looking to upgrade - identify the weakest link?


I’m a tube and Klipsch guy looking to upgrade. I’m tempted by Cornwall IV, but their size is probably prohibitive (I’m married 😊). To increase soundstage and/or instrument resolution, maybe a tube preamp, or a tube DAC, or roll tubes in integrated amplifier …? How to identify the weakest link? Thanks in advance!

Equipment: Qobuz to ethernet PC Notebook with Audirvana or ethernet Blusound Node (2021) network streamer to Cambridge DacMagic 100 to Schiit Loki Mini+ EQ to Line Magnetic 210-IA 300B SET integrated amplifier to Klipsch Heresy III + Klipsch R-10SW.

Music: 1920-1980 Jazz: Armstrong, be-bop, 1960-80 avant garde jazz. 1950-1980 rock: Classic rock, Zappa, Beefheart, punk, post-punk. Opera: Wagner, Puccini, R. Strauss, Janacek, Bartok. Symphonic: Stravinsky, Bartok, Schoenberg, Mahler, Dvorak. 1950-1980 Afro-beat, Jamaican, Brazilian

ex-mtairy

Consider buying a good turntable, with a good arm, cartridge, and lots of good vinyl.

If you are digital only, that dacmagic is your bottleneck. Look at some of the Denafrips products. But I also like the suggestion to buy a ‘table.

Oz

If a larger speaker isn't a good fit for you, I agree that upgrading your source makes most sense.

While I am an analog lover, if you don't have any records, I'd argue that it's a major investment in both hardware and software to get worthwhile sound quality. That's a whole conversation in itself. 

Both your DAC and streamer have plenty of room for improvement. DAC first if budget is an issue. If not, get a better DAC and a low powered streamer with a very good quality linear power supply. If you can add optical isolation all the better. There are about a hundred threads here on specific products and comparisons. If you have your own digital library in addition to using Qobuz, then a NAS in a separate room ethernet wired to a network switch is the way to get the most sound quality for the money. 

If software user experience and musical discovery are important to you, consider Roon as part of your plan and take the time to understand running Roon Core on a Pi/Rendu/Nucleus type device and be sure to get a Roon Ready endpoint. You can use any(or all) computer/tablet/phone as remotes. Cheers,

Spencer