Bad case of upgrade fever
Please share a comprehensive list of symptoms and what your problem(s) are?....Before diagnosis and treatment....
Bad case of upgrade fever
I just added some acoustic panels to my listening room and I'm amazed at the difference they make. I hear more detail, and the bass is so much more defined. Can't believe I waited this long to do that, and it was pretty inexpensive. Used panels from Acoustimax. They look nice, and do a great job. But now I want more...
My system:
I listen mostly to POP, Jazz, female Jazz, and Blues. Pretty soft and mellow stuff. I stream Tidal, and have a nice collection of SACDs. All my original CDs were moved to Flac files.
I have around $5000 to spend, and hope to sell what I replace on Audigon.
I'm thinking I should upgrade the Plinius, but not sure to what. I've been looking at the Primaluna Dialogue HP Integrated, but not sure about tubes. I've also thought about moving into turntables, but I have no albums and really don't want to get into that quagmire right now. I know myself, and if I start down that road, my wife will divorce me...
I very much appreciate your help with my next purchase. What do you think I should replace, and what do you suggest I replace it with. Most of my equipment was purchased right here on Audiogon and I have never had an issue with anything I purchased, so I have no problem purchasing this upgrade as previously owned.
Thanks so much for your help!
My system:
- Martin Logan Summit X speakers.
- Gustard X20u DAC that has level 2 mods by Rick Shultz
- Oppo 103D that I use for CDs and SACDs that also was modded by Rick Shultz
- Plinius Hautonga integrated amplifier (I upgraded the fuses)
- Bryston BDP-1 as a music streamer
- Avanti Audio interconnects
- Clear Day speaker cables
- And now, I've added acoustic panels and bass traps
I listen mostly to POP, Jazz, female Jazz, and Blues. Pretty soft and mellow stuff. I stream Tidal, and have a nice collection of SACDs. All my original CDs were moved to Flac files.
I have around $5000 to spend, and hope to sell what I replace on Audigon.
I'm thinking I should upgrade the Plinius, but not sure to what. I've been looking at the Primaluna Dialogue HP Integrated, but not sure about tubes. I've also thought about moving into turntables, but I have no albums and really don't want to get into that quagmire right now. I know myself, and if I start down that road, my wife will divorce me...
I very much appreciate your help with my next purchase. What do you think I should replace, and what do you suggest I replace it with. Most of my equipment was purchased right here on Audiogon and I have never had an issue with anything I purchased, so I have no problem purchasing this upgrade as previously owned.
Thanks so much for your help!
18 responses Add your response
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The panels you have are more than likely OC703 covered with fabric https://www.amazon.com/Owens-Corning-703-Fiberglass-Boards/dp/B005V3L834 These are even more effective cut as triangles placed in the 4 corners of the ceiling, and cut as rectangles placed along the corners where the side and front walls meet the ceiling. Much the same effects you’re hearing only even more so because these are much more effective locations for treatment. Okay so that’s zero dollars of your $5k budget and already the room is even better. What next? Keep going! Synergistic Research HFTs will give you improvements in detail, image resolution, bass definition and liquid top end extension far beyond anything you can get with acoustic panels. Their ECTs will do the same for your components as the HFTs do for your room. With your budget you could completely treat your whole system and room and still have funds left for the FEQ and some Blue Quantum Fuses. Unless you are sick and tired of one or more of your components I just don’t see getting anywhere near the improvement for the dollar from a new component like what you can get from the right tweaks like these. [Edit: "tweaks like these" also definitely includes power cords, AC outlets and stuff like Elizabeth mentions.] |
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Keep the Hautonga..... It is a very good Integrated. I would agree with suggestions on cleaning up the AC feeding your gear. Just a very good power conditioner made a very audible difference in my room. Then I went and put it on a separate 20a line with SR Blue duplex and SR Blue fuses. Homemade power cords just cos I can..... Upgraditis is a serious illness my friend, very hard to cure! |
Just a quick update from my post this morning. I also have a Furnam Elite 20 PFi AC power source that everything Plugs into. I also have Pangea power cords on all components and the speakers. Sorry, I forgot to add these components to my original post. My room is 12 feet wide. My speakers are 3 feet from back wall, and 2.5 feet from side walls. The bass traps went into the corners, and the acoustic panels went to the first reflection point on the side walls. The back of my room (behind listening position) is open as it continues beyond my seating about six feet. Since these are electrostatic speakers, no ceiling treatment is needed, and my floor is carpeted. I do like the sound of the Plinius, but wondering if an upgrade to better amp/preamp or integrated would enhance the sound, or what moving to a tube integrated like the Primaluna would do. Thank you for the suggestions so far!!! |
I have no idea how good your digital source is and won't comment on that. I agree with your thinking, I guess, you might want better integrated/separates to bring more out of your speakers. Messing around with power cords, cables and duplexes makes little sense before major equipment upgrade. You want not only better amp but amp with much better power supply. And you might want to take your $5k a bit higher, saving couple of thousands might defeat the purpose of serious upgrade. I like to upgrade in big steps even if it is only one power cord. |
@smills59 Steve, You've listed what you have, which is important and a good start. I believe you will get higher value and more pertinent and specific advice if you share what you want / need / would like to have / are missing, etc. etc. Having well defined goals will also allow you to sift through and sort out what members will offer up. All the best. - David. |
SMills, I now run a PrimaLuna Dialogue integrated. It sounds wonderful. I have sensitive speakers and don't need the HP model power. I came back to tubes after a 5 year absence and had owned an Almarro 318B SET amp, BAT VK60 and a Consonance push-pull design. I had gotten tired of tube maintenance, monitoring life, system hum etc. What I use now is dead quiet, tubes self bias and there is extensive protection circuitry. This PL design takes all the hassle out of tube ownership IMO. I'm sure there are other mfgs out there that make tube power a simple, reliable proposition. |
Thank you everyone! I'm going to look into the power suggestions, and also start a new post regarding a tube amp for my system. I've made the decision to change the Plinius to tube, if I can find the right one. If not, I'll keep the Plinius. It will be fun to try something new, and tubes will also be a major change. I think I like the idea of tube rolling--might keep me busy for a few years. Steve |