2. digital
  3. 186581-130

Does an upgrade make sense?

I may be coming down with the upgrade bug, and I’m open to suggestions. I’m quite happy with what I have—excellent imaging, musicality, dynamics. Maybe I could use a little more depth (left right is fine and speakers truly disappear), and maybe a touch more dynamics.

Almost everything I listen to is Qobuz streaming or hi res and flac files from a NAS (hard drive). My system:

Cambridge 851 Streamer/DAC

Bel Canto Pre5

Bel Canto Ref 500 monoblocks

Dali Mentor 6 floorstanders

Everything sits on maple plinths, Gaia iiis, or pucks.

Cabling is mid range Morrows. I previously had Kimber KS1116s but sold them as the Morrows sounded just as good, on the current set up.

What do I need to get more of everything? Speakers? DAC, Streamer? Amp?

tomaswv
newbee
4,775 posts
 

FWIW, drill down your set up first. You can't really judge the contributions for a proposed DAC until you have that right (unless you want to build your entire system around a DAC, which sounds dumb to me). Re set up, ultimately what I would do if I had a room that size would be to drive the mains full range and set up two subs placed to smooth out the bass (usually where you are sitting) caused by nulls. If I wanted to fill the room with sound on the cheap, I'd just set up an old fashioned Hafler  system (using 2 separate satellites and a attenuator, and if you are semi anal about your main systems sound a seperate amp) There are so many trade offs.............:-)

audiotroy's avatar
audiotroy
3,840 posts
 

 we have been selling dali loudspeakers for over 20 years 

 

personally we would recommend upgrading to the newer Dali Rubicons

 

the mentor series was a good product but lacked the magic of the more expensive helicons and the newer rubicons sounded even better then the older series

the rubicons are far better in every way.

the rest of your system is comprised of solid components.

Dave and Troy

audio Intellect NJ.

Dali dealers

tomaswv OP
236 posts
 

LOL all good advice and pulling me in so many directions. I’m thinking I’d update speakers before bringing in subs. Have thought of the Rubicons—I got the Mentors because I couldn’t afford the Epicons at the time. I also see that my DAC is long in the tooth. I’ve done a lot around vibration control and have upgraded power cables. Bottom line— I’m thinking DAC or speakers. More bang for the buck with a new DAC I think. I’d want balanced outputs. What do you recommend $3000 or so, used is fine.

bpoletti
1,555 posts
 

What do YOU want to upgrade?  What are the shortcomings, really?

czarivey
5,946 posts
 

Today I think even one of those Bowers & Wilkins DB3D can be perhaps one of the most successful additions to nearly any system with monitor speakers, because it's extremely tight, fast and powerful. I do consider this model the most coherent with nearly any monitor speakers. You are adding to your 1kw another 1kw into the game. Not sure about budget, but one of them would already change game for starters. 

Luv your belz they're real deal.

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