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Upgrading the Source.

I've slowly built a two channel system from the time I was 16. First starting with a simple Yamaha/psb combo till now...some 10years later to a SimAudio Moon i-5080, Polk Audio LSi 9 speakers and NAD 541i CDP. The Moon was the last upgrade and thus the NAD 541i, even only a year old, is the weakest link. I've come to the conclusion that small upgrades will cost me more down the road.

I'm an avid reader of UHF magazine and I relate to the importance of source first. What I need is some opinions on possible upgrades. Arcam, Musical Fidelity, Naim, NAD silver, Rotel, Shanling, Linn the list seems endless.

What I can tell you is that I could see myself one day, getting that final Intergrated amp like the SimAudio i-5. Possibly 3 years from now, no earlier then 2. The CDP I need should come up to the standards of the associated gear I'm using now, and also allow for further growth with speakers. I DO however feel this will be my last CD player, untill a higher res formatt like SACD takes off. Perhaps the Shanling S200 with the Chris Johnson upgrade?

I even wonder if higher priced players then the one I have now like the Rotel 1070 are even worth the bother. Again, I'm very happy with the Polk Audio LSi 9 speakers (some of the most underrated speakers on the market, and rightly so from a big market speaker company) I want the jump UP to count. Please help steer me into a narrower path.
lush
gregm
3,405 posts
 
As you're looking at redbook only, I would search for a small local (CDN) manufacturer of cdp. (there are some such, but I can't remember them -- maybe UHF can help.) Such a product should be well designed and offer very good sound cheaper than a known brand. On the down side, few would know about it -- but who cares...
Otherwise, save up a bit & get a sacd/cd player at least
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
Bottom line always ends up with your speakers. Where is your new, quality source material going to go? Into a less than integrated, then onto less than speakers. I'm not a Polk fan. Never met a Polk that I was crazy about.
Bookself speakers? I'd start with a pair of Revel M20s, or of that ilk, and go from their. Now we're talking. What you have, now, will not do a source upgrade justice. Like I said, we all have our own way, even though mine is better. lol peace, warren
pardales
652 posts
 
I second the comment about only seriously considering cdp's that you can demo in your system. It seems as if you are very dileberate in your approach, and you don't want to make any big mistakes. If this is the case then the only way to not regret your big purchase is to try it out in your system, or a system you are very familar with, before you buy it.

I have not always done this myself but everytime I have, I have been rewarded tremednously by the fact that that gear tends to stay in my system a long time.
warrenh's avatar
warrenh
2,299 posts
 
If you take your present system and added a $10k plus cdp, the sound would not be even close (if you canned the Polks) to what the addition of a $3K (maybe less) pair of monitors or floorstanders would do. Speaker upgrade will give you the biggest bang for the buck.
ffontan
65 posts
 
Warren:

Just out of curiosity; have you heard the Polk LSi9's?? I ask you because if you're thinking polk sound from Circuit City, then you're off. This speakers are another beast altogether and are very, VERY good sounding speakers. If you're dissing them just because of the "Polk name" I think you might be missing the big picture. Polk is a big company with resources that small speaker manufacturers could only dream about. If they put their minds into it, they can create good things because of those resources...and that's precisely what they attempted with their LSi line.

I have listened to the LSi9s and LSi15s and let me tell you; they are a screaming bargain at the price. The LSi9s are revealing speakers, with a very natural sounding midrange, and very extended, sweet highs. By the way, they use one of the best tweeters availables, Vifa's Dual Ring Radiator Tweeter(also used in Krell speakers, AudioPhysics, and some Sonus Faber's more expensive speakers). I think pbawcutt would do fine in changing his source, and his speakers will reveal how good the new source is.

I would suggest, if you haven't, you give those speakers a listen(hint: you won't find them in Circuit City) preferably on a good rig. Try to be objective, and forget about you "not being a fan" of Polk...

If you want to read some GLOWING reviews go to:

http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/polk_lsi9.htm here Doug Schneider of Soundstage.com! reviewed the lsi9, or you can go t:

http://www.onhifi.com/product/polk_lsi15.htm
http://www.onhifi.com/product/2002_productsoftheyear.htm

where Wes Philips raves about the Lsi15s and even gave them the product of the year award for 2002.
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