I started just wanting to upgrade from low-fi. And a friend recommended AudiogoN. After a couple of months of searching and comparing I settled on the amp and speakers mentioned above. I found both as demos from AudiogoN dealers. I couldn't be happier. Absolutely incredible what a transformation for even a old non-audiophile piece of equipment. A few months latter I upped the CD player from an old mass marker Sharp to a Rega Planet also found on AudiogoN as a Dealer Demo. We started with no money and ended the same but I am extremely pleased with where we have come. Not only the audio results are fantastic but the engaging nature of the glowing exposed tubes and the top loading of the CD player make the whole experience VERY engaging. Thanks to all of you who helped in my decision making process! (Sedond, Audiokinesis,Trelja, Pls1, Sean...)
Keith, you did a great job. Nice to hear this kind of success story. Good advice given here for you to fine tune your new system and continue your journey. Good luck.
I am in a similar situation, CD-wise. Some bargains I am looking at in addition to those mentioned above are: Ah! Tjoeb - a tube CD for about $ 300-400 used. Marantz CD63SE or 67 - around $ 200 or less used. (Minor improvement only.) No doubt you have considered Jolida's tube CD player, but I think the Ah! Tjoeb(pronounced'tube') is a small notch better, IMO. Of course, your EL-34 based amp may get along well with it. :) To get much better sound than that you wind up jumping to the Arcams, especially the Alpha 9 or FMJ23, and they are too pricey even used based on your objectives. Good luck! Paul
If you got a better interconnect you might be surprised how much it would improve even a Sharp mass market player. The MIT T2 can be gotten used for $50. Or a Kimber PBJ, since you already have Kimber. Do not know what an HDCD chip in a CD player will do for you without HDCD encoded discs. It is a nice player anyway for around $425 used. For $225 to $250 used a original Cambridge Audio D500 will go a long way, or the earlier CD4-SE.
See if you can find a rotel 971 cd. They have this incredible pacific microsonic hdcd chip, which is also used in the arcam 7se / 8se and the copland 266. They all share this extraordinary sound. Pacific cant explain what they did, but these are all cd players that hold their own against the very best. You might be able to pick one up for a couple of hundred.
