I'm looking to upgrade this budget system. I'm willing to spend:
cd player - 500-1000
integrated amp - 1.5 k
speakers - 2 k
I'm really taken with the SACD/CD players like the Sony 9000ES with some mods.
I've just dipped my toes into the tube integrated world. The Decware Zen TorII looks interesting. The Unico has also caught my eye. On the solid state side I'm considering the moon i-5.
For speakers, I need monitors because of the WAF. I've liked B&W CDM 1NTs, Linn Ninka, Proac tablette 8 (I think?). For a little more money the Reference 3a de capoi were very nice.
I'm not familiar with the Unico at all. That might tell you what i was talking about in terms of power ratings by reason of logical deductions : ) Sean >
It sounds like you want something "better" but don't know exactly it is that you want or how to go about it. Before spending any money, you need to sit down and examine your goals and how various components will interface with those goals and your room. If you go the route of a low powered tube integrated, you'll need pretty efficient non reactive speakers and / or be willing to live with low spl's, limited bass output and control, etc... Most of the speakers that you listed are "reasonable" loads, so i don't see a problem in that area unless you are really keen on LOW powered units. As a side note, you should really do some research on the various power ratings, power bandwidth, distortion characteristics of the units that you are considering. I'm not going to name names, but one of the amps you mentioned "fudges" a lot of information to make it look more acceptable on paper. Sean >
