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To upgrade cd player?? The slippery slope?

Hi, I got sucked in to this audio game quite by mistake while looking through the public library for info on setting up a car stereo. Sidetracked by "Good Sound" by Dearborn?.
Bought some components over E-bay, and had a pre-amp given to me, and my music listening is changed dramatically. I think the real culpret is the Magnum-dynalab ft-11 tuner. Whereas I used to listen mostly to tapes and a few cd's, now its all about the radio. My limited taste in music has been stretched. I'm listening to a jazz, blues, classical, rock-- virtually anything played on the 3 good non-comercial stations in my area. Even the musical interludes on "All Things Considered" on NPR is fun for the ears, wheras it used to just make me mad and impatient. I've had the system about a year, and I've started to collect a few more cds.

But to get to the point.

This is a budjet system to be sure, and some will want me to upgrade in more directions, but I'd like my cd's to sound at least as good as the radio, and that is not the case. At least, not as engaging and fun. To spend $800 on a Jolida jd100 (for instance) would be more than twice what I have invested in my costliest component.

So here is the list:

pre= dyna pas 3
amp= carver tfm-6cb (65w@8ohms, 100w@4ohms)
speakers= spica tc-50
tuner= magnum-dynalab ft-11
**cdp= onkyo integra dx-7500 (1989, 18-bit, 8xsample)
**tape= nakamichi cr2a
interconnects= kimber pbj w/radio-shack gold plate term.
sp cables= kimber 4tcx5'

** components left over from previous system

So ??? buy the Jolida? Or a used dac? Or live with what I have? Or other sugestions?

Thanks, Aloha

Miser lee
windsup03a8
steuspeed's avatar
steuspeed
501 posts
 
The Onkyo and the Carver are probably your weak links. Jolida or an outboard tube dac are both good ideas. The dac requires another cable, shelf space and power outlet. A nice one could be had for similar dollars to the Jolida. You could upgrade to a better transport/player later or one with 96/24, DVD-A or SACD capability and a digital out for your DAC. As the format wars continue, a nice 44/16 dac will always play the CD's you own.

Front end changes are valuble, but the gap between mid-fi and high-end stuff continues to narrow. Don't get me wrong, there is definitely improvement to be had over the Onkyo. Expect refinement, not miracles. You might find more performance/dollar with a different amp.

A few solid state choices currently on Audiogon.

Forte 4A $575 Mint
McCormack DNA.5 $750 Nice
Pass Aleph 30 $1250 Mint

These pieces can all be bought, played with and sold for little or no financial loss.

Good Luck,

Stewart
windsup03a8 OP
2 posts
 
Thanks everyone for your comments. Steuspeed, your remarks sound like sober caution.

Besides, when I started to say I might upgrade, Dyna said, "no way, not until you give me some attention and affection." New tubes, new sound, then more trouble. But when I get that worked out, and experiment with different tubes, I'll have to reassess the sound anyway.

Aloha,
Miser lee
steuspeed's avatar
steuspeed
501 posts
 
Miser,

I am in a similar situation. My CD player is Audio Refinement. It is better than the Pioneer Elite it replaced, but not the biggest upgrade I have heard in my system. I have a tube pre-amp and solid state monos. My next move will most likly be a tube dac. I thought about the Jolida, but a tube dac seems the smarter move. All-in-one units are still attractive due to their simplicity and space savings.

If you are looking for new tubes, try Andy at www.vintagetubeservices.com I bought NOS telefunkens and RCA driver tube for my pre-amp and "whoa Nelly" do they sound incredible. This is an upgrade I highly recommend, and worth every penny.

Stewart
phasecorrect's avatar
phasecorrect
2,013 posts
 
WOuld have to agree with Steuspeed...although hi-enders would disagree...redbook digital has essentially "maxed" itself out...the difference between 16,20,24 bit technology is marginal(some even argue inaudible) ...other than jazz/classical...most recordings dont even utilize these so-called improvements...to really make a quantum leap in sound...there is SACD(limited but growing releases)...and Analog(hi-maintenance)...
windsup03a8 OP
2 posts
 
Thanks again for the responses.

Ok, so my Onkyo built in 1989, though perhaps their best machine at the time, will sound similar to a decent machine built today? Or going with a second hand dac is a much better upgrade? Then, does anyone have experience as to how the onkyo fares as a transport?

To update on my Dyna, I swapped the tubes in the line section for the ones in the phono stage, and they were good. At the same time cleaned my (I'm embarrassed to say rather tarnished) copper power cord plug and expanded it for a tighter fit, and the results were definitely noticeable and positive. Could it be that the signal from the cd player is more vulnerable to uneven power due to the greater frequency range? I'm starting to think an upgrade from Curcio Audio on the preamp may be a step in the right direction.

As for the amp, the friend who gave me the Dyna Pas also gave me a couple of non-working Dynaco st-70s and I was thinking at some point of repairing one of those, and possibly modifying, perhaps with Curcio's drop in assemblies.

Mahalo,

Miser lee
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