What is my best system config?

mr_wetland

mr_wetland

Well-Known Member
Gentlemen (and any ladies?),

I've got the collecting bug, and over the last month I've put a bunch of little pieces together. Now I'd like to ask the question of which combination do you folks think will work best? If you had all these separate pieces, which would be your primary listening system? I realize they are not high end, but they are what I can afford so far, and for the most part sound good.

Here's what I have to work with:

Turntable
Dual 1219
Pioneer PL-115D
Technics SL-D2
Philips GA-222
Philips GA-212 (needs a belt and stylus, but works)

Amp/Receiver
Pioneer SA-8100
Wintec R-1060 (the "Monster")
Realistic SA-870
Kenwood KR-5400
Hitachi SR-1900
Yamaha A-28

Speakers
Avid 103
JBL J216A
Advent Maestro
Dynaco A-25
Wharfedale Denton XP2
One Mirage SM-1 that needs re-foaming (SA find, I couldn't resist!)
Polk R10 (the little guys)
edit - I forgot, fwiw I also have a pair of Pioneer CS-M551

I don't listen to FM anymore, so I'm okay with an amp or receiver. I listen to jazz, folk, occasional classical, occasional rock (but not too loud anymore, I'm getting too old for that), no metal or rap/hip-hop.

There's a brain teaser for you with experience. Any suggestions?

Any help would be appreciated.

Steve
 
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the answer is what sounds best to you, we can tell you what we think all day, but in the end its up to your ears to answer what works best.
 
My guess is Phillips GA 222, to Wintec (never know when you might need a radio?), speakers voiced to your preference. That might be the Avids, the A-25's or the Maestro's, maybe the Warfdales if you like them. But, speakers are so dependent on placement, WAF, listening styles, I can't really tell. In any case you have enough power to drive them, which ever you choose :)
 
too much to choose from to pik the best. You need to let your ears do the judging by putting together various pieces to see how each combo sounds to you. Then zero in on which one you like best, the next and so on.
You'll never get 30 people to agree on one best system for someone else.
 
Do you seriously expect to find people with experience with all of that gear?

If, however, you are wanting advice, I would probably sell all or most of it off, and buy one system that I liked more with all of the money. Of course, it would be less like a museum, and more like a stereo that way, so you may prefer your method. But if you want the best sound, putting all of your money in one system is the way to go. And with that, I would recommend focusing on the speakers, getting the best ones I could afford, and then getting amplification that is enough for them. Of course, since you are also into turntables, you would need to allocate enough there, too, as analog sources can sound dramatically different from each other.

I know, this isn't the advice you wanted to hear, though I think it is the best advice I can give.
 
Well, since most folks were not willing to pick, I will put my hat in the ring. Hey this is just for fun right. I own the KR-5400, and can testify to its quality. I love that litte guy. I have a technics Turntable simular to that, and my friend has the D2, and I love them both. As far as speakers, I would start with the Dynaco A25 on channel A, The Advent Maestro on B, and the pick anything for C channel. I like to run three sets and switch between them. I have never heard either the Dynaco's or Avdvent Maestro, but have heard good things about both. The Maestro's should be great, and I know they had a very high MSRP if that means anything.:scratch2:
 
As a side note with the A B C channel, if you want to run 4 way for criss-cross stereo, pick 4 speakers that you amy can run well at the same time. So if you hook 4 smaller/effeciant speakers to a and b, use c for you big guys.
 
You put this collection together in a month? You DO have the bug!

But what's the point of assembling a "best" system? Another month from now you'll have new potentially "best" components to figure into the scheme of things, forcing you to go through this exercise again.

I'd rotate the stuff about and enjoy discovering their strengths and weaknesses in various combinations.

If something clicks that is profoundly most satisfying to your ears then you've got your best system.

If not, then you're still having fun getting to know your gear a lot better. And the regular workout from moving it around will net you a body just like Ahnold's.

You just can't lose!
 
Thanks for the input so far, guys. Try everything and decide what you like best wasn't really the point, but I appreciate the feedback. I've been lucky with the thrifts and a couple of CLs, so this whole "collection" hasn't really cost me much. I've had the KR-5400 for a while, and got the Avids at a yard sale a few years ago. But up til now I thought they were too big for the house. Now I'm re-thinking that, since I love the way the Advents sound and they're at least as big.

Right now I have the Wintec hooked up with the Dual and the Dynacos. I don't know yet if I like the Dynacos in their present location. I think the JBLs sound better there. I was kind of hoping that you would see something you really like and say "Yeah, that's a good piece, give that a run." Like Thrifty did with the Kenwood. I haven't heard the Wharfedales yet, I'm picking them up on Saturday. With four teenage kids, I don't have the budget to go high end unless I can pick up a steal here or there. And believe me, I'm looking...it becomes a little like an addiction, doesn't it?

But in the end it's all about the music, and how it sounds...Stuart, you are right on the money. Trying to figure out what sounds best is the fun part of the whole exercise. And when all is said and done, each of my kids will have a nice little system to bring to college.

Steve
 
A guy like you is exactly the reason I'm devising (and designing) my ultimate source-amp-speaker selector box design. Just like you, I anticipate having a bunch of different components that I want to A-B-C...

My only suggestion before I post this DIY design here is to construct yourself some nice speaker cable adapters to allow you to more readily swap speaker sets to the various amp speaker posts you have. Then, set them up together a week or so at a time and start listening. Aside from the TT's, I'm speculating that the biggest variations might be between amp sources and speakers, so concentrate there.

An audio salesman a long time ago taught me to start at the back end (speakers), and work my way progressively forward. His advice still seems mighty valid to me today.
 
I would go quality over quanity, sell it all and then seek out premier products of appropriate budget, some items you have are good and some....well you can guess.
To each their own but I see no point in collecting mediocore gear that could be flipped for a really great system with synergy, performance and low cost to own.
 
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