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Upgrade question - speakers or integrated?

Hey all -

I'm on the audio merry-go-round again and would like some thoughts. I'm running Focal 807v monitors through a YBA 201 integrated. My budget is ~$1500. Which of the two is a better candidate for upgrading? I listen to mostly jazz, folk, and other nuanced music. I save the rock and hard stuff for my car.

Would it be sonically better to replace the YBA with another integrated - like an Exposure 3010? Or the Focals with another monitor - say a Reference de Capo?

There's really nothing wrong with what I have. But you know how it is.
128x128simao
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

05-19-13: Simao
Johnny - what's a good starter turntable to recommend?

Oh, the usual suspects--VPI Traveler, Rega RP3, SOTA Moonbeam or Comet, Clearaudio Concept, Marantz TT-15. Or if you need to keep it around $500-600, Music Hall 2.2, Pro-Ject Debut Carbon or RM-1.3, Rega RP1.

Even these entry-level turntables will make your nuanced acoustic music bloom and engage you.

For the phono stage, there are several good affordable stages from Bellari, Cambridge, Creek, Pro-Ject, Rega, Music Hall, Musical Fidelity, Vincent, Graham Slee, Lehmann, and the Clearaudio Nano. I've been partial to the Jolida JD-9, which I got for around $389. It was a killer bargain at that price but now I see that the Series II has gone up to $619. It's probably still very competitive even at that.

Given its combination of price, performance, build quality, configurability, and especially variable gain, I'd say the Clearaudio Nano really hits the sweet spot.
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

05-19-13: Simao
... I'd have to upgrade the YBA to an integrated with a phono stage.

If you like your YBA and it works well with everything else, why not just get an outboard phono stage such as the ones I mentioned. If it has to be near-invisible, the Clearaudio Nano is about the size of a deck of cards.
simao's avatar
simao OP
1,836 posts
 
I think that's the way to go - along with some speakers that complement what I want to hear. Thanks for all the advice!
johnnyb53
3,510 posts
 

05-20-13: Simao
I think that's the way to go - along with some speakers that complement what I want to hear.
In addition to the Reference 3a Capo, you may want to check out the KEF LS50, which Stereophile considers a Class A speaker within its operating range. Another candidate, with its ceramic composite woofer and ribbon tweeter, is the Monitor Audio Gold GX 100.

I've also heard consistently good things about the Nola Boxer.
darkstar1
180 posts
 
Second System Audio, They are very strong with acoustic music, good on Jazz, Classical, Electronic: weak aspect would be hard rock/metal

Might want to take a look if possible, downside is only three or four dealers in U.S.
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