[WGH]

Too bad I ran out of money. I would have loved to add a DAC to the VR-33 system, the Squeezebox by itself is the weak link.

Wayne

[poseidonsvoice]

A lot of you are recommending the Jolida. Might I suggest the Fusion Hybrid amplifier - fully assembled at $1000-$1400 depending on options and you can use the integral digital volume control of your SB3/Touch (should be okay for most but not all recordings):



Fusion Hybrid Amplifier from DIY Hifi Supply (40-65 watts depending on 8 ohm or 4 ohm loads):

Detailed Description: The 300B and driver portion of this amplifier derives directly from the exceptional Lux amplifier. The input gain stage is handled by an EF86 – the classic high gain/low microphonic pentode. Coupling is by one small high quality 0.015uf cap to paralleled sections of a dual triode 5687. The 5687 is direct coupled from the cathode to the 300B, providing a low impedance source to manage the 300B. This too is taken from the Lux, only the cathode choke is replaced by a high value resistive load with a large negative voltage supply. This passes all the speed, delicacy and finesse of the pentode music amplifier to the 300B wile improving drive and overload capacity immensely.
The 300B drives the speaker through the latest generation diyhifisupply output transformer, which is CNC wound for perfect lay, low capacitance and very wide power bandwidth and uses a high grade GOSS core. This provides the power output of around 10W, with matched speaker impedances of 4, 8 and 16 Ohm available. Flick the Fusion switch, and the power (of the 8 Ohm Tap) is now boosted to 40 watts into 8 Ohm and output impedance is reduced from 3 Ohm to 1 Ohm! You now have a 300B Amplifier that can handle any common HiFi and high end speaker well, not just high efficiency types! The Fusion's "Power Booster" is not a simple solid state booster amp with tons of feedback as sold by some, nor is it a simple follower circuit found so frequently in hybrid amplifiers.

If you want to go a step further you can get the Fusion 3 which is an integrated amp (50 watts)/tube preamp/24 bit dac:



All you need to add is a PC and you are good to go. Leave it to Brian Cherry for a nice design, small footprint.

And Scott Faller's review absolutely ROCKS on Enjoy The Music - You the man!

Just my $.02.

Anand.

[Neil G]

Here's an interesting one put together by the guys at Soundstage! on their UltraAudio site:

http://www.ultraaudio.com/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=103:benchmark-systems-part-three-the-5000-full-ranger&catid=25:opinion&Itemid=27

They have a full write-up explaining things, but here are the main components:

Aperion Audio Verus Grand Tower loudspeakers:     $1798/pair
Bel Canto C5i integrated amplifier and DAC:     $1895
DH Labs Silver Sonic T-14 speaker cables:     $303/8’ biwire pair with bananas
AudioQuest Carbon USB cable:     $149/1.5m
Apple MacBook laptop (used/refurbished):     $400 (est.)
Decibel music player:     $0 (est. under $100; soon)
Grand total:     $4545

I took special interest in seeing this as I am a Bel Canto dealer.  Aside from CES, this is some of the first press on the new Bel Canto C5i integrated amp.

[Pez]

Awesome stuff guys!

I have updated the rules To loosen the restrictions a bit. please check the original post.

[mcgsxr]

I will stick with the original request.

Peachtree Nova - 1200
HP Mini 5102 Netbook running Logitech Slimserver s/w - 279
Hitachi 2TB usb drive - 99
iPod Touch 8GB to use as the remote to pick tunes etc - 229
iPeng App - 10
Bolder M80 6 foot speaker cables - 165
Salk Songtower TL's with the ribbon tweet, Sonicap upgrade - 2999

Connect the Netbook to the Peachtree via a usb cable and once you rip your music, you are up and running.

Order a pizza with your remaining $19!  Sit on the floor and listen while you scarf down some tasty pie!   

[Pez]

Haha I love that one! You even paid for the App.  good on you!

[srb]

^ ^ ^ ^ ^
 
If you're running Logitech Slimserver I assume you would need a Squeezebox Touch ($300) and digital cable, which I don't see.  Edit: Guess I missed the netbook to Nova via USB, as the Slimserver software threw me.
 
Looks like no pie afterall !
 
I was going to use Songtower RT (stock @ 2700) for my virtual system, but I would love to hear a side by side comparison with the Sonicapped model.
 
Still working on configuring my entry, as it was closer to $6K, but maybe if I use the new guidelines of 1 used piece I can make it happen.
 
Steve

[doug s.]

Awesome stuff guys!

I have updated the rules To loosen the restrictions a bit. please check the original post.

ok, i'll bite - replace the sony tuna w/mods, and one tube buffer for it; that give you $458 for a nice wintage modded tuna of your choice.  i would try for a hk citation 18, but there's many many choices awailable...   plus, you will need one less set of i/c's 

- dared sl2000a preamp -                                               439
- sony xdr f1hd fm tuna -                                                 99
- radio-x tuners extreme mod to sony tuna -                      180
- jolida fx10 amp -                                                        383
- tekton lore speakers -                                                 850
- two subs from underwoodwally on a'gon - $888 ea =       1776
- behringer ultradrive pro dcx 2496 -                                249
- two yaqin sd-cd3 tube buffers, one after the tuna, the
  other before the jolida, after the behringer - $179 ea =     358
- modded hk citation 18 tuna -                                        458
- sd-cd3 tube buffer, after the behringer, before the amp -  179

                                                                total =       4334

that should leave enuff for money for wire, and mebbe even another cheap source...   

doug s.

ps - which would you rather have - von schweikert vr33 @ $3750, or
- tekton lore speakers -                                                 850
- two subs from underwoodwally on a'gon - $888 ea =       1776
- behringer ultradrive pro dcx 2496 -                                249
                                                                  total =    2875   
(or choose another speaker of your choice, instead of the lore, for up to $1725, if you insist on spending $3750 for the speakers...   

