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Advice on going from mid level to high end

There are a bunch of advice threads focused on how to assemble your first system. I'm hoping to get some advice on making the move from an established but still affordable system to something that's more high end.

Like most people on this site I've always been interested in music/audio. I assembled my first more serious system about 7 years ago, buying much of my equipment used over several years. I have a dedicated room and my current set up is:

Polk LSi15
McCormack DNA-1
TAD-150 sig preamp
VPI scoutmaster
Cambridge Audio 840C
Cables include a mix of Shunyata, Harmonic Technology, and Analysis Plus

I think it's a great setup but I've been fortunate to hear a number of very high end systems and would love to move up over the next few years.

For those of you who've made the transition from a $5-6K system to a $15-20K system, what advice do you have for the uninitiated?

Many thanks.
e
ethos
beavis
272 posts
 
Get the room acoustics right. You might discover you don't as much change.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
I'm with those who advise on room acoustic and speaker placement treatment before looking to upgrade your components. I owned the LSi-15s a couple of years ago and believe they perform above their price point.
With a poorly set up room you'll never achieve the best from any speakers.
rja's avatar
rja
2,370 posts
 
I would consider an upgrade to the DNA-1 by Steve McCormack at SMc Audio.
ethos OP
35 posts
 
Wow, I really appreciate all the advice.

Speakers and room treatments are high on my list of future upgrades. When I started this thread I was also hoping for some more general "philosophical advice" about making the jump from mid-level to high-end audio.

In that spirit, I think the posts so far suggest the following more general advice:

1. recognize up front that the improvements you make with larger investments may be smaller and more incremental than you expect,

2. be sure to optimize your current system before making changes, for example, with speaker placement,

3. know exactly what you want to improve with future upgrades,

4. hear as many systems as you can, for example, at a national audio show, and

5. build your system around the speakers.

All of your advice definitely resonates with me. I'd love to hear some additional perspectives from others who've gone down this path before me, though.

thanks again.
e
hifiman5's avatar
hifiman5
1,832 posts
 
I second Rja. Upgrade the DNA-1 at SmC Audio. Steve McC will take it from a diamond in the rough to the real thing!
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