2. misc-audio
  3. 192889-199203

Where do I go from here?

I'm 58 and just recently decided that a nice, dedicated two-channel listening room will be my thing - I don't golf, or ski, or spend crazy money on a sports car, so I think my wife is good with this!

My room is less than ideal - 3/4 below grade room, 17'x24' with a 6'10" ceiling height, and a few weird corners, poles, and beams to deal with.  I have a nice, new love seat, tables, and lamps, with a couple of 8x10 rugs - its pretty cozy and comfortable, but the walls need something (discussed below).

My equipment today - Vintage 1980 Klipsch Heresys, with a pair of REL T/7x subs, McIntosh MC312 amp, McIntosh C47 pre, and an Eversolo A6 (with a 4TB SSD).  I have decent cabling and go balanced from the A6 to the C47, using the A6 DAC.  My rack is VTI BL404 from stands and mounts.com. 15A wall power into a Panamax M4315-PRO for all components including subs.

The audio quality I have right now is the best I have ever had in my life, and I am loving it!  But I know I can improve it over time in ways that will be quite noticeable and appreciated.  So, I welcome advice on where to go from here and what to do first...

The room: I have not used room correction software yet.  I am liking the idea of vertical slat acoustic paneling on one, two, or all four walls.  It looks really nice and seems a versatile first layer on the walls before getting serious about bass traps and other such things.

Speakers: I've had 600 series B&Ws in the past and my ears love their sound signature.  I really have my eye on the 702 S3s that are out there.  I wonder if I need the subs with those, or maybe the 703s with the subs?  Any issues with my Mac equipment?

Streamer/DAC: I'm thinking the upgrade path here is in the $3-5K range?  Or, if I do end up with the 702s am I shooting too low?

Turntable: I know there is blue sky on expenditure here, but I really want an automatic turntable, and the Dual CS 529 looks pretty good to me.  Comes with the Ortofon 2M red cartridge.  Is that good enough for now?

Like I said, I welcome advice on priorities, and if you think I'm missing something let me know.  Thanks all!

128x128mattsca
mikefromtroy
2 posts
 

I notice you are from suburban Detroit. So am I and I am going through a similar journey. Currently have a McIntosh MA 352, Innuos Zenith Mark 3 Streamer, Denafrips DAC, UTurn turntable and both Revival and old Nautilus 804 speakers.  You might already know but we have several brick and mortar audio stores in the area that carry much of the equipment you are thinking about. I have no interest in any of them but I have bought gear from Sound Advantage in Rochester and David Michael Audio in Royal Oak. The Rochester store carries the full McIntosh and B&W lines. The Royal Oak store carries Luxman, Esoteric, Nagra, etc. I have gone to both to do nothing more than listen to and compare gear. They are very accommodating. There are not many places to do that these days but you have two nearby. There also is a nice audio store in Ann Arbor. Hear before you buy.  Good luck. 

mikefromtroy
2 posts
 

I notice you are from suburban Detroit. So am I and I am going through a similar journey. Currently have a McIntosh MA 352, Innuos Zenith Mark 3 Streamer, Denafrips DAC, UTurn turntable and both Revival and old Nautilus 804 speakers.  You might already know but we have several brick and mortar audio stores in the area that carry much of the equipment you are thinking about. I have no interest in any of them but I have bought gear from Sound Advantage in Rochester and David Michael Audio in Royal Oak. The Rochester store carries the full McIntosh and B&W lines. The Royal Oak store carries Luxman, Esoteric, Nagra, etc. I have gone to both to do nothing more than listen to and compare gear. They are very accommodating. There are not many places to do that these days but you have two nearby. There also is a nice audio store in Ann Arbor. Hear before you buy.  Good luck. 

dekay's avatar
dekay
5,658 posts
 

Move to Des Moines.

 

DeKay

p05129
505 posts
 

Your Macintosh c47 is better than the NAD, keep it, I had the c47. I didn’t use the built in dac because my external dac cost 2x more Than the preamp but I did use the built in phono. When I got rid of my tt/albums I sold the preamp.

A better preamp would be the ps audio bhk pre, no dac, no analog, but sounds very good. You can always do better with an external dac, all dacs inside an integrated are a compromise.

Before you do anything, do you like the warmer sound of the Mac’s? If you do, keep them. If you want to downsize to an integrated at the expense of some quality, look at Hegel for a more neutral sound with a decent built in dac. I’ve owned 2 hegels in the past. Look at the h360 model or more current models.

The weakest piece is your eversolo. For the money it’s ok, but so so on sound quality 

puptent's avatar
puptent
212 posts
 

Get the Dual TT if you want to. I have a Dual 721 in the stable and it is a fine turntable, not my best but convenient and adequate for what I ask of it. There are times when the semi auto function comes in handy. The OM 2 Red can be upgraded with an OM 2 Blue stylus when the time comes. Enjoy

More to discover