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What would you upgrade?

Hello, fellow audio enthusiasts. I'd like to get some opinions on what your next move would be if you had the following gear:

Signal Path:

MacBook Pro > DacMagic Plus > Dared Sl2000a or Bravo Audio Ocean v2 > Peachtree Decco 65 (pre mode) > Emotiva UPA-200 > Focal SW800 Sub > Focal 807VW or Totem Rainmakers

Clearly a lot of room for improvement here. Where would you start and what would be the reason?

Nothing is untouchable except the MacBook Pro.

Like the idea of towers/monoblocks.

$5000 budget for upgrades.

Thank you for any suggestions you can provide!
hybrid81
sabai
2,027 posts
 
Your Rainmakers are very limiting. I used to own them. They create a very low ceiling for you in terms of SQ.
hybrid81 OP
32 posts
 
Sabi, I agree. I really enjoy the Rainmakers for Jazz specifically, but in all other areas (except low end extension) they seem inferior to the Focals. I think the Totems will end up in the bedroom as background music to fall asleep too.
bcgator's avatar
bcgator
356 posts
 
I'm thinking your answers - which are very helpful Hybrid81 - may alter the recommendations you get, especially the fact that we're talking about Spotify as the source, with a turntable in the future.

I have Spotify myself, and love it for the variety and convenience and discovering new artists. And it does sound good, better than listening to highly compressed MP3s of course, but as you have already discovered and acknowledged in your post above, it's not great. And the sound quality can vary dramatically, from beautiful to absolutely awful, depending on what they're using for their source. A great example is Til Tuesday's "Voices Carry", off the greatest hits album - I don't know why, but the bass is so horribly boosted that it's like listening in the back of a Honda CRX with 5 subwoofers, but not on the actual album, only on Spotify's version. I can't imagine trying to audition and pick speakers with Spotify as the source music. Actually, wouldn't critique any component based on Spotify, as much as I enjoy the service.

So I guess figure out what you plan to spend on a turntable, cartridge, and phono pre because I think your content source is obviously the weakest link in the chain, and even a $20,000 DAC won't change that, nor will the finest speakers in all the land.

After the turntable, look at new speakers - you're not crazy about what you have and speakers will change the results more than anything else, in my opinion, including the pre-amp and amp.

Hope some of this helps...most of the dudes on here know a heck of a lot more than I do. My system is pretty pedestrian compared to what most here have.
mesch
3,530 posts
 
I would investigate integrated amps. Of the 5K budget what is allocated for turntable and phono stage? Is the Mac used for internet radio only?
sufentanil's avatar
sufentanil
782 posts
 
I wish I had $5K going nuclear in my pocket.

I think your first step is to figure out a direction to head. You seem to want more extension to both ends of the spectrum, if I understand correctly, and more clarity/incisiveness of each note.

I'm with Sabai in that your Rainmakers are limiting. I've heard them and liked them for what they were (inexpensive small speakers). They initially sound much bigger than they are, with a nice full sound, until you realize that they're exaggerating the mid-bass because they have essentially no bass extension, and the top end is a little closed in.

I haven't head the Focal, but if you like the Totem sound, here is my suggestion:

Speakers: Totem Hawks (consider also the Forest)
(Alternative: PSB Stratus Silver or Silver i)
Integrated Amp: Plinius 8200

You can find both of these used pretty easily and well under your price range. I think this will definitely help you achieve what you're looking for, although the comment above about your source material is a valid one. I would stick with your DAC Magic for now and only look to upgrading if if/when you get better quality sources (CD quality or better). I think the Plinius has a phono input, so you wouldn't necessarily need a stand-alone phono preamp for your turntable.

Sell the Rainmakers, Peachtree, and Emotiva. You will be MUCH happier with the sound.

Michael
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