ABG Posted August 5, 2014 Posted August 5, 2014 I would like to get some advice from the collective wisdom of SNA about potential upgrade paths for my system. At the moment, it consists of Rogers Studio 1's, some cables I bought from Hi Fi Trader in Newtown about 20 years ago (I can't remember the brand - they're black with a pronounced rib running alongside one of the cable - can't even remember how much I paid for them to give clues as to what they may be, but I reckon it would have been under $200 because I had young kids back then and a (now ex) wife that watched every cent I spent like a hawk), running into an Onkyo Integra M5030 power amp, and an Onkyo Integra P3030 pre amp (circa mid 80's). Sources are either a Dual 604 turntable with an Audio Technica 95E cartridge, or a computer feeding a Peachtree DAC.IT/X1 SPDIF converter (fed with a Teradak power supply). Interconnects are Monster from memory. I listen to a very wide selection of music - Tom Waits, Pixies, Rolling Stones, Paul Kelly, Wilco, Cannonball Adderley, Miles Davis, Christian McBride are on regular rotation, with a reasonable amount of classical music thrown in. I listen to digital more than vinyl, but listen to vinyl as least once a week. The turntable belonged to my grandfather and will never be sold as long as my fundamental orifice points to the ground. It may end up, one day, feeding a second rig, but for now that's my TT. What sound am I looking for? Well, I listened to Macbook Pro hooked up to a Lampi L4 fed to Voxativ Impeggios via some Silk power amps, can't remember the pre. It sounded sublime, but you would expect it to. I would love to achieve that warmth/lushness with the jazz I listen to, but I'm not sure about how a rig would handle something like The Pixies or Smashing Pumpkins thrown at it (didn't get to listen to anything remotely like that during my brief audition). My amps and turntable are with Zaphod at the moment getting an overhaul. Since meeting with him I have a sudden hankering for an ME25/850 combo, which may or may not have anything to do with the blatant sales pitch friendly advice Trevor has been offering (only joking and I'm not saying that just because he's still got my gear . Trevor has been super helpful and friendly, even with someone who has no idea of the dark arts of reproducing high fidelity sound). Total budget for the time being is around 2-3K for now. Would be willing to wait a few months to increase budget if that's deemed prudent. I'm leaning towards an ME25 for now (pending audition in my rig), but am absolutely open to alternative suggestions. I keep getting distracted by some of the 2nd hand gear that comes up in the classifieds here (like these http://www.stereo.net.au/forums/index.php?/topic/69133-fs-transparent-audio-musicwave-plus-speaker-cables-w-spade-connectors-10-foot-length/ for instance). I look forward to receiving your advice.
ABG Posted August 5, 2014 Author Posted August 5, 2014 Forgot to mention, room has no treatment at all and am considering changing that as a first step following Pete Mac's recent helpful thread.
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