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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?

carlyleciv

Showing 1 response by deep_333

deep_333
1,910 posts
 

$1000 only these days.....??

Step a) Your current speaker is terrible/terrifying. Move it into the garage or deck for casual listening with bluetooth or something.

Step b) Get a pair of these Tekton Lore Ref speakers for $810.  It is a 96db sensitive speaker with some good extension, clarity, midrange, etc. You will understand it better when you start listening to it.

https://tektondesign.com/product/full-range-speakers/mid-towers/lore-reference/#color

Step c) Get this fosi audio za3 amp for $150. Plug your cd player and turntable into it.

https://fosiaudio.com/products/fosi-audio-za3-balanced-dual-mode-class-d-amplifier?variant=45459725746406

Sum total  = $960,  

 

Step d) When you have a bit more cash later, get this subwoofer from verafi audio, verafi caldera 10 subwoofer for $200. Plug it into the sub-out of the fosi amp...and move it around in the room, till it clicks in place sonically.

https://verafiaudiollc.com/products/vanguard-caldera-10-active-subwoofer?srsltid=AfmBOoos2uSKrycUMjpCKWG4aC37eZV3TuJpbiId_ggTCe79Odi66xEV

Sum total = $1160

Above mentioned steps should make your music a lot more enjoyable.

 

I want my next investment to be around the $1000 range, but am not sure where to go with it. 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

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