Hi there!
I've gotten sick of a nameless list of music in the cloud and have gotten back into CDs, listening to full albums, and even got a turntable. Holy moly, CDs sound so much better than the crap i had in my computer. So nice to be excited about music again! This is leading me to want better equipment. I played the violin for 16 years and have a good ear, and my connection to music has missing for about a decade due to the mp3 [lack of] quality, hence getting excited about it again now. I'm also a filmmaker and so watch a lot of movies in the same room that I use for music listening.
I'm investigating what the next thing I should upgrade should be, and I would love opinions.
Current setup:
- Audio Technics LP120 turntable, using the internal phono amp
- Samsung $40 Blu Ray player delivers digital CD info to receiver via coax
- Marantz SR6300 receiver outputs to:
- Klipsch rb3 (2002) left and right speakers
- Klipsch KV-1 (2002) center speaker
The room is too small to really make good use of rears for surround, and theres no place to put em, so I've moved those (lower grade Klipsch bookshelves) to use as B speakers in the kitchen.
I'm into music now, and don't need banging home theater. I'm happy going just stereo for movies if that is the right move for the music listening. I listen to classical, vocal, rock, dance/electronica - zeppelin, adele, mumford, ella, phish, pearl jam, snoop dogg, chemical brothers. Its all over the map.
I'm reasonably happy with what I'm getting from the Marantz receiver + Klipsch rb3 L and R, but the sound (i think) lacks definition and I want an upgrade. I found a pair of the highly touted Totem Dreamcatcher bookshelves used on Audiogon for $350 and pulled the trigger on em--they're on their way. I've read awesome things, so I can't wait to hear em.
Soooo, my exact question is - whats a good next upgrade that will give the most perceptible improvement? (~$1000 max)
1. Is my Marantz receiver good to drive the Totems? I looked at something like the Yamaha A-S1000 receiver, also the REGA BRIO R has been much talked about. But both these options would require an external DAC as well.
2. would an external DAC be *much* better than whats in the Marantz for decoding the CD digital feed?
3. would an external phono amp be *much* better than whats in the AT-LP120?
4. Preamps? Necessary?
5. Will the Totem Dreamcatchers work well with the Klipsch KV-1 center speaker, well enough for movies? (or would it be better quality to route the dialogue to the Totems and ditch the center channel altogether).
I've read that getting a very good receiver / integrated amp like the Yamaha A-S1000 is a good package deal. If it can also do surround with my three speakers that would be good, but getting the best sounding music trumps having surround at this point. I listen much more than I watch.
As you can see I have a lot of questions. I'd love to hear your thoughts, and thanks in advance for any recommendations.
Thanks!
Keegan
