Clean slate

[Joe Schmoe]

I really liked the Rega electronics I got to check out yesterday. The Brio 3 integrated looks nice and I like the way you load the disc into the Apollo cd player. The Brio3 isn't bad price wise but the Apollo is $1000.

That CDP, being their most "affordable", is a deal-breaker. No CDP can sound good enough to justify that price. (Even $300-$400 for an NAD CDP would be justified primarily by looks and build quality.) I agree that the integrated is a decent price, but I wouldn't want one brand of integrated and a different brand of CDP.

 

[gus6464]

That CDP, being their most "affordable", is a deal-breaker. No CDP can sound good enough to justify that price. (Even $300-$400 for an NAD CDP would be justified primarily by looks and build quality.) I agree that the integrated is a decent price, but I wouldn't want one brand of integrated and a different brand of CDP.

Although the Brio3 would look good with anything. It has a very minimalist look.

 

[mazersteven]

AKG K 701
http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-manufacturer/akg/akg-k-701.php
GS-1 HEADPHONE AMP/PRE-AMP
http://www.headamp.com/home_amps/gs1/index.htm



Sennheiser HD 650
http://www.headphone.com/guide/by-manufacturer/sennheiser/sennheiser-hd-650.php
WooAudio 3 Plus
http://www.wooaudio.com/products/wa3+.html

 

[3db]

Well, that's one of the questions, isn't it. My current system is worth about $1800 MSRP, though I paid less than that. The obvious tradeoff is that spending more means saving longer (credit is not an option), but could also lead to greater long-term satisfaction.
Even though I am not a believer in expensive CDPs, I would want one that visually matches whatever amplification I get (integrated or separate.)

If your system MSRPs for $1800, you may need to go around $5000 to get any noticeable improvement. IHO, $600 to a $1000 more buys you jack sh?t improvement. If you really are intersted in new, shiny, and better, you'll have to pay alot more. Thats why I suggested what I did except the looks category for the TT and CD player. The reason I chose NAD with that much power is it leaves your options wide open as far what speakers to mate with it. You can get connect some really power hungry speakers to it and this amp will deliver.

Someone here mentioned PSB Image series. Notice I did not. What you have now is in same ball park of quality as the PSB Image series. I took it up to the next notch.

I think the relationship of money in to diminshing values of return is where most of us are sitting now. It takes a whole lot more cash to get a real improvement over sound of what we have now.

 

[gus6464]

It's going to take something pretty expensive to top what you have unless you go with some non popular offerings like Sonus Faber and Aerial. Actually you might like the Concertino Domus, very different speaker than the likes of PSB, DT, Paradigm and the usual norm.

3db:
You think that the most normal cutoff for some nice speakers without destroying the bank would be around $2000? And after that it would take more than double to really move up by a noticeable margin?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I have always thought that my BP8Bs sounded great overall, but that they were flawed by muddy bass. This has turned out to be a placement issue. I moved them as far from walls as possible in my room, and now they are close to perfect. My electronics are butt-ugly to look at, but sound great also. I guess the upgrade demon is temorarily in check.
(Of course, in light of the impressive sound of my Omni 150s, I may have to order the Omni 350s while they are still available for $300/pr.)
Anybody want some Polks cheap?

 

[3db]

It's going to take something pretty expensive to top what you have unless you go with some non popular offerings like Sonus Faber and Aerial. Actually you might like the Concertino Domus, very different speaker than the likes of PSB, DT, Paradigm and the usual norm.

3db:
You think that the most normal cutoff for some nice speakers without destroying the bank would be around $2000? And after that it would take more than double to really move up by a noticeable margin?

That depends on the cost of individual's initial speaker purchase. I own a pair of PSB Image T45s which MSRP at $750 for the pair. I think $2000 of careful shopping would provide me with a noticeable improvement. Now if the speakers purchased were around $1500, I feel that $2000 wouldn't by that much more improvement. I really like my PSBs and they cost me $750 which is well below $2000.

 

[3db]

I have always thought that my BP8Bs sounded great overall, but that they were flawed by muddy bass. This has turned out to be a placement issue. I moved them as far from walls as possible in my room, and now they are close to perfect. My electronics are butt-ugly to look at, but sound great also. I guess the upgrade demon is temorarily in check.
(Of course, in light of the impressive sound of my Omni 150s, I may have to order the Omni 350s while they are still available for $300/pr.)
Anybody want some Polks cheap?

What was the purpose of this upgrade post if you already had solved your placement issues with your Def Techs?

