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February 3, 2020 - 6:59pm
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Need a recommendation for sound system!
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I do not know where you are located but, in general, you would be better off with a dedicated audio dealer when looking in the $60-70K price range. BB/Magnolia has limited offerings in that category and, I suspect, limited knowledge.
Thanks Kal for your response.
I live in Richmond, TX. I wish I could find a knowledgable and reliable dealer here but no success so far. I'll keep searching and in the meantime any personal ideas will be appreciated.
I see that Richmond is only about 30 miles from Houston and I'll bet there are audio shops there that would relish having you as a client. Find a couple and make a day trip. I've driven that far for a cup of coffee in TX.
Yes Sir! I work in Houston. No problem there. I have checked out most of the dealers I could find but all have some serious bad reviews. I won't stop searching though.
I have no idea about dealer reviews but I regard BB/Magnolia as seriously compromised by its limited brands. Where did you find these reviews?
I found some reviews on google reviews and some on yelp. I guess I have a good dealer now. This dealer carries Wilson Audio, Dan D'Agostino, Bowers & Wilkins, Sonus Faber, Martin Logan and McIntosh.
This dealer offered B&W 800 D3 and Vitus Audio RI-101 Integrated Amplifier with an undecided DAC. I'll go for test drive when they have this setup ready in the showroom.
But does anyone else find the term “entry level’ and a budget of 70k somewhat ridiculous?
Echoing Dorsia777's observation a little here.
70K seems like a lot to drop on an audio system if you are a beginner/"not technical". Usually, people learn as they go, buying modest components to start with, seeing what they like and don't like, LEARNING, and then upgrading gradually as their knowledge and experience grows - not to mention as their budgets grow.
But here, you're just all in with up to 70k from the get-go. First hand dealt and all in. It's a little overwhelming - and more than a little perplexing to me. A budget of 20K would already likely deliver a system that would probably blow any inexperienced audio enthusiast away.
I'm just a novice myself but I suppose what I'm getting at is my feeling (I could be wrong on this, of course!) that high-end audio systems are a little like fine wine - what you should buy is something that indulges your taste; if you are still developing that taste, then it doesn't make a lot of sense to jump in with a massively expensive system.
100 percent correct and better articulated than what I meant to say.
Speaker recommendation:
https://www.tektondesign.com/
Review: https://hometheaterreview.com/tekton-design-double-impact-floorstanding-speaker-reviewed/
I’m very interested in Tekton but I don’t want to deal with the “trial period” in case I’m not a fan. Heard great things about the DI. I’m this close to getting a pair of Pendragons. Still on the fence...
I've never personally heard the Pendragons. Usually, though, a returnable trial period is a positive rather than a negative.
Thanks for your input Scrumpymanjack
I understand your point and your analogy but I just don't see it in the usual way. Maybe because I'm a whiskey guy;). For me it's a once in a life time purchase. Yes, I'm not technical but I don't think lack of technical knowledge prevents me from enjoying a great sound system, or does it? Anyways, I reached out to you guys hoping to get an idea of what you would recommend. My budget is based on my experience in Magnolia because I auditioned everything they had available. Only thing that was close to what I'm looking for was B&W 800 D3 with McIntosh MC462 which with preamp and power regulator, cooler, etc. came to 60K. So I figured the system that I want will cost 60 to 70K. That's the max I can afford and I'll be happy if I can get a great sound system with lower price tag. I'm here to hear your suggestions.
Thank you Shimei! I'll check it out.
No problem. I'd share a couple of pictures of my Tektons but this board doesn't seemingly post html image code.
Don't post the naked ones. They may scare him. ;-)
FWIW, you can post image links.
Thanks Kal!!!
Feeling like a mosquito in a nudest colony. Don't know where to begin.
Here's some pictures I took today. First time pictures of the Tektons without grills [pulled them off for dusting].
Aaaaarrgghh!
60-70k is way too much for you to spend.Unless you just get off on spending money. If that's the case then ignore my post. Price is very unrelated to sound quality. You can get an excellent sounding system for under 10k. I did. Schiit Vidar amp( 750.00) magnepan LRS speakers (700.00) Oppo 203 cdp. And don't let anyone tell you that a cdp that costs less than 1k won't "sound as good" as an overpriced audiophile cdp. Thats nonsense. And you can use good mainstream AVR as a preamp. No effect on sq. Mine is a Yammy Aventage AVR. Best of all you can do a lot of other good stuff with it. Streaming,usb, internet radio,home theater,movies,these things do just about everything nowadays. I've had mine for a year and it does so much that there's still stuff on it I haven't tried yet.
Then spend the other 50k on a toy that's really worth it. Like a shiny new 2020 BMW M2 msrp about 50k!!!!!
I 'm sure you are right so I decided to drop this project and get two active wireless speakers. It is not going to cost me more than 5k I guess.
I'm totally with you on BMW M series bro. got a 840 this time but M8 is on the list for the next round. See you on the road;)
Thank you and stay safe
If my suggestion isn't too late (that is, if you haven't already selected your system), and if you don't mind transacting at a distance, I highly recommend checking with Rick at Audio Alternative in Fort Collins, Colorado (audioalternative.com or 970-221-1496). I have heard multiple systems in the 60-70k range but his was, to my ears, the best by a wide margin. He has a great selection and super ears, and I have always found his recommendations accurate. It depends on what kind of music you like, and my nirvana experience there was a few years ago (so there may be better components available now), but I would start with him if I were planning to build such a system now.