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Please Critique my Setup and Recommend Upgrade(s)

As a lifelong musician and former recording / pro audio engineer, this is my first foray into the world of HiFi and I could really use some advice and direction.  Last week I bought the following setup for a dedicated listening room that is essentially a 13x13 square room on three sides with the area behind me extending back another 25 or so feet.  There is a partial backwall about four feet wide but it is mostly open air behind me.  Ceilings are 9' and I have GIK bass traps in all corners, early reflection points on the side walls, and panels overhead between speakers and listening position.  Speakers are about 2 1/2 feet from back wall, 6 ft. apart, slightly toed in on cheap stands weighted down by cinder blocks.

1. 2017 VPI Scout Prime turntable with Ortofon Bronze
2. 2017 Rega Brio Integrated 50wpc Amp and Phono Stage
3. ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Speakers

So far this setup certainly sounds good, but it isn't blowing me away either.  At lower volumes the soundstage feels a little small and two-dimensional.  At louder volumes the sound seems to fill the room more, thereby enhancing the soundstage and making the music feel more natural as opposed to coming from directly in front of me.  The stereo imaging is okay, but I expected a little more stereo separation.  Also, perhaps the speakers are still breaking in, but the ELACs don't seem to do the best job of presenting the music in a cohesive manner.  It sounds like the frequency bands are a little disjointed.    

Should I stick with the ELACs but consider a higher end integrated amp that can feed them a little more power like a Parasound Halo?  Or should I nix the ELACs and invest in some more efficient and higher end loudspeakers,e.g. Devore, ATC, ProAc, etc...?  Would I still get an audible improvement with these nicer and more efficient speakers if I stick with the Rega Brio, or do these high end speakers warrant a truly high end amp?  I ask because I likely can't upgrade both speakers and amp at the same time.    

I also considered the KEF LS50, but it seems like they are similar to the ELACs in that they are rather inefficient and need a powerful amp.  

   
529proaudio
tomcarr
1,523 posts
 
"I'm kind of blown away to see so many setups with uber-expensive gear and zero acoustic treatment"
Excellent point, so very true. Amazing isn't it? So much $ spent on gear, little-to-nothing on room treatment.
I'm equally guilty. Been in this hobby since the 70s. Always bought gear, never any treatment. Just recently started adding treatment and really spending time dialing in the best speaker and listening seat positions for my dedicated 14x14 room.
I've read the setup is at least 50% of the sound you will get.
I believe it.
I highly recommend Jim Smith's book Get Better Sound.
Lots of great posts already, bunch of good people on this site, lots of great information.

Tom
jl35
4,017 posts
 
acoustic treatment...room placement...component matching...especially speakers...though some speakers seem very sensitive to these, and others much less so, though always important...some speakers seem to always sound good even if mismatched with amp and room, and others only sound good if perfectly set-up
cakids
166 posts
 
I recommend the Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II, or the Prima Luna Dialogue Premium, if budget permits. The ELACs should shine with a gutsy tube inegrated. The Magnum II has an improved phono stage over the original, by the way. No phono in Prima Luna though.
529proaudio OP
18 posts
 
I tried the Rogue Sphinx hybrid at my dealer but the Rega Brio was better with the ELACs. He has a Cronus Magnum that I can try, but he told me the phono stage wasn't all that great. Not sure if he meant in comparison to the Brio or just in general. 

Still thinking that upgrading to a pair of more efficient and better speakers would kill two birds with one stone as the low power of the Rega Brio wouldn't be as big of a deal. Still, I wouldn't be caught dead playing a solid state guitar amp, so something tells me I'm going to really prefer a tube amp when I finally hear one. 
 
Been crazy busy but hope to check out a few places this next week. 


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ksattic
9 posts
 
IMO your turntable is your best component, so I'd vote to upgrade to floorstanders for more presence and a beefier amp to match. Get a used pair of Spendor A6 speakers or go for the KEF R500.

BTW I'm actually going to listen to your very turntable/cartridge combo tomorrow! I've got Spendor D9 speakers and the Chord CPM-3350 amp.
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