Budget of $30K. Help me build a system

Yes room size is critical here.

However I did hear a speaker yesterday that I think would suit. In fact its the finest speaker I have ever heard - period - and believe me I have heard a lot.

I am lucky and live pretty close to a small speaker maker out my way here in Australia - Lenehan Audio - and so get to hear all of his stuff.

Anyway I was down there yesterday checking out some new amps I ordered from him which finally cleared Customs (god these things take a long time here in Aus) and he had this new all out speaker he was working on for a customer connected.

It blew me away. I can't listen to my speakers any more - these things are that awesome. If it wasn't for the fact I have an even wilder isobaric speaker on order I would get a pair straight away - a friend from Canberra was with me and was so impressed is probably getting a pair after hearing them. We were both simply blown away.

Anyway here is a link to the thread over here in Aus about them rather than simply repeat it here:
http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/46808-lenehan-ml-ii-reference-limited-edition/

Its a big ask to get a speaker unheard and from an small overseas maker at that. Although it is so new the exact price is not known but I am sure it is well under your $30K limit.

Thanks
Bill

First:
Buy the best pair of vintage Audio Research tube monoblocks you can buy with the matching pre-amp.

Buy a vintage TEAC x 10 Reel to Reel to record digital onto analog tape...Super Cool!

Buy pair of dc10audio Berlin Studio Monitors with the solid maple horn

The look and sound of this system will be fun and hard to beat!!

Just going to suggest to you perhaps a radical departure from your current approach:

If you sort through the very high end systems on audiogon, you will find the system is often built around the front-end, the opposite of what you suggest (the speakers). This is because the source is your starting point, and nothing can undo problems that begin here. Consider allocating 10-15k of the 30 to the best DAC/CD/Turntable you can afford, and reduce spending on treatments. The goal is balance: no one component should "outclass" the rest. Music reproduction is a chain, and a system is only as good as its weakest link.

Kind regards,
RGK

I agree with your approach of starting with the speakers and the amp/speaker interface is very important. I think you are on the right track with Merlin and ARS as from my experience they work well together.

I would re-evaluate the funds set aside for everything else. I know Bobby recommends Cardas with his speakers but I do not think you have to go with Clear. A friend of mine had Merlin's and used Golden Reference which are a bit less expensive. There are lots of other less expensive cable options as well that I think would work nicely too.

In addition, I would hold off on both the power conditioner and room treatments until you had everything set up in your room and listened for some time. I used both extensively for a while and learned I could live without a power conditioner and live with minimal room treatments (basically bass traps in the corners behind the speakers). If you are going to be listening near field, and in your size room that is most likely going to be the case, you may not need room treatments at all.

In any case my point is to shave off some dollars on the accessories and put more money into your source or just get the Bryston combo and set the rest aside until you have had some time to evaluate. It's possible you won't need to spend the full $30k.

Thanks all, you advice has been helpful in seeing other point of views.

Clio09, what you suggest is basically where my mindset has gone. Hold out on room treatments and power conditioner for now. A good point regarding cables. I think I might consider the Cardas Presence and take the money saved and invest in a better DAC.

Not that there is anything wrong with the Bryston BDA but a few things I have been reading lead me to believe I can improve at this 'link in the chain'. Calyx Femto, Lampinator, Aurelic to name a few.