2. amps-preamps
  3. 1266777307

What upgrade?

I wonder which upgrade would be my best bang for the buck. My current system cosists of

BAT vk-200, Rogue Magnum 99 with phono, Arcam FMJ CD23, Tyler Linbrook Linbrook signature (1 peace), and Clear audio Emotion with AT150mlx.
Speaker cable is Clear Day silver shotgun.
Interconnect varies -- Clear Day Eichmann Copper IC, Signal cable silver, straight wire Encore II
Power cable -- from LAT, Clear Day, Black Mountain peak power

My budget is $1700. My current priority is in the following order (for all used)
1. vk-3ix or vk30 with phono
2. vk-d5se
3. Tyler D2 (only after selling LSS at around $2000)

I guess my budget is a bit tight but still quite close. I am quite satisfied with LPs but not with CD sound. I wonder which upgrade would improve most on CD sound. Well, I cannot do much on room acoustics, so it is not in my choice.
128x128ihcho
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,209 posts
 
I think your amp is the weakest link in your system. Changing out the Rogue pre for the BAT pre's listed is a lateral move at best... maybe a step back. Your cdp and speakers have good reputations, so additional improvements would come at a high cost.

Suggest you sell your amp and buy a Plinius SA-102, Audio Research 100.2, or Levinson 23.5... or you can try spending less with some tweaks, such as trying some good NOS tubes ($400) for your Rogue preamp (try Brendan @ Tubeworld).
singleendedsingle
664 posts
 
If you want to improve your CD player then you really can't look pass those Burson DIY kits. I have used them in my CDP upgrade only two weeks ago and they basically removed the digital sound from my CD player and make it sound LP like and live like.

Here's their blog that gives all sorts of upgrade tips for CDPs.

http://bursonaudioblog.blogspot.com/search/label/DIY%20Audio%20%28Tips%20and%20Tweaks%29

ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
Well, I have not thought about if my amp is the weakest point. Maybe true, but I would rather keep it for a while. I like the Rogue preamp, but I cannot get away with this idea of BAT synergy that many BAT users talk about. That is why I am not going to sell my Rogue until I really feel the difference by myself.
I just found a Agoner who is interested in selling his vk-30 with phono and remote at my budget (well somewhat over but still within I can manage). So, I will see how Rogue preamp pars with BAT preamp. If vk-30 does not outperform Magnum 99, I would probably sell vk-200 and vk-30 and go for something like Levinson 23.5.

Burson DIY kits? Well, I am not a DIY guy, but maybe I will explore that route in the future.

Thanks.
singleendedsingle
664 posts
 
I am not good at DIYing either but I did install their opamps which was just a matter of plug and play. There are also plenty of mod companies in the country that carries their kits and can do the mod for you. If you are dissatisfied with your CDP then I suggest moding it before investing in a new CDP. You will be surprised by the return on investment ratio compared to buying another CDP.

pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,209 posts
 
I once owned the BAT VK-200 paired with the VK-30. It did not a fulfilling combo for me. YMMV.
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