Upgrade speakers or DAC

#1 What do you not like about the sound coming out of this stuff? Or what would you like changed, hear more of/less of? If you don’t have a clear answer in your mind to such questions, the word "upgrade" doesn’t mean much. It could also easily turn into a "upgrade", "sidegrade" or "downgrade" into a type of sound you don’t like. Spending more and more above a certain price bracket is no guarantee of anything.

For example, if the soundstage is a bit too 2D, not 3D enough for your tastes, the Mac could be a culprit, has some 2D flattening/flat wall making tendencies....If the sound is a bit too soft, not a whole lotta detail, just generally unexciting or too much sleepy time/yawning resulting from sound, it could be the Faber (for you, that is...your personal taste o’ meter)....Some other guy’s taste o’ meter may be somewhere else and your gear may be perfectly fine for him, it could be "organic" and "musical" for him.

#2 No mention of any treatment on your comment, so, I would say that if all this stuff is just plopped down in a room with no treatment, an upgrade doesn’t mean much either. Scroll over to about 3:30 on this youtube video. It should provide a tad amount of insight about spending cash in the right places.

What More Do You Want?

i only listen to music in 2 channel, but current system:

Dedicated 20amp line

AQ Niagara Edison outlet

AQ Dragon power cords and interconnects throughout

AQ Thunderbird Biwire speaker cables for Front LR

AQ Thunderbird Zero speaker cable for Center Channel

AQ Vodka Ethernet cable

AQ Niagara 7000

McIntosh C2500

McIntosh MC1.2kw (X3 for LCR)

McIntosh MX160

Mcintosh MC207

McIntosh MCD205

Cambridge Audio Edge NQ

Fisher MT-6225 Turntable

PS5

Sonus Faber Olympica III

Sonus Faber Olympica I

Sonus Faber Vox

REL 212 SE (X2)

Speakers

I have the Il Cremonese and I think that’s your best bang for the buck. I upgraded from SF Serafino- outstanding in its own right- and the difference is substantial. Initially planned to go with the Amati which is a great speaker but moving up to the Il Cremonese was a big jump

the DCS is a great piece of gear but I think you will get the biggest jump with the speakers and could get a very big step up in performance from the Cambridge for much less investment than Rossini

Thank you all for your input!

@johnread57 yes, significant jump from Cambridge Audio Edge NQ to dCS Rossini Apex. I have taken my CA to a dCS dealer and compared the two using the same components in the same room....and WOW. 

@aewarren this rabbit hole is almost never-ending! I think these two will end up being my last upgrades and then call it quits. 

@soix I've had a couple dealers advise me that the Cambridge is the weakest link in my system as well, even tho it is their top of the line. 

@curiousjim The G5's are amazing speakers, they really are. You will definitely enjoy them. I have compared them without subs to my Olympica III's with dual REL 212 SE's and to my ears, they sound about the same. That is why I am looking further up the line.  

@kerrybh Thanks. The SF Il Cremonese are beautiful to look at and sound amazing. 

@deep_333 I'm looking for just "more" I guess. When I listened to the Rossini Apex there was more separation, more instruments, more voice, more bass, the sound enveloped the room just more. In listening to the Il Cremonese, I guess it did the same in comparison to the Olympica III. 

Both. The better the speakers are the bigger difference a better dac will make. The good thing is your amps and pre won’t need to be upgraded for the new speakers. is the cambridge an audible upgrade from the dac in the c2500?