Upgrading from Primaluna


Recently went down the front end upgrade path and am running a nice table and phono now. I'm curious as to what the weaker link in my system is between my Primaluna Dialogue Premium Preamp and my Dialogue Premium Hp Power Amp. I'm considering swapping out the amp to a Ps Audio BHK250 for the summer to avoid heat, but am curious if I would be better off dealing with the heat and moving up to say an Allnic L-7000/Arc Ref 3 for the Pre. I'm happy with tubes on the front end, but curious if I'm running out of gas with 88DB efficient speakers and a single chassis tube amp. Which amp would you upgrade first and what benefits would you expect?

j-wall

Showing 4 responses by tablejockey

" 10ft width and 15ft length so 6ft between speakers and 2 ft from side walls is all I've really got."

With not much to work with other than it is a dedicated space, it suggests almost nearfield setup and those Sopras need to be pushed out 4.5ft away from the front wall, and your already sidewall is near "right"(depending how your measuring)it's actually CLOSER together.

http://www.cardas.com/room_setup_calculators.php

Using the 1/3  it would be around  5' or Cardas calculation above. You should have your chair distanced accordingly.

Rack needs to go either behind you or somewhere on the side.

Depending how those speakers react THEN, is what you're faced with. The DSP thing with a mic to "tell you" what your ears are "missing."  wouldn't invest in anything until you compare results and consult with the room acoustics companies.

You have a Sopra 1 and subs room perhaps to some. IMO, you still will  get the Sopra 2's to "work."

Based on the profile pics, your speaker setup and room are far from ideal to hear what your setup can do.

After that, get a "better" table/ phono amp. It starts at the source. 

Your Focals/PL gear will support far "better" table/ phono amp.

When your wallet recovers, revisit the "should I upgrade the amp" idea and double what you paid for the PL stuff.

j-wall-

looks like you have the gear handled.

Room/speaker setup looks compromised-diffusion/damping and giving those Sopras room to breath in that small room appears to be the challenge.

Don't forget the ceiling-often neglected-diffuse/damp with panels.

 

 

Good gear vs expectations vs small room and that buildout on the right side.

You've got challenges. Don't expect demo room performance.

I would try the 1/3 concept.  It's free and most certainly, Sopras WILL sound more "airy" 4-5' out. Your seat will be approximately same from rear wall. Embrace(almost) nearfield listening. Less room interaction.

Now tapping out. I have no qualifications in room acoustics/physics.

You're doing haphazard room treatment without the mic/computer exercise to verify what you think you are or are not missing.