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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 zlone

zlone
880 posts
 

It is tough to break away from active speakers on a budget, as the whole chain has to be replaced. Staying within your budget, here is a system that will be a big upgrade over your current setup.

I have only heard ELAC speakers at an audio show, but I was always impressed with the sound, a great value. There are several models that will work for you, these have a front port which gives you some placement options.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_970DB62/ELAC-Debut-2-0-B6-2.html?tp=186

An integrated amp will give you the best bang for your buck. I restarted my audio journey with NAD, and it served me well. There are other options, but this is a pretty decent unit. It even has a phono amp built in which may be an improvement.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_745C316V2/NAD-C316BEE-V2.html?cc=07

And you will need some speaker cables, Blue Jeans has a good product:

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

These are all new products, you might be able go up the line with these brands by buying used. Check out hifishark for scouting used gear. 
 

 

 

 

zlone
880 posts
 

I owned a pair of the KEF LS50’s and they are awesome speakers, however I think that the H95 is a bit underpowered for them. They are a challenging load for an amp and require some current. Hegel is still a good choice, but I would go used and try to go up the chain a bit. A used Musical Fidelity M6si is a decent choice as well.

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