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Best Bang for the Buck Upgrade

So I have an unexpected bonus coming my way and may want to dedicate a portion of it to a system upgrade. Let's say 5-7k. Current system is Pioneer S-1ex speakers, Cambridge CXC transport, Musical Fidelity A1008 integrated, Burson Composer 3xp dac. Cables are mid grade nothing fancy but better than stock. Not really interested in streaming at the moment.

So for a descent chunk of change what should I be looking at? If I sold the speakers I could probably go up to 10k for another pair (used always) but I really don't think I have come close yet to maxing out the potential of these Pioneers (tad). 

mofojo
audioguy85's avatar
audioguy85
2,017 posts
 

Judging from your system, I see no mention of a turntable. If it were me, I'd throw the money at a nice turntable from maybe Avid or Origin Live, along with a nice tubed phono preamp like a Tavish design Adagio. 

pmm
220 posts
 

" Bang for the Buck "

B 4 any component upgrade, or speaker replacement ( last resort ), I  suggest that you decouple your speakers from the floor. This will eliminate, or minimize, the vibrations going from speakers into the floor and reflecting back into their cabinents. 

If you do this, it may clean up the sound and tighten the speakers bass. Try using Herbies or Sorbothane pads. I`ve done this, and it was like I had a new pair of speakers.

After decoupling, your sound may benefit from room treatments.

bigwave1's avatar
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bigwave1
225 posts
 

Best bang, $340 Duelund/Mundorf Ultra Loudspeaker Purifiers by Audioman58. 

elliottbnewcombjr
5,260 posts
 

Biwire?

Tube amp in lieu of hybrid?

richmon
230 posts
 

It's a 'system' so changing one thing is just a part  of the bang...

Improving your power to the system ( I use and recomend Puritan Audio PSM136 or PSM156) will  upgrade your source and amplification in one swell foop. I have dedicated lines and PSM1136 still made a big difference in timbre, sooundstaging and dynamic impact. As davidten and others recomended, no matter how your audio journey unfolds, getting the power right is foundational.

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