[asindc]

Hello All,

I'm beginning to educate myself on what I call 'modern analog' (my last real involvement with analog was with a Technics TT/Pioneer receiver setup in my college days). As the thread title suggests, my setup will soon look like this:

Cary 306SACD
---PC laptop running Vista and iTunes into Apple TV, toslink to 306SACD
Cary SLP-05
Parasound JC1s
Martin Logan Vantages
Wireworld Platinum Eclipse IC/Nordost Heimdall IC/Nordost Heimdall SC

I am going to start with a very low budget setup just to get a feel for things (maybe a Technics or Sony TT with Parasound zPhono), but I want to eventually build an analog front end comparable to the setup above. I would rather save up and buy big to begin with than tweak my way there. What price range should I be looking in? I'm thinking about the $2,500-$3k range. Thoughts?

Anthony

[95Dyna]

Does your budget have to include phono preamp and tonearm cables?  If not the VPI Claasic I would fit that setup nicely.  Although it lists for $2,750.00 you can get one at 10-15% off list if you shop around.  Use the remainder for a cartridge from Benz Micro or Grado that can be had for the remainder e.g. the Benz Ace or Glider.  VPI will fit the TT from thje factory with one of a couple variations from Grado or Dynavector.  I use the Benz Micro Wood SL on mine with outstanding results consistent with its almost perfectly matched spec to the 10i SE tone arm.

BTW, I came within a gnat's eyelash of buying the SLP 05 and the CD 306 SACD but ended up with the Bryston BP26 and Esoteric X-05.  Decided on the 7B SST2 amps so went with the Bryston pre.

Bill

[asindc]

Bill,

Thanks for the response.  Eventually I will be looking at TTs in the $1,500-$2,500 range, with phono stages in the $500-$1,500 range and cartridge about $500-$1,000.  I don't know if such an analog front end can compete with the Cary combo based on what is current on the market, but I would hope to get close.  I'd rather not spend $5K to set up an analog front end that I eventually won't listen to as much because my digital front end is so much better.  That's why I am trying to get a sense for what might be comparable analog-wise to the Cary setup.

[95Dyna]

I spent over $5K for the VPI/Benz/Ray Samuels F117 Nighthawk.  I have the Esoteric X-05 which is every bit the equal of the Cary CD 306 SACD and I'm here to tell you the digital front end got a big rest for a couple of months when the analog source was installed.  I listen to both sources and find myself gravitating at times toward the analog.  If you think you have to spend an amount higher than that on an analog front end for it to keep good company with the Cary I completely disagree with you based on real life experience.

[asindc]

Thanks again for the reply.  Actually, I'm quite open to suggestions at this point.  I don't have much of a frame of reference, since relatively few of my audiophile buddies have analog setups.  The 'premier' high-end audio store in this area does not even have a regular analog setup!  They will only set up an analog front end by request, and even then they told me it would take "a couple of days" before it would be ready.  A shame, really.  I would love to hear your VPI classic setup, as it seems that we have similar ears, at least when it comes to digital front ends.