College student budget system, Complete

by scott3709938 on Budget Minded
100_0756

Description

Total rebuild of the system, I've settled on the components listed above.

The Classe CP-35 with the Arcam Delta 120.2 produces a warm sound which really suits my musical taste (classical).

The Mark Levinson No.36s DAC was a surprising find on my local used market. An excellent DAC, both my PC and DVD player are hooked up to it. Since all my music is stored on the PC in FLAC lossless format, the Levinson enables my PC to act as a convenient transport.

I'm absolutely loving the Totem Hawks combined with the sealed Energy S12.3, even the most demanding orchestral pieces sounds detailed from top of the frequency range to bottom.

New pictures are coming, as soon as I move into my new place early January.
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Components Toggle details

    • Totem Acoustics Hawk
    Totem Hawks, these sounded absolutely amazing when I auditioned them with a Simaudio I-7
    • Levinson No 36s
    Awesome DAC despite its age.
    • Classe CP-35
    This is an old preamp, but I really do enjoy its sound combined with the Arcam.
    • Arcam Delta 120.2
    The warm sound of this little dual mono amp really won me over. Capable of pushing 150+wpc into 4ohms, more than enough power to make the hawks really sing.
    • Pioneer DV-45A
    A decent DVD player and universal player (plays DVD-A and SACD). I occasionally use it to play some CD's.
    • Energy S12.3
    Surprisingly good cheap 12" powered sub from Energy. I used a pair of foam plugs to seal the 2 bottom ports, really seems to help the quality of the bass.

Comments 32

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Hi Scott,

All I mean by live music is sounding more like that cello sitting in you room would sound with someone playing it, instead of a couple boxes tying to make sound like a cello.

Wow that's the first time I've ever heard rep NOT recommend tube amp for just about any speaker within reason of course!

It's also weird he didn't mention any tube hybrid amps, some can be very power full and sweet sounding and cheap about $695 on up in price. Tube amps can also put out very realistic and deep bass, I think he needs to do a little more listening!
Check these out.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?ampstube&1232130089

This NOT my listing and I don't know this guy but this an awesome chance to own some great amps! These would do a number on anything classe makes, including their most recent products[a friend of mine has owned both] I know these aren't cheap but the seller is in Washington State[not too far?]maybe.

These would be a great match with your Totems.

Most people who don't consider tubes, just haven't heard them enough.

Have fun whatever you try,

Vinyl9

vinyl9

If you listen to any sort of live music I think the no the only way to go is tubes.

Antique Soundlabs, ARC, Jolida, Primaluna, Rogue, Sonic Frontiers, VTL. Any of these brands can be a great buy here on the Gon . The best thing is the they can all easily out preform all of the above brands mentioned at half the price or less.

Plus you can change the sound to your taste by tube rolling and cryoing in a way that's not possible with a sand amp.

Sure their great solid state amps but I think bang for the buck and musical believability with your ears not spec sheets may make you switch.

I've been using a higher power 211/VT4C based amps and never looked back.

Check out a dealer that caries Totems with a medium power tube integrated or monoblocks and I think you may agree!

Good luck,

Vinyl9

vinyl9

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