Mike's $9,500 HiFi System

This $9,500 system brings together Vienna Acoustics floorstanding speakers, a Rogue Audio tube hybrid amplifier, and a dedicated Primare streamer/DAC. The Bach Ultimate Edition speakers deliver refined, musical sound rooted in decades of European craftsmanship. The Sphinx Magnum provides 100 watts of hybrid power with a tube preamp section for natural warmth. The SC-15 Prisma MK2 handles all streaming and digital conversion as a dedicated source component. ViaBlue SC-4 speaker cables and a NF-75 digital coax cable tie it all together, both deeply discounted as part of this bundle.

Core System Components

These components form the heart of the system and are included by default with bundle savings.

• Vienna Acoustics Bach Ultimate Edition floorstanding speakers (pair)
• Rogue Audio Sphinx Magnum hybrid integrated amplifier
• Primare SC-15 Prisma MK2 network player/DAC
• ViaBlue SC-4 speaker cables (2.5m pair)
• ViaBlue NF-75 digital coax cable (1m)

The Speakers: Vienna Acoustics Bach Ultimate

The Bach Ultimate Edition is Vienna Acoustics' most current take on a speaker that has earned a loyal following since the original Bach debuted. It fills a room without demanding a monster amplifier. The voicing is unmistakably Viennese: warm without being soft, detailed without being clinical. Vienna Acoustics builds these speakers with hand-selected drivers and crossover components in their own facility, and the result is a coherence you can hear from the first note.

The Amplifier: Rogue Audio Sphinx Magnum

The Rogue Audio Sphinx Magnum is a hybrid integrated amplifier that pairs a tube preamp section with a solid-state power amplifier. The tube front end gives the midrange a warmth and texture that suits the Bach Ultimate's musical character, while the power section delivers 100 watts per channel into 8 ohms for clean, controlled bass and dynamic headroom.

• Tube preamp + solid-state power hybrid design
• 100W per channel into 8 ohms
• Built-in MM phono stage for vinyl playback without an external phono preamp
• Designed and built in Brodheadsville, PA

Streaming and DAC: Primare SC-15 Prisma MK2

The Primare SC-15 Prisma MK2 is a dedicated network player and DAC that handles all digital source duties. The Prisma streaming platform supports Spotify Connect, TIDAL Connect, Qobuz, AirPlay 2, Chromecast built-in, and Roon Ready. A digital coax output feeds the signal to the Sphinx Magnum, keeping the streaming and amplification stages fully independent.

• Dedicated streamer/DAC: one job, done well
• Prisma platform with native app control for all major streaming services
• Connects to the Sphinx Magnum via the included ViaBlue NF-75 digital coax cable
• Separates architecture means you can upgrade the streamer or amp independently

Cabling: Bundle Discount

The ViaBlue SC-4 speaker cables and ViaBlue NF-75 digital coax cable are both included with significant bundle savings. The SC-4 connects the Sphinx Magnum to the Bach Ultimates. The NF-75 carries the digital signal from the SC-15 to the Sphinx. Both are hand-assembled in Germany and designed to stay neutral, letting the components do the talking.

Optional: Rega Planar 3 RS Turntable

The Sphinx Magnum has a built-in MM phono stage, so adding a turntable is as simple as plugging it in. The Rega Planar 3 RS is Rega’s reference-grade mid-range turntable, hand-assembled at their factory in Southend-on-Sea, England. It comes factory-fitted with the Elys 2 moving magnet cartridge, which pairs directly with the Sphinx's built-in phono stage. No external phono preamp needed.

• Hand-assembled in England with Rega's RB330 tonearm
• Factory-fitted Elys 2 MM cartridge, ready to play out of the box
• Connects directly to the Sphinx Magnum's MM phono input, no extra boxes

Optional: Primare DD15 CD Transport

If you still have a CD collection, the Primare DD15 is a clean match for this system. It feeds a digital signal to the SC-15's DAC section, keeping the signal path clean and the digital conversion in one place. The DD15's slot-loading mechanism and compact footprint fit neatly into any rack.

Optional: Dual REL T/9x Subwoofers

The Bach Ultimate Edition handles bass confidently as a floorstanding design, but a pair of REL T/9x subwoofers extends the low end and fills in the room with authority. Dual subs eliminate the localization problems of a single sub and provide even bass distribution across your listening space.

• Adds foundation and scale without muddying the Vienna Acoustics midrange
• High Level connection recommended for seamless integration
• Bundle discount on the pair when added to this system

Why This System Exists

Mike built this system around the idea that separates done right outperform all-in-one solutions at this price point. The Vienna Acoustics Bach Ultimate is a speaker with real heritage and a sound that keeps you in the chair. The Rogue Audio Sphinx Magnum brings American-built tube hybrid amplification with enough power to drive the Bachs properly. And the Primare SC-15 handles streaming and DAC duties as a purpose-built source component, not an afterthought bolted onto an amplifier.

Every component in this system was chosen because it does its job without compromise. The cables connect them cleanly at a fraction of retail. No rabbit holes. No complexity. Just sit down and listen.