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Forum admiration and requested guidance

My day starts by reading the top post on this site while drinking my morning coffee. I have been a audio enthusiast since the early 1970’s, with my mother playing Elvis, Jerry Lee Lewis and The Supremes on vinyl every Saturday morning while growing up.

I’ve always had an analog system to play, and cherish my vinyl collection. It started with my first purchase in 1975 with Led Zeppelin Houses of the Holy and expanded over the years.
Advance 47 years later and I’m finally in a point of my life to splurge. My wife and I put three children thru college and she has given the approval to spend a little money for my love of the audio hobby.

Today I have the following system and looking for advice on going up the ladder of sound quality improvement.

- VPI Scout with JMW 9” arm and Hana SL cartridge 
- Elac PPA-2 phono preamp
- Vincent SA-32 preamp
- Parasound A23
- Q Aqoustics 3050i

some of the biggest improvements since building this system have been in the interconnects. I went with the Mogami 2549 interconnects and Canare 4S11 speaker cables. These really opened up the soundstage and appealed to my ears.

My music room is modest at 10 x 18 with 9 foot ceilings. Please don’t advise to enjoy and buy more vinyl. I truly look up to your advise and suggestions on next steps to improve. My budget today is $10k, with an additional $10k in mid 2022.

Thank in advance to feedback from this outstanding group.

128x128vette5451
deadhead1000's avatar
deadhead1000
714 posts
 
For your comment about streaming. I was purely vinyl until I got a Bluesound. Yes it’s on the low end of good streaming, but it’s a great way to start and get comfortable with streaming. Start with on and  get to understand streaming. It’s easy to set up and easy to use, then easy to sell and it’ll make upgrading to something better if you get into it easy as you’ll understand streaming. And if you don’t get into streaming, it’s not a huge waste of time and money. 
True, It won’t sound like vinyl, but then nothing does, so does that mean don’t try it? Of course not. Just sharing my experience. 
As for upgrading your current system,  I’d agree with others who say speakers first. That will gain you the biggest bang for your buck. 
oldhvymec
5,101 posts
 
A good pair of speakers and a pair of good NON downward firing subs and some room treatment..

THEN look at a streamer.. I use an inexpensive Cocktail, BUT with wonderful build quality.. Good transport, good DAC, and a MM phono stage input. I don't use it.. All op amp balanced.. Swap a HD in two minutes add a raid in 10 minutes..

4-5K max. I like small planars. Subs anything but a downward firing NON slot loaded sub.. You cannot decouple that type of Jackhammer, sub..

I quit using that type of sub when I quit using HT sound effects.. 20+ years ago.. Great sound effect, the worst for stereo sound though..

It uses the FLOOR as the first reflection point of its passive bass system..
You got to be kidding me.. Vibrate the WHOLE house with that type of sub.. YUK.. Suspend them over the top of your pool they will break up Kidney Stones.. LOL

Enjoy.. 
pmm
232 posts
 
"  anything but a downward firing NON slot loaded sub.. You cannot decouple that type of Jackhammer, sub.."

 Excellent point!

 I remember a conversation w/ someone at Velodyne Acoustics, after the transition from their ULD series to F' series subs. He made the point that a "side firing" sub is the better sounding of the two.

  
tablejockey
3,915 posts
 
"it’s an office that is dedicated to 2 channel listening."

vette5451,

This doesn't cost a thing except room real estate
http://www.cardas.com/room_setup_calculators.php
It's not for everyone, but gives perspective and it's FREE!

Getting your existing and possibly future speakers out in the room to breath will be game changing. 4-6 feet out from the back wall, 3-4 from sides.

Consider  at least another sub. 4 is game over. Study the room treatment websites. Speaker placement, subs and room considerations are paramount.

Upgrading the existing VPI use can be  pushed out getting the $3-5K phonostage upgrade. It will make your Hana and future carts sing even more. I'm sure the Elac is a good unit, but the suggested  price point is entry into the next level. 

The Scout will sound like a new table.

I'm avoiding brand suggestion on anything. That's a new thread subject.
Tweaky doodads, additional cable madness and all the rest included.
audionoobie's avatar
audionoobie
361 posts
 
I agree with spending most or all of this years budget on speakers. I recently stepped up to a brand new pair of Vandersteen Treo CT’s, which when I first got into this hobby around 4 years ago, was much more than I thought I ever wanted to spend. But it’s really paid off. The joy I get from them is immeasurable and they are sounding better every day. 
Seize the day my friend.  
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