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Best Way to Spend ~ $2000 for System Improvement

Hi fellow music lovers! I have about $2000 right now to improve my system. It can be for any component, but I'm thinking amplification first, power, pre, or integrated. SS or tube.

To begin, right now I have a Mccormack 0.5 Deluxe power amp with "A" revisions, an Eva 2 passive preamp, Metrum Octave v1 DAC, Dell laptop for music files. Sometimes I use a Teac H750 as a transport and GMA Pico Executive speakers. The room is small, about 14x18x10ft. I listen to about 50/50 rock and classical, mostly full orchestral. As far as just sound goes, I would like the bass to be "fast". No delay or overhang, not exaggerated, but detailed. Detail is important at any frequency, the more the better, but not at the expense of musicality. I realize at this price point, compromise is necessary, and treble would be the best place for that. No harshness allowed, but I'm in my later 50s now and don't hear treble like I once did.

I hope I've given enough info to get some good suggestions. I like the sound now, but think it could be better, maybe a slightly lower noise floor and a little more pace and rhythm while retaining it's sweetness and smoothness. Any advice would be greatly appreciated. Thanks in advance. BTW, if any existing question answers any part of this question, feel free to link it.
xrayz

Showing 6 responses by almarg

almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
... the interconnects to the amp are only 1/2 meter.
Good!

... the USB/ SPDIF converter is a Musical Fidelity V link.

I see that both versions of the V-Link for which information is available at the MF site (the V-LinkII and the V-Link192) have specified output impedances for their coaxial outputs of 50 ohms. Which is absurd if true, as it would create a gross mismatch to the 75 ohm input impedance of components such as your DAC which provide standards-compliant S/PDIF inputs, as well as to the impedance of standard 75 ohm digital cables. The likely result being unpredictable but almost certainly adverse sonic effects, which among other factors would vary unpredictably as a function of the length of the digital cable.

On the other hand, though, I see that John Atkinson’s measurements in Stereophile’s review of the original version of the V-Link (www.stereophile.com/content/musical-fidelity-v-link-usb-spdif-converter-measurements) made no mention of such an issue.

Assuming you are using the coaxial output of the V-Link, as opposed to its Toslink output, I would suggest that you contact MF and ask them if that 50 ohm spec is accurate. If it is, my one suggestion beyond what has already been said is that you consider replacing the V-Link.

Good luck. Regards,
-- Al

almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
The system as a whole is a little (not much) "laid back" for lack of a better term. To me, that’s a lot better than bright, but I’d like a little more clarity and liveliness.
You’re most likely already aware of this, but just to be sure I’ll mention that the symptoms you are describing can occur with a passive preamp if the length of the cables connecting it to the power amp is not short, and/or if the particular cables do not have low capacitance per unit length.

Adverse effects can also occur with a passive preamp if the input impedance of the power amp is too low, but it appears in this case that the input impedance of your amp is 100K, which at least in theory should be fine. But nevertheless I wouldn’t be surprised if Scott’s (Smrex13’s) suggestion of an active preamp would be more likely to be beneficial than an amplifier upgrade, assuming that the amp doesn’t have any age-related or other condition-related issues.

Also, do you sense that the symptoms are similar when you use the Teac as a transport compared to when you are using the Dell as your source? And how are you connecting each of those sources to the DAC (e.g., optical or coax or USB)?

Regards,
-- Al

almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Good comments by the others. But a note of caution about the suitability of CJ line stage preamps for use in your system. Many of them have unusually high gain (e.g. 25 db), and your McCormack power amp also has higher than average gain (30 db). Coupled with the moderate sensitivity of your speakers, the fact that you are using digital sources, and your not very large room dimensions, that combination of gains would be likely to cause you to have to utilize the preamp’s volume control VERY close to the bottom of its range. Which in turn would considerably limit your ability to adjust volume in small increments, and depending on the design of the volume control mechanism may also result in channel imbalances.

Regards,
-- Al

almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
Almarg, I meant to respond before- I do use coaxial to connect with both my pc and cd transport. My octave v1 has no usb input. In your opinion, even if the impedance matching is not a problem, would a better usb/spdif converter go a long way toward solving the perceived lack of dynamics? I've only ever used this one, and I know a lot of people consider them to be one of the most important components, paying a huge amount of money for their own.        
I can't really say, Xrayz, as I have no particular familiarity with the sonics of the V-Link.  I can only say that I would definitely consider replacing it if its output impedance is in fact 50 ohms.

Good luck as you proceed.  Regards,
-- Al
      
almarg's avatar
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almarg
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Xrayz and Ghosthouse, thanks. But know that I didn’t take either of your comments as disrespectful in any way.

Best regards,
-- Al

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almarg
9,670 posts
 
I did a bit of Googling and found this thread in which the 50 ohm spec was discussed.  See post no. 30, by "Lexx."  Sounds like the impedance is correct, but the person who wrote the spec won't ever be a candidate for the Nobel Prize.  :-)

Regards,
-- Al
 
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