[surgtech57]

Hi Everyone,
Well as the title states I'm looking for component ideas based on a $6000. budget for a two channel system. I listen to both CDs and LPs and probably want the speaker portion of my budget to be the highest price item of the system. Any ideas would be helpful. Thank you all!!!
Surgtech57

[FullRangeMan]

Welcome Surgtech57
Used component?
If small room would use a no xover fullrange driver?
Otherwise a two way 8'' woofer+tweeter hi sensitivity floor standing would be nice.

[ArthurDent]

Greetings & Welcome to AC surgtech57      As you may have noted we have several top notch speaker builders here on the site. Also several gear manufacturers. A tad more info, such as room size, type of music preferred, etc will help folks provide more relevant recommendations on what will best serve your needs & wants.   

[Phil A]

Welcome to AC! - Is rack space a limiting factor?  If so, you may wish to go with an integrated amp.

[surgtech57]

Well the room I'll be using is 14ft wide x 35ft long. I should have mentioned that I've already have a brand new pair of B&W 805 Nautilus speakers. I'm primarily looking for a pre-amp, amp and CD player to bring them to life.

[surgtech57]

Oh forgot lol I listen to primarily Jazz, classical, blues and old school rock.

[FullRangeMan]

No hi sensitivity only 88dB, minimum 100W preferably more.
You will like Class D or digital amps transparency.

[surgtech57]

FullRangeMan,
I apologize for not understanding the lingo in AC. Several years ago a member of AC Marcus (a component critic on AC) introduced me to audiophile quality components and music. Before this I never had a clue how good music could really sound. Yet it's only been till now where I am able to purchase anything near what I heard back then. Now granted my budget wouldn't even touch the speakers I heard back then as they were a custom pair priced at $70000/pair. Yet I'd like to put together a 2 channel system that will give my LPS and CDs a new and better sounding life than I what I currently get from what I know a totally crap system I now have none of which is worth saving.
That said plus the information from my previous post the help I need is based on my budget what would pre-amp and amp will bring out the best sound from my B&W 805 Nautilus speakers?
SurgTech57

[FullRangeMan]

I mean say your speaker is not hi sensitivity(88dB) it will need minimum 100W per channel, preferably more.
I prefer integrated amps as these, not pre/power separates:
The NuPrime IDA-16 Integrated Amplifier
MSRP $2,600 (USD)
http://www.nuprimeaudio.com/index.php/products/amplifiers-and-preamps/integrated-amps/ida-16.html
===
Our E Series Amplifiers represent the latest in Class D amplifier technology $2,500
http://www.ciaudio.com/products/E200
===
Cyclops integrated amplifier:
base model specifications:
$1,095 USD
http://www.odysseyaudio.com/products-cyclops.html
===
http://www.modwright.com/products/kwi-200.php
There are more options on this forum manufacturers.

[rollo]

   Marantz has a special synergy with B&W then Mc Intosh. If you like class"D" look at Peachtree brand. If you decide you desire tubed gear it should be the preamp.
   Then there is a one stop and shop piece. Vinnie Rossi with modular options. Have fun. Not a Dealer for brands mentioned.



charles

[JLM]

That's a very long room.  I assume you'll face the 14 foot wall.  (Trying to set up facing the long wall leaves too little depth to develop soundstage or avoid bass build up at the listening position.)  Regardless the bass frequencies in the room will function like a giant tube (like being inside a big musical instrument).  Think of waves moving lengthwise in a shallow bath tub.  They travel the length of the tub, hit the end, and return to either possibly cancel or reinforce the next wave (varying the bass response by up to +/- 4 fold).  The same would happen in this room, the effect varying with position and frequency. 

Also search Audio Circle for "swarm".  The best bass comes from multiple semi-randomly distributed subwoofers (to best address the bass tube issue).  But this can get expensive.  One subwoofer at the opposite end of the room from the speakers would help.

You'll need to shorten the room to get the best sound from whatever system you pick.  Avoid simple multiples of primary room dimensions (for instance length not twice the width or 3 times the height).  Read Floyd Toole's "Sound Reproduction" to learn the basics of how sound (especially bass) behaves in a room and the range of ideal room shapes.  Note that bass behaves in "waves" and higher frequencies function as "rays".

Being only 14 feet wide you'll need absorption on the side walls at the first reflection points (where you'd see the speakers using a mirror).  Recommend GIK panels (they have a circle here at Audio Circle).  Avoid any open cell foam products as laughably useless for acoustic absorption.  Adding these panels will help the side walls "disappear" so the room acoustically seems wider. 

[Phil A]

In a spare (3rd) system I have a pair of old B&W P6s (original owner over 20 years old).

[Phil A]

I use the spare room more for HT.  I have an Emotiva XPA-200 amp and a Sherbourn preamp along with an Oppo 103D which has a hard drive attached with various files, including DSD and multi-channel DSD.  Some of the above suggestion are great.  I have an Odyssey Candela preamp in another spare system and it is really nice.

[FullRangeMan]

That's a very long room. 

Maybe he would place some large book case or panels at 22 feet long to simulate a smaller room (golden ratio).

[surgtech57]

the room itself has a large picture window size space in the middle for access to a home bar serving area through it. How might that affect the dynamics of the sound?

[jarcher]

Marantz PM8005 integrated amp : $1200
Marantz SA8005 sacd player /DAC : $1200
Bluesound Node 2 or Sonos Connect : $350-$500
JL Audio Dominion D110 Subwoofer : $1100
Clearaudio Concept Turntable w/ Concept MM cartridge : $1600
$5450 - 5600

Balance of $6000 towards cables. I'd suggest Wireworld Oasis level. Avoid cheap Audioquest.

Dealer for all - but doesn't matter since you're not going to buy from me anyway, and even if you were I wouldn't compromise my integrity and good will on AC for a couple hundred bucks in commission at best. I need to make a living, but not that badly.

You may not know or understand what the Sonos Connect / BS Node 2 does - but trust me, when you start using them you won't want to use anything else and will probably retire your CDs. Find someone who can explain it to you and how to work it, though it's not really that complicated.

If you can, and you plan or want to do any serious listening, set it up on the short wall and place your couch / seat / primary seating position about 8-10 feet away. Place speakers 6-10 feet apart, minimum 2 feet back from rear wall & 2 from side walls if at all possible. You can't expect concert perfection everywhere in a room that size. And if you're not in the primary listening spot it's probably going to be background music anyway.

Set sub to 60hz, volume at quarter or lower. If placed forward in the same direction as speakers, phase at 0. If placed perpendicular (i.e. 90 degrees) to main speakers, then phase at 90. Probably best to avoid placing sub in a corner if possible. You'll have to experiment with the volume level until it sounds right (i.e. Integrated w/ main speakers). This is subjective - some like a lot of bass, others not so much.

Better yet pay someone to set up the gear and speakers for you - hopefully a hifi dealer specialist who knows what they're doing. It will be money well spent. Resist the temptation of having the "hifi expert" friend do it for you. You can't blame them if it sounds wrong and set things right. You get what you pay for!

Good luck & enjoy!

[DTB300]

IMO If you want your sub to sound the best it can be, buy a DSpeaker Anti-Mode 8033.  You will not regret it once you hear the results you get.  OR - Some receivers have built-in DSP for low end correction so you could look for that too.

Try to deal with a local dealer if you can (as long as they are not idiots).