[TomS]

I would take a look at the Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S speakers in that room, available in black, white, red, very reasonably priced, easy to drive. Clayton Shaw is setting up manufacturing and distribution in Germany literally as we speak.

http://www.spatialaudio.us/hologram-m3

[gillesdierickx]

I would take a look at the Spatial Audio M3 Turbo S speakers in that room, available in black, white, red, very reasonably priced, easy to drive. Clayton Shaw is setting up manufacturing and distribution in Germany literally as we speak.

http://www.spatialaudio.us/hologram-m3

This would be sufficiently loud enough and good quality? the room is about 45ft long.
Also, you still need to add an amplifier etc to complete the set up here correct?

[TomS]

This would be sufficiently loud enough and good quality? the room is about 45ft long.
Also, you still need to add an amplifier etc to complete the set up here correct?

The Spatials will play extremely loud with low distortion. They use pro style drivers so are suited to the task.

Yes, there are many choices for amplifiers. Several here drive them with the 40 wpc Vinnie Rossi LIO configured as an integrated amplifier with built in DAC. This would be a great choice but can get rather pricey depending on which boxes you tick. I could easily be done with the LIO and a pair of Spatial M3's. All you need is a nice set of speaker cables such as the Triode Wire Labs speaker cables.

http://www.vinnierossi.com/
http://www.triodewirelabs.com/triodeweb/shop/speaker-cables/speaker-cable-american-series/

[Wind Chaser]

Since you are located in Europe, I'd be inclined to stick with European made gear for reasons of service, serviceability and shipping considerations.

Also, consider the used market. Your 15k budget will go a lot further and feel more like 30k+. If you buy new, prepare to take a huge hit when you want to make channges. Cables and DACs are especially vulnerable to serious depreciation, but so are amps and speakers. Now more than ever, the used market is a goldmine. 

[jarcher]

As a US high-end audio dealer, here's my suggestions in perspective.

 Looking at the photos of your room, it's not practical nor even necessary to try to put together a system where the sound will be optimal across the entire area.  You're more critical /  serious listening is likely to occur at the living room where you have the sofa and lounge chairs. Your system should be optimized to have the "sweet spot" in that space.  Which is not to say you won't have good sound in the dining room, just that it is not realistic to expect the best sound in both spaces. As most likely at the  dining room you will be listening more in a background listening mode while you eat etc. it's not really important that the sound be perfect there.

 All of this is good news because it means you should neither need nor expect giant speakers to cover the entire area as if it were a concert hall!  You should have speakers and a system that provides great sound in the living room and good sound in the dining room and other areas. This will open up substantially the options for speakers and other equipment.

 As for a starting point, we will all be tempted to offer our equipment suggestions based on our experience and preferences. What's really the most important right now is that you choose a local dealer  Who you like and trust and who will work with you to  achieve the sound that YOU like. Don't be worried nor expect that you will be able to put together the perfect system that you will be happy with forever. That is unrealistic and a recipe for frustration.  This is a learning process, especially this early. Your requirements and tastes and sound reproduction  Will very likely change over time as you learn and focus on what's most important to you.

 My suggestion for the here and now is to work with a good local dealer with whom you can explore the options they have available and find one that best suits the sound you want in your living room area.  If they are able or willing to let you do an in home audition of the equipment, this is ideal. This is becoming more rare, but if they have a trade up program,  that would be even better.  A trade up program is where you can get 100% of your money back towards a higher-priced item in the future, usually no more than 12 months. This allows you to change And improve your system as you discover what's important to you.

 In general terms I would suggest as a starting point a good integrated amp and some good medium sized tower speakers.  Integrated amps have the virtue of simplicity and value. Personally I feel Hegel makes excellent integrated amplifiers. They are simple to operate, musical, have an excellent feature set, and work well with most speakers. The H160 is the "sweet spot" in their model line ($3500 in the US). It has a smooth rich sound, plenty of power with 160 wpc, and an excellent internal dac with network and AirPlay capabilities. Hegel is a Norwegian brand with many excellent reviews and there are three dealers in Belgium.

Speakers will be a more subjective choice based not just on sound but cosmetic and size requirements. Surely a Hegel dealer will have different speakers to suggest and try. At our store some of the brands we like with them that you are likely to find there are Focal (France) and Audio Physic (Germany). In particular we like them with the Sopra and Classic 30 models. The monitor audio platinum level speakers sound good and have attractive finishes. I personally would avoid the Silver and lower level models though as you have an acoustically "lively" room with lots of glass and hard surfaces and you could find them too "bright" (i.e. Excessive high frequency energy). The monitor audio platinum models are overall still energetic but more refined than the silver and lower models.

Hope that helps!

[Folsom]

You're in Europe! 

Ok so it's possible to buy an Oppo 103 locally, for your power there.

You can also get Audio Alchemy in Europe too, multiple countries.

Salk ships world wide, constantly. Their biggest market is in some Asia/island areas.

However you wouldn't be able to use the SurgeX in stock form (Here's an alternative). Dave at ZenWave, if you contacted him, would be happy to put a European style plug on any of his power cords.

Would I still recommend this setup? Ya, I would.

Just because a system plays loud doesn't mean it sounds loud. That's a reason the Audio Alchemy's amplifiers that have serious drive are a top choice in this situation; the authority they can do is very fun. The Vinnie Rossi LIO is a great device but for someone that's all rock-n-roll fun in I wouldn't choose it. All of Salk's speakers at Axpona easily entertained a large room. I think your father would be happier with the size of the Salk's, and the fact you have windows behind the speakers, over the Spatials. The Salk monitors the Tower version are based on can fill a large room. They have 13mm excursion, with powerful motors. (The monitors would be an ok option, too, but towers are easy and give you more)

 

Could you be happy buying at the dealer? Sure! I'm just saying you can get a hell of a system for a different price on the parts. Are there Euro specific brands? Yes. But few companies offer what Salk does for the great price, no one offers what ZenWave does for the price. And the Audio Alchemy is one of the best deals. Leif Swanson of VSA uses an Audio Alchemy for his own stereo.

[I.Greyhound Fan]

Other Euro brands to consider besides Harbeth, Sonus Faber are B&W, Dyn Audio (these are worth a good look), Tannoy, Spendor, Canton for speakers.  For electronics besides Vincent Audio-Electrocompaniet, Cambridge Audio, Arcam, Primare, Chord electronics for great DAC's to name a few. I am sure with some American companies like Pass Labs that you would not have trouble for service as they sell world wide and cater to the high end market in Europe and Asia.

The key is set your budget and pick your speakers first.  Then decide on an amp and preamp to match.  Go and audition speakers with music in hand.  You can still do a good DAC if using a CD player by using the digital coax or optical out.  A good DAC will beat out most CD players and will give you the option to go computer and usb in the future.

[Folsom]

Tannoy is now China. The evil as sin Behringer bought them.

[OzarkTom]

Other side of the room.

I would go with a pair of monitors with a room like that. If your dad has a chance to hear the Zellaton Legacy's from Germany, hear those. Voted the best sound at Munich audio show last year. He will be in audio heaven.