What's the weakest link in my stereo set up? I live in a townhome, so limited on space.


90% of my time is used listening to records. The other 10% is used by my wife and I to just stream TIDAL or Spotify.

I live in a three story townhome. High ceilings. Not wide rooms, but long.

I would love to be able to use a room just for the stereo, but I cannot. I like staying married, which also means I cannot turn our guest bedroom into just a music-listening adventure room. So, the stereo is in my living room on the first floor. This also means I don’t have room for floor standing speakers.

Focal 906 bookshelf speakers

Technics SL-1210 Mk II (modded out by KAB USA)

Currently using a Nagaoka MP-150 cartridge

McIntosh MP100 phono amp

Cambridge EVO 150 stereo amplifier, entertainment hub, streamer, etc (my wife uses this a lot to stream Spotify while going about the house)

Topping A70Pro headphone amplifier

 

I’m going to assume people are going to say either my turntable or my speakers. Would it be wise to upgrade my Technics to one of the higher end models? I really love the ease of using this little beast of a player. I know it’s known as "the DJ turntable", but it wasn’t made to be one -- it just became that.

The Focals are nice too, and they were also bought new for less than a grand.

(Also, sorry if this is subjective as a question. I’m new to a lot of this. I hope something stands out as an obvious room to upgrade no matter what your tastes are.

Also, I’ve been selling some of the equipment that my late father had, and while doing so I’ve been getting interested in upgrading the system I cobbled together years ago. And no, for emotional and attachment reasons, I didn’t want to keep things that he owned.)

Budget ~$2K

128x128vrikkian

This is a loaded question. What is the problem you are trying to solve for?

What are you lacking? What are you missing? What can you get away with?

Honestly, with your current setup, the only thing you are really missing is lower bass. Not sure what kind of music you listen to, but there is a lot of stuff in the under 60hz range. Adding a sub will make your system fuller, richer, and sound bigger than what it is. Taking some bass out of your speakers, might also clean up the midrange, just make everything sound better. 

Once you have a "full range" setup, do other upgrades from there. IMHO. none of it means all that much if you don't have a full range setup. 

Next up is sound treatments, but wife approved!

Rugs, house plants, canvas wall art (stuff the backs with insulation)pillows, etc..

@vrikkian

What do you wish to improve upon? And what kind of budget will she give you? Not counting putting a carpet on the floor. 😉😉

While figuring out a new furniture setup to get larger speakers in your space, start auditioning some interesting finds, not to buy but to refine your preferences, listening to your Focals all the time.

Facebook Marketplace, this is speakers for sale, 100 mile radius of Baltimore, $200 to $2,100.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/baltimore/search?minPrice=200&maxPrice=2100&query=speakers%20for%20sale&exact=false

Don’t mistake loud volume with full range when you see large drivers.

Perhaps below are too big, but for example: I am a big fan of level controls to adjust tweeters and midrange driver levels relative to their forward firing woofer, in your space, to your and your wife’s ears, with a SPL Meter and Test Tones (no ports or like these front ports only), on stands that are slanted and toe-in away from side walls.

https://www.facebook.com/marketplace/item/560961356962901/?ref=category_feed&referral_code=null&referral_story_type=listing&tracking=%7B%22qid%22%3A%22-308827868666038385%22%2C%22mf_story_key%22%3A%2224106793762242254%22%2C%22commerce_rank_obj%22%3A%22%7B%5C%22target_id%5C%22%3A24106793762242254%2C%5C%22target_type%5C%22%3A0%2C%5C%22primary_position%5C%22%3A5%2C%5C%22ranking_signature%5C%22%3A1926822584997181617%2C%5C%22commerce_channel%5C%22%3A504%2C%5C%22value%5C%22%3A0.00013336701654066%2C%5C%22candidate_retrieval_source_map%5C%22%3A%7B%5C%2224106793762242254%5C%22%3A3003%7D%7D%22%7D

btw, after you finish chasing very low bass, especially in a space like yours, you realize it can be fun mud, I have my rear ports plugged in my current space, there was no wall behind them in prior space.