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My System....where to start on the upgrade path

I’ve been in this hobby for only 2 years, so I have much to learn. I have questions about my overall system and didn’t know where to post them so I thought I’d give this forum a try. I read many of the forum comments on a weekly basis but I don’t post often because I haven’t felt that I had a solid enough background to share my opinion. I do have a very good ear, so I don’t mind sharing something I’ve heard if I think it sounded especially good.

I have decided that something is my system is lacking. I want the music to open up more. I want the various instruments to stand out more. I like listening to music at low levels, but I want to be able to raise the volume to real world levels and still retain that separation without the music sounding “jumbled” As you can see I don’t know all the proper audiophile terms so please just bare with me.

System:
Acoustic Zen Adagio speakers
Pathos Classic MKIII integrated with Electro-Harmonix 6922EH tubes
Cambridge 840c CD player
Thoren TD-160 HD turntable(modified by George Merrill
Ortofon AS-212S Tonearm
Dynavector 20X Cartridge
Sutherland PhD MC phono preamplifier
Ginko Cloud Audio Vibration platform(turntable)
Acoustic Zen Satori Speaker Cables
Acoustic Zen Wow interconnects
Bruce Brisson’s Giant Killer power conditioner( I can’t hear the difference with it)
Room: 23’7” x 15’4” x 9’3”
Speakers are along the short wall.
4 large plate glass windows along one of the long walls can be covered by heavy blackout Roman shades.
Glass sliding doors on the short wall opposite the speakers can be covered with heavy blackout drapes.
Heavy rugs on the Pergo covered concrete floor
Lots of upholstered furniture

Will tube rolling in the Pathos make a dramatic difference?
Amp-speaker match-up?

I’m trying to figure out where to start. I feel like I need more bass.
I know that this is painted with a broad brush, but if I can gets some good feedback, then maybe I can ask some more specific questions. Thanks Catfishbob
catfishbob
acoustat6
357 posts
 
Rrog said, "I always find it intersting when another expert audiophile gives advice whose system is not setup properly. It all sounds good until the system photo is viewed."

Rrog, you "talk" alot and give plenty of advice. Lets see your system.
Bob
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Acoustat6, Show us your system first. I promise not to laugh.
acoustat6
357 posts
 
NO, I asked you first. And you said, "I always find it intersting when another expert audiophile gives advice whose system is not setup properly. It all sounds good until the system photo is viewed."

Come clean.

Bob
rrog
1,958 posts
 
Acoustat6, My system is an iPod with audiophile grade earbuds.
Ag insider logo xs@2x
knownothing
1,539 posts
 
1. How can different people hear different things from different components listening to the same system in the same room? Perhaps these people have heard some of the gear previously and have a clear idea in their mind's ear what it should sound like, and are hearing new things up or down stream as a result of the unfamiliar piece in the system. Or they are full of horse pucky...

2. Harbeths definitely are voiced differently than the Adagios. I like Harbeth's, but some think they are overly warm and euphonious in the mids, and that their resonant cabinets make all recordings start to sound the same - like the box. Others bliss out on all the musicality. You should give a listen in your system if you can - I suggest the Compact 7's.
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