I am enjoying my analog system, but what can I do to improve?


I currently have Technics 1200G turntable with Dynavector 17XD cartridge playing through Kitsune LCR 1 MK5 phono pre and Allnic L7000 preamp. My amps are Pass X350.5 and Benchmark AHB2 driving Sound Lab ESL speakers. My system sounds great, but I am wondering how I can take my system to another level. What do you think?

chungjh

My music room is essentially a small box (10 x 10 ft) and I have fair amount of treatment in it: sound absorbers and diffusers.

@noromance, I only need one phono input. In terms of budget, I would say <7k. But I would like to be slightly under the proverbial point of diminishing returns.

New cartridge will thrill you, not because there’s anything wrong with the 17DX but because of our nature as humans.

This my usual suggestion for people in your situation. 

My music room is essentially a small box (10 x 10 ft) 

That room is a killer but I've been there myself and you can get good results, pull the speakers out a little more if you are near the wall and put your seat all the way back.  

I would venture to say you have hit the limit of what you can achieve in that room. Changing out components won't get you any closer to the level of realism you want. I would look at appropriating another room in your house.

Oz

 

 

 

Dear @chungjh : You need to degrade the cartridge signal a lot lower than the coupled Allnic transformer does, for me this is the weak link in your audio system when we are talking of any audio signal but especially with cartridges.

 

You have a very good PS that makes a really good job with the cartridge signal buit then that signal goes inside that transfomer and everything comes down.

 

You need that through the system electronics the cartridge signal suffers the less degradation. You can mate extremely well your PS and amplifier with Pass Labs preamps as the XP 22 or the XP12. These preamps will makes that you find out what you are looking for .

After that you could think to improve the sound quality level with one of the Dynavector top models. In the other side and for what you posted  seems to me that your room treatment works just fine.

 

Regards and enjoy the MUSIC NOT DISTORTIONS,

R.