The All Purpose Advice Thread

I want to explore some more good music. My family has a lot of CD's, these are all the artists, the highlighted ones are the ones I already have.
What else is good here?

 

Avril Lavigne. Trash and burn the copy of the self-titled if you have it.

Under My Skin (Special Edition) > Let Go > Goodbye Lullaby (Japanese Edition) > The Best Damn Thing

 

The classical stuff are taste dependent (they aren't for everyone), but I have a liking for Tchaikovsky (1812 is a 'classic', given the cannons). I do like most Kitaro stuff.

I selectively like Dido (Thank You from No Angel mainly).

Your family's songs and mine form a venn diagram like OO, barely touching.

 

Yeah, I do like classical some times, depending on what I'm feeling.

we have an interesting collection of music, from the different tastes of my mom and dad.

 

Coldplay. Harry Connick Jr. Some Avril. Some Phil Collins. Perhaps Disney.
Classical depends on personal taste.
Burn Ashley Tisdale & Miley Cyrus.
Need more info of various artist, original broadway, original cast.

Idem @Grahad2 . Your family's songs and mine are like OO.

 

Dipping my toes back in 2 channel for under $1k

So, this might make a good topic, but I'll let the mods/admins decide...

I'm thinking about getting back into into having something in the 2 channel world again, which I haven't been in for over 20 years. But I can't spend lots of money if I do. So I've been thinking about options. Keep in mind I'm only talking about a pair of speakers and amplification:

First, I was thinking about powered speakers like the JBL LSR308 (or 305) with the Schiit Freya as the preamp. The upside is I'd then have a Freya for future upgrades in 2 channel, and the JBLs could move to use on the computer or television. Most powered speakers are more near field, it seems, but the JBLs seem to have nice staging, so might be good in mostly filling a smaller room, like mine.

Second, I was thinking about the PS Audio Sprout (http://www.psaudio.com/products/sprout/) or other smaller integrated amps. They seem to be the most budget friendly front ends. Then that would leave $500 for a pair of speakers. Maybe those budget Philharmonics for under $250 shipped? The Sprout does have a phono stage for tinkering with a turntable, and play nice with bluetooth devices as well.

Third, I was thinking about vintage receivers. This one is tricky because of variable availability of good vintage gear. But if one was to get the cool $250 Philharmonics mentioned above, that would leave $750 to shop with. I was always curious about the Fisher 500C, because tubes, and the Yamaha CA-2010 (That one is more nostalgia maybe). I heard that one when I was young. But I'm not sure either are in budget.

Those are just my thoughts up to this point. I'd really like to hear more experienced people comment on options, and feel free to crush any of my options.

Thanks

 

The Sprout has a weird weird frequency response.

Isn't the A-S2100 a recent model that goes for $3.5K USD?

 

Ive seen some good vintage stuff on craigslist around here, I think you could find something pretty good. Cheap too.

 

Woops thanks, I was thinking of the CA-2010, and typing a dream integrated. I'll edit...

 

Not necessarily helpful, but I always thought these speakers looked interesting.
https://rochester.craigslist.org/ele/6024506849.html
Also I got a turntable from that guy, and he was very nice, helped me fix it when I brought it home and it was too slow. Let me demo too (and he had a nice system with McIntosh tube amp, audio research pre, magnepan (and the merlin) speakers.

 

Based on what you already got and I suppose liked (slightly folky/proggy) maybe:
Alan Parsons
America
Grateful Dead
Supertramp
Simon & Garfunkel
Tangerine Dream

Or more 80s:
David Sylvian
Peter Gabriel
Enya

 

Dave Brubeck
Norah Jones
Van Morrison

 

@ButtUglyJeff I second the recommendation to stay away from the PS Audio Sprout. I used as a desktop amp/headlamp/DAC and it wasn't very good at any of those tasks.

Emotiva has some decent budget amps. I would certainly recommend the TA-100 as an integrated over the sprout, even if the sprout has a cuter package. They have a non amped version (pre-amp), the PA-100 for $100 less and you could find a decent used power amp as well.

Freya is a fantastic way to tie you existing DAC/head amps to a 2 channel system and explore other sources (cdp's, phono's etc)

As for budget speakers, used market is the better value, but it's a wide world of speakers to try and see if they fit your style. I bought some 10 year old Bowers and Wilkens bookshelves that were middle of the road, and cheap now. Have been very happy.

Good luck and looking forward to seeing what you put together.

 

A lot of options folks here could recommend, but the question is what is it about the WA6 that leaves you wanting more? What's your budget?

 

I think for me the WA6 doesn't sound as resolving as some other amps I've heard. Not saying it's bad, but it's not amazing either. Though I love the tube sound, I'm open to hybrid/Solid state too. I am looking for an endgame amp that ticks all the boxes: plankton, soundstage, power output, and most importantly something that is neutral and doesn't overly color the sound.

 

Congrats on going for endgame. I'm thinking you're best move is to audition as much as you can. I know we got some SBAF folks in your area. On the other hand...http://www.head-fi.org/t/838984/ic-eddie-current-zds

 

You are describing a big boy EC amp. Get in line for the Aficionado.

 

I know this is a late response and @Torq already steered you towards the OWC unit, (I own an older version of that) but I just wanted to say that every one of my internal Mac Drives that I've owned , except in my 2009 MBP, has died in less than 2 years. I'm glad they've been making the Mac Mini without the drive for a few years now.

 

Good to know. I've had a good experience with the OWC unit so far. It's built like a tank and is very fast compared to the SuperDrive I was using. It ripped Run the Jewels 3, the disc that was giving me the most issues on the SuperDrive, perfectly on the first try.

 

maybe the WA6-SE?