Best Stereo Upgrade Value

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@vonhelmholtz 

+1 your comment on power resonates with me😉

I'd take a good look at room treatment, if necessary.... 

So many wow moments. Every component, interconnect and room treatment made a difference and some not so subtle.  My biggest surprise was how much clean power matters.  I took a big (for me) financial gamble and went with the advice of my salesperson.  My power conditioner and  power cables cost more than all my components, with the exception of my speakers..but I still have three more power cables to purchase.  To my absolute surprise, this was a major upgrade.  This weeks upgrade to the Holo May DAC DTE was a huge upgrade from my McIntosh, but part of that was the good power

I agree with carlsbad that an average DAC could spoil all the magic. However, intermediate speakers could ruin it.

I really tried my best to get components which were "balanced" with one too much better or worse than the other. This from price, reading a zillion posts and reviews. 

I’m not sure how much of a “value” it was but the one thing I got wrong was my cart (relative to the rest of my system). Going from a Dynavector 20x2 to a VDH Crimson (got it used here so it really was a great value) put the biggest smile on my face. I improved the sound by at least 40% - maybe more.

Just moved in so once I receive my rug and curtains I'm going to measure my room for the first time and treat it as much as I can (that's the short version).

Folks can argue forever but @jmijostyn is correct.

And a simple DSP room (and speaker) correction is one is the most incredible values out there. One should try it and A/B the sound without. It will take what you have to a higher lever. I will never go back.

The singular, most significant item any of you can buy is a USB microphone and measurement program. It terms of sound quality everything else pales in comparison. Those of us who have experience with this die laughing when people say they can do this by ear.

Upgrade value depends upon your system.  In my modest secondary system (Yamaha AVR, NHT Super Zero Speakers, Pecan Pi Streamer) I recently replaced an old sub woofer with an SVS 3000 Micro sub.  I followed SVS guidelines and changed the subwoofer crossover to 120 Hz while getting the new sub dialed in.  The combination of the new sub and new crossover setting made a quantum improvement in sound for both two channel listening and for movies.

I think that the new sub woofer helped me to maximize the sound quality in this system. 

Speakers, considering the Dyanaudio Sapphires were substantially bettered in every single way but sheer dynamics when I moved to older used Raidho D2s.

BUT, my DSPeaker Anti-Mode 2.0 room correction unit with DSP took the D2s to a whole new level of superior sound quality in the room. It was just as amazing an improvement, and for the modest money, a far higher value for cost/performance.

Best upgrade?

Clean your ears. 

This topic just goes to show you there are no absolutes in this hobby! The OP asks a question, and he gets almost entirely different answers from most people! This is why we see so many arguments in the forums. I guess everyone's experiences and ears are completely different.

All other things equal start on cleaning up the power

Haven't noticed anyone mentioning power conditioner. EquiTech made every component I have perform much better. Single most effective tweak I've come across.  (not just any power conditioner will do that however.)

I normally would not say Phono Cartridge but the new DS Audio Optical cart will render all MC carts obsolete. It’s that good.

I like the last two comments and agree with the recommendation (angles before $$$!).  It's all about "value"...what's the biggest bang for the buck; maybe starting with the weakest link (if you know what it is!).

Rather than spending big bucks on what I think the weakest link is (and buying again and again), it’s probably best if I just play with the “environment” (angles, walls, etc.) for a while and maybe I’ll find out that unless I want to spend some really big bucks and upgrade everything, then possibly I’m near the best I’ll get…for my ears (at least). 

That is a sage plan.

Speakers first, mono amplifiers second, pre amplifiers third.  All other changes are like adding sprinkles to an ice cream cone, nice but could live without.

Distributed bass array.

I'd probably agree with every single post on this thread dependent on exact time and situation of system at that time, this means weak or squeaky link gets the grease.

fully recapped amplifier with the best possible caps which only found in a very best expensive amps,since then I started to examine internals of amps

It always depends on goals. Set percentages can be a guide but those percentages can shift wildly depending on overall budget. I’m presently (waiting for new speakers) listening to speakers that represent 5% of my total system. Many might listen in my room now and wonder why new speakers? LOL, they might be correct.

Mark me down for speakers.  They should also be the most expensive component in your system.  Ultimately, it's the speakers that you are listening to.

Recently, asking myself this same question caused me to review my favorite source/input device. I stream and listen to CD's far more often than any other including my TT

I upgraded my stand alone DAC with the Denafrips Venus II

I had never before updated any input source with this kind of result. Gobsmacked I am. Great product. Great upgrade.

ODAM capacitors. If you have good equipment, these will turn your system into a great one. Use them as primary, or bypass capacitors and they are a game changer. Linlai E-6SN7's along with ODAM capacitors, if you use 6SN7s are amazing together.

tonearm - cartridge - phono stage have made biggest improvements individually in that order for my system. But if I started out with an excellent source way back, it wouldn't be applicable.

So start with the best you can afford of each component, focusing on the source point through to the end point. A signal can not improve as it goes through the process. You can only get what is picked up by the stylus on the record. Unfortunately it only goes downhill from there, so you should start at the highest place possible.

