Post your stereo system!

Okay let me tackle speakers first.  I absolutely think this is the place where you make or break your system.  The amplifier stage is important, but once you get to a certain level, I'm not convinced there is much of a difference other than power.  For example, when I flip real time between my 1971 Marantz and 2019 Mcintosh, you have to listen for much if any difference.  Speakers can be night and day.  

For bookshelves, there are a million options.  I suggest you spend lots of time and test drive them.  Order from Crutchfield where you can as they have a wonderful testing policy.  You get 30 days and returns are $10 shipping.  No brainer.  You should also go up to Audio Exchange on W. Broad.  Donny and Dave carry some great gear and as long as you're not a dick, they have no problems letting you take stuff home.  But for many of these brands, there are multiple speakers that span the price ranges, so you have to see what you like for price and the look.  I haven't listened to everything of course, but the brands I'm recommending here I've either owned or demoed for a period of time.  

KEF - https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/kef_speakers.html?&pg=2  Very good English brand.  Laid back sound, really good prices.  I'm not sure the 150 or 300 series are great, but the LS50 series is very highly regarded.  

B&W - https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/b&w_speakers.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFBrand|Bowers%20%26%20Wilkins I think these sound similar to the KEFs.  English as well, with a soft dome tweeter.  There's a very large range of quality across the brand.  Not that the lower end ones are bad, rather the higher end ones with the decoupled carbon domes are really nice.  

Focal - https://www.crutchfield.com/shopsearch/focal_speaker.html?fa=1#&nvpair=FFCategory|[rank11999]Home%20Speakers&nvpair=FFSubcategory|[rank37900]Bookshelf%20Speakers  Love this brand.  I haven't owned them for home, but did for auto.  They are a brand that has some low end and then very high end.  I think the Aria are the only sort of price reasonable ones they have.  

Sonus Faber - serious Italian speakers. These are no joke.  Normally they are way out of price range for mere mortals, but a few years ago they started a lower line that brought their technology from high end into the a reasonable price.  The way they did it was by using pressed wood wrapped in leather, which still looks great.  Everything less than $4k for all of these speakers is probably pressed wood.  But SF's real speakers are made by hand with sold wood veneers, shined, gorgeous.  The Lumix II are only $999.  That's a crazy price.  But they are small.  https://www.audioadvice.com/sonus-faber-lumina-i-bookshelf-speaker-pair+color-Piano~Black  I know Audio Exchange carries SF so if you want to check these out, you should go up there.  The next step up is the Sonetto line and the cabinets are much nicer.  I don't know how much they are.  I was going to buy some towers a few years ago, but Donny at AE talked me out of it and I kept my Dyns.  The picture below are the Sonettos.  I just wanted to show the cabinets. 


Dynaudio - last but definitely not least.  These are my favorite and I've been using this brand for several years and a few versions.  Like SF, they are more of a luxury brand compared to B&W or KEF, so you will need to go to AE or someplace a little more specialized.  But they are worth it.  Danish speakers, neutral, beautiful cabinets, very balanced. They just disappear in your room and you never think of them.  In the total package range of $4-5k, spending $2-2300 would put you in the Evoke 20 model.  Here's an open box for $1800, but it looks like they are walnut.  Highly recommended speakers though.  https://www.safeandsoundhq.com/products/dynaudio-evoke-20-bookshelf-speakers-open-box-pair?currency=USD&variant=41014245097583&utm_medium=cpc&utm_source=google&utm_campaign=Google Shopping&gclid=Cj0KCQiAgaGgBhC8ARIsAAAyLfGR2l8XYAQSrdL_U6s0SXe4wmto-naz_rwd-npZlTst9CBWSD-fWjAaAlPfEALw_wcB

Thanks for the recommendations! A lot to digest here for sure. @mrussel1 we do need to hang out sometime. It's funny that you live literally 10 miles or so from me. 

Looks awesome! What a gorgeous monster.  You mentioned black face.  Are you planning to change it or keep silver?

For speakers, I might be looking between the KLH model 5, Klipsch Hersey IV, and JBL L100, or the Dynaudio evoke 20's. 

Looks like schiit makes some decent integrated amps. The Ragnorock model is very intriguing although it lacks a tube preamp, which I can love without if need be. 

mickeyrat said:

look to bring this home tomorrow morning.... I hope.

Congratulations! Excellent piece of equipment. 

dudeman said:

mickeyrat said:

look to bring this home tomorrow morning.... I hope.

Congratulations! Excellent piece of equipment. 

@mickeyrat - some advice on that facelift.  It's not hard to do, but be careful when you pulll the black subface from the silver face.  It will be glued on and feel delicate.  I was very worried about cracking it.  Probably need an e-xacto knife to cut the glue so you don't damage anything.  I'd also clean the pots and the stem? that the knob is connected to while you have it open like that.  At least that's what I did when doing the facelift.  The whole thing was a little delicate but not unreasonable.  

so @dudeman @mrussel1 what do you use for antennas . period style correct or modern applications?

mickeyrat said:

so @dudeman @mrussel1 what do you use for antennas . period style correct or modern applications?

I put a modern one on, but I never use it.  Our radio stations here suck.  

dudeman said:

mickeyrat said:

so @dudeman @mrussel1 what do you use for antennas . period style correct or modern applications?

Just for the hell of it, I dug out my old antenna and hooked it up to my 2275. 

Even in the basement of my home, it pulls in and locks on to a good number of radio stations. 

The one I have is from the mid 90's and it wasn't a fancy or expensive model. I'm pretty sure that you'll get decent results from just about anything you can find.

thank you sir.

mickeyrat said:

dammit chase. delayed a day. lessened the available amount from my profit sharing deposit.

just as well. will be rested for the drive tomorrow.

Bummer! I'm sure that once you've got everything all set up and enjoying great music in your home, the delays and hassles will be pretty far out of mind.