Newbie looking for system suggestions

I would buy a used Bryston pre/power amp because they sound excellent and the 20 yr. warranty is unbeatable. A used BP-25 and 4B ST is around $2300 used. Good cabling is a MUST! I highly recommend for your interconnects, VH Audio "Pulsars." Absolutely superb sounding IC's. VH Audio also makes power cords which I personally have not tried yet, but they have received excellent reviews. I have tried the Blue Circle BC-61 PC (new $110) w/ the Bryston BP-25 and this really brought great improvements. I'm using this equipment w/ my Snell E III's and it really sounds very good. One day I would really love to get some ProAc's! Which ever spk. you decide on, they will have to be large floorstanders because of the size of your room. Perhaps some Maggie 3.5/3.6's! The Bryston 4B ST is one heck of an amp and w/250w pre ch. it should drive most spks. well. Might try a tube pre-amp. Then you can fine the sound w/different tubes. Many possibilities! I personally would go w/ a Solid-State amp. I hope you end up w/something you will enjoy!

Bryston gear is OK , decent enough, but are you buying good sound or a good warranty?

Bryston's warranty is a big selling point. Everyone mentions it first. No one ever mentions sound quality first with Bryston.

Toyota has the shortest new car warranties in the car business. But Toyota's are the least likely to break down. The other car companies have a better warranty because it is the only way they can sell the car.

Kind of hard to say where to start. Most people start with integrated amps, bookshelf speakers, one piece CD players, etc, before moving up to separates.

If you're new to this you may want to start out with mid-fi brands like Rotel, NAD, Creek, Music Hall, Cambridge Audio, etc, with lower end B&W or Epos speakers, before blowing a wad of money. Then you can buy all new stuff as well.

I personally wouldn't go mid-fi. You'll end up not really being satisfied. The Bryston equipment sounds extremely neutral. The 4B ST for around $1200-1300 used is extremely well-worth the $. Forget bookshelf spks. for the size of your room. You'll need floorstanders. Try to find a dealer whom will work w/you and let you audution as much equipment to see if it meets your tastes. If you buy used equipment, which are in demand, from reputable sellers, you should lose very little on resale and you will have the opportunity of trying equipment out and gaining knowledge.

Wow, not a bad "problem" to have! I'd ask Duane. I always ask Duane. Duane knows everything. So I ask him everything. And he's always right (except for once with a preamp--sorry about that one, Duane).

Sorry to break the news to you Kotta, but Bryston is Mid-Fi.

I also would start small at first. If later you decide that you're not satisfied with mid-fi, then fine. Easy to sell what you have and trade up to something better. You'll have lot's of money left over from the first purchase to get something better. Upgrading is what we all do.

A lot of people blow a ton of money on fancy gear and a year later never listen to it much. If in a year or two you're still listening, then yes go for it big time.