Help me upgrade my Mac system?!

If you are considering B&W you would have to spend a lot of money to get a good sound. In my opinion only, they are over rated. 

I also agree with glennewdick on the Klipsch Heritage line and yes the Revel would be another option. I actually like the Rockport’s over the Revel’s if that is the sound you are leaning towards.

I had my Grand Pianos paired with Krell but I still did not get the punch I wanted out of them.  Mac gear is warm and they do pair nicely with Sonus Faber.

If you like Mac gear then why start there...  We all know that your weakest link are your speakers.  It is known that Mac and Sonus go hand in hand, this is why they are paired quite a bit.  I say get the right speakers for your gear and save your money, unless you want to eliminate your Mac all together.  Speakers are the most important part of your gear, they are front and center.  As an example what is the most important piece to a home theatre “center channel” if your center is a piece of caca..lol the rest does not matter.

I agree with the posters above about your SF.  But first, I would encourage you to start with your source and consider a Basis TT and Vector 4 tonearm.  Is your Ortofon a Cadenaz Red?  If so it is a nice match to the Vector tonearm.  

Thats where I would start and see how your 2600 phono section works with a top flight table before moving down the chain.  I hear you about the Mac’s - they are built like boulders - I get the aging back problem! 

Scottlawhome,

I actually went to the an audio show this past weekend and heard the Olympica 2 Novas and they were outstanding. The base on these have really been improved quite a bit, in my opinion the entire line has been revamped.  I am a Grand Piano Home owner and I am familiar with the Sonus Faber.  Sonus Faber has a sound that is quite different to other speakers that draws you in.  I think you should start by upgrading your speakers because the Grand Pianos are nice but I do agree with you they lack that punch.  I really think you will fall hard for the Nova line, they are everything that drew you in about Sonus but in a much larger scale. This is a very well balanced speaker that you can hear for hours but they do rock when needed. I would also listen to the Nova 3 and 5, I really think they will blow you away.

Since you like the Sonus you really need to check out Verity Audio, Rockport and Joseph Audio. These are very similar sonically.   Good luck.....

If you otherwise love your existing speakers, I agree, a stereo pair of powered subs might be the first thing to try.

Bass is stereo despite all the yap about bass being mono. Important for main music system, my speakers have 15" woofers. 

You could try 1 sub if budget or positioning limits. I do successfully use a single sub in my small home theater (velodyne, 1,000 watt servo control of 10"), . I also use a single sub in my office added to bookshelf speakers, a velodyne 12", servo, less power, I forget how much. Great for adding lows, but not imaging of lows which is not critical, but, wonderful for a main music system.

In any case, I suggest you get this CD, listen to Stereo Bass in your existing system, then have it for future evaluation. (I had it in LP, loaned to one of my son's friends, never got it back).

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/double-bass-niels-henning-rsted-pedersen/190661?ean=0716043105526&st=PLA&sid=BNB_ADL+Core+Generic+Media+-+Desktop+Medium&sourceId=PLAGoNA&dpid=tdtve346c&2sid=Google_c&gclid=Cj0KCQiAw4jvBRCJARIsAHYewPOSDx8OUNnOlnVUn4IqbMsZcS8p1gKF9-GKPS0czZtQRQ1Ge7BPJhUaArJoEALw_wcB

Make sure you can return the sub(s), get them, live with them for a few weeks, keep or return.

Self powered subs take a big load off of your amp, and a big load off the speakers. When not trying to do low bass, you have more positioning options with your mains, that can be quite advantageous.

I would keep source/tt upgrades for later, after you get the punch you are looking for.

If you listen to a lot of vinyl, I would look at upgrading the phono stage.

try a manley chinook or an EAR 834P.

Thanks all.  No room treatment as yet, and the cartridge with the Planar 2 is the Ortofon Red.   
Any suggestions for a turntable upgrade?  VPI?
Also, what do folks here think of the new Sonus Faber Olympica Novo speakers?  Or the Revel Performa line?  Should I even ask about B&W?

I have owned the Sonus Faber Grand Piano Home’s speakers and I feel that is your bottle neck. they are nice speakers but they don’t rock that well IMO.

I’ve been trying out some horn loaded speakers from Klipsch’s new heritage line and they give you the slam your looking for. also very efficient so you don’t need much power and will fill your room better then the Sonus Faber’s.

after that I’d ask what cart are you running on your planar 2?

after that I’d look at turntable upgrades maybe, I always found the Rega tables to lack a bit for rocking out.

I’m not that familiar with Mac gear so not sure if your using a DAC built in or not.

nice over all system though i bet you have good synergy with all the Mac gear that’s one of the hardest thing to find IMO.

80% of what I listen to is live rock and roll. It took me twenty five years to figure out that dual subs solved all my "wants" in enjoying the live recordings to their most realistic reproduction. I too have a large and somewhat "bright" sounding room, two subs in stereo is the lost key I had been seeking, I'll never go back.

Don Sachs pre or linear tube audio pre sounds great with my friends Mac. better than the Mac pre he was using and by a considerable margin. 

What is your room treatment like??