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Post by drumace on Aug 22, 2018 2:53:04 GMT -5
Hey guys, Over the last year I've upgraded half of my stereo/HT equipment and now have: - GoldenEar speakers: Triton One for the L/R, SuperCenterXXL for the center, SuberSat3 for the surrounds
- 3 x Emotiva XPA-1L monoblocks for the L/R/C channels
- Marantz AV8801 pre-pro
- Marantz CD6005 CD player
- Pioneer PL-530 turntable with Audio Technica 440MLa, hooked to the AV8801 using Emotiva XPS-1 phono stage
- BlueJeansCable cabling for the entire system
I haven't reached my audio nirvana in stereo music listening and trying to figure what's left to reach there. My current budget allows me to spend additional ~$1500 to improve the equipment that was not upgraded yet (pre-pro, CD player, turntable). I'd like to know which of the components should be upgrade in order to gain audible improvement. I was considering adding a dedicated pure-analog stereo pre-amp (e.g. XSP-1) but received a negative feedback for this upgrade direction a year ago in this forum (when I had my previous speaker set). I was also considering replacing the CD player with a higher level model or add a dedicated DAC. Another thought was to replace the pre-pro with a higher level model (maybe the Emotiva XMC-1). Any comment/suggestion would be appreciated.
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Post by Boomzilla on Aug 22, 2018 7:10:50 GMT -5
Hi drumace - IMHO the best $1,500 you could invest in your stereo is ROOM TREATMENT. You have excellent (REALLY excellent) gear, but you probably aren't hearing 50% of what it has to offer if your room is an echo chamber. Do a test - walk into your listening room and clap your hands. Hear any echo at all? Your room is too echoey. Room treatments need not look ugly - they make them now with pictures on them and you can even submit your own photos and have them become absorber panels. The online services will provide advice as to what you need and where it should go based on a photo of and description of your room. Don't just trust me on this - Ask others here on the Lounge who've made the leap. BIG improvements (not just differences) for not a big investment! Happy Shopping - Boomzilla
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bootman
Emo VIPs
Typing useless posts on internet forums....
Posts: 9,358
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Post by bootman on Aug 22, 2018 7:14:16 GMT -5
What is currently missing in the sound you hear?
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Post by audiobill on Aug 22, 2018 7:15:22 GMT -5
And make very sure you're listening to excellent sources......Actual acoustic instruments are a good start....GIGO
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Post by drumace on Aug 22, 2018 7:20:01 GMT -5
What is currently missing in the sound you hear? I’d say more clarity, less “hiss” (can be heard when nothing is playing and the room is quite), better imaging.
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Post by drumace on Aug 22, 2018 7:21:38 GMT -5
And make very sure you're listening to excellent sources......Actual acoustic instruments are a good start....GIGO When you say sources, you mean the player or the record?
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Post by audiobill on Aug 22, 2018 7:25:01 GMT -5
Record, cd, etc.
Best,
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Post by mgbpuff on Aug 22, 2018 8:04:54 GMT -5
I prefer a dedicated stereo listening room as I find HT set up and stereo set up are not necessarily complementary. Then stick to equipment designed for stereo and a nice comfortable listening chair. Then tweek to your heart's content.
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Post by Bonzo on Aug 22, 2018 8:42:13 GMT -5
I prefer a dedicated stereo listening room as I find HT set up and stereo set up are not necessarily complementary. Then stick to equipment designed for stereo and a nice comfortable listening chair. Then tweek to your heart's content. +1. I wish my house allowed for this. But it doesn't, so compromises are required.
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Post by Bonzo on Aug 22, 2018 8:46:27 GMT -5
I will say this, not from experience but from everything I've read. There is supposedly a big upgrade difference between the 8801 and the 8802a. Supposedly a very obvious difference. The 8805 is out now at full price which leaves the remaining 8802as on sale for $2500 and less. But they won't be around for forever. They might even be gone as of now (they were still around as of 2 weeks ago), but you might be able to also get one used from someone who swapped out to an 8805.
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Post by Bonzo on Aug 22, 2018 8:51:12 GMT -5
Crutchfield still has them for $2500. They also have a 60 day MBG so if you don't notice an improvement you can send it back. Just need to make sure that MBG is good on sale items. Not sure about that. But they have grade A customer service.
