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Best Way to Spend ~ $2000 for System Improvement

Hi fellow music lovers! I have about $2000 right now to improve my system. It can be for any component, but I'm thinking amplification first, power, pre, or integrated. SS or tube.

To begin, right now I have a Mccormack 0.5 Deluxe power amp with "A" revisions, an Eva 2 passive preamp, Metrum Octave v1 DAC, Dell laptop for music files. Sometimes I use a Teac H750 as a transport and GMA Pico Executive speakers. The room is small, about 14x18x10ft. I listen to about 50/50 rock and classical, mostly full orchestral. As far as just sound goes, I would like the bass to be "fast". No delay or overhang, not exaggerated, but detailed. Detail is important at any frequency, the more the better, but not at the expense of musicality. I realize at this price point, compromise is necessary, and treble would be the best place for that. No harshness allowed, but I'm in my later 50s now and don't hear treble like I once did.

I hope I've given enough info to get some good suggestions. I like the sound now, but think it could be better, maybe a slightly lower noise floor and a little more pace and rhythm while retaining it's sweetness and smoothness. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. BTW, if any existing question answers any part of this question, feel free to link it.
xrayz
xrayz OP
105 posts
 
Thanks for all your responses! To answer your questions, @smrex13 I have GMA  Pico Executive speakers. They are three way floor standing speakers. @mapman The system as a whole is a little (not much) "laid back" for lack of a better term. To me, that's a lot better than bright, but I'd like a little more clarity and liveliness. Overall, it's the kind of sound I like, but not quite there. I wish I had a better audio vocabulary. @mikirob I will definitely read this book and check out the products you mentioned, thanks. @ghosthouse The system is not in a dedicated listening room. Believe me, I have wished to be able to employ room treatments, but unless they're very unobtrusive, they're not very practical for me. I have a time keeping the speakers set up correctly without them being moved (mysteriously, haha). I've also considered room equalization (electronic), but I have no experience with that.

I was thinking of an amp with a little different musical signature, a little more speed and punch to it, but as stated I'm open to all ideas, thanks again guys! Oh, and I wouldn't mind going to an integrated, it might be time to downsize a little.
smrex13
645 posts
 
Thanks for the additional info.  My guess is that you would be served by looking for a used active preamp in the 2k range.  The McCormack, especially with the mods, is a very good amp.  It will give you whatever it's fed without too much editorializing.  I would think an active preamp would add some dynamics and give you the detail and bass control that you're looking for.  

Just my 2 cents,
Scott
zufan's avatar
zufan
563 posts
 
qol
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
The system as a whole is a little (not much) "laid back" for lack of a better term. To me, that’s a lot better than bright, but I’d like a little more clarity and liveliness.
You’re most likely already aware of this, but just to be sure I’ll mention that the symptoms you are describing can occur with a passive preamp if the length of the cables connecting it to the power amp is not short, and/or if the particular cables do not have low capacitance per unit length.

Adverse effects can also occur with a passive preamp if the input impedance of the power amp is too low, but it appears in this case that the input impedance of your amp is 100K, which at least in theory should be fine. But nevertheless I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott’s (Smrex13’s) suggestion of an active preamp would be more likely to be beneficial than an amplifier upgrade, assuming that the amp doesn’t have any age-related or other condition-related issues.

Also, do you sense that the symptoms are similar when you use the Teac as a transport compared to when you are using the Dell as your source? And how are you connecting each of those sources to the DAC (e.g., optical or coax or USB)?

Regards,
-- Al

lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
I agree that amp is a keeper. Also agree an active preamp would be the component to add for a change in dynamics and detail.

Are your speakers resting on the floor? To get faster, tighter bass, they need to be on footers or spikes.

The best way to lower the noise floor is to address your power situation. Install a dedicated AC line from your circuit box (if possible). A good power conditioner can significantly lower the noise floor; a passive unit can be had for under $500. Only your low-current components should be plugged into it, the amp should remain plugged into the wall for best results.
And having your computer on the same AC line as your components is adding noise to your system. Typically 2 lines are used, one for analogue and a separate line for digital.
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