Seeking Advice to Improve My Audio System ($1000 Budget)
Hello everyone. I have started collecting physical media (mainly Classical Music, but also some Metal, and older singer/songwriter material) for a few years now, and have built up a collection that is mainly vinyl, but also some CDs. I have slowly built up a stereo system to support it. I am not very knowledgeable with audio equipment and feel like I am drowning in information, and so I have pieced together what there seems to be a consensus around with my budget. So far I have:
Audio Engine A5+ 150 W Speakers
REGA Planar Plus 1 Turntable with built in stage
SMSL PL200 CD Player
I use the RCA port for my turntable, and the aux port for my CD player.
Now I am wondering where I should go with my setup. I want my next investment to be around the $1000 range, but am not sure where to go with it. Should I get a woofer for the speakers and an external preamp for my turntable? Or at this price, am I better off looking for better speakers...or is there another weak point in my system? My main concerns are that the midrange and upper frequencies do sound muddy compared to other systems I have heard (but they aren't terrible) and while the bass isn't bad, it certainly could be enhanced.
As a final question, I am confused when it comes to the pre-amp. I don't quite understand how they work, and I am a bit confused and worried that I would run into an issue with my existing built-in preamp overriding an external one? Any advice?
Just the Rega Carbon MM that came with the table. It's the best sound I've heard produced by vinyl (but I have limited experience with it, I grew up with CDs and my last turntable was a cheap Audio Technica) I have heard it's difficult to swap cartridges on these things. You mentioned a separate integrated amp, would this automatically override the stage in my turntable? What is an example of one of these integrated amps? |
Okay, I think after some digging and from some recommendations on here (thank you to @yyzsantabarbara for a great place to start, you made things a lot easier.) I think I am settling towards saving a bit more and going for:
A Kef LS50 Meta and a Hegel H95. I see endless debate about this being enough to power it, but from what I have read, it seems it would be. And I can always sell upgrade the Hegel in the future, which would pave the way for an upgrade for the speaker. I like the idea of not putting all of my eggs into one basket with a powered speaker.
I have read some say that the Kef needs a subwoofer to get the full range for classical music, and so I think a KC62 will be the the next upgrade for that, but it sure is expensive. Now I have seen some say that there the Kef LS50 is "basically worthless" for Classical without a subwoofer, but I think this is an exaggeration (and that seems common on these forums!) and I gather that although I might lose a bit of bass from my Audio Engine A5+, the bass will be more distinctive, and I should notice a fairly large difference even without the subwoofer.
What do people think of this solution? Am I missing a piece of the puzzle? The price of the Hegel and the Kef would be around $3000 (I think I can find the Hegel for $500 cheaper), does anyone have a strong opinion on there being a better complete solution for that price? |
@gano I have come to learn that this is simply a process of acclamation and trial and error. Everyone has an opinion, some are good, some are bad, but the wide range of often contradictory opinions lead me to have a better knowledge of the names, brands to look for in the future along with a greater understanding of the audio equipment world, of which I knew very little about prior to a few days ago and now I know...well, a bit more!
Same thing happened with learning about classical performances, everyone has a different opinion about this or that conductor or interpretation. The large amount of different opinions give you things to listen for, and ultimately be the judge of yourself. It’s fun! |
@gano from the additional reading and research I’ve done (and goodness much of this can be a time sink! You can get lost in the reading.) that seems to be the consensus, bright and fatiguing. I have come to love looking at the design of the Hegel amps, but I think I should leave them for a future upgrade.
I now have changed course, and coincidentally have come very close to one of the entries listed by @petaluman, which is to go Wharfedale Lintons+Yamaha A-S801. I have found a really good deal on this locally for under $2500 and with a 30 day trial period to audition them. From what I have *read* and looking at the range, it doesn’t seem like this would necessarily need a subwoofer. I am curious to know what you all think of this, particularly re: the lack of a subwoofer and the amp choice before I pull the trigger Regarding comments from @gano and @yoyoyaya on the Rega 1 cart, that definitely seems to be the next upgrade needed after this purchase. Frankly, I don’t think I want to keep this one and upgrade it, there is an occasional buzz/hum that sometimes bothers me, and I don’t like having an integrated preamp. I’ll be looking for a new turntable and cartridge after this, which I imagine involves being brave and learning about cartridge alignment, replacement, etc. I’ve spent a lot of time listening, reading and speaking with others about this hobby already (and will be putting a good chunk of money into it!), I might as well ’get real’ with it. I like what vinyl gives me too much to have a bad sound. |
