2. tech-talk
  3. 1331771911

If you had $2000 to upgrade this system...

Hopeful this is a reasonable forum to post this in. I'd appreciate input from experienced members. How would you spend $2-5K to upgrade some aspect of this system? Please no cable, power cord, tube or vibration damping recommendations. Not that I don't think these make a difference. I DO. I get it. I do it! Mainly looking for component recommendations. Things sound very, very good to me right now but of course always looking for more - especially bass, stage depth, air and imaging. Thanks to any and all in advance. Main system components are listed here:

APC power supply
Consonance Ref. 50 pre-amp
Consonance Cyber 800SE monoblocks
Denon 2910 mod'd by David Schulte
MF V-Dac
MF V-Link
KAB mod'd. Technics SL1210M5G
KAB mod'd Stanton cart/stylus
Lehmann Black Cube (not SE but does have separate power supply - not wall wart)
Totem Forest speakers

Again, thanks in advance for your time.
128x128ghosthouse
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
For me, the analog part of your system could be significantly upgraded with a $2000 budget. Any number of turntables and phonostages out there could do you significantly better than the Technics/Black Cube combo, especially if you listen to alot of acoustic music, and value such things as soundstage and imaging. If not, then you will get many other fine suggestions I am sure.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,210 posts
 
Hard to say.

Tell us more about the room the gear is in and how that might be affecting the sound and your listening habits?
raks
468 posts
 
I’d up-grade my Audience Adept aR6 to the T version.
daverz
487 posts
 
I think I'd explore other cartridges first. Not that the Stanton is bad -- I don't know anything about it -- it just takes some trial and error to find a cartridge that's "just right". One rately gets it on the first try.

If I had $5k, I'd upgrade the table, arm and cart. You might be able to make a significant upgrade to the table and arm for $2-3k if you can find some good deals.
loomisjohnson
1,943 posts
 
no knock on totem, which i've owned and admired, but your forests are relatively small and limited at the low end--i'd think they only go to 40hz or so--and probably don't throw as big a soundstage as others. i'd look at replacing them with something beefier--there's innumerable threads recommending speakers in the <$5k range.
More to discover