Best combo - integrated amp/ speakers/$8,000

Hi,

I have much the same preferences as you. VAC is a good choice in electronics if those are your goals, and there are certainly other great tube amps out there, but like VAC, most are pricey. There are some SS amps I like as well. Spendor, Harbeth, Ref. 3A are all good choices in box speakers for the type of sound you describe, and my personal favorites of the ones I've heard, but none of them are going to give you quite the same realistic mids, resolution and naturalness as Quads. I've also owned Living Voice Auditoriums, which had virtues as well but not for the sound you describe. There well may be other box speakers that are better for this sound, but I haven't heard them. A dilemma for me as well. I have a small listening room, and the Quad 57s I had were wonderful but just too large (actually too wide). I don't think any box speaker is going to give you the naturalness and resolution of a good ESL for vocals, piano, etc. if you can fit them in your room, although you will sacrifice some LF extension, and poorly recorded music will display their limited dynamics/unnaturalness. Also, reliability/repair is a big issue with older Quads. Good luck, and let us know what you do.

TLH

How about this:

*Eastern Electric MiniMax Preamp = $1195 retail
*Son of Ampzilla(the new version)Power amp $3250 retail
*VMPS RM30 Floorstanding speakers w/cap upgrade $4050 retail

While this isn't an "integrated amp" it is small, powerful,(over 120wpc)and it can easily be had for well under $8000.

As well, it is a "world class" system performance wise.

I have the same set up but with the 626Rs (with upgrades) in my personal system, and it is too good to describe.

Coda Continuum Unison Ultra integrated powering Tyler Acoustics Linbrook monitors with Ty's custom stands.

If space and budget later permit, you can trade the stands for Ty's Linbrook bass units for true full range (to 30 Hz).
The Unison Ultra at 150W/channel (35W class A) has more than enough reserve for the full Linbrook system.

You can even get the amp configured for 60W/ch ALL class A for use with the Linbrook monitors at the start. The amp's design allows Coda to later reconfigure it to the 150w/ch version, which they offer to do for their customers.

Great sound with flexible, cost-effective upgrade paths for both components. Who could ask for more...

I own the Spendor s3/5s and the Harbeth C7s (as well as my old Spica TC-50.)

As others have said, the Spendor is small so it has bass limitiaons but never a thin sound. I use a smaller Quad 99 and it's mainly used for tv watching in the bedroom, but it never fails to amaze my wife and me.

I have the much bigger Harbeth c7 with Quad 909 amp/99pre. I use a sub (not really needed) ,and listen near field. (Totat cost for this package new, excluding sub, is around 5,000. I've heard Quad 988 and 57 recently and while they of course have thier magical qualities, the Harbeths satsify with a truth of timber and midrage which makes them quite special.

Good luck.

I have a BAT VK 300XSE and love it. Used it with maggies and recently switched to a pair of Wilson Benesch ARC speakers and continue to utilize my REL Storm III subwoofer. They are tiny speakers, bottom ported and carbon fibre enclosures that eliminate boxiness. I bought them because I like the sound much better than my Maggies (i always seemed to have to end a listening session with female vocals) . They are lightening quick, very accurate and dynamic with the best soundstaging I have heard in my listening room, with the exception of that 1 square millimeter of sweet spot perfection with maggies.