SEEKING ADVICE: Which component would you upgrade first?


This is my first post, so take it easy on me!

I have a modest analog system and would like to get recommendations on which component you would upgrade first for the biggest impact. Please use the existing components as a gauge for my budget (+/- a few hundo).

About me: I'm music lover. I'm a musician and recording engineer. I have a decent collection of old and new records, CDs, and tapes, which I listen to regularly. I appreciate good sounding recordings and have the experience to identify good and bad, but I'm not interested in mortgaging my home to upgrade my system.

 

THE RIG

Receiver: Pioneer SX-680

Turntable: Pioneer PL-112D

Speakers: Yamaha NS-1 and Pioneer HPM-100

lukasread

@benanders 

the spindle spinner site is down. For $175 I found it a very costly deal compared to actual "standalone" mess and sink-free and vacuuming record cleaner

Hello, You are good. I would build up the money. I like the idea of a steamer but would buy an older BlueSound node 2i for $250. Here is the problem. The services will be more money unless you have an Amazon Prime account or a Spotify account already. My fear about you going to the NAD c3050 is I don’t think you will like the phono stage as much as your Pioneer. The cartridge and headshell idea is great but I would save up for at least a Hans SL. They do go on sale but does not include a headshell. I really doubt you will listen to your old cartridge once you go to the Hana. Save your money for now so you do not go down the rabbit hole. I think the cartridge will be first as long as your Pioneer can play moving coil cartridges. If not it does come as. Hana SH which will play in a moving magnet input. I hope this helped. What you should be asking a couple of these posters is what cheap tweaks can I do. Magester is a genius at this. There are guys here who have systems that don’t cost a lot but sound amazing according to them. I will take their word since I’m pretty sure they have heard expensive systems. 

grislybutter

2,064 posts

 

@benanders 

the spindle spinner site is down. For $175 I found it a very costly deal compared to actual "standalone" mess and sink-free and vacuuming record cleaner

 

@grislybutter and @lukasread note the clarification: I was not suggesting that particular model as it’s absurdly (IMO) expensive. Please note note the suggestion I led with:

”…there are cheap, solid solutions from AliExpress and the like:

They work excellent for less than $15-20 shipped, maybe more now as I haven’t checked in a while.

The link I provided was just for illustrative purposes as it was first up on a google image search. I didn’t look at the price of that particular model. I’m glad you brought up the link’s price @grislybutter , as I’d certainly not suggest paying more than a couple dozen bucks, at most, for such a simple and cheaply made device.