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Upgrading audio from speakers...Help!

Hey guys, I have recently upgraded my speakers from a pair of Infinity Kappa 8's to A pair of Matched Legacy Focus. I'm going to start re-building my system from these speakers and heading back through the audio chain. Will go with room treatments since this is a dedicated stereo system room. Where do I start in the chain? I'm thinking since I have the speakers with which I'm going to build my system around I should start with acoustic treatments of the listening room. Would like some suggestions, since this will be a time consuming project, as funds permit. If you don't mind, let's go for the best bang for the buck. I don't have unlimited funds, however you can see that I might be in the audiophile price area with which your expertise is, and within my budget. I live in a very small town so being able to audition equipment is not an option. I have been relying on your expert suggestions to get me this far, and informed in the higher end of audio. Any help would be greatly appreciated. Have read the books and mags that have been suggested, and have my own thoughts on where to start. Would love some suggestions from the pros. This could be quite a long project, and if anyone is interested in helping me along my journey, with suggestions, watch a re-born audiophile blossom. Hey, if this doesn't work out, then sorry for the imposition, and maybe I've had a few too many Frosty Beverages. Hey, with yall's help previously, my wife and I have recently gotten back into vinyl and are having a ball. Thanks again everyone, and hope you don't mind me picking your brains.
joysjane1df7
dan2112
144 posts
 
I think before throwing acoustic treatments at the room you should do some research and understand what your room is doing for you and against you. I started with reading the book "The Master Handbook of Acoustics" by F. Alton Everest. This book really helped me get a grasp on the fundamentals of room acoustics. I have to agree with the previous post. If your sources are not up to the task of your new speakers then it won't matter what you change. As far as room acoustics go you can do a lot yourself just by understanding the room and how it interacts with your speakers. I am a big fan of a difussion.
alruhl
30 posts
 
I'm sorry, but I really have to disagree with the theories listed above. I think you are absolutely right, you start with the speakers and work back. Also, with all the changes going on in the digital world, one would be well advised not to commit large sums of money. It sounds like you may be listening to a lot of vinyl, so that might not apply. Legacy Focus, a fine choice I might add, but watch out for overwhelming bass, especially if your listening room is not large. You will probably find your room acooustical treatments first focusing on corner (bass) traps to keep it from getting muddy. My suggestion would be to pick proper amps next, and keep in mind that these are very efficient speakers that don't need all that much power to achieve excellent results. In short, I would go for quality watts, not quantity. These can be well run with even modestly powered tube amps. With a good preamp then added to your system, you could easily integrate almost any decent source components with great results. FYI: I am driving Legacy SigIII's with Counterpoint NP400's that have been heavily modified by original designer, Michael Elliot, and am extremely pleased with the results.
albertporter's avatar
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albertporter
4,949 posts
 
Joysjane@srv.net, you should post exactly what your other equipment is. That would help all of us decide what could benefit from change. You did not say so, but if the Legacy Focus speakers are brand new, you need to cool the testing until they get broken in. You could chase a problem that time will change, and these speakers change a lot with at least 150 hours on them.
sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
I am doing to do a follow up about not going backward. Going backward through the chain you will be.... (1)Picking room treatments that make your old equipment sound good. (2)Then picking speaker cables that make your old equipment sound good. (3)Then picking up an amp that makes you old CD Player, Turntable/Cartridge, and preamp sound good. (4)Getting a preamp that makes your old CD Player sound good. (5)Getting interconnect cables that make your old CD Player sound good. (6)Now you go out and get a $1500 to $3000 CD Player or Turntable/Cartridge and connect it to a system that makes your $200 CD Player or whatever sound good. But your listening room has been tuned for the old equipment, so you will have to start over with the room treatments in my mind if you want to achieve Sonic Nirvana. Maybe Alruhl is right and I am wrong, but I cannot see how? If you start with the source, you will then later pick the Preamp, Amp, Cables, etc that make the great source sound greater. Last you tweek your listening room to achieve Sonic Nirvana.
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,218 posts
 
What you're doing is very dangerous. Forums such as these can be entertaining and even informative, but the random opinions of others (myself included) will probably generate confusion. Nobody replying to your post will ever sit in your music room and hear music they way you do. Ultimately you will have to trust your own ears. With that out of the way, here's my opinion -- good move starting with the speakers. Other than the room. the speaker is the cornerstone of a system. Plan on spending 30% of your total budget on speakers. Next select an amplifier that is compatible with your speaker. Be careful not to over budget for your amplifier; allocate maybe 10%. Plan on spending an amount equal to your speaker outlay for a source component. Assuming you are going digital, then I strongly recommend you go with a CD or DAC that can be directly plugged into the power amp. This will eliminate your need for a preamp. The above components form the core of your system. At this point you still have 30% of your budget to play with. My suggestion is to spend this money on whatever makes your core components work their best. Cables, powerline conditions, room treatments, Feng Shui, whatever... One final note, plan on spending at least 10% of your budget on new music. After all, listening to music is the real point. Enjoy!
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