If you had $10k and were starting from scratch…

[Whazzzup]

If new purchases spend it all on a dac/amp like TT2 and a Hp like hd800s. there's 10g ...Then get ready for another 10g for the server and another 10G for a tube amp. Then 10 g for all cables/interconnects, power cords. Just saying , either that and run now, stick with beats and an iPhone

 

[WILLJS]

Stax SRS-5100 system and $7300 in the bank

 

[ThanatosVI]

Knowing what I know now, makes sticking to 10k Budget unexpectedly difficult.
I Think the happiest I could get would be something like

T+A HA200 + Meze Empyrean/Elite + Roon Nucleus One

That only fits into Budget when asking for a deal, but is reasonable to buy new within the 10k budget

 

[fliz]

I think the breakdown should be roughly:

$6k for source
$3500 for amp
$500 for cans.

Garbage in, garbage out can not be over stated.

I failed to mention the 1 pair of interconnects and 2 power cables you'll need, which do matter, but, unfortunately, there's way too much snake oil in that space and I'd have to give very specific recommendations for the cables I've found that I think are honestly priced and genuinely perform.

 

[castleofargh]

I think the breakdown should be roughly:

$6k for source
$3500 for amp
$500 for cans.

Garbage in, garbage out can not be over stated.

I failed to mention the 1 pair of interconnects and 2 power cables you'll need, which do matter, but, unfortunately, there's way too much snake oil in that space and I'd have to give very specific recommendations for the cables I've found that I think are honestly priced and genuinely perform.

There is no objective reason to do that. In a typical stereo system, the worst part by far, so the one that actually makes the most difference when improved, is the transducer.

 

[fliz]

There is no objective reason to do that. In a typical stereo system, the worst part by far, so the one that actually makes the most difference when improved, is the transducer.

A good transducer can not overcome upstream flaws, and the transducers in $500 cans are not flawed unless the manufacturer is a complete scammer. Scammers don't survive in this business. A pair of resolving cans are relatively cheap. Quality transducers are comparatively cheap to produce and there are massive economies of scale. A pair of $500 cans driven by $9500 of top end upstream gear will sound infinitely better than the most expensive cans being driven by cheap gear.

 

[earmonger]

I don't think you need $9500 in source components to overcome "upstream flaws."

Human perception is just not going to pick up some incredibly tiny electronic deviation from bit-perfect that the extra kilobucks are supposed to eliminate. Something that is not precisely zero distortion down to the umpteenth decimal is not "garbage."

 

[MindBreak]

I believe striking a balance in a chain, and the synergy of the pairing would be the best route for me at least.

In my own setup I normally do a tick tock upgrade path to get to the final result. I just recently purchased a ZMF Atrium Open. Prior to that I picked up a Mjolnir 3, and next year I will be upgrading my DAC to a Yggdrasil MIB. So the setup I listed is my setup next year.

Good headphones only sound their best on a quality chain with good synergy, but on the flip side the best audio chain in the world won't be fully appreciated with most lower end headphones. There are exceptions to every rule, but always buy whatever sounds good to you.

Happy Listening!

 

[bigbeans]

If I was recommending a system to someone for 10k:

Amplifier
Golden Wave Prelude Amplifier, 2500 USD (https://store.hifiman.com/index.php/prelude.html)

Headphone
Susvara OG, 3500 USD (buy them used from Headfi Classifieds etc)

DAC
Holo Audio - Spring 3 DAC – Spring V3 KTE, 3000 USD (https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/spring-3-dac/)

This leaves you around 1k room in the budget. This gives you flexibility to purchase Susvara OG brand new. However if you find a good deal on a Susvara OG used, you can use the extra cash to pickup:

• Holo Red streamer 798 USD (https://www.kitsunehifi.com/product/holoaudio-red-ddc-network-streamer/)
• HQ Player 295 USD (https://signalyst.com/consumer/)

 

[Leporello]

Just amazing snake oil recommendations. Amps and dacs have been a solved problem for decades. My recommendation would be a pair of mid range phones (Hd 600, for instance), fed from whatever. Do not fall for faith based audiophile hoopla.

 

[fliz]

I don't think you need $9500 in source components to overcome "upstream flaws."

Human perception is just not going to pick up some incredibly tiny electronic deviation from bit-perfect that the extra kilobucks are supposed to eliminate. Something that is not precisely zero distortion down to the umpteenth decimal is not "garbage."

"bit perfect" (and I'll just grant that you also mean "jitter free") only gets you from the source material to the input of the DAC chip, everything from the output pins of the chip is analog, including the output stage of the DAC itself, the cables connecting the DAC to the amp, and everything in side the amp.

Even if we pretend that it's trivial to ensure that the DAC chip is getting a bit perfect, jitter free, signal, there's still plenty other places where there's a chasm the size of the grand canyon wrt the difference between a well constructed signal path and one that is poorly designed or takes cost saving shortcuts w/ components. There's also the matter of the power supplies.

I've seen the difference one linear power supply can make over another linear power supply for a **RASPBERRY PI 5** running LibreELEC, feeding a DAC via usb. It's definitely a bigger difference than you're appreciating.

An astounding upstream chain will transform a "harsh, bright, and sibilant" pair of cans into works of art that are able to resolve details with refined delicacy that the most expensive "warm and musical" cans can't hold a candle to.

"Bright" just means unforgiving.

 

[MindBreak]

Just amazing snake oil recommendations. Amps and dacs have been a solved problem for decades. My recommendation would be a pair of mid range phones (Hd 600, for instance), fed from whatever. Do not fall for faith based audiophile hoopla.

Leaving out the fact that the question was posed regarding how would you spend $10k was a hypothetical. I always say that your ears are the deciding factor. If it sounds good to you, then no one else's opinion matters. The only one who has to like the sound of your system is you (quoting others). There is good gear and bad gear at every price point.

Happy Listening!

 

[LanceSaintPaul]

Truthiness to the rescue.

 

[fliz]

Just amazing snake oil recommendations. Amps and dacs have been a solved problem for decades. My recommendation would be a pair of mid range phones (Hd 600, for instance), fed from whatever. Do not fall for faith based audiophile hoopla.

You might be in the wrong place entirely if you think that spending 10k on a system is a waste of money in the first place.

FWIW, if you think this is "faith based" you likely just haven't heard what a high end system can do.

It's honestly very fun showing this stuff to someone for the first time. A friend flew out recently and I showed him the difference a single power supply upgrade could make by letting him listen to it before and after the swap.

"It shouldn't make that much of a difference!", he exclaimed, and then proceeded to gush about all the improvements he heard. Before hearing he asked if we should do some sort of double blind. Afterwards, he conceded that wasn't necessary because the difference was not even remotely subtle.

 

[earmonger]

Try it again double blinded and volume-matched.