Oh, I do love them! I fretted about spending so much on one component, but was somewhat flush with cash from selling my record collection and splurged. I don’t regret spending the money, and have enjoyed my DWs and PowerNode immensely.
Changes to older system
My system is the following, electronics and speakers bought from the store where I worked through college and grad school in the late 80s and early 90s:
- Cambridge Audio CXN v1
- NAD 1600 preamp
- NAD 2200PE amp
- B&W Matrix 3 Series 2 speakers
- Monster Cable interconnects and speaker cable
Overall I still enjoy the sound, but I’ve always thought it was bright and bass shy.
Where should I start to upgrade this rig?
- First and most obvious choice is cabling, but what?
- Second, Quirk Audio can upgrade the amp and preamp, but is it better to do that or buy new?
I’d like to stay in the $2k range per component - used or new.
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- 26 posts total
Just ordered an Auralic G1 Altair at the recommendation of a guy at Zu. He also recommended some tube integrated amps - one Luxman and two Icon Audio in my price range of $2-4k. Just picked up a used Audio Nirvana EL-84 to get a sense for the sound of that tube in a PP configuration on the Zu ODWs. A bit more oomph and better bass control. I still may prefer the SET sound from the TubeCube 7, but the AN EL-84’s starting to sound much better the more hours I put in it. I have a Decware SE34I.6 on order, but I’m playing around with other amps until it’s in a year from now. Also just read that Steve’s working on a 300B design that sounds intriguing. |
I replaced a sold state preamp with a tube preamp and it really made a huge difference (Parasound P3 to Schiit Audio Freya Plus) The bass and soundstage opened up and the sound is more organic. Whatever tube amp you decide upon (if you do) make sure you have the ability to add a subwoofer. In fact if you were to decide upon a unit like the Freya, It would leave you plenty of cash to add a sub or even try new speakers. There are may choices in the $1K to $2K price range that would be killer. Zu, Tekton Design, KLH, Klipsch, Vandersteen come to mind. I added new speakers to a second audio system, Tekton Double Impact SE and they knock my socks off with 28 watts per side. |
@2psyop glad to hear your experience with the Freya+, definitely one I’m considering. At the risk of losing any credibility I may have ever had among “serious” audiophiles, I’ve had some fun playing around with two items from Parts Express on this system as proofs of concept on adding in tubes: - FX Audio Tube-03 Tube Preamp - Lots of stuff on the interwebs about this one, so for under $50 as a proof of concept, why not? - Dayton Audio HTA20BT - My GF says, “you just love that little amp,” and she’s right! I got it for under $150 for a kitchen system, so again, why not try it out? Either way, in the world of audio equipment, both seem to illustrate that two wrongs - bright metal dome tweeters and even cheap tube gear with rolled off highs - can and do, in fact, make a right. I prefer both of them to the NAD gear, especially on the highs. I can only imagine how good the 2200PE would sound with a good tube preamp like the Freya+, so I’m still looking. |
I’m so conflicted about keeping or getting rid of the Matrix 3s. Placing them as @jasonbourne52 recommended helped mitigate the highs. Tube preamp recommendations make sense. I’ve heard the NAD 2200PE sound awesome with them with the right preamp. I’ve always thought the 1600 preamp - although good - was the weakest link. I don’t think I’d get much for the Matrix 3s, and given they were a $4K speaker in the day, I have to believe with the right equipment - changing out for a tube preamp - would be more cost efficient on this system. |
- 26 posts total