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Rate my system and chose the next upgrade

Good evening,

I'm looking to get my system to the "next" level.  Before you ask, what is "lacking", I can not pinpoint anything.  Over all, seems to sound "pretty good" to me.  I've been back to vinyl, buying nicer copies and cleaning well with a musichall machine.  Most of my time is spent utilizing a quick CD or SACD and Hi-Rez digital with Audirvana but really enjoy the vinyl experience.  I would utilize more vinyl but usually it's more time consuming.

Why am I upgrading?  I feel I may be missing out on improvement of sound somehow, therefore "upgrading" must be the correct answer right?  Here's my system.  What would you start with to upgrade?  My typical upgrade budgets are about $3k at a time.  I'll list the approximate retail value (new)

Yamaha A-s2000 integrated- $3000?
Yamaha A-s2100 SACD/CD- $3000?
Teac UD-501 DAC with DSD capability - $850
Clear Audio Performance DC Turntable- $3500 with clarify tonearm
Clear Audio Balance Phono stage- $1000
Sound Smith Cart- can't remember which but a $1200 unit
Martin Logan motion 40XT's- $2000/pair
Martin Logan small sub woofer-$500?

Go!



128x128dhpeck
tomcarr
1,523 posts
 
Focus on your room and your setup first.
Get Jim Smith's book.
Get Robert Harley's book.
Pay attention and study what you read.
Set up your gear in a dedicated listening room.
Keep working on the best setup til your system "plays the room".
Then do acoustic treatment.
Then re-evaluate your setup with minor tweaks if necessary.
Have a dedicated line run to your listening room.
Then, and only then, think about upgrading gear.
The speakers should be the first to go, IMO.
Patience, patience, patience...

Happy listening! 
Tom
tomcarr
1,523 posts
 
And watch Michael Fremer's DVD on turntable setup

Tom
dhpeck's avatar
dhpeck OP
59 posts
 
I'll watch for that DVD.  I'm going to audition Legacy Classic HD-$5000, Klipsch Forte 3's, (I know, I know Klipsch)- $3600.  There is another dealer that carries Paradigm F85's and F95's for another try.  Don't know what the Paradigm cost though
nordicnorm
313 posts
 
Your best bang-for-your-buck upgrade would definitely be the speakers.

You could probably find a pair of Martin Logan Spires for just over $3,000. Or Montis for just under $5,000.

Used, of course.

But ML's require a fair bit of space around them to work well (i.e. 3' from the rear wall, 2-3' from sidewalls).
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

@dhpeck - the Klipsch speakers are not that bad in general.  They are usually extremely efficient.  However, they are horn based speakers, which you will either like or dislike as they have their own type of sound.  Some people love horn based speakers, others do not.

Sounds like you have a number of speakers to audition.  Have fun!

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