Intro System for a 25yo?

I happened to like the HEOS app. It's much better to me and offers more than Bluesound or Spotify. I enjoyed how HEOS provides the bios on the artist and the history I found useful, it keeps track of the last 500 or so tracks you played. Similar artists was another great feature.
 
For a warm sound

Rogue Audio Sphinx Integrated V2
Marantz ND8006 CD/DAC/Streamer all in one, Auralic Altair DAC/Streamer
Dyn Audio Speakers
 
How you considered used? I would also recommend Parasound. You can get a pre and amp for around $2k. This would give you a great base to start with.
 
Of your requirements are you looking only at "lifestyle"set ups and/or new gear?

If he has literally any interest in audio, maybe bypass the lifestyle type product offerings and send him on his way with some inexpensive separates from the likes of Schiit, Nord, etc. that could provide connections for his needed digital doodads and then add passive loudspeakers of his liking to let him have a real stereo to start with?

Just my 2 cents...
 
Jdsmoke said:
How you considered used? I would also recommend Parasound. You can get a pre and amp for around $2k. This would give you a great base to start with.
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I own a Parasound A21 and it is not warm sounding. In fact, I gave it to my son and he is going to sell it to get something smoother and warmer. Their preamps are also not warm and fuzzy.

For separates, I would consider the Schiit Frey+ preamp and Vidar amp or even better,
Van Alstine Tube preamp for $899 and one of his new SET SS amps like the SET 120 and 400. I reviewed them on the AC forum for Frank VA. These amps are heavy hitters, smooth, slightly warm with a killer midrange and deep punchy bass and good high end. They can compete with $5K-$6K amps.

An all Vincent Audio system would also be a way to go for a warmer sound.
 
AVA and Vincent are good suggestions. Especially if wanting separates. Although Vincent does have some integrated.

Mechnutt said:
I own a Parasound A21 and it is not warm sounding. In fact, I gave it to my son and he is going to sell it to get something smoother and warmer. Their preamps are also not warm and fuzzy.

For separates, I would consider the Schiit Frey+ preamp and Vidar amp or even better,
Van Alstine Tube preamp for $899 and one of his new SET SS amps like the SET 120 and 400. I reviewed them on the AC forum for Frank VA. These amps are heavy hitters, smooth, slightly warm with a killer midrange and deep punchy bass and good high end. They can compete with $5K-$6K amps.

An all Vincent Audio system would also be a way to go for a warmer sound.
Click to expand...
 
I ended up going for a Sonos Amp, Amazon Echo Dot solution combined with an existing pair of speakers. The Echo Dot can control the Sonos Amp via voice. Ease of use/simplicity won. Not a high end solution by any means but very easy to use and scalable.
 
One of the very best options for an an entry level system is the Lumin Music M1 integrated amp streamer renderer DAC. Please see Lumin Music model M1.
 
My son went shopping in the attic. Here's what he came up with. Belles Aria integrated, Rega RP1, ProAc Tablette. The Belles I had intended to repurpose in my office but he got to it first. It's a pretty nice setup for a small room.
 
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