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Speaker upgrade question.

Hi all, 
I haven't been here for quite a while as I've been happy with my KEF Reference Three-Twos driven by a Musical Fidelity A308. They're both vintage but they sound great together and fit my somewhat weird room. I'm pondering spending some bucks in the 3-6K range for new (used) speakers and I have a few questions. Thanks ahead of time for anyone who's not too busy to help.
First, would I be  upgrading beyond what my amp is capable of keeping up with? The MF is fairly powerful, but I'm not sure of its limitations since they don't show up in my current system.
Secondly, how high up the price ladder would I need to go before I'd find speakers that offer an obvious improvement over my KEFs to most ears. There would be little point to pony up money for a comparable sound, however much I subjectively prefer subtle differences.
Finally, for reference purposes, can anyone tell me how the following modern speakers might compare or contrast with mine? (Some aren't in my price range, I know) Triton 1R, Kef R7, comparably priced Monitor, Revel, Gato, Paradigm, etc. I wouldn't mind a bit more punch and a bit more bass than I have now, mostly just to experience a different sound - I respect the KEF signature sound.
I know that sometimes it's hard to accept the premises of these types of questions since such matters are so subjective and a lot of folks like to lobby for their favorite brands. I guess I'm not seeking advice about what to buy. I just want to understand the benefit to me of more modern speakers. It's quite possible it makes no sense for me to upgrade.
Thanks again.
Marc
m669326

Showing 15 responses by m669326

m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Thanks!
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Wow, that’s a lot of information. I really appreciate everyone’s perspective.As a courtesy, i usually try to respond to at least part of each post, but this is a lot to assimilate, so for now I will just thank everyone.And do some research, of course. And ponder.
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Thanks, Dan. I'll look into it.
I love doing equipment research, It harkens back to my fond childhood memories of perusing the Sears Roebuck catalog.
M
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Yes, I get that a better DAC would make a bigger difference than what I'm proposing, That makes sense. I'm less sure that my amp end up as a weak link.
And thank you, Daros,  for sharing your experience. Your situation is exactly what I'm trying to head off by posting here. I could easily spend a bunch and get worse or comparable sound, especially since I am no expert about all this. I've heard very few systems; i just read a lot online.
In its day, my speaker was very highly rated by both experts and consumers. I know the tech has moved on. What I don't know is how much the sound has.
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
I use Deezer because it has far more choices in the genres I prefer. 
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
I’ll check out the Salks.
For what it’s worth, my DAC uses a burr – brown PCM 1792a chip. Are there any people out there who know the quality of this and how important the chip is versus the rest of the DAC?I’m sure this question actually belongs in another part of the forum, but what the hell. Here we are.
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Deezer has hi-fi too. My understanding is that it’s comparable to the others?
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
A realization: I think I'm hoping to get talked out of upgrading, either by people lauding what I have, discussing a lack of progress in sound evolution, telling me my room is hopeless, or pointing out my cluelessness and the likelihood of me doing something foolish.
When money comes in, I start brainstorming what to do with it, and music is one of my top life priorities.
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Raindog: that speaks to me.
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Thanks. I like floorstanding speakers, I use an Audioengine D2 wireless/DAC (I had to save $ somewhere), with Deezer streaming (kind of like Tidal) from a Mac. I'm wary of subs (still traumatized from an earlier ill-fated adventure). The room is large, oddly shaped, with high, slanted ceilings and a wall of huge windows across from the speaker placement -- very much not ideal, and not fixable due to other factors. There's thick carpeting, thank god. I also can't place the speakers more than a foot or so from the wall and the listening seat is within a foot and a half from a wall of window behind it. Each speaker has a slightly complex wall/not wall behind it. I wish the room and our furniture were more flexible.
Despite all that, surprisingly, my system sounds great to my ears. I would not have looked at the room and thought that was possible. Perhaps it's the front ports or the KEF tweeter deal. I don't know.
I listen to a great variety of music, but not modern pop or electronic or the like. Aesthetically. I'm a traditionalist who's willing to bend if the sound warrants it. My KEFs have beautiful cherry veneer which, coincidentally, matches other stuff nearby.
When you say the new KEF References or, presumably, the Golden Ears will sound different, can you tell me more about that? Unfortunately, while I don't quite live in the middle of nowhere, there's nowhere close byto audition equipment. When and if I get serious, I'll take a trip.
Thanks again!
M
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Sorry for all the posts today. I've got time on my hands.
What about adding a KEFKube sub to my current system? A dumb idea? I only listen to music. Would this change what I hear in any significant way? Would it be a hassle (like last time I tried this with other equipment)?
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Hi all. Thanks for your input.
Rodge: It's a large, weird room with no real corners, lots of open areas, a wall of glass, a thick rug, and a complex slanting ceiling. The walls are veneered plywood. So basically it's a crap room for audio and there's nothing much I can do about it, Otherwise, it's a wonderful room with a fantastic view.
Tomic: can you tell me more about your post. Assume I'm an idiot, which I mostly am about all this.
Another question: I'm using the wireless Audioengine devices because physical wires from my Mac to my amp would be a mess in my room, and the DAC in them is decent, if not at a level that matches the rest of the system. So if I upgrade the DAC, I have to let go of the nearly lossless wireless function. Is there a solution to this?
Ijerens: thank you. That info is very helpful and may be what guides me the most in the end.
I'll look into the Moabs, of course.
m

m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
I just read your post, Terry. It sounds like a great idea, but I'm intimidated by it. Would I be likely to find someone who can do the work? What are the odds someone would screw it up?
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
The Moabs are monstrous! (Not wife-friendly, even if I liked the looks).
m669326's avatar
m669326 OP
330 posts
 
Okay, here are my thoughts.
I've never heard of modern open baffle speakers. Interesting reading. I didn't know anything could take the room out of the picture that way. I didn't mention that we do a lot of off-axis listening, so perhaps they wouldn't work for me (and KEFs do), but my god, what a sound you could get for $900, huh? Also, it seems as if this type of speaker needs more space behind it than I can manage.
Here's yet another question. (Feel free to stop catering to all my Marc-centric concerns whenever you want to.) There's a consensus out there, I gather, that my wireless DAC is the weak link in my chain. What is an upgraded alternative that covers both bases under 2K? I ended up with the Audiophile because, at the time, it was all I could find (while operating under a more modest budget, it's true.) And reviewers were generally impressed with the DAC part, at least in its price range. I don't think I'm tuned in to the importance of upscale DACs. I've viewed them as an indulgence and they're probably not. 
M

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