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

@ghdprentice I appreciate your recommendation on speaker cable. Do you have a good recommendation for interconnects?

You have some excellent equipment.
I live in a townhome as well, and my stereo sits in a 15ft x 20ft open area to a dining room. The ceilings are 25ft high.
Because of budget and space limitations I went with an integrated amp setup. I have separate DAC and steamer setups.
I have curtains in back of where I sit so minimized reflection from the windows in back of me. I appreciate your sutuation. Amazingly, the sound is great here!
I suspect my sound would be better in a dedicated room with four walls and a lower ceiling , but for now, this is the best I can do.

My suggestion, besides room treatments, is get a Furman with SMP.   I did the apartment lifestyle most of my life and Furman always cleaned up the sound.

Air Matrix, sounds about right. I trust these guys. Over twenty years ago I used to call up and talk to the founder. Since then he died and his brother took over (last I heard). I suspect the Air Matrix Cryo may be worth it... but I have not tried them. Just on the basis of my experience with them would I trust that the additional cost is worth it.

@vrikkian

thats why I suggested borrowing cables from thecableco.com.
you should find out for yourself what is true or not.

a poster after me suggest DHLabs cables. They are also good but a different sound signature than Kimber Kable.

 

ask the folks at thecableco about DHLabs cables as well.

you really gotta try it, I suggest.

Would love it you report back here after

trying a few different borrowed cables.