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Where to go from here...

Hi all,

First time poster here but long time lurker.  Just a bit history, then my questions.  Like many, I've re-kindled an old interest in audio and over the past decade been purchasing (and reselling) a lot of gear and having a lot of fun.  Started with vintage receivers, then separates, then some more modern gear, and now modernish tube gear.  Have about 5 systems running now (my kids love me they have nice gear in their rooms).

My main system consists of the following:
Sonos ZP90 (streaming flac files from NAS, online music, etc)
VPI Aries (JMW 12.5, Ortofon Cadenza Black)
McIntosh C2300
McIntosh MEN220
Bob Carver LLC Black Beauty 305 monoblocks
JBL 250ti
Audeze LCD-XC headphones
full set of BJC cables

I ran into WAF issues on room treatments, and thus the MEN220 which I really like even though it's a big digital computer.  Music is mostly classic rock with some acoustic folk.  Volume moderate to occasional high.  50/50 digital/analog as source.  Room is approx. 18X35X10, one of those big kitchen/dining/family room things that are so popular today.  No video here, just music.

I'm pretty happy with this system and like the sound.  It sounds a lot clearer than my best vintage system (Pioneer SX-1280 with JBL L-220s) which sounds pretty good itself.  I hear things in the music I've never heard before.  I have a few friends who like audio, but they are pretty scarce in my social circles and while I have heard some good systems I've not heard anything outside a showroom that really sounded better than mine.  That probably says more about my social circles than my system though.

I posted in speakers but I'm really open to broader opinions.  What is the weakest link(s) here?  I understand that audio is subjective and no one else has this exact system. I suspect my Sonos needs some attention at some point as digital source, that is on my radar.  The only upgrade I've done that yielded no benefit I could hear was the BJC copper.  The cables are prettier but I can't hear anything different.   While I love the JBLs, they are the only vintage components left and I've heard improvements in most situations when I either switched to more modern gear or rebuilt old gear.

I've thought about looking for modern speakers and subs, and using the MEN as crossover.  The Carvers and JBLs sure do rock though so   Am I (gasp) done? :)

I work for a living so money is a constraint.

Thanks!
dpgaloot
french_fries
815 posts
 
speakers first (naturally).  but if rock/pop is what you love the most, maybe not.  the recordings aren't that good (for the most part) anyway.
but if you LOVE Blue-Note jazz, or string quartets, etc. then yes, that's a good place to start.  Try listening to Eggleston Andra speakers (ver.1, 2, or 3) or similar speakers (Joseph Audio, Aerial Acoustics, B&W, many others) and hear much more going on as well as a better integration between the different drivers.  If you have the space and DON'T need POW-POW (dynamics), Magniplanars are ridiculously good speakers.
jamnesta
155 posts
 
French_fries has made some good suggestions, hopefully others will chime in. I see that your vintage JBL's have a lot of devotees and seem to be particularly suited to your listening tastes. You have some great gear, maybe you are done.
unplugged
2 posts
 
Lurker... welp, right at home.
inna
7,296 posts
 
Whether you are done or in the very beginning depends on many elements including cost. How can we advise without knowing anything? You work for a living or steal for a living or print money - this doesn't matter here, in this respect we accomodate anyone.
dpgaloot OP
3 posts
 
Thanks for the responses.  French_fries I made some notes, you mentioned some gear I had not heard of before.  I did some googling and will continue to follow up.  I'm planning on attending Rocky Mountain Audio Fest in October (my first ever event like this) and hope to go in with some good questions and things to look for.

Inna I'd have thought I gave too much information, not inadequate information.  My budget is flexible in the league I'm in, let's say I could spend $12-15K on speakers, new or used.  I could also budget $2-4K for a better digital source.  My question is really about what would fit with my overall system and listening habits.  I'm not going to replace the entire system, and I doubt I'll ever have over $30-40K in it (I bought it all used).  Wilson Audio is just down the road from me, I've heard their gear but I don't know that even if I could lay my hands on a pair of their $150K speakers that my system would do them justice.  I also doubt that given my listening habits that their gear would be right for me regardless of price, but I've only listened to it in environments where cranking up Boston would not exactly fly. 

French_fries brings up an issue that is at the heart of my question, my music choices.  I completely agree that the quality of source material in three chord rock is not the same quality as in other genres, and given that rock is most of what I listen to I don't want a system that isn't well suited.  I don't want a Porsche to get the kids from soccer, so to speak.  Nothing against 8W amps and big horns, I've heard some that sound great.  But not when playing "Gone Away" by The Offspring. :)  I read about these $100K+ systems that sound amazing, but I wonder if they are being built for different music.  I wasn't being flippant when I asked if I am done, I really wonder if my source material becomes my weakest link at some point.  I can't fix that.

I can arrange to hear the  Magniplanars  and B&W locally through friends of friends.  I'll go do that.  Thanks again for the direction.

--
dpgaloot


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