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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 2 responses by jrareform

jrareform's avatar
jrareform
64 posts
 

If you're unsatisfied with the sound your system is providing, yes speakers would be the most significant upgrade.

Do you live in an area with audio dealers or with a solid craigslist / FB marketplace?  If you really want to stay under $1000 and get the best possible bang for your buck, I'd highly recommend trying to find some used active speakers that are in your price range.  The Focal CMS range are professional monitors but will accept an XLR or RCA input and will blow away your current speakers.  I see them going for like $700 a pair for CMS 65s, the larger ones.  These things will absolutely crush your current setup and if you boost the bass, they actually hit below 40 hz pretty solidly.  

Otherwise, some used active KEFs (meta wireless) or other actives could be a straight steal for you.

Then buy a wiim ultra for around $300 and you suddenly have come into the 21st century with a solid streamer and super solid speakers.

Best of luck OP!  Don't think you need to spend insane money to get good sound.  You just have to open up your search to used, or find local dealers that can give you solid discounts and trial periods on gear.  Don't just buy something off the internet because people say it's good.  Test it in your room on your system!!!

jrareform's avatar
jrareform
64 posts
 

OP, I'm glad you decided to do some trialing instead of just purchasing something based on someone else's experience.  I highly recommend you start looking at used components as well though.  A new system is going to cost twice as much to get the same value.  And actives will keep you from going down the amplifier rabbit hole.

Just my two cents.  Get something that's within the last 5-10 years old and try it in your system.  Best of luck to you!

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