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  3. 160217-128706

Dedicated Vinyl system next upgrade?

Hi. I love my system. I really do. I love vinyl and listen to vinyl nearly exclusively via “appointment listening”. I do Sometimes stream and listen while I walk or while working but I love just sitting and listening to my stereo. I believe I’ve arrived regarding finally achieving a great set up and have experienced that vinyl “magic” that audiophiles obsess over. I understand that limitations exist and a great stereo will reveal the quality of a recording - good or bad. The law a diminishing returns regarding  upgrading is something I’m mindful of. I don’t have endless funds to spend on upgrades. My question is - what should I consider upgrading next? Should I ditch the integrated amp considering I’m using an external phono stage? Or should I go with a better integrated amp? Or should I look at a better cartridge? Do I upgrade my turntable or just the tonearm? Do I upgrade the power cable on my amp? 
Here’s what I’m currently working with - and thanks for your thoughts/suggestions! 

Clear Audio Concept Turntable
W/ Hana SL cartridge 

Herron Audio VTPH-2a Phono Stage

Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum II integrated power amplifier 

Kimber Kable speaker wire and interconnects (I forget which model - an entry lever set - nothing crazy) 

Bowers and Wilkins 805 D3 stand mount loud speakers

Set of two stereo REL S/510 subs

paulgardner

Showing 13 responses by paulgardner

paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@noromance Thanks I’ll look into upgrading my power cable. What’s the difference between a $40 power cable and a $300 dollar one?
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@mulveling Awesome! Yeah I’ve been thinking about upgrading the tonearm to support a higher end cartridge down the line. I also have been getting some subsonic woofer pumping at louder volumes and I suspect the floating magnet tonearm is part of, or even possibly the entire problem. Thanks for your thoughts, much appreciated. 
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
Great ideas here, Thank you! $40 power cable ordered!
@tomic601 I’ll look into isolation for the Herron and Rogue. That’s a good idea. I have build a makeshift iso platform with butcher block and cork, etc. I do wonder if a proper isolation platform would kill more vibration tho... hmmm. 
@cakids when you say 4 topside fuses, do you mean tubes? If so, I have already rolled the small tubes to a Brimer (preamp position) and Gold Lions for the remaining 4 positions. 
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@optimize@dannad
The room is 18’ x 30’ with a high vaulted 18’ ceiling. I do not have any room treatment. This is a tricky area for me. Interior aesthetics are important to me. This is both a living area as well as a listening room. I truly hate the idea of hanging RT panels on the wall. I might be able to live with some corner bass traps but my original goal was to build a system that sounds great without making my home look like a recording studio. I understand this poses huge limitations but that’s the deal. I do have my speakers out and away from the back wall. I have played around with speaker/subs placement as well. Thank you all for the great thoughts/ideas, keep them coming if you want but again, I’m not hanging RT panels from my ceiling.
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@tablejockey 👍 totally agree. I think my best bet at this point is to look into finding a cartridge that’s more compliant with my tonearm. Not sure how long the Hana SL will last. Will I hear an audible difference and know?  I’ve had It for about a year and listen on average an hour a day. So I have 300-400 hours of wear on it now. Still sounds amazing!
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@oregon some good advice. I’ll likely keep what I’ve got for now and wait until I need to replace my cartridge before doing anything crazy. Thanks for the idea and thought everyone. This forum is great!!!
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@mijostyn good to know. Thanks.

@big_greg thanks. Yeah I’ve thought about adding two more subs but I don’t really have the room. Maybe when I move out of my condo. Good call tho!
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@tomic601 reference disk Neil Young - After The Gold Rush. I have a few pressings. They all sound great and I don’t know if there’s one singular thing that I doubt. If I had to choose I’d say that I sometimes question the top end. I sometimes feel/hear a brightness that can be off putting or a bit harsh. I’m not sure if this is speaker thing, or a matter of recording or something else? I do know my speakers have a reputation of being of sounding bright. I dunno. Again, there are times when I’m listening and I can’t imagine a better sounding stereo. Then there are other times when I’m slightly annoyed with the top end. The nature of the beast I guess. 
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@mijostyn thanks for the thoughts. I am not super technically versed in some of what you said but regarding your comment on upgrading the tonearm to the Zephyr, how do I know it will be compatible with the Concept table? Is this something I can install myself? The Zephyr is roughly the same price as the entire Concept table. Should I be looking at selling the concept table and applying that to an upgraded TT alltogether? 
@jjss49 yeah I know the B&Ws are a bit on the bright side. It really does depend on the recording in regard to how often/troublesome the highs get. 
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@drewmb1 thats a good suggestion. I currently have a makeshift or rather homemade isolation table. It’s a combination of butcher block sandwiched with foam and some other stuff. Do you think the “proper” $500-$1000 iso tables are going to do a much better job? I don’t know because I’ve never tried, but I think what I have put together is pretty good. Could probably be better. Maybe that’s the disease talking tho! Ha!
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@thehorn thanks for the post! 
Would upgrading the capacitors require me sending the amp in or is that something I could do on my own?

Regarding the tubes - I have already rolled the small tubes to a Brimer NOS and some Gold Lions. These replaced the stock JJs. I have not touched the larger power tubes. I’ve been told those don’t affect the sound as much as the small tubes, more specifically the preamp tube. Thoughts?
Thanks so much!
Paul
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@williewonka thanks for the post. I have ordered what I’m sure many people here will consider to be an entry lever power cable. I went with the $60 BLE  16mm (10ga.) Hi-End Rhodium Plated Power Cable that a couple people recommended earlier in this thread. I’m sure I will try something from Nordost next. Hopefully the cable I ordered will be better than the stock power cable. We will see! Thanks and yes I agree, lots of great info here. This is a very helpful community. Much appreciated! 
Paul
paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
@swann36 ok so I’ve spent some time with the new power cable. I really like it a lot! Best $50 upgrade I’ve ever made. I’m noticing a lower noise floor and a slightly tighter bass. It’s not dramatic but it’s definitely there. I really like your suggestion of replacing one thing at a time. Much easier to know what affect each change has on things. I’m thinking about swapping the power cable on the phono stage next!
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