Which component to upgrade to improve bass control?


Adding Symposium shelves and rollerblocks to my monitor (Silverline SR17.5) equipped system definitely helped but bass is still not nearly as controlled as I'd like.

Until we move into a different house where I can have a dedicated room for audio, I cannot use subs or add panels, traps, etc. to the room.  

So, I'm left with the possibility of upgrading a component but I have no idea whether my integrated (Wells Majestic), transport (Sim Moon 260) or DAC (Aqua La Voce S2) might be the best candidate for upgrading.

DAC UPGRADE ?
Are R2R ladder DACs simply weak in this area?  Searching the threads, I found a reference to DAC power supplies having a strong influence re: bass control but I lack the technical expertise to utilize this fact. Please keep in mind that I do not enjoy DACs that prioritize resolution above all.  

TRANSPORT UPGRADE ?
Would replacing the Moon transport with say, the new Pro-ject CD Box RS2 T be a better choice? 

INTEGRATED UIPGRADE ?
Would an amp with more grunt be the best choice?

I can only upgrade one of these at this point.
Budget:
Integrated: 5K
Transport: 3.5K
DAC: 5K
stuartk
Beautiful Speakers, I can see why you want to keep them,

IMO, it ain’t the equipment, it’s the speakers. I’m no fan of ports, but you have already stuffed them with insufficient improvement. And you certainly have tried them far enough away from walls to know the problem is from the speaker, not the room reflections.

I suspect it’s the magnet/surround/cone that is not working together harmoniously.

How old are they?

Did they sound better when new, for a few years?

Did you perhaps buy them used? If so, any info regarding age from the seller? Serial # clue?

IOW, perhaps the surrounds are not as much in control as they should/could be? Or the cones themselves have lost stiffness?

Have you asked the maker for advice?

Or, perhaps something in the crossover needs correcting/improving, however once the crossover has divided frequencies, it’s up to the drivers to sound good themselves. I’m no crossover expert, just thinking what part of the speaker is not working properly.

from a review:

" The crossover sports just 4 components, with 1st order high-pass (tweeter) and 2nd order low-pass (woofer) filters. Parts quality - Solen metallized polypropylene capacitors, a generic-looking wirewound resistor and an air-core inductor - is solid but hardly fancy, a deliberate decision by Alan who isn’t much of a believer in expensive boutique parts. Based on the results he’s achieved here, it’s hard to argue."

https://taww.co/post/183853254737/silverline-sr17-supreme-loudspeaker-review

" It has sufficient body and power down to 60Hz or so to give music real foundation, with meaningful output down to 40Hz. I think Silverline’s quoted 32Hz bottom limit is a bit optimistic (or perhaps you just need the right room), and I preferred the speaker with my REL T-9 subwoofer providing a little extra oomph. But for a great many listeners in moderately-sized spaces, this will be all the speaker you ever need. Listening to “The Elephant” from Saint-Saëns Carnival of the Animals [Tidal, Qobuz, Spotify], a track I’ve heard on some very full-range speakers (e.g. Focal Grande Utopia EM Evo), the double bass is big and present, lacking a bit of rumble that was easily provided by flipping on the REL sub. Piano left hand similarly has nice weight, never sounding diminished in scale as typically happens on small monitors. Debussy’s Ariettes oubliées song cycle from the album Paysages by soprano Susanna Phillips and pianist Myra Huang [Tidal, Spotify] is a lovely test of colors, with ethereal vocals floating above dark undertones from the piano’s lower register. The Silverline possesses suficient extension and body to bring out these contrasts with depth and balance."
 @hshifi:

Not sure why you say "besides the obvious of a better pre-amp and DAC". Care to share your rationale for these assertions?  Noone lese in this thread has suggested a different DAC would offer more controlled bass. 

I've tried power conditioning and it had zero effect. I live in a rural area  where each home has its own transformer. 
@hilde45:

"The proposal by hshifi — a better preamp, DAC, plus power conditioner, power cords, and a ground master — sound like throwing quite a lot of money at a much more fundamental problem. I'd bet an amount equal to their full cost that they would not help the issues you describe"

I agree! 
@gormdane:

Thanks for your input. Unfortunately, I don't have much flexability in shifting my listening chair laterally. I have tried moving chair forwards and back and have not noticed any difference. I guess that suggests my listening chair is in a bad location, period. 


@gosta:

Thanks. Yes-- I'm beginning to suspect DSP may be the only solution, in my case. 

@pacoinmass: 

What you suggest sounds fairly technical but I could possibly get a friend to help. 

@ elliottbnewcombjr:

No-- I haven't spoken with Alun Yun. I've had the speakers for about 15 years, now.