Partnering Equipment for conrad Johnson Sonographe SD22

[MexicoSanto]

Hi all,
Obviously new to the forum (thanks for having me). Very much a novice, but it was always a dream of mine once i got a decent job and was able to afford a good CD player and system that i´d invest. So the first buy was the Conrad Johnson SD22, and on the advise of a member i´ve started this post to pick your collective brains about the best, amp, speaker combos etc. Price range would be up to $500 for the various components i guess, but i am a sucker for peer pressure so if there is a consensus on needing to invest more heavily in certain things, ill probably be persuaded.
Im in Mexico, so obviously that will determine what i can(not) get my hands on
CHeers
Guy

[agk]

I've not a clue as to what's available in Mexico Guy. Is it a similar range of kit to that found in the states?
What I can say is that you probably want to avoid valves (tubes) as the CJ is already a warm sounding cdp. I have used mine with several amps and the best so far was a Sony.
My aim now is to get another (larger more powerful) Sony. This may be possible for you too over there.
I guess the big Sony would also work well with some hefty American market speakers.

Can you give some examples of the kind of thing available to you?

[struth]

yes its pretty hard to beat the older big sony amps for value and sound quality yet still have plenty spare current too.
Speakers..maybe kefs. they can be good value. got a set myself.

[MexicoSanto]

Many thanks, much the same stuff that is available in the states is available here. Sony, Onkyo, Kenwood etc. so no drama there - in fact there is an ONKYO TX-8211 available for about US$100 that i was considering.

To give you a better idea of what is available:
In terms of SOny there is - STR-DA80ES ($250), STR-D515 ($80), Str-d611 ($200), GX-99ES ($150), Str-Dh730 ($400) or Str-k685 ($50)

Kenwood - amp and preamp KM993 both for $200
Many thanks
guy

[MexicoSanto]

Cheers,
THere is a set of kef C series that they´re selling new for $400 US - thoughts?
CHeers
Guy

[walpurgis]

Keeping it simple and cheap, I'd suggest a used Denon PMA-350SE amplifier from eBay and a pair of vintage KLH Model 17 speakers or if you want something a bit bigger, Model 23s. These American speakers may be old, but they are still easy to find in the US and should I expect Mexico. They seem to last forever and sound rather nice. It will all sound very decent together.

[struth]

Cheers,
THere is a set of kef C series that they´re selling new for $400 US - thoughts?
CHeers
Guy

Seems pretty expensive for C series. Crestas go for under £100. chorale a bit more. Q1's maybe £60. You should get an amp and good speakers for 400$

[MexicoSanto]

CHeers Geoff,
There are a couple of Denon available but not the 350SE, there is a PMA 520 ($200) and a PMA-1060 ($400). I´ll have a look for speakers now
Thanks,
GUy

[MexicoSanto]

CHeers
I found another set for 150 pounds, maybe because they're newish it is hard to get a deal. Is there a particular series, model you'd recommend?
Thanks Guy

[walpurgis]

CHeers Geoff,
There are a couple of Denon available but not the 350SE, there is a PMA 520 ($200) and a PMA-1060 ($400). I´ll have a look for speakers now
Thanks,
GUy

I've not come across a bad sounding Denon amp, but I'd suggest having more than say 40 watts RMS if you go for one.

[MexicoSanto]

Hi again,
I found a set of speakers ($75) for Klh-911b, they seem in decent quality, although he proof will be in the pudding!

[struth]

CHeers
I found another set for 150 pounds, maybe because they're newish it is hard to get a deal. Is there a particular series, model you'd recommend?
Thanks Guy

I am using Cara's and they are the business. dunno how often they come up. JBL are american. you might get some of them around your area. 8216A MONITOR is ok.

[walpurgis]

Hi again,
I found a set of speakers ($75) for Klh-911b, they seem in decent quality, although he proof will be in the pudding!

Those are not vintage KLH as such. They use cheap 'bought in' drivers.

For the money, they may suit you, but my recommendation is to look for the seventies brown cone models with the impregnated cloth surrounds. They are 'proper' KLH speakers and sound excellent.

Something like this: http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/351353234210?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2649&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT

[MexicoSanto]

Hi again, a(nother) quick question: with the sony amps im coming across a lot of audio/video control centre stuff, should these be avoided?? i only want it for music, so as long as the audio quality is good i dont mind.
Thanks again

[agk]

Broadly speaking Guy if the Sony has ES on it somewhere it's worth a punt. Even without that many av amps have a good stereo sound and plenty of power to offer.