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What to change in my system

Hi everyone 

I would welcome suggestions on improving my audio system Imaging and soundstage while keeping clarity. I have $3,000 to spend, on gear. I like my systems sound but ...

 The components:

  1. I'm 77 with typical hearing deficits at the high frequencies. I have limited financial resources, $3000 is available plus revenue from sale of all existing speakers. I play just CDs mostly classic rock such as the  Stones, Beatles ,Who, Zepplin, etc. Jazz  focused on sax and piano Coltrain, Parker, Rollins, Evans , Monk and the classical symphonies Beethoven, Bach, Mozart etc. I like to hear the inner detail of the music so imaging is a big plus, soundstage can be speaker to speaker depth is somewhat constrained by distance to back wall of two feet.
  2. My current system Canton 9k reference stand mounted and two SVS SB 1000Pro subs positioned along side. My integrated Technics SUG 700 feeds the music played by a Marantz cd6006 cd player. Nordost Odin  interconnects are used.  Monster cable power something coherent something source ( can't read but thick and old lots of copper well insulated lol) speaker cable to my Canton's bass. Maker cables drive the mids and tweeter, SVS cables are used for the SVS subs. 
  3. The room12x16 is well damped plants in all corners and fully furnished and  wall to wall carpeting. Full almost floor to ceiling  drapes cover windows behind the speakers. Those corners facing the speakers are cover floor to ceiling in plants. The ceiling is vaulted starting at 7 ft where speakers are positioned to 12 ft high where I sit. My sitting position is 8 ft from the speakers. The wall behind me has a big glass picture. The two side walls one is wide open  leading to dinning room the other mostly undamped exposed glass leading outside.
  4. Wife factor speakers are in a fixed position 8 ft apart between the speakers is my other gear on a stand.  two over stuffed chairs are on the outside sides of the speakers and any change to room is verboten. As an aside my prior speakers were the beautiful light oak Snell C2  mk2s, which were great but wife did  not like them, to big, so sold and I  got the Cantons and added the SVS gear all black( two can play that game) now she wishes the Snell's were back. I guess this is my way of saying floor standers are back in play, lol.  

 

scott22
alvinnir2's avatar
alvinnir2
111 posts
 

Having just read a review of your amplifier, it seems to me your system is pretty well matched. No doubt a tube integrated amp would give you a more natural picture into the music. Tube amps from companies like Conrad Johnson are generally reliable and tubes should last in the 1000s of hours.

Rather than upgrade what is already a well matched system, why not get a good quality streamer and DAC. The streamer will open up  a world of music discovery all controlled from an ipad/iphone, and you never need to get up from your chair like you do to change CDs. Additionally, the high quality DAC will improve the sound of your existing CDs. Use the digital output of your CD player ( which has an average at best quality built in DAC) into one of the inputs of the new DAC. I'm particularly fond of the R2R Non oversampling type DACs....smooth and more analog like ie  the Denafrips or Musician Lines.

signaforce's avatar
signaforce
169 posts
 

+ 1 on DAC. Even an inexpensive DAC will improve the sound from your CD6006 Something like the Denadrips will improve your sound significantly. (I have a CD6007 w/Chord Qutest). Then add streamer with Qobuz or Tital.


+ 1 on hearing aids. They can be tuned to help flatten your hearing and significantly improve your listening experience. One of mine is in the shop right now and my music sounds lifeless without it. Just need to make sure the model has a music listening setting. That setting cancels noise reduction and maximizes sound for music vs voice. 

woots's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
woots
288 posts
 

Invest in a previously owned streamer/dac.  Check out the T2 or T3 by Lumin.  That will improve your sound.

pennfootball71's avatar
pennfootball71
274 posts
 

Belles Aria integrated 

erik_squires
16,013 posts
 

OP:

The suggestion of a different amp was just to be different, not necessarily better. :)  A romp through some classic tube amps might be a fun adventure, not necessarily a better destination.

For your budget and system I think overall keeping it as is and being careful to examine the subwoofer, speaker and room integration is what I'd recommend overall.  For instance, look at the AM Acoustics room mode simulator for tips on where to not place your speakers and subwoofers and listening location. 

Also, since these are non-destructive tests, try plugging your ports to see if the main speakers sound better from the mid bass on up. If so, you may want to adjust your subwoofer a bit to match the new, sealed speakers.

Otherwise I might recommend you listen to a pair of Fritz speakers, which have excellent performance, but not sure it would be a big improvement over what you have now overall. 

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