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Room setting: new amp or new speakers?

hello gys,

My Hi-Fi journey is rolling on, and over the past few weeks, I’ve had the chance to dive into some amazing gear—like tube amps and high-efficiency speakers. It’s been super fun, but now I’ve hit a bit of a dilemma.

Here’s my current setup:

  • Amp: Yamaha AX-396, pretty old, low value

  • Speakers: Sonus Faber Venere 1.5 bookshelf speakers, definitely ’better’ than the amp

  • Streamer: Bluesound Node N130

I’m planning a big overhaul of my system, but I can’t decide what to upgrade first

A little more info:

  • Room size: 55m² (so, pretty spacious).

  • Current speaker placement: Sitting on a bookshelf, positioned to the side of the sofa (definitely not ideal) - see pic

  • Ideal setup: Properly placed speakers facing the sofa for proper sound.

My thoughts:

  • If I upgrade the amp first, I might squeeze more out of my current speakers - which are not as bad —but will their awkward placement limit the improvement?

  • Upgrading the speakers with floorstanding will come with new position + higher quality (2x the ROI?) AFAIK they account for big big part of the final sound. then will do the amp.

I’d love to hear what you think! Have you been in a similar spot? Which upgrade made the biggest difference for you?

Let me know your thoughts! thank you so much

albymana
mesch
3,529 posts
 

I would first make the adjustment on speaker placement for the best presentation you can achieve within your room using your current speakers/amplifier.  Then consider the purchase of new speakers. Keep in mind that you will then require a new amplifier in the near future. 

With the adjustment in speaker placement you are considering would your listening be more of a 'near field' one?  Namely where you would be close to the speakers  with most of the room surrounding the listening environment?  This is as much of an issue as actual room size. 

 

gbmcleod
508 posts
 

Since the amp is the weak link, the smartest move is to get a new amp so you can hear what your speakers sound like with an amp that can lift them to the skies! You should hear the speakers at their BEST before thinking of getting rid of them. At this point, you don’t have an amp that allows the speakers to ’strut their stuff,’ so you have no idea what you are missing. Give your speakers a fantastic ’partner’ (amplifier) instead of an ’adequate’ partner.

lhtil3's avatar
lhtil3
3 posts
 

Your room is big enough, you need to figure out your placement first, before that do not buy anything new.

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