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dcs/JM Labs Upgrade Question

Looking for advice on which piece of gear will give the biggest improvement. For roughly $4,000, would you buy a dcs Purcell/Delius or Focal 1027be speakers?

My current system is:

CEC Tl1 transport/Meridian 518/Sonic Frontiers SFD-2
Cary SLP 98 pre
Cary 211 AE monoblocks
Focal 926 speakers
Nice power/interconnects throughout... Nordost, Shunyata (cables/power conditioner)

Not that this figures into the digital equation but I have a:
VPI Scoutmaster with SDS, outer ring, stainless center weight, Benz H2... all on a Ginko Cloud 11.

Thanks.

Marty
marty97x
alex_yakovlev
102 posts
 
Marty,
I am not sure 1027be's are enough improvement over your 926s to bother with this upgrade. On the other hand, SFD-2 is a very analogue-sounding DAC and Delius is [b]in my opinion[/b] would be a step down. If you ask me, it is the SLP98 that I would replace.
mikeduke
59 posts
 
I had the JM Labs 927Be's and I have heard the 926's many times. The 1027's are much better in all around function than those the other two. I could not believe the difference. I would go for the speakers. You will keep them for a very long time and you will be rewarded by any other upgrades you make be it amp or cd player.
mikeduke
59 posts
 
BTW, in case I was unclear, I have the 1027's.
bobf
207 posts
 
FWIW I agree with Syntax as I have found over many years that upgrading speakers especially in the same family made the most difference to me.

Best,
Bob
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