Next upgrade?

@tomic601  thanks for the tip, I ordered the book

I too have an "all digital source" system and I've found that upgrading the AC power conditioner makes the DAC perform better.  I know you said you weren't interested in that upgrade, but it might be the best thing to make that excellent DAC of yours perform better.

@sounasega You sound like you’re in good shape. I really think that speaker, listening position, and room acoustics are the next step. I bought a Umik and downloaded REW software. Using that to analyze the tonality and reverberation in my room -- in conjunction with listening -- changed things dramatically. Dealing with room acoustics is time-consuming and laborious, but are magnitudes more effective at improving the sound. Perhaps those are all factors you can’t change and so an upgrade is your already best path, so I’ll just shut up now!

@sounasega

I have stock 12au7 for the pre and genalex kt77 on the power stage.
I alternate them with the stock el34, not much difference

most primaluna dialogue users find that replacing the two center small signal input tubes improve the sound of the unit

look for a quiet matching pair of old stock rca or ge 12au7’s, sylvania are a touch brighter but still very good, all are much more dimensional and sweet sounding than the rather lean and grim sounding chinese ’primaluna’ labeled au7’s the factory equips the unit with (you can also go with european ones but they are much more expensive and to my ear did not sound significantly better than the old stock usa ones, luckily 12au7’s are still fairly plentiful and reasonably priced unlike good old stock 12ax7's by now...)

brent jesse or andy at vintage tube services will sell you good ones (but andy won’t sell you ge’s he just hates them 😆)

https://www.primaluna-usa.com/tube-rolling

good luck

Good question. I always upgrade in steps to a plateau, enjoy until I am ready to get started on the next level.

In general, your equipment looks to be pretty compatible and on the same level, so there are a couple ways to go.

My rule of thumb is always upgrade a minimum of 2x in cost... so once you start, you want to slowly upgrade until you have all compatible equipment at that level.

Since it sounds like are going to be looking for better sound over the long term... make each new component at that new level.

Step one: Flesh out this level. As mentioned above get a high quality power conditioner. While it is remotely possible you have great power, most likely not. Get a good one so you don’t have to rebuy for a decade.

Also, get a high quality streamer. You get nearly infinite music for the price of a CD per month with as good or better sound than red book CD. Think used Aurender or Auralic... not just a Bluesound.

Step 2: This would be to start moving the whole system up a level.

1. Speakers used are fine go 2x or better 3x original cost... this will put your system in a whole new category.

2. DAC ... be carefull. You have a very warm one. This might be a tricky transition, but worthy of making.

I would imagine this would take a couple years. Then upgrade cables and interconnects, power cords and tweak. Enjoy for a few years before the bug bites again.