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What should i upgrade next?

about a year ago i upgraded my speakers to the Thiel 6s (which i love). As soon as i got them though it was clear that i was going to have to upgrade my other equipment. At this point i can only get away with one piece per year (on the used market) so i'm now ready to make the plunge again. The rest of my existing system is:

Conrad Johnson 2300 amp
Conrad Johnson Pv12 Pre-amp
Meridian 506.20 Cd player
Linn Basik (not thinking of upgrading...don't listen to enough vinyl anymore)
Cardas Golden Cross cabling

I was thinking of going all Tube on the amp and so have been considering the Sonic Frontiers Power 3s but i'm curious if people think improving either the cd player or pre-amp would make a bigger difference in sound. In cd players i'd be considering the meridian 508.24 (i've also heard the Electrocompaniet which i also liked but probably can't afford though i would be interested in comparing it side by side to the Meridian). For my ears, the Meridians sound warm and "musical."

anyway, i've gotten great feedback to other questions (as well as purchasing both the Thiel 6s and the Conrad Johnson PV12 through Audiogon) so any suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

dkonstruction
sbank's avatar
sbank
3,378 posts
 
Dk,
I'll chime in in support of tube amps! But with the load of the Thiels, you'll need PLENTY of power & current. Haven't heard much about the Sonic Frontiers model you're thinking of, but others to consider have to include Audio Research & VTL(e.g. 225 monoblocks). If your system tends in the direction of too laid back, the hybrid AR models like Classic 120 monoblocks might be a great match.

Also, I second POPS comments on the CJ Premier preamps, the Premier 10 being another one that should be big step up, but @ lower cost than the other newer ones.
Keep us posted! Spencer
mp19
5 posts
 
I have a cj premier 11 that I use with Theil 1.5's, and really love the sound (though I'm still fine tuning). I think a tube amp would amaze you, if you're anything like me, but I suspect you'll need to bi-amp, or lay out big money for Premier 12. Btw, I'm pretty jealous of your speakers. Have fun, Mark
dkonstruction OP
20 posts
 
thanks for the tip mark. i do love the sound of the Thiels and the CJ equipment. As for the speakers, they are a dream. Has taken me nearly 20 years to get here. started with a used pair of the Thiel 3.5s then moved up to the 3.6s (mainly because i couldn't find a pair of the 6s at a price i could afford). Have patience and buy used). i've gotten most of my recent stuff through audiogon. For the speakers i was looking for someone selling close enough so i could pick them up (wound up picking them up outside of Phili a couple of hours from me in NYC). Took several years but finally someone was selling a year old pair for $3800.00. Facturing in the sale of my then current 3.6s it was something i could swing. Now i've gotta start looking at used CJ pre-amps again (as well as considering the cabling and isolation suggestions others have posted.

thanks again.
hatfield
20 posts
 
I run the PV-12al w/ a Premier 11a and absolute love the combo. Prior to the Premier 11a, I had a MF-2250. Although it was powerful enough to run stubborn speakers, I felt it had a slight grain, which to my ears, sounded harsh and fatiguing - but I will say it was great for rock!

The switch to the Premier 11a really opened things up. Wide sound staging, full mids, wonderful dynamics and solid bottom end that really keeps the pace. Any grain or harshness that was present disappeared.

I would actually love to hear the PV12/P11a paired w/ the Thiel 6's, but MP19's right on... you may need to step up to the Premier 12's or better yet, the Premier 8's

Have a blast!
Hat
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