Went shopping for speakers and ended up with a new amp, DAC, and CDP as well -- hence the title! (Local audio dealer is one hell of a salesman.) First-tier concerns are low-level detail, presence, absence of fatigue. These components are steps in that direction, IMO. Second tier goals include tonal balance, soundstage. The Harbeths have a very neutral mid-range and image well. The Sophia meshplate 300Bs are reputed to have the best tonal balance of any 300B, and represent a giant stride in the direction of neutrality compared to the Cary 300Bs that came with the 300sei. Third tier: well, more bass would be nice. In fact I had planned to buy a Rega Vulcan sub with this system but ran out of $$$. Next significant purchase will be Mapleshade Gibraltar stands for the Harbeths. Right now they sit on inexpensive 16" wooden stands the dealer threw in for free. They really need and deserve better support. The Mapleshade stands hold the speakers low and tilt them up, which should reinforce bass and also get the tweeters on axis with the ears in the listening position -- essential with these speakers for proper tonal balance and imaging. After that, power cords, and then perhaps some tube rolling with the 300Bs and 6SN7s...
Thanks for the tip. There's actually a few old tuners on eBay now, and I might pick one up. There's an article on Arthur Salvatore's High End Audio site about which ones are worth buying. I'll let you know!
Fair enough, but really cool analog tuners from the '70s can be had at Goodwill for $25.00 and under. Just make sure to get a return priviledge should it not work. You will be quite pleased and amused, and even though it may not be a source that is comparable to your digital front end, it will be good and expose you to music that you might otherwise not buy, and that's what the whole game is all about.
Nice system!!! Nothing like gold ol' fashioned impulse buying! Keep it up! Without people like you, I couldn't keep telling my wife "But honey, Ron does it too!"
D, I didn't understand your response -- do you mean you were looking for a photo and didn't find one? I haven't posted any. Or that you haven't had a chance to hear the Cary? If so, you should! Ron
