Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

[Jbraswell]

Yeah I had Audessey before, it worked well for home theatre however I'm not sure if it's changed but when I had it you couldn't adjust anything it was just a measure then set it and forget it system. Couldn't actually EQ or change anything. It makes all the decisions for you. Maybe it's different now, not sure.

Yes I think with the decision to ultimately move the music system to the basement that will just allow me to have the room to do whatever I like. So yeah I think hybrid tube Pre (probably Audio Research LS28 or 28SE or Ref 5/SE), something with like 4000+ tube hour life so I don't have to worry about it, and then some sort of good solid state power amp. Probably be end of year before I can reasonably do it as I'll have to get a whole new media cabinet down there to accommodate this. Current one isn't big enough for an HT AVR plus 2 separates and the TT and stage plus PS5 and Series X.

You can adjust frequency curves on Audyssey.
I just don't have enough knowledge or interest to go that much further into the rabbit hole.
I run it. Let it adjust and let it be.

Alright Alright

Let the separates party begin!

 

[Mather]

You can adjust frequency curves on Audyssey.
I just don't have enough knowledge or interest to go that much further into the rabbit hole.
I run it. Let it adjust and let it be.

Alright Alright

Let the separates party begin!

I will likely eventually have mono blocks, will likely try to get a power amp that can be doubled up in future. Or bi amped if and when I change speakers down the road...

 

[Jbraswell]

I will likely eventually have mono blocks, will likely try to get a power amp that can be doubled up in future. Or bi amped if and when I change speakers down the road...

Reminds me of this interesting dual mono amp that popped up on the Google algo last week.

Premiera M1: Powerful class AB power amplifier

The Premiera M1 is a class AB stereo power amplifier that delivers a nominal output power of 260 W per channel, featuring both balanced and unbalanced linear

www.stereoindex.com

Of course the gigantic vu meters are way too much for me.

 

[Mather]

Reminds me of this interesting dual mono amp that popped up on the Google algo last week.

Premiera M1: Powerful class AB power amplifier

The Premiera M1 is a class AB stereo power amplifier that delivers a nominal output power of 260 W per channel, featuring both balanced and unbalanced linear

www.stereoindex.com

Of course the gigantic vu meters are way too much for me.

Beautiful look to it but completely unknown brand from Russia apparently. And only $1500. Spidey senses are tingling on that one.

My phono stage is dual mono and I just cannot get over how nice the internals are on it. Just a work of art. Like who labels the housing on each channel for a component that will almost never be seen by anyone. Love it.

 

[Jbraswell]

Beautiful look to it but completely unknown brand from Russia apparently. And only $1500. Spidey senses are tingling on that one.

My phono stage is dual mono and I just cannot get over how nice the internals are on it. Just a work of art. Like who labels the housing on each channel for a component that will almost never be seen by anyone. Love it.

View attachment 225137

Yeah not recommending it but the concept with dual mono was interesting.

 

[Joe Mac]

Beautiful look to it but completely unknown brand from Russia apparently. And only $1500. Spidey senses are tingling on that one.

My phono stage is dual mono and I just cannot get over how nice the internals are on it. Just a work of art. Like who labels the housing on each channel for a component that will almost never be seen by anyone. Love it.

View attachment 225137

On the other hand this is the inside of the little phono I have on order. Love the simplicity of it.

 

[MacDonals]

I want someone to play devil's advocate for me, and I hope this crew can help. Let's pretend I have an opportunity to buy myself a congratulatory gift on a healthy budget and am considering a McIntosh MAC7200 amp. This would be an endgame amp for me.

It's a brand name, and I'd be buying it partially for its cachet and as a conversation piece. Technically, is it considered overrated? Why isn't it worth the money?

 

[TenderLovingKiller®]

I want someone to play devil's advocate for me, and I hope this crew can help. Let's pretend I have an opportunity to buy myself a congratulatory gift on a healthy budget and am considering a McIntosh MAC7200 amp. This would be an endgame amp for me.

It's a brand name, and I'd be buying it partially for its cachet and as a conversation piece. Technically, is it considered overrated? Why isn't it worth the money?

I have no clue how it will effect things but McIntosh was just acquired by Bose late last year.

 

[Jbraswell]

I want someone to play devil's advocate for me, and I hope this crew can help. Let's pretend I have an opportunity to buy myself a congratulatory gift on a healthy budget and am considering a McIntosh MAC7200 amp. This would be an endgame amp for me.

It's a brand name, and I'd be buying it partially for its cachet and as a conversation piece. Technically, is it considered overrated? Why isn't it worth the money?

I think for $8k you could buy a ton more value, especially picking up some gently used equipment.
You could have an entire rack of good sounding components.

 

[Mather]

I want someone to play devil's advocate for me, and I hope this crew can help. Let's pretend I have an opportunity to buy myself a congratulatory gift on a healthy budget and am considering a McIntosh MAC7200 amp. This would be an endgame amp for me.

It's a brand name, and I'd be buying it partially for its cachet and as a conversation piece. Technically, is it considered overrated? Why isn't it worth the money?

