Thread: My Stereo System Plans and The Perfect Analog-Only Duo

My stereo system plans are progressing nicely. I have the Focal Stellia headphones in house now (thanks again Mike!!) and I have the Luxman P-750 headphone amplifier on the way. It’s being air shipped from Luxman Japan to Luxman USA right now. I should have it within a week or two. Later on I can expand my flagship headphone collection. This will let me experience different sounds for far less money than switching out loudspeakers. I have my eye on the Focal Utopia, HIFIMAN Susvara, and Noble Audio’s high-end custom IEMs. For even more variety, I’ll pick up a tube headphone amplifier at one point or another.

This week I’ll be building my Threadripper gaming and workstation PC to partly use as a source. Later on I may also want a steaming DMP like a NAD M50.2. For DACs I’m thinking about the Chord Qutest (with the possibility of a future Chord Hugo M Scaler upgrade), Schiit Yggdrasil, and perhaps a good delta sigma option. Yes, I backed out of the Chord Hugo TT2 and Chord Dave options as they were too pricy and or they didn’t really fit my needs and wants. Currently, I’m leaning towards the $2,500 (USD) Yggdrasil Analog 2 USB Gen 5 as it’s easier for me to afford, it has XLR out, and I need a high-end DAC ASAP. Then I’ll give my wallet a small break to prepare for the main stereo system.

For loudspeakers I’m still undecided. I originally wanted Focal Sopra No 2 speakers but the reality of affording them anytime soon is suspect. Perhaps someday. Most likely my first set of speakers might have to be a bit more humble. Perhaps something like the B&W 705 S2, B&W 702 S2, B&W 805 D3, Focal Sopra No 1, or Harbeth 30.2 XD speakers. B&W has Signature versions of the 705 S2 and 702 S2 that just came out and they look amazing in the pictures. The 805 D3 had a Prestige version but I’m not sure if that’s still available. B&W has the diamond tweeters and continuum cone drivers. Focal has the beryllium inverted done tweeters and the W cone drivers. And I really want to see what all the Harbeth hype is about. I will demo the Harbeth 30.2 XD soon with the Luxman L-509X. I’m just waiting for the new Harberth XD revision to come in.

And I’m not counting out the nicer tower speakers, I just may not have the patience to save up that long. Not to mention I can always upgrade later on. Then I can move the smaller speakers to a secondary stereo system. No doubt, the full scope of my stereo system plans will take a few years. (assuming I purchase the Schiit Yggdrasil) The Schiit Yggdrasil, the Focal Stellia, and the Luxman P-750U is about $10,000 invested already.

For now, I’m fairly certain my amplification choices are down to Pass Labs and Luxman. Lately, I tend to favor streamlined analog-only options so I can use my own DAC choices. Why have second rate built in features like DACs and phono options that you are never going to use? Pass Labs in particular is on board with this idea. And I tend to lean towards Pass Labs and I originally joined this forum to get in on the Nelson Pass conversation. The XA25, the XA60.8, the X260.8, the XP-22, the Int-25, Int-60, and the Int-250 are all on my radar for various reasons. So many excellent ways to go for all different reasons. How could I not purchase a Pass Labs amplifier?

However, then Luxman enters the ring. I’ve considered the C-700U / P-700U, the L-590AXII, and the L-509X. Later on tube preamplifier options could be a fun option. Especially if I can use an integrated’s power amp section separately. One Luxman question I have is are older Luxman products as good as the newer post company buyout ones? I’m not sure on which products may or may not have been affected by the downturn Luxman had before the buyout. Or when that was in Luxman product history exactly.

However, I do know that the newer Luxman 509X is a fairly exciting and well received product. The L-509X is a newer design, it has a decent amount of amplifier power, and the reviews are fairly stellar. It’s more affordable than the Luxman separates and perhaps for my purposes just as good. And how cool would the Luxman L-509X look stacked below my Luxman P-750U? With both units having high-end sound quality, matching aesthetics, and similar feeling volume knobs. For someone like me that’s into headphones and stereo systems it’s an alluring pairing. The Luxman L-509X and the Luxman P-750U could be the center of my entire stereo system, the perfect analog-only duo.

Originally Posted by Mr Peabody

You sound like a guy who has done some research and drooling, LOL Have fun.

