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Direction on my next upgrade

I am a year into my journey down the audio rabbit hole. I am enjoying all the incremental gains and enduring the miss fires. My system is as follows:

Rogue Audio Sphinx V2
Fluance RT85 with Ortofon Blue
Epicure M150's completely rebuilt with kit from Hue at Human Speaker.

I am trying to figure out the next step on my journey. I am considering the next steps.

1- send the Rogue back to be upgraded to V3 which has a much better phono stage($500)
2- switch to a MM in the $500-$750 range
3- switch to a MC cartridge
4- add a seperate phono stage under $1500
5- add a subwoofer to the party

I want to pick the one option that will give me the most improvement for the money. 

Thank you in advance for weighing in with you knowledge and opinions.

Charles
cpdkee

Showing 3 responses by cpdkee

cpdkee OP
31 posts
 
I really appreciate all the input. I think I understand that some of my options may have diminishing returns and probobly waiting until I am ready to drop a larger chunk of cash is a better strategy. I am really enjoying the journey and honestly think my set up sounds pretty good for the money I have put in. I am going to upgrade the Rogue and enjoy for a while. Looks like speakers or a better integrated will be the future debate.

 I will say that the better my music sounds the more I want to listen. My music listening time has doubled a day since I have improved my setup. Tv is an afterthought. I am fortunate that my wife loves music too. It helps her Dad has a $50k plus system. 

Cheers everyone

Cpd
cpdkee OP
31 posts
 
Mickey33_1
Thank you for the response. I should have clarified that I would upgrade and replace cartridge OR wait a few months and switch integrateds. I really love my Rogue and when I switched from my Onkyo to the Sphinx it was such a change. I found a ortofon bronze for a great price but have read reviews that some like the blue better. Have you heard the Bronze with your sphinx? I will eventually upgrade speakers. When I rebuilt these original EPI M150's it was another "ahha" moment. The speaker I was looking at before I rebuilt was the Wharfedale Linton Heritige. I love old school speakers and they have such a great look. Harbeth look great but not quite ready to drop $6000 on speakers yet. 

Thanks for your thoughts.

cpdkee OP
31 posts
 
Thanks Millercarbon and Mijostyn. I had a feeling I might get that response. I am definitely interested in Raven audio as a future upgrade but not right now. I am glad to get some clarity on MC cartridges. Would I get any noticeable benefit from going from the $230 ortofon blue to a $750 ortofon black(also upgrading the rogue)? Wait a few months and upgrade my integrated?
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