What, if any, component to upgrade? Advice?

Dedicated line(s)-power conditoning-isolation/rack and room treatments are essential for your system to reach its potential. Since your budget is only $1K have a dedicated line installed($200)-Hospital grade receptacle($50) and a RSA-Elgar($500+used). With around $250 left get your feet wet and look for some used minor room treatments. I do believe a cpd/transport needs an isolation platform not just footers. I'm getting great results with a Gregitek Stab 1.

Hi,

In all honesty, I'm not going to invest in power conditioning or dedicated lines. I have my components on a Salamander rack, as I've always had, for the cd transport and a Mapleshade block for the amp. I truly appreciate the way-more-diverse-than-I'm-used-to advice on power conditioning and room treatments and such, but if I'm going to replace a part, it's going to be a component. I mean, I know enough about standing waves, diffraction, and such to use walls, corners, spacing, potted plants, etc. to enhance the sound.

So, it looks as if the amp is what most are saying to replace with one with a higher wattage. Okay. Sounds good. I'm somewhat surprised that the Rotel wasn't the first to go. Does a better CD player make that much of a difference?

Thank you as always,

s

Your Rotel cdp punches way above its price. I use an older Rotel as a transport to a newer DAC, it works very well for this. A couple of people have suggested a DAC, and I agree also. Your speakers are very sensitive and is a good match for your Sophia, which is also a good amp... Maybe a DACit from Peachtree, or Micromega dac might fit the bill? These are both very highly rated dacs.

simao, you speak of wanting more "presence", thus i'm surprised that no one has suggested adding a sub--your monitors only extend down to 60hz or so and might benefit from more low-end depth. hsu subs are awesome for the price, i also like mirage and svs.

Loomis - i do have a good old ML Descent; unfortunately, the Sophia doesn't have a sub/pre-out. But good call on that one, though.

Mik - thanks for the advice on the Rotel. I'd heard raves about it before I bought it and snapped one up when it came up on Agon. I think I'll be going the DAC route after all. Thank you for helping solidify that decision.

simao