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Another amateur in need of advice

Hello all. I'm basically as green as they come, and am looking for some advice in putting together my first 2- channel audio system. Looking to keep it analog, with vinyl playback being the primary purpose of this whole escapade. If I feel compelled to stream something, i would just get a decent bluetooth receiver to appease the crowd of an informal get-together. 

I am looking to experience an "audiophile-grade" sound, but one that is also a giddy and involving listen. Some bass presence would be welcome (newb). In any case, I would prefer to keep the budget under $5k. First question - do I need an integrated amplifier? Can I just get an amplifier and connect the Lounge phono stage that I'm leaning towards? Or connect a CD player or radio tuner? Basically, does a power amp require a pre-amp, which it seems that an integrated provides? As far as integrated amps, I was first leaning towards the newer Rega Brio, but then I heard about the Rogue Sphinx V2. But then I read about all the noise issues with the Sphinx, which really turned me off from it. Noise issues would really steal the jam from my doughnut. The Heed Elixir seems to tick a lot of boxes, but it also seems that it really imparts it's own texture to the music. Maybe that's a good thing? A budgetary stretch - the Croft integrated looks pretty dang cool. If I only need an amplifier rather than an integrated for my purposes, any opinions on the Croft Series 7? 

As far as speakers, I'm as lost as the previous paragraph suggests. Right now leaning towards the Quad S-2, but was considering the KEF LS50 until I read that they sound best with a more powerful amp. Ditto for the Dynaudio Excite X14. And apparently the LS50s are rather bright sounding? Was not considering floor-standers until I found out that the Monitor Audio Silver 300s are pretty easy to drive. Every gosh-darn review I read only sends me deeper down the spiral of confusion and indecisiveness. 

My turntable choice is pretty set - the Mofi ultra deck with the better cartridge. Since it's $2200, it kind of eats up the budget considering the additional costs of cabling and, potentially, speaker stands. But it seems that it's the sort of component that I'll keep for life. 

I'd appreciate any words of guidance and wisdom! Have a good one! 
cleanshirt
audioman58's avatar
audioman58
1,219 posts
 
For the many good floor standing Loudspeakers  a good bookshelf or monitor Loudspeaker , with a decent subwoofer can play lower Bass, and for sure 
image better  then the majority of Floorstanders dollar for dollar unless spending $$ .the less surface area the better regarding reflections .and better 
chance of thespeaker disappearing in the room . And Bass such as Syzgy 
are very fair priced and have Bass Room EQ as well as apps to control and Taylor the Bass from your 
tablet or phone . For in the $3k range with  subwoofer . Allways shop to see about where you can get the best deal with shipping included 15-20% is about the average ,never pay retail  prices on Anything . I have owned both  your room 
will dictate this . The Monitor platinum 300 ,or 500 both greatbuys as well as awards just for an example , Elac also . Maggie, Martin Logan especially Maggie 
need more room behind them as well as side walls. You have to take everything 
in to consideration and will your amp hav3 the power to drive these to the volume 
you expect .a less efficient speaker like 86db 4 ohms needs 2 x as much as a 90
db speaker roughly . Best of luck in  your selections.
cleanshirt OP
8 posts
 
Wow - I’m stunned by all your responses. Thanks for taking the time!

I’m going to start pecking at this knot as I can, seeing which direction to take as things reveal themselves. I live in NYC (Queens, 20 minute subway from manhattan), and I just found out there’s a small hifi shop down the road from me - only deals Rega and Exposure. Definitely going to check it out today. To be honest, I’m pretty intimidated by the manhattan stores - a lot of high-rollers in that part of town, auditioning wilsons and the like.

@jrpnde @beernut I really dig the NAD C326BEE’s seeming straightforwardness and aesthetic. But then the Exposure stuff and the Belles Aria seem to take that same approach and build on it. And from what I read, the Aria also has a fantastic phono stage.

Would it be ill-advised to pair a more sensitive speaker with a more powerful integrated amp like an Exposure or the Aria? Would it cause distortion, or something? Or is it more artful than that, like some of the responses have suggested? Thanks, and happy gosh-darn Friday!
beernut's avatar
beernut
276 posts
 
In response to your last comments, I do believe that it is best to have "more than enough" current on tap than not enough. Hence my point about driving Maggies with a 50 w/ch amp. I've owned 3 pairs of Maggies over the years and each one sound incrementally better with more current. Anyway, I'm now into the very efficient Heresy III's which the 326BEE would likely drive just fine. In summary, in my years of this crazy(and fun) world of audio I still believe that your speaker choice will have the greatest net impact on the sound all things being equal. Yes, amps do sound different as do cd players (to a lesser degree IMHO). A well designed and made amp (pick any the big names) should deliver the goods. For example, I was driving my Magnepans with the same amp as the Heresy III's. Would another amp have made as large an impact on the sound as the speakers change did? I think not. However, all of the input you have received is well rooted and sound, he he...
twoleftears's avatar
twoleftears
1,457 posts
 

You're much more likely to damage a speaker by driving it with something truly underpowered than with something supposedly--according to the specs--overpowered.

Call up Johnny Rutan at Audio Connection in NJ and talk to him about the Aria.

helomech
766 posts
 
$4k speakers will sound terrible with $400 amp, the other way around - it depends on many things.

^I have to disagree. I’ve powered $4K Spendors with a $400 Yamaha A-S500 and the sound was more than good. In terms of bass extension and PRaT, it was better than some $2K^ integrateds I’ve had in my rig.

Would it be ill-advised to pair a more sensitive speaker with a more powerful integrated amp like an Exposure or the Aria?


I think that largely depends on the speakers, but IME, it’s best to match them based on efficiency (which BTW is a combination of avg impedance, phase angles and sensitivity), essentially matching moderate-power amps with moderate-efficiency speakers and so forth. I tried powering my high-efficiency Heresy IIIs with a 160 watt/Ch Parasound Integrated and it was not a good match. Somehow it excited their cabinet resonance and resulted in bloated bass. I’ve also powered them with an 85 watts/Ch amp - better, but not as good a pairing as my 45 watt/ch amp.

For some bad news. In your price target range, you simply won’t get today’s version of audiophile

I have to disagree with this as well. One can get very respectable gear and better -than-good sound for $5K. Yes, some manufacturers have sold-out with cheap class D garbage, but OTOH, there’s more options for good budget systems today than there ever was 40 years ago.

An awesome $5K system could look like this:

  • Technics 1200GR w/ Hanna EH cartidge:~$2K with typical dealer discounts.

  • Lounge LCR Gold preamp: $650

  • Odyssey Audio Cyclops integrated amp: $1095, Yamaha A-S801: $900 or used Cayin A50T: ~$1K

  • KEF LS50s, Tannoy XT6Fs or Klipsch Heresy IIIs: $1200, $1500, $1800 respectively with typical discount.

I’d pit such a system against many costing 2 or 3X as much and against countless vintage options, and that’s with brand new, warrantied gear, not to mention what could be put together with lightly used options. It’s actually a very good era in which to be an audiophile.

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