[Scott F.]

If you want to go a step further you can get the Fusion 3 which is an integrated amp (50 watts)/tube preamp/24 bit dac:

All you need to add is a PC and you are good to go. Leave it to Brian Cherry for a nice design, small footprint.

And Scott Faller's review absolutely ROCKS on Enjoy The Music - You the man!

Anand.

Danke 

It really is quite the piece of kit. There is no way a $1700 integrated should sound that good.

[cujobob]

Geddes Abbeys ($4400 a pair built/tested) or Nathans ($3400).  I used stands I built from Lowes for around $40, cabling can be Monoprice cheap stuff, and because they're so sensitive, just about any amp can drive them.

The receivers Earl Geddes recommends are about $350 and sound quite nice.  Any performance gains from going with better electronics means you'd have to get poorer sounding speakers...I'd pass.

Last I heard, Earl can make them ported if they are being used without subs.  With subs, no need for that.

If built from kits, they're cheaper obviously.

Abbeys - $4400
Stands - $40
Cables- $75
Amp- Pioneer receiver (my model is last year's, 919) $350

Not much left for a source, but a DVD Player, old Ipod Touch (these receivers have an interface to play directly off of iPods).

[viggen]

This is what I would buy if I were building a system today.  I am cheating as the MSRP total doesn't include cables.  And, I am not including the cost of the PC.  I can't think of another amp I would buy that cost under $1200, so I am just putting my own amp in there for now.  Dollar is pretty weak against the euro now, so the total price is a bit over $5k since my amp is only priced in euros.

Speakers: Harbeth P3ESR $2000



Source: M2Tech Young $1800



Amp: Greatech μVAC 950 euros

[bummrush]

That last system is something else!

[wgscott]

This is approximately what I have spent on my current setup:

2010 Mac mini:  $700
External Firewire drive:  $200
Audirvana:          $0
Halide Bridge       $500
Peachtree Nova   $1100
B&W CM7            $2000
Blue Jeans Cable speaker wires and connections  $100
===================================
$4600

I added a Class D Audio SDS-254X2 amp, mainly because of the size of the room, and OCD.  Kit = $500, and then I spent about another $300 on a customized case to match the Nova, and at least another $100 to $200 on parts (sometimes the wrong ones).

I've thought about what I might do differently if I were to do it again:

CM9 instead of CM7 speakers (or go for better ones if I could afford it, especially ones more likely to permit me to use active crossovers).

Class D audio amp(s) and possibly Dodd buffer (passive pre-amp), stand-alone DAC (maybe Peachtree's iDAC), mac mini.

[WC]

Well the system I am building sort of fits:

Virtue Sensation M901 Integrated Amp with Dodd tube buffer and battery kit. $1450
GR-research N3S speaker kit and materials $700
GR-research servo sub kit and materials $700
Pro-ject RPM5.1SE turntable $1000
Dell net book $300
Schit Bifrost or Peachtree Audio DACit DAC $450
Spend the remainder on interconnects $400

[Mike Nomad]

Here's a couple of pokes at the problem:

(option one)

Oppo BDP-93 universal player - $499
Peachtree Audio Nova integrated amp w/DAC - $1,100
PSB Image T6 speakers - $1,199

<$2,202 remaining for a pre-amp tube that doesn't suck, cabling, power conditioning>


(option two)

Oppo BDP-93 universal player - $499
Parasound Classic 2100 pre-amp - $649
Almarro A205A amp - $800
Tekton Design Uruz speakers - $2,200

<$852 remaining for cabling, power conditioning, alternate tubes>

[mhconley]

Analog & Digital

Fritz Carbon 7 - $1795
1000ASP DIY monoblocks - $1155
Transcendent Sound Grounded Grid kit w/muting circuit - $534
Squeezebox Touch - $255 (new on sale)
Pro-Ject RPM1.3 - $459
Grado PH-1 - $383 (new, discounted)
Pangea AC-14SE x3 - $150
DIY Neotech / Furutech interconnects - $240

Total - $4971

Martin

[HT cOz]

Interesting. I think the two most used items are Squeezebox Touch and Fritz Carbon 7s.

[cstory]

I've got one.

Speakers Selah Granduer: $2100




NAD C-375 BEE Integrated: $1300





Centrance Dacmini: $800





Oppo BDP-93: $510 (Everybody knows that it looks like) 


Total of $4710 which leaves some money for cables and stuff. The Granduers are the heart of the system and tough to beat for the $$$.


A lot of great suggestions from everyone here. Just goes to show how much good stuff there is out there.

Cheers,

Chuck

[jimdgoulding]

Well, I'd be leaning toward Carbon 7's myself with my little modification.  I might favor the NAD integrated and an OPPO cause I gotta get a TT in there and for that I would get me a Zu modified Denon 103 around $350.00*.  That NAD got enough phono stage to step up an MC?  Cool thread, Pez.  Dispence on, dude.  The Jolida is an attractive option, too, if it has enough juice.

*I think

[S Clark]

Well the system I am building sort of fits:

Virtue Sensation M901 Integrated Amp with Dodd tube buffer and battery kit. $1450
GR-research N3S speaker kit and materials $700
GR-research servo sub kit and materials $700
Pro-ject RPM5.1SE turntable $1000
Dell net book $300
Schit Bifrost or Peachtree Audio DACit DAC $450
Spend the remainder on interconnects $400

Not having heard the Fritz speakers, this looks like a pretty good system for the $. Two set of IC from Sonny for another $300, and $100 worth of music.