[Rclark]

I'm listening to modded Virtue Two.2 with an inexpensive dac into a Warpspeed opto.. with Maggies... and I can tell you that SS is mighty fine, sweet sweet sound. Sounds like live.

[coverto]

Haven't actually heard this combo, but here's what I might try:

Speakers: Tekton Lores $1000
Speaker wire: "White Lightning" jerry rig from lawn & garden extension cord. $25
Amplifier: Bottlehead Stereomour 2A3 $750
Interconnects: KCI Sparrows $250
DAC: Tranquility SE with Signature USB Cable $2200
Source: 2011 Mac Mini $600
Storage: Oyen Digital Minipro 1TB $175

Total: $5,000

[neekomax]

Haven't actually heard this combo, but here's what I might try:

Speakers: Tekton Lores $1000
Speaker wire: "White Lightning" jerry rig from lawn & garden extension cord. $25
Amplifier: Bottlehead Stereomour 2A3 $750
Interconnects: KCI Sparrows $250
DAC: Tranquility SE with Signature USB Cable $2200
Source: 2011 Mac Mini $600
Storage: Oyen Digital Minipro 1TB $175

Total: $5,000

Really? One fifth of the budget on speakers, and twice as much on your DAC?

I would spend at least half of the total budget on speakers, 1k or less on amplification, and the rest on front end and assorted whatever.

My current system is built basically on that principle, but with about $2,500. Sounds pretty dope to me.

[coverto]

I will always endeavor not to let principles get in the way of a good system.

[neekomax]

I will always endeavor not to let principles get in the way of a good system.

 

Touché.

But really, since we're talking hypothetical systems here, I figure that a principle or two might be useful. Such as, 'Speakers matter more than DACs'. Would you disagree?

(Now to be fair, I've never heard the Lores. Maybe they're actually better than every speaker at $2,500. Maybe.  )

[coverto]

Seriously, principles are useful - and I actually generally agree with the one about speakers that you're currently invoking - but there are always exceptions and yes, a lot of people will tell you that the Lores are better than any $2500 speaker out there, which is partly what I'm thinking in this case.

Of course, a lot of people will also probably tell you that the Lores are overhyped, that they've got a speaker that trounces them, and maybe they're right. And come to think of it, from what I have heard, I'm not really sure the Lores would be able to take full advantage of the prowess of the Tranquility SE, which basically validates your point! 

So maybe the best course of action would be to cash in my option for a used component and sub out the Lores for a pair of used Tonian TL-D1s for $1000 (yes, that's what I bought mine for, don't hate me...).

Now THAT would be one heckuva system, let me tell you...

[morganc]

I have heard the Lores with the Tranquility SE and believe me, you can hear the quality .  But to stay within budget,  I would do the following:
Tekton Lores: $750 used (just got a pair)
EE Dac Plus $1000 (or used Tranquility SE if I have an extra $300)
Mac Mini 2010 $500 (that's what I got it for)
Dodd Buffer $300
Decware Tori $2395 (Got one for this price)

I would bet that this combination would be amazing.  I have a similar set-up and it is quite nice, but a few thousand over budget.   I do think that the Lores need more power than most are using. I would recommend a minimum of 8-10
 watts......the mini tori that I have now is not quite powerful enough at 4-6 watts. 

[morganc]

Really? One fifth of the budget on speakers, and twice as much on your DAC?

I would spend at least half of the total budget on speakers, 1k or less on amplification, and the rest on front end and assorted whatever.

My current system is built basically on that principle, but with about $2,500. Sounds pretty dope to me.

I think that this reasoning works for some systems and not for others.  For High Efficiency speakers, the quality and synergy of the components will influence the sound more than anything else.  For less efficient speakers, I think the biggest influence by far is the choice of speaker, but with high efficiency speakers I have found that every upstream component improvement is easily audible and takes the system up a notch.  At least that's what I hear

[coverto]

I think that this reasoning works for some systems and not for others.  For High Efficiency speakers, the quality and synergy of the components will influence the sound more than anything else.  For less efficient speakers, I think the biggest influence by far is the choice of speaker, but with high efficiency speakers I have found that every upstream component improvement is easily audible and takes the system up a notch.  At least that's what I hear

Well said, Morgan, and I also like the configuration you cooked up with the Decware and the Dodd. Interesting about the efficiency of the Lores - a little surprising that they need at least 8 to 10 watts, given that they're rated at 98db. You think there may be some grade inflation going on regarding the efficiency?

[morganc]

I honestly cannot tell.  I need to get the RadioShack Meter out.  It could be that the fatiguability(is that a word?) is less and therefore it doesn't sound as loud......I will do some investigating.