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25 years since I bought my last system - advice!

Need advice on the basic components of a system for a new home build.

I've always loved a great set of speakers but could never bring myself to actually ponying up the money. Three kids, college funds, a wife who can't tell the difference. We are building a new home and had a full Sonos system suggested - lots of speakers in ceiling, two nice TVs with Sonos soundbar, the works. But I would like better speakers. Current budget including Sonos and TVs and some networking is $25,000. Willing to spend up to $40,000. Trying to accomplish:

1)Hopefully keep Sonos or similar full home easy alternative for my wife and other family members convenience. Sonos alternatives if any?

2)I would like one room amazingly well set-up, preferably for both sound and TV, but acceptable if just for music listening. I am thinking perhaps the shared living room, but worried a small bit at going to war with the three kids if I just want to chill out to music. Second alternative is to turn the two car garage (which is becoming an office/gym) into office/gym/AV room. Advantage is that the construction is not complete yet so I could do sound treatments vs living room which has attached atrium on the side. Any life experience that you can all share here on how to decide whether to go separate or together? I want to use it as much as possible but also maximize the value of my spend. Is it pointless to spend money on good speakers if I don't have the best acoustical setup of the room (opening to the side, no current sound treatment).

3)Speakers I like - I loved the Wilson Sabrina speakers for classical, but they are out of my budget. I listen to more than just classical, very wide repertoire. I don't blast music, just want rich reproduction at medium levels of sound, I really respond to being able to hear each individual instrument or line in a piece of music. Tried the Paradigm speakers and didn't love those. I'm interested in Sonus Faber Olympica II series but not sure if I can pair everything together and accomplish everything at that price. Still need to audition them since they were not setup at the store I went to.

4) Don't need surround sound.

So if I'm trying to accomplish all of the above, what exactly do I need? All I have as far as components that made the move: a couple of old KEFs, a cheap amp I bought on Amazon, and 3-4 sonos speakers. What do I do from here given the constraints I've outlined?? You have $15,000 or so to replace Sonos and add speakers, DAC, CD etc.


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Topic - 25 years since I bought my last system - advice! - kingist 20:38:36 05/10/15 (29)

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