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.
ihcho
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,231 posts
 
I once owned the BAT VK-200 paired with the VK-30. It did not a fulfilling combo for me. YMMV.
ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
Pdreher,
I see you have Plinius SA-102 and Aesthetix Calypso. I have not heard any Calypso, but heard some Plinius int amps. They are indeed fine products.
For price wise, SA-102 and Calypso are more expensive than BAT. MSRP is $5000 vs $3000 (SA-102 vs vk-200) and $4500 vs $3500 (Aesthetix vs vk-30).
Also, SA-102 and Calypso are much newer components. I wonder how the comparison would have been if vk-250 and vk-32 were used. Well, that would not be a fair comparison either since BAT gears are 40% more expensive.
If I were to go for used SA-102 and Calypso, I would have to pay $2000 more ($3000 for BAT vk-200 and vk-30 vs $5000 for SA-102 and Calypso).

As of now, I am interested in seeing how vk-200 would match with vk-30 in comparison to Rogue. If vk-30 wins Rogue will go, and if Rogue wins vk-200 and vk-30 will go. I guess it would be rather unfair to Rogue since vk-200 has a better chance to work well with BAT preamps and Rogue may mate better with non-BAT amps.
pdreher's avatar
pdreher
1,231 posts
 
The greatest thrill (and sometimes disappointment) in this hobby is trying new things & combinations. Enjoy the journey!
ihcho's avatar
ihcho OP
612 posts
 
I totally agree.

The process of trying new ones is fun itself. It does not always turned into a fairy story, and sometimes ends up being a painful and costly endeavor, but it is an endless journey for many of us.
More to discover