2. amps-preamps
  3. 1024119539

What should I upgrade next?

I want to spend about 1,000-1,500 but I do not know where start. Suggestions are greatly appreciated.

Current system:
Preamp\ Adcom GTP 500II
Amp\ 1-NAD 2700 & 1 NAD 2600a
CD\ Nakamichi CDC 3A
EQ\ Numark 2250
Sub\ Velodyne ULD 15II
Speakers\ ADS M12
speaker wires Exos 6003w
IC\ Audioquest Turquise, Monster interlink 850 and Esoterik airlitz Tech.1

I am thinking of a Bat VK20 tube pre amp or Maggie 1.6 or 2.6R speakers. Maybe audiorevelution IC? I look to spend about $1500 twice a year in this hobby.

thanks help good or bad I can take it.
lance328

Showing 2 responses by sugarbrie

sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
This is a tough one. I believe if you do upgrade the speakers first, they will quickly reveal the shortcomings of your basically fine but still Mid-Fi preamp, amplifiers and CD source. Or you may pick the wrong speakers, for the same reason; basically that they sound good with your current electronics.

For $1500 you could get an excellent used preamp and power amp combination that would be a good base to upgrade the speakers later. You could always try to borrow some gear to see if you notice the improvement with your current speakers.

Since you mention tubes, you could pick up a something like a Conrad Johnson PV-10 preamp for around $600 and get a nice solid state amplifier and some good cables to link them together with the rest. Possible candidates for an amp would be a Conrad Johnson MF2100, or MF2300, or a McCormack DNA 0.5 or 1.0.

sugarbrie
3,854 posts
 
All you who are saying if you were going to build a system you would start with the speakers are totally missing the point. The original poster just wants to do one upgrade; not completely rebuild the whole system.


Sure; if I always wanted a pair of Nautilus 802s, I would start with them and then choose the electronics. But if I already have a system and can only do one upgrade, what good is a great pair of speakers being driven by inferior electronics? It would sound like hell.

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