I mean you've definitely nailed two of the big reasons why people buy Macs in the first place, cachet and conversation piece. So it might be the perfect piece for you. It's certainly going to sound good and it's a looker and it's freaking huge. You can definitely get better sound for probably less money. But if part of the draw is just the fun of it, and you aren't looking to drag every little bit of sound out of your budget then fuck it I say go for it.

 

[Jbraswell]

I certainly appreciate the cool factor of looking at the McIntosh face.
Half of this hobby is appreciating the gear (not just the music).

 

[SnowmaNick]

I want someone to play devil's advocate for me, and I hope this crew can help. Let's pretend I have an opportunity to buy myself a congratulatory gift on a healthy budget and am considering a McIntosh MAC7200 amp. This would be an endgame amp for me.

It's a brand name, and I'd be buying it partially for its cachet and as a conversation piece. Technically, is it considered overrated? Why isn't it worth the money?

First off, “end game” is a bit of a fallacy. Depending on your age and financial situation, you’re likely to buy something else eventually. If for no other reason than wanting something new. That said, a well maintained Mac could last you many, many decades. They sound and look great, and if you keep the digital aspect separate you likely won’t need to replace it anytime soon.

But, as much as I like Mac’s and all the audio equipment, if your room isn’t/wont be arranged well, or is acoustically atrocious you’re not likely to hear the improvements it may provide your system. If you can’t fix the room (speaker placement and setup, seat distance and placement, lots of glass/tile windows, walls, floors, etc) I’d say just focus on features, functionality and buy more music.

I mean you've definitely nailed two of the big reasons why people buy Macs in the first place, cachet and conversation piece. So it might be the perfect piece for you. It's certainly going to sound good and it's a looker and it's freaking huge. You can definitely get better sound for probably less money. But if part of the draw is just the fun of it, and you aren't looking to drag every little bit of sound out of your budget then fuck it I say go for it.

I disagree with the bolded part. You may be able to get better sound in a less expensive integrated, but I wouldn’t say definitely. Overall though, set up and the room will provide more of an impact, followed by transducers, than any properly working amp within its power specs.


Overall though, if you can comfortably afford it and want it, go for it.

 

[Mather]

First off, “end game” is a bit of a fallacy. Depending on your age and financial situation, you’re likely to buy something else eventually. If for no other reason than wanting something new. That said, a well maintained Mac could last you many, many decades. They sound and look great, and if you keep the digital aspect separate you likely won’t need to replace it anytime soon.

But, as much as I like Mac’s and all the audio equipment, if your room isn’t/wont be arranged well, or is acoustically atrocious you’re not likely to hear the improvements it may provide your system. If you can’t fix the room (speaker placement and setup, seat distance and placement, lots of glass/tile windows, walls, floors, etc) I’d say just focus on features, functionality and buy more music.


I disagree with the bolded part. You may be able to get better sound in a less expensive integrated, but I wouldn’t say definitely. Overall though, set up and the room will provide more of an impact, followed by transducers, than any properly working amp within its power specs.


Overall though, if you can’t fix comfortably afford it and want it, go for it.

Haha I was actually meaning better sound via separates for less money. Not integrated. But honestly I still think you can get better sound in an integrated for less but that would be tougher.

 

[SnowmaNick]

Haha I was actually meaning better sound via separates for less money. Not integrated. But honestly I still think you can get better sound in an integrated for less but that would be tougher.

Agh, you quoted all my typos! You monster!

 

[Mather]

Agh, you quoted all my typos! You monster!

The worst right?

 

[SnowmaNick]

The worst right?

You speedy fingered pseudo-French speaking Canadian devil!

 

[Mather]

You speedy fingered pseudo-French speaking Canadian devil!

 

[Nee Lewman]

@Andy
This is what my whonky ass room looks like. There’s all kinds of place for the music to get lost and reflect for forever and well the speaker placement is fucked, plus they ain’t exactly top of the line speakers. That being said, DIRAC has me listening to everything I own like it’s brand new. The stage isn’t as impressive as @Mather but it definitely made stuff be in the right place and the walls are gone. It’s a modest rig that sounds like it is less modest.

Also the NAD doesn’t sound digital. The song I had before it was definitely doing something to the vinyl that is gone now and that’s a good thing. It was limiting it for sure and based on a phono audition I did, it was something digital in the aux set up there (it was a shelf system not even worth mentioning, below entry level).

@hamicle and @debianlinux have run the 3050 too. Unsure if they are still running them or ran DIRAC. They both have more experience with kit than I do.

That M10 is real pretty though.

 

[mindhead1]

A fun flip, and a hell of a cover! Haha. Definitely noticing a difference in turntables this year - more direct drive in general, and more of that aesthetic for sure. Technics certainly seems to be driving the market now that they're firmly back in biz.

I really liked the look of the Denon dp3000ne. I’m going to keep an eye out for one on the used market. I’d like to get a direct drive table that’ll make it easier to swap carts. The only Technics decks I’m interested in are out of my price range.

 

[HayesWeighsIn]

I really liked the look of the Denon dp3000ne. I’m going to keep an eye out for one on the used market. I’d like to get a direct drive table that’ll make it easier to swap carts. The only Technics decks I’m interested in are out of my price range.

As do I. Guttenberg gave it two thumbs up as well. The only downside is that it’s made you-know-where.