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What's the weakest link in my stereo set up? I live in a townhome, so limited on space.

90% of my time is used listening to records. The other 10% is used by my wife and I to just stream TIDAL or Spotify.

I live in a three story townhome. High ceilings. Not wide rooms, but long.

I would love to be able to use a room just for the stereo, but I cannot. I like staying married, which also means I cannot turn our guest bedroom into just a music-listening adventure room. So, the stereo is in my living room on the first floor. This also means I don’t have room for floor standing speakers.

Focal 906 bookshelf speakers

Technics SL-1210 Mk II (modded out by KAB USA)

Currently using a Nagaoka MP-150 cartridge

McIntosh MP100 phono amp

Cambridge EVO 150 stereo amplifier, entertainment hub, streamer, etc (my wife uses this a lot to stream Spotify while going about the house)

Topping A70Pro headphone amplifier

 

I’m going to assume people are going to say either my turntable or my speakers. Would it be wise to upgrade my Technics to one of the higher end models? I really love the ease of using this little beast of a player. I know it’s known as "the DJ turntable", but it wasn’t made to be one -- it just became that.

The Focals are nice too, and they were also bought new for less than a grand.

(Also, sorry if this is subjective as a question. I’m new to a lot of this. I hope something stands out as an obvious room to upgrade no matter what your tastes are.

Also, I’ve been selling some of the equipment that my late father had, and while doing so I’ve been getting interested in upgrading the system I cobbled together years ago. And no, for emotional and attachment reasons, I didn’t want to keep things that he owned.)

Budget ~$2K

128x128vrikkian
mksun
545 posts
 

+1 for adding a pair of REL subwoofers. I also live in a three story townhouse and my listening space is a mere 9x9x9 converted dining nook. I recently added a pair of REL T/5X subwoofers and the sonic improvement was substantial. Besides improved bass, I experienced better highs, mids, and soundstage. A pair of REL T/5X subs retail for about 1/10th the cost of my Dynaudio stand mount speakers which makes it the best bang for buck upgrade I have made. Feel free to check out my virtual system to see how little space the REL T/5Xs take.

https://www.audiogon.com/systems/11787

 

devinplombier
338 posts
 

I would look at a subwoofer with a sealed enclosure, NOT ported, to mitigate boominess in your long, narrow room.

If your Focals roll off at 55 Hz, then you're probably good crossing over your sub at 60 Hz.

Since bass is non-directional below 80 Hz, you have a lot of latitude as far as placing your sub in your room. That is, unlike speakers, a sub doesn't have to be anywhere in particular. Inside a cabinet is probably going to sound less than ideal though.

Happy listening! 

 

vrikkian's avatar
vrikkian OP
8 posts
 

All, thanks so much for the feedback and suggestions so far. I will take pictures of my living room tomorrow and post them here.

I have a upgrade stylus for my MP150 on the way:)

Looking at ISO acoustic bookshelf stands. Also a SVS subwoofer. 

jrareform's avatar
jrareform
29 posts
 

Nice work, OP! 👍 You were mentioning sub placenent etc.  If there's a way to localized your sub(s) near your listening position, that would be huge for you in not annoying your neighbors.  And I agree multiple smaller subs is probably the way to go unless your townhouse has really good sound isolation or you have an additional room between your listening room and your neighbor.  If you play at a reasonable volume, sub is the #1 upgrade by far for reasons already stated. 

Secondly, yes room treatment.  First reflections is huge.  Not that difficult.  Can DIY or have a company like gik acoustics build them for you

immatthewj
2,428 posts
 

We could jam in Joe's garage, @asvjerry .

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