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!
Just want to second @knotscott's advice about used equipment. I like both Audiogon and US Audio Mart (USAM). I like to set up a bookmark with my zip code and 100 miles as a distance as filters for searching, along with the piece of gear I'm interested in. Then, I click that bookmark perhaps daily to see what is available, used, in easy driving distance. Getting a good used piece of gear, especially speakers, with a local pickup is so much easier than anything else. I bought an Atoll integrated that way for $1100 in cash from a really nice guy, then sold it about a year later for $1300. Easy. I go into detail about this because it is likely that you will be iterating between learning your room and trying speakers, and this is the easiest way to keep that learning curve going without maximal loss of time or money. |
You have great components, and a bad room, work the room
However, that being said, if you have not, your speakers desperately need to be recapped. It's $50 for the kit, takes about an hour per speaker. It will be a night and day difference in sound for the better. While you have the backs open, dampen the mid horn, get these tweeters. It will be like you have brand new speakers, everything you love about them, just so much better! Spend the money on a turntable, it will sound amazing with the upgraded Herseys. Once you get a TT, start spinning vinyl, you will not longer have any cash to upgrade your system. |
I would focus on speakers, though mswale makes a good argument for updating the Heresys. I'm a ProAc man myself and have never tired of my Response 2's over 30 years. But there are lots of nice classic speakers that aren't difficult to drive and will produce a smoother response and better imaging than the Heresys, IMO. I know a fellow who was devoted to his LaScalas for decades, but had to downsize and found the Harbeth SL 5 XD's every bit as satisfying and more. But there are lots of good choices out there. |
