timztunz likes this.
  10. Jeremy B.

    Jeremy B. Forum Resident

    Location:
    NYC
    I live for open box specials so you might be able to do any of these for a few hundred less if you're diligent. Also I'm essentially building you (almost) my system.

    VPI Prime Scout: $2200
    Soundsmith Zephyr mkIII: $900 from Elusive Disc until they run out
    Soundsmith MMP3 phono pre: $800 (haven't heard it, but I use the MCP2 for my SS Paua and it sounds great, so I'm assuming this one is great, too)
    Focal Electa 1008's: $3000
    PrimaLuna ProLogue Integrated: $2400 (haven't heard this either but I have a Dialogue HP Integrated and it's amazing and it's little brother is also highly reviewed)

    That leaves you $700 to spend on cabling. I'd argue that spending any more than that on a $10K system strains reason.
     
  11. Greenmonster2420

    Greenmonster2420 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Love the answers guys, but I’m thinking more granular here. I look at each separate.for example:

    Cart: 1k new
    Table: 1.5k used
    Phono pre: 1.5k used
    Amp (broken out pre and power if that’s your fancy): 2k used
    Speakers: 3k used
    Cables: $300 new
    Room treatment: $700 new

    Just an example ;)
     
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  12. Larry I

    Larry I Senior Member

    Location:
    Washington, D.C.
    SquishySounds,

    I like your 120% cumulative allocation, not even counting the candles, and I particularly like the scented candles. Sounds like you have been burning something other than candles.

    At this price point, I would be spending mostly on the speaker/amp combination. It is a combination because some speakers will limit the field of eligible amplifiers. The amp would probably be an integrated amp, preferably something with a built in phono stage. Roughly speaking, about 60% or more for the amp/speaker combination sounds right.
     
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  13. Greenmonster2420

    Greenmonster2420 Forum Resident Thread Starter

    Built in phono stage is a no go for me personally. That and cart have made the biggest impact to my sound.

    I dream nightly of owning a Chinook :drool:
     
    bever70 likes this.
  14. Synthfreek

    Synthfreek I’m a ray of sunshine & bastion of positivity

    His calculations are spot on...maybe you didn’t notice it is $30 not 30%.
     
    mitchius likes this.
  15. Jeremy B.

    Jeremy B. Forum Resident

    Location:
    NYC
    Well that's just not nearly as fun.
     
  16. Bill Hart

    Bill Hart Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austin
    I could never get my head around % budget allocations- used is best for almost everything and I wouldn't worry about fancy wire or 'tweaks'---
    I guess I'd start by asking what the priorities are-- a system that rocks hard music is different from one that is suited for classical chamber music. I know that systems are supposed to be music agnostic, but I'm all for the best you can possibly afford without going crazy. I could live with my 1973 vintage Quad ESLs if I was only listening to classical or small jazz. For Sabbath, they work, but you aren't getting the full impact.
     
  17. Guitarded

    Guitarded Forum Resident

    Location:
    Montana
    PS Audio Stellar Gain Cell Mono (700) Amps - $3k
    Used PSAudio GCPH - $500
    Used / Open Box Focal Electras - $2500
    Restored Japanese D.Drive - $1250-1500
    Soundsmith Cart - $500-$1000
    Cables / Rack / Treatment / Candles - $Bal
     
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  18. james

    james Summon The Queen

    Location:
    Annapolis
    I would buy one of the currently discounted new RP8’s for 2k

    A new cart for 500-1000

    a used integrated amp in the 2k dollar range

    used speakers in the 5k dollar range

    I’d used whatever cables I had laying around
     
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  19. Tim Irvine

    Tim Irvine Forum Resident

    Location:
    Austin, Texas
    Love my VN150 w. Ortofon 2m bronze $2000
    Don’t know what phono pre because right now it’s part of my Sphinx
    Raven Blackhawk about $3500
    Blue Jeans cables and interconnects
    Fill the balance with some classic BBC style standmounts
     
  20. PhxJohn

    PhxJohn Forum Resident

    Location:
    Phoenix, AZ
    I agree the source is the most important.
     
  21. spaulding

    spaulding Hoi Polloi

    Location:
    The Windy City
    I built a $10k system about 13 years ago -
    and the first thing I took into account was the room.
    It was not a dedicated room, it was a living room system - in a condo.

    And while I definitely consider myself a 'source' first guy, this helped solidify that decision.
    No reason for a ton of power or super expansive soundstage with someone living on the other side of my walls. And ceiling. And floor.
    So I worked inside out and in the end went approximately 50% table/cartridge, 25% Amp/pre, 25% speakers.
    Tweaks over the years have changed some of those percentages, but it worked quite well for the situation.

    But...now that I've moved to a house I would love to work outside - in. The percentages might change. Who knows.
    Not me cuz the $$ always seem to go somewhere else when a house is involved. :(
     
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  22. Davey

    Davey NP: Portishead ~ Portishead (1997)

    Location:
    SF Bay Area, USA
    I'd go mostly used, something like below ...

    ----------------------------------------------
    Source:
    Micro Seiki BL-91 turntable with MA-505 tonearm ~ $2000 (used)
    Benz Micro Wood SL cartridge ~ $1000 (new)
    Audio Technica AT33PTG/II ~ $500 (new - cheaper alternate)
    ----------------------------------------------

    ----------------------------------------------
    Amplifiers:
    Audio Alchemy PPA-1 MM/MC Phono Preamp ~ $799 (very nice all discrete new unit but discontinued so heavily discounted at Audio Advisor)
    Conrad Johnson CAV-45 Control Amplifier ~ $3000 (used, you need some nice triodes to keep it warm and cozy)
    ----------------------------------------------

    ----------------------------------------------
    Speakers:
    $3000-$3500 left for speakers, but they are way too personal, I really like ribbon tweeters and a 3-way floorstanding design would allow them to be used with little distortion, but that can get expensive, and the tube amp above just has 45 watts, so need to be careful there too. Maybe something like the Salk Song3.
    ----------------------------------------------

    So guess I would divide it roughly in thirds.
     
    Last edited: Feb 13, 2019
  23. blowinblue

    blowinblue Kind of not blue.

    Location:
    SoCal USA
    An issue like this is out of my hands. Let me refer you to my wife's email account where you can plead my case. Her address is [email protected].

    Thank you for your support.

    M. M.
     
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  24. TarnishedEars

    TarnishedEars Forum Resident

    Location:
    The Seattle area
    I'd prioritize your budget like so:

    Source-turntable/cartridge ~40%
    Amplification/preamplification ~35%
    Speakers ~20%
    Cables/rack/rcm, etc. ~5%
     
  25. Josquin des Prez

    Josquin des Prez I have spoken!

    Location:
    U.S.
    FWIW: in my system:
    the analog front end (incl. phonostage) is 33% of the total,
    the electronics are 30% of the total and
    the speaker system is 32% of the total.

    The last 5% is my digital streamer. Cables, and racks, etc are in addition to that and not considered in the calculations.
     
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