Newbie please help with some advice to choose

[larkrise]

a passive amp - see promitheus or audio synthesis
maybe a cheap s/h but good tube amp
s/h speakers - maybe QLNs if you can find them or a bargan esl 57's - can be done

source - ?

 

[Tenson]

Would 57's like such a big room? You would have hardly any bass I'm sure!

Also are the Dynaudio Audience floorstanders to out of price range?

I wonder if you could find some second hand Dali floorstanders, not the Helicon range but the more affordable one.

 

[Jimbo]

Could go the Chinese route for some cracking bargains.

http://www.cattylink.com/

 

[DocFoster]

Passive preamp: Try NVA (wonderfully cheap new on ebay uk). Their P90 ('b stock' @ £160!!! - http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/NEW-B-Stock-N...2QQihZ018QQcategoryZ12050QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem) revolutionised the sound of CD replay in my system. Richard Dunn of NVA offers a 14 day cash-back offer if you don't like it, so nothing to lose!

Dynaudio floorstanders: What's your budget?

DF