I think your Rega arm and dac may be the weakest links. I upgraded a Rega arm about as far as I could, but when I moved to Origin Live replacements, it made a huge difference. IMO, the old Rega arm is good, but entry-level, no matter what you do to it. As others have pointed out, digital has made greater strides in the last decades than analogue.
"Vintage" high end gear vs new and upgrade path?
I'm pondering a couple issues that relate to each other. Let's start with vintage vs new part. The system is ripped straight from the 90's but was pretty much a Stereophile "A" class setup in its day. Here it is:
Issue 2: Despite improvements in digital I'm also skeptical about how much real sonic improvement there has been in high end DACs, especially when it gets beyond 24b/96khz source material (system above is good up to 24/96). I'm also skeptical about the claimed improvements from DSD over PCM, so I'm ignoring that for the time being. Obviously connectivity, music servers, the digital audio chain and computer anything has improved greatly and is vastly cheaper than in 1995. But how far does that actually extend to the sonics? My sense is not so much.
At the end of the day I'm interested in any upgrade(s) that would create a real, hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck improvement without spending $10k. But I've convinced myself that so much of what I read about would be only yield an incremental sonic improvement, and maybe even a downgrade. I need a strategy - which might just be "leave it alone and just enjoy." Any comments welcome, thanks.
- Rega P3 with numerous upgrades & Exact 2 cartridge (new)
- Threshold FET10/pc phono preamp,
- Sonic Frontiers SFT-1 => Assemblage D2D-1 ==> SFD-2 Mk3
- Krell KBL preamp (recapped) ==> ML No. 332 amp (recapped)
- Maggie MGIIIa's (recent factory rebuild)
- Music server (repurposed HP server) w/ Asus Xonar card feeding D2D-1
Issue 2: Despite improvements in digital I'm also skeptical about how much real sonic improvement there has been in high end DACs, especially when it gets beyond 24b/96khz source material (system above is good up to 24/96). I'm also skeptical about the claimed improvements from DSD over PCM, so I'm ignoring that for the time being. Obviously connectivity, music servers, the digital audio chain and computer anything has improved greatly and is vastly cheaper than in 1995. But how far does that actually extend to the sonics? My sense is not so much.
At the end of the day I'm interested in any upgrade(s) that would create a real, hair-on-the-back-of-your-neck improvement without spending $10k. But I've convinced myself that so much of what I read about would be only yield an incremental sonic improvement, and maybe even a downgrade. I need a strategy - which might just be "leave it alone and just enjoy." Any comments welcome, thanks.
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- 27 posts total
I have to agree with many of the thoughts here. I do see a huge difference in Digital I feel its just much better now then years ago. but that said 'ive actualy had a feeling for the last few years that my system was just too clinical and lost the music some how. I've sold my AudioNote M2B pre, some rather nice 45 tube based mono blocks ( just not enough power imo at 2w)and my AudioNote ANE speakers and picked up some used Living Voice Avatar 2's (94db)and found a vintage Luxman (japan only 100v) L560 Integrated 50wc pure class A amp. I've sold my Oracle Delphi mk3 with the Rega rb600 and build up a Garrard 301 with a wood plinth and new Jelco 12inch arm. i'm using my Van Den Hull MC10 still as I like it. i'm now listening to music way more then I have in years. and to be honest that 1986 vintage Luxman blows the doors off my friends $25k custom tube mono blocks (300B based 18wc) the tube amps sound wonderful don't get me wrong but they just lack drive and toe taping enjoyment. So i'm running a 50+ year old turntable and a 20+ year old amp. Oh I run a pioneer HZ-1 Head amp, into the lux's mm section, that's almost 20 years old as well. http://www.thevintageknob.org/pioneer-H-Z1.html http://www.thevintageknob.org/luxman-L-560.html http://www.dasacoustic.com/en/gallery/g301-two-tonearm-version/ (basically i'm running this plinth and a grease bearing 301 with the Jelco 12" 750l) I've never been happier, i may not have the ultimate detail but i have musicality in spades i'm not listening to the equipment anymore i'm listening to the music... Glen |
- 27 posts total