improving my system, please help

Dude! Slow Down!

You say you just got a system together and now you want to upgrade. This is a slippery slope you are heading toward!

First, let's talk about why you want to upgrade. What is it about your current setup that leaves you unsatisfied?

If you simply want to play with lots of equipment and have the funds that's cool. If you are looking to reach a specifc goal then the folks who want to help will need to know what you're shooting for.

So - How's about giving some more info for folks to work with?

Have you thought about a Cinepro 20 or 30? Balanced power, conditioning, etc.

dedicated line is a good idea. for amp conditioning, i'd suggest the vans evers unlimited - it won't degrade the amps' sonics; may even improve them a hair. re: getting odyssey monos, i'd suggest getting another stereo amp & running in a wertical bi-amp mode. doubles your power, ya still have a different amp for each speaker, & ya got a separate channel for each driver. kinda like 4 monos on the cheap... ;~)

doug s.

Cinepro Line Balancers work very well in two systems of mine, but I'd still follow Blueswan's advice to put in a dedicated AC line and work on the room. If you know nothing you should read F. Alton Everest's "Master Handbook of Acoustics" (4th edition only) or his "Sound Studio Construction on a Budget", especially if you have any DIY capability, a home workshop in particular. The room is a huge factor in the final sonic product, and, especially if you can substitut DIY for commercial products, a lot less expensive to raise to world class status than the other components of your system. Why not see how good your present electronics and speakers can sound?

More info: I actually had a system for over a year, but it wasn't even mid-fi. I recently upgraded to the SL-3's, Stratus, and the PV-7 as well as the better cables. I do think that I'll be staying with tube preamps. Each change I made, resulted in a significant improvement. Although the overall sound seems quite good, I am sure that there is much more detail to be found. I would also like to incorporate my (currently not being used) non-powered subwoofer. I had it used previously with an active crossover, but it really did not integrate well. Is there a way to add a low pass filter to my second set of preamp outputs to extend the bass extension with the use of a addition bridged amp? I am not even familiar with what Cinepro 20 or 30 is. Is this a power conditioner? Also, is there an advantage of running second Stratus in a vertical bi-amp mode instead of mono's? There would be no cost advantage over going the mono route over vertical bi-amp mode. Any suggestions on where I can purchase Room Tunes? Also any suggestions on replacing the GCD-750 with a seperate transport and DAC? "Sound Studio Construction on a Budget" seems like a great way for me to understand the room environment issues I need to deal with.OK, I'll stop now! This discovery of how enjoyable superb sound can be is becoming a quest for me as I presume it has been for many of you. Next upgrade will certainly be the dedicated lines and a power conditioner. I do plan to proceed cautiosly. Thank you again for your advice.