Dazed and Confused - Upgrading System But Too Many Options!

I think I am asking too many questions.  Let me refine.

Should I keep my B&K ST2140 and spend more on a preamp or should I replace the ST2140 with an Integrated amp?  Either way I'm getting a new preamp. I'm open to used equipment as well as new as long as the used equipment can accept current digital technologies. 

My preamp is the weak link.  It's an entry level preamp from the early 90s. No solid way to even connect my TV.  Right now the TV is connected via a headphone jack to RCA connection, which always comes loose so the speakers drop out.

I have not listened to the KEFs or any monitors.  I just don't see how I can go wrong for the price based on the reviews I read.

I assume a media server would have a digital output and leave the DAC to the preamp?  The phono stage can be added later on or I can listen in the basement with the old Rotel preamp.  I seldom listed to vinyl.  My old vinyl collection turned out to be a mess after I got the P3 - played too many times on cheap turntables with too much alcohol :(

One thing I am trying to do is minimize the footprint for the wife.  So fewer components are better than multiples.

Have been doing a lot of research and was all set on the Cambridge  Audio A851A and 851N.  Then I read about a recurring issue that randomly turns the volume up all the way and can damage the speakers.  Not sure how common it is though.  

My local dealer carries Cambridge so I stopped by today after work and they no longer carry it.  They said they now carry Atoll because it blows the 851A out of the water and they couldn't sell any 851As after customers did a side-by-side comparison.  I auditioned the Atoll IN100 with an Atoll DAC100se and a Bluesound Node 2.  It sounded great but just opened up more questions.  The Node is only $500 but I would then need a DAC.  Not a lot of info out there on Atoll.  

I found a couple AV dealers that I can audition Cambridge Audio and KEF LS50s.  So I guess that's my plan for now.  Has anyone heard of, or had first-hand experience with Atoll?  They are a French company. 

phil, 
Great to hear from someone with the exact system I am considering.  Today I spoke with another local dealer who has the 851A/N but it's not set up for auditioning yet. He suggested that the 851N DAC is fantastic and if I didn't need my phono I could go with the 851W amp instead of the 851A.  I could move my Rega to the basement on the old system.  Another thing to research and consider. 

He also said he had some floor model KEF R300s with full warranty for $1,200, which is $600 off list.  He said they were better than the LS50s but the reviews I have read have said otherwise.  Maybe I upgrade the amp and music server now and see how it sounds on my Paradigms and then maybe new speakers next year.

pennsy,
I will!  I'm gonna upgrade the hell out of my stereo.  Half the fun is the research and learning about all the new technologies.  I will also need to budget for a NAS, which I wasn't planning on.

gdnrbob,
Thanks for the input.  I have bought from Agon before and will certainly again.  I guess part of me feels like if I go to these dealers and pick their brains and listen to their equipment and spend their time that I don't want to turn around and buy used from Agon.  But I haven't done much of that yet.  Only one visit and a slew of emails with another.  

I enjoy THIS quest because I'm going to get some shiny new toys and there will most likely be bourbon involved.  I don't want to do it all the time because, for one, I can't afford to constantly be buying and selling, and two, I don't get tons of listening time.  But when I do, I want to thoroughly enjoy it.

If I had to say what is missing it would be the soundstage and separation.  The B&K is a great amp with plenty of power (140w) and it's very warm.  It was far from an entry level amp when I bought it.  The Rotel pre is very entry level and is easily the weak link.  I could probably upgrade some interconnects too.  I definitely want to go digital and get a music server either way. 

Thanks for they continuing the thread guys.  I understand the LS50s have a long break in period.  I read something like 300 hours.  The dealer is pushing a pair of demo KEF R300s hard and provided an excellent price ($1,100).  I would be able to demo the KEFs.  He also gave me great prices on all the 851 components and the LS50s.  Maybe not as cheap as used on Agon but definitely competitive.

Unfortunately there is no place around me that has the 851 series available for an audition.  A few places within a couple hundred miles carry them but they are not on the demo floor.  So I will have to go on faith of reviews and research for the CA 851s.

Right now I'm leaning on getting the 851W (200w) and 851N and keeping my speakers.  I would then have my B&K and Rotel for the basement on an old pair of Advents I built from a kit in high school.  We will be getting a new TV and component rack so it will be my second listening room (for when the fam kicks me out of the living room).

Another option is to get the 851N and KEFs and an even cheaper option is to just get the 851N and plug it into my B&K.  As you can tell, I have pretty much settled on Cambridge Audio and KEF.  It's just what will be the winning component combination.  

I can really do without the tt because my old record collection is in such bad shape.  I can still move the tt to the basement. 

The dealer is working very hard to get me the right system so I will reward him. The last thing I want is to buy used after all this and then have to take it to the dealer if/when it breaks. 

Thanks again to everyone for the help.

Ken

I would think so.  He said "it comes down to display cost allocations per the calendar".  Not sure what that means exactly.  We have only emailed back in forth so I'll have to ask him directly.  

Trutopia,
Sounds like you got a great system for a steal. I have not had much luck on Craigslist. Mostly old Sony receivers. I will continue to buy used, especially for my 2nd system and maybe speaker cables.

Phil,
I'm sold on CA. There's always the vocal minority with a gripe, especially companies with higher sales. I think it's a quality product.

I plan on getting new interconnects and possibly new speaker cable down the road. One thing at a time. Right now I'm leaning towards the 851W/851N combo. However the dealer shot me a pretty good quote for some KEF R500s.  In that case I would keep the B&K and go with the R500/851N combo. I will try to get a demo on the speakers and then pick my path.

Gdnrbob,
He's a one man shop and I need to make an appointment in case he's installing a system. I will bring this up to him when I set up the speaker demo. There is only one more shop in town and they sell the Atoll. Otherwise I need to drive a couple hours to demo a Parasound Halo. I'm sold on the 851N though.

Thanks again for the input everyone. 

Ken

Wow, I can't believe it's been so long since I posted.  I have definitely been remiss in my posting responsibilities.  I have made my purchase.  this is how it went down.

I demoed the KEF R300s at his house but there was no one within a few hundred miles that had any CA to listen to.  I liked the R300s but decided I needed to just get the 851N for now and keep my Monitor 9s and B&K ST2140.  My plan was to audition several bookshelves at home later.  Once I told him that he offered me a deal on the R300s and stands that I just could not pass down.  So I'm a proud new owner of a CA 851N and KEF R300s.  So far I am really liking it.  It is light years ahead of my old pre. My monitor 9s never sounded so good once I hooked them up to the 851N.

I'm still investigating an amp replacement down the road (sooner rather than later).  The B&K can then go downstairs with the Monitor 9s on the basement stereo.   

One thing I noticed when I compared the Monitor 9s to the R300s was that the Monitor 9s had better bass and more detail.  The detail surprised me.  But the soundstage was much wider on the R300s and at high volume the midrange was smother and clearer.  The monitor 9s actually sounded a little distorted on the vocals at high volume.

Anyway, I'm not sure what my next amp will be, maybe a 851A or 851W but there are so many others to choose from in that price range.  I guess I don't really need the analog pre anymore.  Can't wait for the next upgrade.  Oh, I also got a pair of Tributary Series 8 balanced cables.  Not sure where they stand in the overall scheme of things but I know they are better than the old RCA cables I had.

Thanks to everyone for your help.  There is a lot of information to navigate in the world of high-end audio!

Ken 

Roger that mesch