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Post by Gary Cook on Aug 23, 2018 10:03:11 GMT -5
My stereo (2.1) music system is similar to yours (XPA-1L’s) and the best move I made was upgrading to the XSP-1. As well as being 100% analogue (no digital stuff inside) the ability to run XLR interconnects and fully balanced discrete shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially if you can locate the mono blocks close by their respective speakers, hence short speaker cables.
Cheers Gary
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Post by drumace on Aug 23, 2018 10:40:58 GMT -5
My stereo (2.1) music system is similar to yours (XPA-1L’s) and the best move I made was upgrading to the XSP-1. As well as being 100% analogue (no digital stuff inside) the ability to run XLR interconnects and fully balanced discrete shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially if you can locate the mono blocks close by their respective speakers, hence short speaker cables. Cheers Gary Hi Gary, Which preamp did you use before moving to the XSP-1? Do you know if it is a pure class A preamp? Do you use a sub for music? I got so many comments on another forum claiming my speakers’ build-in subs are not sufficient and that I should add a big sub or two.
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Post by drtrey3 on Aug 23, 2018 10:42:20 GMT -5
A new turntable is always a fun purchase!
Trey
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Post by pedrocols on Aug 23, 2018 10:43:50 GMT -5
My stereo (2.1) music system is similar to yours (XPA-1L’s) and the best move I made was upgrading to the XSP-1. As well as being 100% analogue (no digital stuff inside) the ability to run XLR interconnects and fully balanced discrete shouldn’t be overlooked. Especially if you can locate the mono blocks close by their respective speakers, hence short speaker cables. Cheers Gary Isn't all music a speakers 🔊 reproduce analogue?
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Post by drumace on Aug 23, 2018 10:45:15 GMT -5
I will say this, not from experience but from everything I've read. There is supposedly a big upgrade difference between the 8801 and the 8802a. Supposedly a very obvious difference. The 8805 is out now at full price which leaves the remaining 8802as on sale for $2500 and less. But they won't be around for forever. They might even be gone as of now (they were still around as of 2 weeks ago), but you might be able to also get one used from someone who swapped out to an 8805. Hi Bonzo, I doubt I’ll upgrade to another Marantz pre-pro due to their basic calibration system and toy calibration mic. What I’d like to know is whether there is true analog SQ upgrade between the 8801 and the 8802.
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Post by Bonzo on Aug 23, 2018 10:54:35 GMT -5
I will say this, not from experience but from everything I've read. There is supposedly a big upgrade difference between the 8801 and the 8802a. Supposedly a very obvious difference. The 8805 is out now at full price which leaves the remaining 8802as on sale for $2500 and less. But they won't be around for forever. They might even be gone as of now (they were still around as of 2 weeks ago), but you might be able to also get one used from someone who swapped out to an 8805. Hi Bonzo, I doubt I’ll upgrade to another Marantz pre-pro due to their basic calibration system and toy calibration mic. What I’d like to know is whether there is true analog SQ upgrade between the 8801 and the 8802. Yes, there supposedly is. I'm on my phone or I'd attach some links. The easiest one for you check out is Sound & Vision's review from 2015 that talks about what all is upgraded and how noticibly better it sounds, both with digital and analog sources.
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Post by bluemeanies on Aug 23, 2018 11:00:26 GMT -5
Why not separate both the HTand 2channel...look into a tube pre-amp and a good dac.
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,223
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Post by novisnick on Aug 23, 2018 11:06:25 GMT -5
Why not separate both the HTand 2channel...look into a tube pre-amp and a good dac. Fantabulous suggestion! Many of us have blazed this path and are enjoying it immensely! Pick our collective 🧠 brain, we sould have a good idea or two! 😁🎶
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novisnick
EmoPhile
CEO Secret Monoblock Society
Posts: 27,223
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Post by novisnick on Aug 23, 2018 11:17:53 GMT -5
I prefer a dedicated stereo listening room as I find HT set up and stereo set up are not necessarily complementary. Then stick to equipment designed for stereo and a nice comfortable listening chair. Then tweek to your heart's content. +1. I wish my house allowed for this. But it doesn't, so compromises are required. I agree with both of you BUT, this also brings the cost of audio in your home up exponentially! More compromise in quality of components or a higher expense for quality components.
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