In the 70's I put together what was then a nice system - Accuphase
C-200 preamp, P-300 power amp, T-100 tuner, B&O turntable, JBL L300
Summit speakers. I sold the speakers a while ago because they were too
large and heavy, sold turntable too.

Now I'd like to put together a digital system of similar calibre, and
my initial concern is if I should start from scratch or integrate my
Accuphase equipment into what I buy. Is the new equipment sufficiently
better than my Accuphase (which was good but not great). Which
manufacturers should I consider to at least equal or exceed the sound
quality that I had?

I know this is all highly subjective, but although I'm a video editor
with much digital experience, I'm not familiar with the home set-ups.

TIA,
Greg

wrote:

In the 70's I put together what was then a nice system - Accuphase
C-200 preamp, P-300 power amp, T-100 tuner, B&O turntable, JBL L300
Summit speakers. I sold the speakers a while ago because they were too
large and heavy, sold turntable too.

Now I'd like to put together a digital system of similar calibre, and
my initial concern is if I should start from scratch or integrate my
Accuphase equipment into what I buy. Is the new equipment sufficiently
better than my Accuphase (which was good but not great). Which
manufacturers should I consider to at least equal or exceed the sound
quality that I had?

I know this is all highly subjective, but although I'm a video editor
with much digital experience, I'm not familiar with the home set-ups.

TIA,
Greg

Accuphase is pretty decent gear, as commercial gear goes.

Your budget is the only issue as far as what you can or should consider.

I'd start with the speakers and aim high. If budget is any
consideration, then used is a good way to go as you can save 50% over
new bought +/- shipping. Online, not in some salon, although you can
find things that way too...

There is some yin/yang in the overall sound of digital players and DACs,
but less so than in years past... my feeling is that the lower and mid
level common Japanese brands vary in overall sonic quality quite a bit,
and that it seems that better performance can be had with a separate DAC
and using a transport or player as a transport, but that's my "feeling"
others are likely to posit other beliefs.

There may be some benefits to the 24/96 soundcard in a PC approach, but
I am wary of the electrical noise produced by a PC being in the room
with my system...

_-_-bear

A couple of questions, and a statement that you should _PLEASE_ take as
opinion, not hostile.

Questions, first:

1. What is your intention? Do you want to listen to stereo music, do
you want to integrate the system into an "entertainment center" based
on Television (therefore surround sound and all that), or something
else?

2. What is your listening environment like? A living room where other
things happen? A dedicated room for the purpose? A multi-purpose
entertainment room also containing a TV?

3. Define "digital". You wish to listen to CD, or SACD, or Sirius/XM or
whatever else that comes in a digital format?

Now to the OPINION: I am not surprised you sold the speakers. Too big
too heavy is the least of their defects. As to the TT, I suspect you
purchased that for looks vs. function as there are infinitely more
functional TTs available vingtage and new.

If all you want to do is add a CD and/or another digital source to the
system, your electronics are fine, even excellent, and will exceed in
performance about anything you might find today at anything approaching
a reasonable cost. This leaves you with speaker choices. More OPINION
on my part. You have more than enough power to drive about any speaker
made, so your options are nearly infinite. I tend to favor vintage AR
speakers, in your case a pair of 3as would blow the JBLs away, not be
too terribly obtrusive, and while heavy at 65 pounds each are worth the
weight. They would also respond nicely to the electronics you have. For
towers, they made an M5 or an M6 that would do well, but command more
attention and more careful placement in your room.

But try to STAY AWAY from so-called single-driver systems, or systems
with anything smaller than an 8" woofer(s), with the larger-the-better
on the woofer side.

You need to tell me more as you defined your desired system as
'digital'.... which is somewhat meaningless outside of some very
specific parameters.

Peter Wieck
Wyncote, PA