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

@carlyleciv 

I hope you have an opportunity to go to stores, shows, other homes (is there an audiophile club in your area?) to hear a broad range of speakers.  The fact is that not everyone wants the same things from their sound system.  When I first started in this hobby/lifestyle, I had a friend that was a drummer.  After listening to every speaker he could find in the area, he bought his dream speakers and they are truly legendary - the Rogers LS3/5A.  They're still in production ~50 years later.  They're also tiny standmounts, use a 4.5" woofer, and feature a well-designed bass "hump" to get semi-decent low frequency extension.  However, what he wanted most was speakers that imaged properly and I have yet to hear speakers that I would swear better the LS3/5A in that aspect.

Most speaker makers will sell 1 or more standmount and tower type speakers.  Many of the larger, more established brands will have more than 1 line - reference and standard, maybe even home theater or wall-mount variations.  For example, KEF has Q ("affordable Hi-Fi"), R ("performance redefined"), Reference ("detail remastered") lines, plus more.  The LS50 is not part of any line, as it's too refined for Q, and lacks the bass performance required of an R.  While you might not end up preferring the KEF sound, hearing comparable speakers from the Q and R ranges (or any other maker with a similar model profile) might help you decide how far up-market you need to go to be satisfied.

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!

Check out the innous Zin Mini MK III. Burn your CDs to a hard drive streamer. It organized my CD collection with album label icons. Also you can stream Deezer, Title, Qobuz and other providers. Play internet radio too.  You can play any album as create play lists. The sound quality is excellent.

Try to find a used pair of Tyler Acoustics or Fritz speakers within your budget. Tylers are often available used for less than $1200 and they will smoke any $1000 speaker from a big name like KEF.

 

https://www.usaudiomart.com/details/650165989-tyler-acoustics-u2-coax-monitor-pair/

Other than speakers, the best value upgrade would be to invest in room treatments, if you haven’t already.