Wow, nice question. Keeping the same budget I would go from my current system (see link) to:
Speakers: Revel M20 + REL Sub (Strata)
Amp: Plinius SA-100 Mk III
Preamp: Hovland HP-100
Cd Player: Naim CDX-II
In my room, and I think in all rooms really, the sub sat combo is the way to go. I can tune my bas respnse much liek I tube roll. It makes it an and overall a better system. Leaving my blue circle gear makes it tough on the electronics tough. I like the warmth and power of the Plinius gear and the Hovland pre is the closest approximation of the musicaility of the BC3. I love my Meridian 508.24 but I have heard good things about the new Naim CD player and no one does digital like Naim. I think it's their real strong suit. The Revel were a tough call I think theyr are a bot boring sonically but they are dead accurate so O can tweak the electronmics to get a different sound. I may even go with the Sonus Faber Electa Amator II is I want something a touch more euphonic than my Dyn 1.3 se. Cabling I'm not so sure on. I would try JPS Labs or a mix of Cardas Cross or Neutral Ref. SO there it is, an alternative...
-Vik
Speakers: Revel M20 + REL Sub (Strata)
Amp: Plinius SA-100 Mk III
Preamp: Hovland HP-100
Cd Player: Naim CDX-II
In my room, and I think in all rooms really, the sub sat combo is the way to go. I can tune my bas respnse much liek I tube roll. It makes it an and overall a better system. Leaving my blue circle gear makes it tough on the electronics tough. I like the warmth and power of the Plinius gear and the Hovland pre is the closest approximation of the musicaility of the BC3. I love my Meridian 508.24 but I have heard good things about the new Naim CD player and no one does digital like Naim. I think it's their real strong suit. The Revel were a tough call I think theyr are a bot boring sonically but they are dead accurate so O can tweak the electronmics to get a different sound. I may even go with the Sonus Faber Electa Amator II is I want something a touch more euphonic than my Dyn 1.3 se. Cabling I'm not so sure on. I would try JPS Labs or a mix of Cardas Cross or Neutral Ref. SO there it is, an alternative...
-Vik