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Confused and unsure about upgrading my speakers.

I guess there are two general thought about how to spend your money on your system. One is to spend the larger % on your speakers. The other is to spend the more money on electronics.
At least something like that.

Anyway, I am happy with my system. Which currently consists of: DK Designs MKII VS1 amp. Stello DA220 MKII DAC.
Cambridge Audio 640C V2. Philips 963 SACD/DVD player. Revel Concerta F12 speakers.

For some reason (probably budgetry constraints), I have always gravitated towards speakers that are very good value.

But as you can see, I seem to have spent a larger amount of money on the Amp and the DAC. Event though I got them at a reduced price they are still more then what I paid for my speakers.

So I keep thinking, should I upgrade my speakers to something more in line price wise with the rest of my system? But if so, what can I gain considering that according to the press the F12s are overachievers. Off course everyone has their opinions and some people won't like the F12s but generally they are considered to be a very good value.

So I guess the question is really how much would I have to spend to make an improvment? Off course I have to go and listen myself and decide myself. I understand that. So I guess I am just looking for some general answers and words of wisdom.

My local dealer has suggested I come and listen to the Magneplaners 1.6. I sometimes think the Paradigm Studio 100 might be the way to go. I haven't listened to them yet so I don't really no yet. Both of these would be in the $2000-$2500 range for me locally. Or should I be saving more and spend up to $4K-$5K on something really better.

I am just very unsure and confused as how to approach this problem and where the greater gain is to be made. Also just where do speakers that are very good value fit into audio.

I will appreciate any wisdom you can provide from your experiences.

Oh, I also listen to mostly classical (Both European and Indian). Also a lot of Jazz. Some new age stuff like Jean Michel Jarre and Asian Underground or what ever they call it like D J Cheb etc.

Thanks,

-- Sanjay
schugh
shadorne's avatar
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
I agree with your analysis - you made a good choice. You will have to spend significantly more in order to get a modest improvement.

Principally you can do much better in the bass department and much louder clean playing and more dynamics (realism) but you are looking at 5K+ range and up for a modest improvement and possibly 10K+ to make a really big difference.

Do you have a large room?
xti16
1,525 posts
 
Anyway, I am happy with my system
Sanjay I am considering the same but just yesterday I demoed the sonus faber cremora autitors directly to my mission/cyrus 782's at the dealer (I personally will not ask for an in-home demo until I find the right match).
Or should I be saving more and spend up to $4K-$5K on something really better
The auditors ($7000 with stands) were only a hair better. I paid full retail ($800) for my speakers 19 years ago. I know the $ was worth more then than now. For now I'll continue to keep looking for when that day comes where I have to buy speakers. I would suggest bring your speakers to the dealer for side to side comparions. If one is really better then ask for an in-home demo or if thats not available then ask if they have a satisfaction gaurantee.
Long story short is that why spend $$ until you and only you feel you have found something better and more important worth the added expense.
mlauner
250 posts
 
A good rule of thumb, spend equal portion for Source[cd, phono], amplification and speakers. This creates balance. Look at Neat, Kudos, PSB, B&W, Focal speakers. I agree a home demo is best, if possible.
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shadorne
7,477 posts
 
Do you have a large room?

Or put another way do you find you ever play your speakers in a way they sound really quite loud?

If you do then you are probably runnning into the limitations of an excellent great value design. Small voice coils quickly get hot (small surface area) - so you'll soon run into a kind of wall of compression/crossover drift and Xmax issues where the reality is that it just doesn't get any louder and just loses that effortless dynamic punchy sound and becomes congested. (Although you will perceive this as simply being extremely loud due to the dullness from compression and distortion. So you will tend to "think" it is just way too loud.) Anyway, if you do then consider upgrading.

Do you ever struggle to ever hear the individual notes in a bass riff clearly behind the drums?

If so then also consider upgrading.

Otherwise you are probably fine with what you have...
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