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Buiding listening room from scratch - need advice

I am finally in a position to build a dedicated listening room in a new addition we are building onto our home. It will be in the basement and the room will be about 12' x 18'; not huge but the most space due to some limitations. I plan to hire Rives to consult on the design of the actual space. What I am looking for is recommendations on equipment. This will be a two channel setup with a turntable, cd player and ability to play computer audio. I am looking for a new amplifier, preamp, speakers and interconnects. I will probably have about $25k to $30K to spend on equipment depending on how the rest of the renovation goes. I have listened to a few setups with Moon electronics and B&W and Sonus Faber speakers. I actually preferred the Sonus Fabers over the 802Ds even though they had a $75K stack of equipment powering them versus the Sonus Fabers that had $20K stack. Lastly, I am intrigued by Wilson Audio Sashas and Lamm hybrid amps that I have read about on Audiogon - never heard them. Okay, that is the background, please let me know your thoughts. Thank you in advance!
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pryso
1,501 posts
 
+1 with Mapman, start by selecting speakers. Find something that "speaks" to you. I can recommend auditioning Janszens, either the zA2.1 or new stand mounted zA1.1 if you can find any near you, but there is a huge array of choices.

Speakers can determine room design. Are they best suited for traditional positioning 2' to 4' out from the front wall? Maybe dipoles better situated 5' + from the wall. Or the currently more rare against the wall or even in corner placement designs. Obviously which design type appeals to you should be established before beginning any room design.

Also, following speaker selection your search for amp(s) and then source components should begin to be focused down to fewer options.

Good luck.
jmcgrogan2's avatar
jmcgrogan2
6,346 posts
 
I would suggest that you start by auditioning different types of systems. When listening, make sure to note the amp>speaker interaction, as this is critical, as is speaker placement. The reason I state that auditioning systems first is so important is because you may find out that SET amplifiers present a sound that you find engaging. If that is the case, speaker choices will change. Just as if you find low sensitivity speakers engaging, your amp choices will change.

Only you can decide whether a single ended amp with high sensitivity speakers sound better to you than a low sensitivity - high power amp combo. The right amp/speaker combo is the key.
jwpstayman
279 posts
 
I am going to take a different approach. I suggest that you allocate $1000 and go out to RMAF in Denver and hear LOTS of systems ad components in the same (relatively bad) acoustics. It will narrow down the search considerably and let you have a FUN weekend as well. Just my take....
erikminer
433 posts
 
Always start with speakers, and then match the amps to them. Then the source and cables.. Don't forget power too, dedicated AC lines are a given if doing things from scratch.

The recommendation to go to RMAF is a good one, also NY audio show coming up in a few weeks if you're on the east coast.
lindisfarne
507 posts
 
I built a dedicated music room in my basement and the basement flooded with 2 feet of water a few months after the room was built. I would suggest you be very careful...under ground level is a questionable choice.
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