Suggested Hi-Fi system for a near-midlife crisis!

Has anyone recommended SF Liutos yet?

They have now!

No apology necessary CNO.

Your advice has been most useful up to now, so do as you do!

Re CDP vs Streamer i have put alot of money into building a big CD collection so i'd prefer to sit down and listen to them or i'd have downloaded everything on FLAC by now and saved myself alot of money ironically.

But i like to have a physical reference and i dont feel as good loading up a digi file whereas i can approach my CD's and have a good look at them before deciding what to enjoy!

I am in two minds now whether to demo speakers or amp first.  I dont doubt the importance of the amp as experienced with my old mans system when the tandberg broke we had to use an onkyo av amp in its place while it was fixed and it did affect the sound in shall we say a bad way!

I'm an "old man" in the sense that i was brought up on vinyl, and thought as you do about a physical format.....but once I heard the improvement a Linn DS brought, I was hooked; and I don't regret it and would never go back (my CDs are like the ultimate backup, and I still by my music on them).

It doesn't really matter what you demo first, as long as you make a start. It should become clear where your preferences lie, once the process starts. 

What brands do you have access to (amp/speakers) and can demo together?

My suggestion would be to demo the speakers and amps together because the way the speakers and the amps interact and work together is very important IMO .

Ideally you want a combination that works to combine the strengths of the two rather than cancel out each others weaknesses , it may take a while  to find the equipment that suits you taste but you should take your time and read about the design and philosophy behind the different makes and also listen to as much equipment as possible .

This is what I do and it has served me very well and my suggestion on post number 9 page 7 might help you on your way

Oh and I agree with you about Cd's vs streaming at the risk of incurring CNO's wrath  

I agree with this logic, which is why I asked for available brands and which ones could be heard together.

FWIW. Cno has little energy for wrath atm. 

The Harbeth SHL5 is a beautiful beautiful sounding speaker, but I urge you to home demo before purchase, as despite being front ported they do like a lot of space around them... as I am finding myself... at lower listening levels- 7-8 o'clock on the dial matched with my IA-4 they are superb, but 9 or over on certain recordings... boom!

Alternatively, you may be better with the smaller P3ESR with a well matched sub for the base you like.

Personally, I am in the physical format camp and if you could stretch to an EMC1UP you won't find better at twice the price.

NB, for more info on Harbeth, worth a visit to their forum.

Mac

Sorry if I stepped on you toes regarding above statement , and i hope recent events are not getting you down too much and that you get your energy and wrath back soon

Your light hearted comment was taken in jest........so toes remain intact.

Recent events will continue to do my head in for some time to come, and man-flew has struck as well. 

only mentioned them because Op said something about warm presentation.  It's no secret that I love these speakers

. They are so much fun. And look so much better.

It's a great choice.

Have now identified the old mans Wharfedales as model '507.2'.

Much to my surprise they have aluminium dome tweeters!  And yet listening to how smooth it sounds i wouldnt have thought it possible.  It has an 8 inch mid/woofer which seems to allow me to feel the lower bass notes at low volumes giving it real sense of scale and majesty.  I like this character and its something my MA RX6 can only dream of.  Also i would describe the treble as allowing the cymbals to sound like cymbals instead of a dryer sound like that from all my MA BX2/RX6 (I may have critisised these speakers alot now but i will say again as a surround setup for movies they do work lovely!)

Anyway this has led me back to Kef R900 now as its a full 3 way speaker and i would imagine quite a grand sound with some warmth but if i position 30cm from back wall i can imagine the bass thickens too much!

So i am down to finding demo of:

Kef R900, MA GX300 (just for a laugh), Harbeth HL5 (hard to find demo), ATC SCM40 (still i imagine to like), Spendor A9, PMC OB1i.

Not sure where abouts you're based, but give Trevor at Guildford Audio a call re demo of Harbeth... good guy to deal with and may well visit.

Mac

Based in the North West 20 miles south of Manchester near Buxton to be exact!  Aka Whaley Bridge lol

Have found a Harbeth dealer in Warrington called Doug Brady Hi Fi who seem to be my closest option.

Ah that's good... was talking to another dealer the other day who visited Doug Bradys and they had a Harbeth SHL5 with Sonneteer amps on demo and apparently sounded very good.

Mac