And to quote a banished former contributor, "everything matters". Except tweaks that don't do anything, or worse yet, degrade the sound.

the topic is formulated incorrectly, since in many systems there may be a "black sheep and spoil the whole herd" ...

as a rule - the source is most important (the rest of the modern equipment after a certain price - works satisfactorily and is not so noticeable)

The single biggest improvement in my system was moving to planar magnetic speakers (Apogee Duetta IIs, and when those died, Magnepan 1.7i).

A good point. The way you hear is critical.

Much like vision. Do you see the forest, the trees or the leaves?

Are you seeing the details, or missing the finer points?

Are you hearing the details, or missing the finer points?

I'm sure some will agree while others will be bemused.

It's like those who declare digital is 0/s and 1's. Totally superficial and oblivious of the details.

For me, the biggest upgrade to my system is well....WHISKEY!

By far for me new amps.   Upgrading from what I thought was an awesome and venerable Classe stereo amp (CA 2300)_ to Audionet Max monoblocks was eye and ear opening!

Every time I have done a component upgrade the sound improves.  It also costs a lot more money with diminishing returns.  So pick you weakest link and have fun.

In the past two weeks I’ve had the opportunity to compare the Aries Cerat Incito preamp to my Jeff Rowland Corus. In addition, I compared Odin One speaker cables to my Clarus Crimson speaker cables. Although there were differences between the preamps and speaker cables, the most impactful upgrade wasn’t a component. 3ma Audio (Luis) took about four hours to setup my speakers. After selling my subwoofers, I moved my speakers around and I knew something was wrong with the setup. Luis used a combination of computer measurements, lasers, and his ears to setup my speakers. I ended up removing four GIK absorbers, moving the listening position four feet forward, and moved the speakers 11 feet apart, measuring from tweeter to tweeter. Overall a more significant positive impact compared to the differences between the preamps and speaker cables.

Anyway, you choose the best source and speakers you can and then fill in everything in the middle. Tuning the room is additional direction. But not all of us can convert the room into a concert hall. Unfortunately. 

Believe it or not, ny best "Bang for the buck" improvement was a $150 USB cable. Almost everything I listen to goes thru that cable. The difference is huge. Try one from Wireworld, Furuteck, or Zavfino.

IME, which is considerable, it’s the speaker/room synergy and its relationship to your listening goals and expectations. The rest are details. If you want the singer/songwriter and their acoustic guitar or piano to pay you a visit vs. wanting to relive your one concert hearing AC/DC or Led Zep live makes a huge difference.

Clean records. Anything is better than nothing in regards to equipment 

obviously lots of caveats all noted above. But assuming you dont have some piece of junk along the signal path, and understand that big changes demand (proportionally) big spend, its almost always either:

1. Speakers

or

2. Setup

you can sometiems get a dramatic *change* from, say a powerful but cold solid state amp to a warm and flabby tube amp, but now you are in the realm of "i prefer this distortion to that distortion".

And i dont mean this badly, i KNOW what distortions i prefer.  Consonant ones.

 G

Thank you all.  Added information…I’ve got a pair of Martin Logan Renaissance’s, Mac C-53, pair of Mac MC-611’s, and 2 JL Audio F113 v2.  My audio guy talked me out of getting a Mac room correction unit, but told me to play around with speaker angles.

I like the “weakest link” and I “think” I agree with speakers first, but believe my system is pretty equal all the way around.  Rather than spending big bucks on what I think the weakest link is (and buying again and again), it’s probably best if I just play with the “environment” (angles, walls, etc.) for a while and maybe I’ll find out that unless I want to spend some really big bucks and upgrade everything, then possibly I’m near the best I’ll get…for my ears (at least). 

Thank you for ALL your comments...I'll keep them in mind as I continue the journey.

Adding an active crossover and by-passing the passive crossover in my Magnepan 1.6's. Did have to buy another two channel amp though.

Jim S.

To be sarcastic, it all depends on how much you spend.  We all know the Price is always Indicative of Quality and Performance.

Just kidding.  Happy listening folks.

Speakers will always make the biggest change in sound.  Things like cables, very minuscule with some exceptions. 

Interconnects, speakers, amp, DAC, source, power.

Audioholics just recommend edibles as the best audio tweak.

Fo.Q tape

1. Speakers
2. Amps with sufficient tone, density, and power
3. Multiple subs

+1hilde45; Bass traps and diffusion otherwise lipstick on a pig is still a pig.

A Schiit Lokius....to be able to tailor your system to sound Exactly the way you Want the music to sound..

Assuming not starting with complete crap room and equipment …

My biggest ‘macro’ bump was first pair of audiofool-quality speakers (ProAc)

My first ‘micro’ bump was adding an outboard amp to a receiver.

Biggest changeout bump was going from Rega/Denon to Oracle/Syrinx/Koetsu.

In the last 20 years the biggest grin has been the addition of Lyngdorfs MP-40 Processor. Moving to Room Perfect was something I had to witness to believe. Maybe its because of their management of my 4 subwoofers, but its money well spent