I had a M50.2, I would highly recommend scratching that in favor of Aurender if wanting a ripper or Lumin as well if just streaming. I dumped the M50.2, never was happy with sound quality. Features were great though. I tried different digital connections, high end cables, I was never satisfied with it. I actually had the original M50.2 replaced thinking there could be an issue. I have read some reviews of the M50.2 and it's proof to me they can't be trusted. I lost money in moving from the M50.2 so it was nothing to me except being happy with my system.

Good to know about the NAD M50.2. That’s exactly why I created this thread so I can find out things to avoid, get solid advice, ETC. Admittedly, I’ve done an excessive amount of reading and lusting.

I thought that the headphone system would be advantageous to get first because then I could get close to the best sound imaginable for far less money. And I always wanted a pair of flagship level headphones like the Focal Stellia dynamic closed-back headphones and the HIFIMAN Susvara planar magnetic open-back headphones. Those two complement each other nicely and will provide different kinds of sounds to enjoy.

The headphone system will somewhat delay my stereo purchase as the Luxman P-750U and the headphones were fairly expensive. Overall, I feel they were worth it. I can’t wait to hear the Focal Stellia in its full glory. And I really want to purchase the HIFIMAN Susvara planar magnetic headphones sooner than later. I’ve always been a big fan of planar magnetic headphones. Then you can add Noble flagship custom IEMs for those times you want ultra portability such as at the gym.

I would suggest that you start with your speakers and build out from there. If you need to build your 'bank' for a while before buying, it'll be worth the wait in mistakes avoided. Get the best speakers you can afford. These will be the anchors of your system. Have fun!

Thanks for the wise advise everyone. I’m keeping my Focal Stellia headphones and I’ll mate them with an portable DAC headphone amplifier. I canceled the expensive Luxman P-750U for now. Next I’ll acquire the loudspeakers after some demos. Then I’ll go from there on the streamer, DAC, and stereo amplification. I don’t really believe in any speakers to electronics cost ratio. I just go with what I desire. And I can always upgrade the speakers later on.

IMHO speaker performance/sound choices will have the greatest impact on sound quality. That and their being more difficult to move/re-sell at a fair price is why many of us will spend more on speakers than any other component. And speaker choice will often have a significant impact on other component choices (especially amplification) in pursuit of system synergy. If you have good speakers, you will have a better base for evaluating the performance of additional components. You can always upgrade/replace any component later on... but at a cost.

On the other hand, if your tastes are very much evolving....

No doubt, my audio desires are evolving during this process. Most likely I’ll purchase the Harbeth 30.2 XD bookshelf speakers for Harbeth’s unique sound qualities. And the Harbeth 30.2 XD is fairly affordable. If the Harbeth demo does not work out then there are other nice bookshelf speakers for under $10,000. For that price ceiling I could even acquire Focal Sopra No 1 speakers if I want to.

For my endgame floor-standing speakers I’ll double that ceiling to $20,000. The Focal Sopra No 2 speakers are still on that short list. Of course, that may change as I demo more speakers. After I upgrade the speakers the plan is to move the first set to a secondary stereo system. Such as my bedroom or my PC workstation. So I don’t intend to waste any speaker purchases. Just like my Focal Stellia headphones they are hopefully all keepers.

Originally Posted by neodinardo

No doubt, my audio desires are evolving during this process. Most likely I’ll purchase the Harbeth 30.2 XD bookshelf speakers for Harbeth’s unique sound qualities. And the Harbeth 30.2 XD is fairly affordable. If the Harbeth demo does not work out then there are other nice bookshelf speakers for under $10,000. For that price ceiling I could even acquire Focal Sopra No 1 speakers if I want to.

For my endgame floor-standing speakers I’ll double that ceiling to $20,000. The Focal Sopra No 2 speakers are still on that short list. Of course, that may change as I demo more speakers. After I upgrade the speakers the plan is to move the first set to a secondary stereo system. Such as my bedroom or my PC workstation. So I don’t intend to waste any speaker purchases. Just like my Focal Stellia headphones they are hopefully all keepers.

I'm getting ready to list a pair of Focal Sopra No 2 in gorgeous Audi Nogaro Blue for sale, should be within your budget. I'm located in SW Florida.