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#1
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Need upgrade advice for my setup
Hi all,
I currently have a Cambridge Audio D500SE CD player, a Marantz SR4120 stereo receiver and a pair of JM Lab Chrous 706 bookshelfs. I recently moved from Austin to San Francisco, and consequently my listening room has shrunk somewhat. Perhaps it is the change in the room acoustics, but I have sort of got weary of the sound and find myself switching off the system after a fairly short span. I think I would like to start upgrading my components one at a time. Number one on my list is to replace the stereo receiver with an intergrated amp (since I never use the tuner section) or perhaps a power/pre-amp combo. However, I don't need a monster of a power amp, since my speakers are not too demanding and I am a little wary of overdriving them. I was wondering if you guys could give me some recommendations for either an integrated unit, or a pre/power combo. Ideally I would not like to spend more than $450-$500 on either option and I am completely open to buying. Thanks, Anuj |
#2
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Correction to the last line - "I am completely open to buying used
equipment." "Schizoid Man" wrote in message news:... Hi all, I currently have a Cambridge Audio D500SE CD player, a Marantz SR4120 stereo receiver and a pair of JM Lab Chrous 706 bookshelfs. I recently moved from Austin to San Francisco, and consequently my listening room has shrunk somewhat. Perhaps it is the change in the room acoustics, but I have sort of got weary of the sound and find myself switching off the system after a fairly short span. I think I would like to start upgrading my components one at a time. Number one on my list is to replace the stereo receiver with an intergrated amp (since I never use the tuner section) or perhaps a power/pre-amp combo. However, I don't need a monster of a power amp, since my speakers are not too demanding and I am a little wary of overdriving them. I was wondering if you guys could give me some recommendations for either an integrated unit, or a pre/power combo. Ideally I would not like to spend more than $450-$500 on either option and I am completely open to buying. Thanks, Anuj |
#3
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Schizoid Man wrote:
Hi all, I currently have a Cambridge Audio D500SE CD player, a Marantz SR4120 stereo receiver and a pair of JM Lab Chrous 706 bookshelfs. I recently moved from Austin to San Francisco, and consequently my listening room has shrunk somewhat. Perhaps it is the change in the room acoustics, but I have sort of got weary of the sound and find myself switching off the system after a fairly short span. I think I would like to start upgrading my components one at a time. Number one on my list is to replace the stereo receiver with an intergrated amp (since I never use the tuner section) or perhaps a power/pre-amp combo. However, I don't need a monster of a power amp, since my speakers are not too demanding and I am a little wary of overdriving them. snip I'm no expert, but if you have grown tired of the sound of your current system, I would think that changing speakers would make the most sense. Replacing the other components first would probably result in a very minor, and probably imperceptible change in the sound. I'd change speakers first, if you're looking for a different sound. Jeff |
#4
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I recommend sticking with your plan here and replacing only the
receiver with an integrated amplifier. You can get a small integrated vacuum ytube amp for your budget. Jolida makes about the most affordable little tube amps and they sound very nice. They even have a small hybrid that is only $350 new. It only has about 20wpc, but sounds very sweet. You can listen to that system all night. The CD player is actually quite sweet. The speakers can be, but need a really good or rather warm amp to sound best as they are very revealing. The combination of this warm little amp and those revealing speakers will reward you with very good sound. -Bill www.uptownaudio.com Roanoke VA (540) 343-1250 "Schizoid Man" wrote in message ... Hi all, I currently have a Cambridge Audio D500SE CD player, a Marantz SR4120 stereo receiver and a pair of JM Lab Chrous 706 bookshelfs. I recently moved from Austin to San Francisco, and consequently my listening room has shrunk somewhat. Perhaps it is the change in the room acoustics, but I have sort of got weary of the sound and find myself switching off the system after a fairly short span. I think I would like to start upgrading my components one at a time. Number one on my list is to replace the stereo receiver with an intergrated amp (since I never use the tuner section) or perhaps a power/pre-amp combo. However, I don't need a monster of a power amp, since my speakers are not too demanding and I am a little wary of overdriving them. I was wondering if you guys could give me some recommendations for either an integrated unit, or a pre/power combo. Ideally I would not like to spend more than $450-$500 on either option and I am completely open to buying. Thanks, Anuj |
#5
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I've got the agree with Mike and Jeff here. The first thing you should
be thinking about is chaning the location of the speakers, you'd be surprised what a difference it can make. If moving them isn't giving you the desired result, think about replacing the speakers before anything else. The debates will never die, but the truth of the matter is that the human ear isn't sensitive enough to notice the usually *very* tiny differences between amps and processors or between varying CD players. The speakers, however, make a MASSIVE difference. Think about exactly what it is you aren't liking about the system. Is it to bright or to dull? Is there to much mid or not enough? Etc...Once you can idnetify what it is you feel is lacking, you can probably find a speaker that will suitably correct the problem. I wanted a realitively inexpensive speaker for my bedroom and bought a pair of $1,200 Klipsch. They're not even Klipsch's top of the loine speaker, and in many ways won't compare to Klipsch's own Reference line, let alone something like a Dynaudio or other high-end tower. But they're perfect for the room they're in with perfectly deifned highs and strong mid and low end performance without being overwhelming. Not much money into a set of speakers can still get you a very enjoyable sound. |
#6
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Schizoid Man wrote:
I currently have a Cambridge Audio D500SE CD player, a Marantz SR4120 stereo receiver and a pair of JM Lab Chrous 706 bookshelfs. The JMlab Chorus 706 Loudspeakers are reviewed he http://www.soundstage.com/revequip/jmlab_chorus706.htm and measured he http://www.soundstagemagazine.com/me...lab_chorus706/ They seem to be good speakers, but lack a bit of low bass (which is normal, considering their sizes), so adding a subwoofer is probably the best upgrade. Most subwoofers can be connected between the amplifier and the speakers, so you don't need any extra gear to use it. I recently moved from Austin to San Francisco, and consequently my listening room has shrunk somewhat. Perhaps it is the change in the room acoustics, but I have sort of got weary of the sound and find myself switching off the system after a fairly short span. You might want to try different speakers. I would suggest something from B&W, Wharfedale, Kef, Infinity... I think I would like to start upgrading my components one at a time. Next step could be an universal player (DVD-Audio, SACD). For instance the Pioneer DV-578A, which costs less than $150 on-line. http://www.pioneerelectronics.com/pn...222663,00.html Or, when/if available in the USA, the Yamaha DVD-S657: http://yamaha-hifi.de/products.php?lang=e&idprod=1225 Number one on my list is to replace the stereo receiver You could buy a multichannel receiver like the Yamaha RX-V757: http://www.yamaha-online.de/products...=e&idprod=1223 Ideally I would not like to spend more than $450-$500 on either option The Yamaha RX-V757 is sold on-line at that price range. -- http://www.mat.uc.pt/~rps/ ..pt is Portugal| `Whom the gods love die young'-Menander (342-292 BC) Europe | Villeneuve 50-82, Toivonen 56-86, Senna 60-94 |
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