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The Next Step - what would you do?

Dear Audiogoners,

i'm sitting here listening to my setup, and realising my last thread has lost relevance.

http://forum.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/fr.pl?cspkr&1260210396&read&keyw&zzthiel=cs0=5

i have a choice to make now, after about 15 years of slow, consistent upgrading. i need to take my system to the next level. i'm sure we've all been there at one point or another. so my current system is:

Pass Labs Aleph 5
Pass Labs D1
CEC CD2100 [running Supra AES/EBU]
Thiel CS 0.5
MIT MH-750 speaker leads
budget XLR leads otherwise

so i see the choices as follows:
1. get an amp with more current, and bigger thiel speakers
2. move to bigger, more sensitive speakers [spendor SP100, big proacs]
3. get a new girlfriend

all perfectly viable choices, but i'm sure both 1. or 2. would be less expensive. i've run the gamut of musical styles, but as i get older, and my hifi becomes more resolving, i find myself drawn to recordings of un-amplified instruments, such as old jazz recordings. still, i like a little thump now and then, any system should be reasonably flexible.

So, Audiogoners, what would YOU do, and why??

all the best!
David
skickaskinka
skickaskinka OP
21 posts
 
okay, on the way i have the Thiel CS1.6, and Sonics Amerigo, both second hand demo pairs, from hifi shops. the thiels i paid a premium for, and the sonics i got a deal on so they were almost the same price. =)

i haven't found the appropriate Spendors yet, and Proacs have the binding posts so high that i'd need to buy new speaker cables, as mine are 'just' long enough for speakers with connection at the bottom. i know this is a small point! still, i have to draw the line somewhere. for now i'll just A/B/C these against my existing CS0.5, and keep the pair i like best.

also, i'm upgrading my interconnects to PS Audio Xstream statement XLR, but they haven't arrived yet. [also waiting for a C.E.C TL5100 belt drive transport] so, i'll be sure to let you know how the comparison goes. thanks for all the great advice.

am i giving anyone else a case of upgrade-itis?

D
honest1
586 posts
 
Wow, you actually took my suggestion (kinda) - I feel important!! I hope you like them.
timrhu
2,779 posts
 
Do let us know which way you go. If you haven't seen them, the binding posts on the Thiels are some of the best out there.
skickaskinka OP
21 posts
 
arrgh, i just missed a pair of spendor S8e for cheep cheep. thought i'd be clever and bid at the last second, then got the message that i wasn't allowed to bid because the buyer hadn't authorized international sending!

Honest1, i did take your advice [sort-of], but i don't like the appearance of the Virgos, and the Allegra was not possible to get in the finish i liked at the price i was willing to pay =). i'll be posting my impression of the Amerigos.

thanks again, everyone for all the fine advice!
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