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What to upgrade?

Hello,
I am interested in getting some input for a serious upgrade to my system. Currently my system creates the clarity, soundstage and dynamics a like, however this is only at lower volume levels, once I start to turn the volume up it starts to lose all the qualities I mentioned. At this stage I am not sure what to tweak and or complete change out. Listing room is currently in my loft 15 x 25, the wall behind my sitting are opens up to the rest of the house. Listing to mostly prog Rock, guitar driven jazz. My budget is 10,000 dollars for new or used equipment. My current rig is noted below with some equipment I have been researching. Thank you for your suggestions.

Portal Panache - Integrated amp
Rega p1 TT
Bellari 129 phono amp
Marantz cd5400 CDP (transport)
Wyred 4 Sound DAC
Daber Audio Monitor 3 speakers

Currently researching:

Montana speakers
Focal speakers
Totem speakers
Chapman speakers

Rogers High Fidelity amp
Pass lab
Vincent audio
Accustic Arts
Rogue Audio
musicrover
ssos101
10 posts
 
I think you should better your speakers first then the DAC. I think your amp and preamp is fine.

I highly recommend going with the Vapor Nimbus and with the new B.M.C Dac. I think Ryan over at Vapor Audio might give you some discount off the B.M.C if you buy the speakers.

Great great speakers and very cool guy.
czarivey
5,946 posts
 
than you only need to allocate 75% to your amp/speaker while the rest can be optional.
lowrider57's avatar
lowrider57
5,417 posts
 
There is a standard for placement of absorption panels...
2 vertical on front wall behind speakers, then on side walls at reflection points. That's to start with, then you may need bass traps, but with that open loft area, it's anybody's guess.
I can tell you that adding treatments gave my system more focus and better imaging.
Try doing some research in the archives.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,363 posts
 
Panels will usually help in a lively room. Panels should go at primary reflection points on wall based on speaker location and primary listening position. Distance from speaker to closest primary reflection point on the wall will dictate magnitude of the benefit, add one at a time, speaker closest to primary wall reflection point first for greatest benefit, wall can be side and/or rear. On side wall will generally reduce width of soundstage, rear wall reduce the depth. Particularly useful to reduce early reflections that smear detail if speakers are too close to the wall, usually less than a couple feet. Moving speakers further away from wall has same effect. I would determine the best speaker location first before applying any panels as needed from there because that and primary listening position or positions will determine the best locations to apply.
musicrover OP
56 posts
 
Just for fun I used some quilts (DONT TELL MY WIFE) in areas that I thought may need a little help with reflection and dampening. I know not the greatest of material but wanted to get an idea of what this may produce in sound. It did make a noticeable improvement however it's weak in the highs, Symbols don't shine, shimmer.
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