want to upgrade my entry level system - please help

[morey]

Hi,
I have put together and entry level system, and have been enjoying it for a while now and feel it might be time to step it up and upgrade.

My system consists of:
Thiel cs 1.5 speakers
rega brio-r integrated amp
pro ject debut III Turntable

I use my system for playing records almost exclusively

What component should I switch out/upgrade first?

I have been looking into Mcintosh c28 preamps as an option to switch my integrated with, had a chance to listen to a system with that c28 preamp and it sounded great , warm and very detailed, and it seems to be quite affordable

Any way any advice or tips on what my next move should be regarding new equipment that is relatively affordable ($600-$1300 price range) would be appreciated

thanks
Morey

 

[ImcLoud]

I would start with new speakers, I am not a huge fan of the Coherent Source lines high end although the low end wasn't bad...

What about your system don't you like or are you not satisfied with? I have listened to a lot of amps and can not tell which is "really better' louder, looks better, heavier, yes I can tell all of them, but better sound? not really that easy with the new stuff, My emotiva xpa2 sounds as good as any $10-15K amp I have ever heard, plus the cs is good, the price is good and the warranty is good, and its built like a tank...

But anyway, room treatments and speakers are going to make the biggest difference, is the amp you have now loud enough? and you are not going to get a better turntable for the price, I own the same one and have compared it to a lot of tables, its awesome...



$1300 could buy you a sb1000 subwoofer and a pair of ascend acoustic sierra bookshelfs...

 

[zieglj01]

You would be surprised, how well a good Pioneer Elite Receiver will hold up against McIntosh.

I would look at speakers

 

[morey]

Thanks ImcLoud,

What I mean by better sound is not necessarily "better" just different, I find my system to be all and all great sounding but it seems to lack the liveliness I have heard in vintage gear, the feeling that one or more of the instruments or players are in the room with you and the separation of those instruments in your ears, the extra gain and warmth that really commands the room.. etc etc.

The amp is definitely loud enough, I rarely cross the middle of the volume dial.

I will definitely look into what you recommended, any specific room treatments or tips you might have?

Thanks again!

 

[morey]

Thanks zieglj01, checking those out now

 

[markw]

I have been looking into Mcintosh c28 preamps as an option to switch my integrated with, had a chance to listen to a system with that c28 preamp and it sounded great , warm and very detailed, and it seems to be quite affordable.

Unless it used the same phono preamp, cartridge, power amp, and speakers you use, that's an invalid comparison.

I've heard Thieles. IIWY, I'd be auditioning speakers.

 

[Ponzio]

On a side note, make sure the turntable is on a stable surface, to keep it vibration free as possible.

 

[ImcLoud]

do you have a pic of the room, there is some info on the forum for placement of room treatments, all rooms are different..

 

[English210]

I agree with the consensus, listen to speakers. I would say you have the front end to support many options on speakers before the components become what's holding the system back. Speakers, their placement, and the environment they are in are going to be your best route to improvements. It's time consuming, but worth it.

 

[ski2xblack]

What I mean by better sound is not necessarily "better" just different, I find my system to be all and all great sounding but it seems to lack the liveliness I have heard in vintage gear, the feeling that one or more of the instruments or players are in the room with you and the separation of those instruments in your ears, the extra gain and warmth that really commands the room.. etc etc.

I recognize this affliction. You could be a tube person.