 

[Joe Schmoe]

What was the purpose of this upgrade post if you already had solved your placement issues with your Def Techs?

It wasn't until last night that I solved it.
Besides, I probably will upgrade at some point, although probably not until I have saved up at least $3K or so.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Well, I did it. If I hadn't gone ahead and bought bought the Omni 350s, and later they had gone back up to their regular $600 price, I would have kicked myself (even though I am left with only $80 until the 18th)
The Omni 150s are easily the best bookshelf speakers I have heard (including the B&W 705s at fully 10X the price.) If the 350s are equally good by bookshelf standards, I may never need anything else (not to mention they are puuurdy.)
I considered the 550s, but not only are they awfully big for my space, the tweeter is far above seated ear level.

Once again: 4 sale cheep-Polk Monitor 150s and PSW10, mint condition.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Joe, I think you need to just get yourself an Acurus RL-11 Preamp+ 250A Amp and change your name to AcuDefTechGuy2!

The Audio Critic acutually reviewed the $600 Acurus L10 (before the $800 RL-11) in 1992. They said that the Acurus L10 OUTPERFORMED the $4,500 KRELL Preamp in terms of Flatter Frequency Response, Better Channel Separation/crosstalk, and Less Noise/THD!!!

Audio Magazine reviewed the Acurus 200X3 Amp in 1995. Conclusion: Absolutely Outstanding measurements in every aspect (FR, Crosstalk, THD, etc.). This amp was rated at 200 WPC @8 ohms & 250 WPC @ 4 ohms w/ 110 dB SNR. However, the measurements came out to be 315 WPC @ 8 ohms & 515 WPC @ 4 ohms w/ 122 dB SNR. And the 250A amp actually has more WPC than the 200X3!

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I know you are joking, but those will be within my price range in a few months (assuming the 250A is also around $800.) Does Acurus also make a CD player? I ask because I would prefer matching components to my current Frankenstein setup.
Edit: Never mind. I just found out they are discontinued, and I only want new stuff. (Also, NAD styling would look good with my new Mirages.)

 

[Davemcc]

I ask because I would prefer matching components to my current Frankenstein setup.

Ummm, Joe...

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Does Acurus also make a CD player?
Edit: Never mind. I just found out they are discontinued, and I only want new stuff. (Also, NAD styling would look good with my new Mirages.)

You are putting ideas in my head again!

Acurus CD player...Must find on eBay...

Yeah, too bad Acurus is RIP.

NAD looks great. I've heard of nothing but great stuff regarding NAD.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Ummm, Joe...

Sweet. How much?
(I notice the power amp is on the bottom of the stack. Doesn't that create heat issues?)

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Ummm, Joe...

Rotel looks awesome too!

 

[Joe Schmoe]

Now that my Mirages are enroute, I am putting the BP8Bs back in the HT (where they match my 10B fronts) and listening to the Polks until they arrive. This way, it will sound like a bigger step up (psychology 101.)

 

[TLS Guy]

Joe this is an interesting thread. I just got asked to spec. a system for a musician, who is a close friend of one of mine. He is into Irish Folk music especially.

This is what I recommended: -

For what he wants to spend I would go with NAD largely.

This amp:-

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NAC352

This CD player: -

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NAC525BEE

I would recommend this radio. This will allow him to receive the new digital channels. These will be channels he will likely want.

http://www.crutchfield.com/App/Product/Item/Main.aspx?g=305150&i=671HDT1X&c=4&tp=207

If he wants NAD this is the one, but he won't get the new digital channels.

http://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=NAC425

The speakers were decided already. They will be SEAS Thors, as he was so impressed with my friend's pair. He said he had never heard such natural reproduction.

I bet this will be a nice system.

There is also a lot of good vintage electronic gear out there. However if I buy a unit and there is a problem I can fix it. There is always some risk with this route. But there are some good eBay sellers that stand behind their gear with a warranty.

 

[Joe Schmoe]

I probably will go for a pair of NADs later (hnh,hnh, hnh, he said "pair of NADs".) If the Omni 350s turn out to be as awesome as I expect based on my experience with the much smaller 150s, they may satisfy my speaker itch once and for all.
New electronics would look better (and in the case of the CDP, be built better) and be fun to have, but it remains to be seen if they would actually sound better than what I have now. After giving it more thought, I have concluded that looks/build might be worth $700 or $800 to me, but not over $1000.

 

[AcuDefTechGuy]

Sweet. How much?

Probably too much.

Maybe $3K or 4K?