Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

HiFi Guy said:
Also, it’s very unlikely that the amp will have a built in phono stage, so you’ll probably want to start there. You can use it with what you have now as well as whatever you get later.
Click to expand...

Agreed. I think once you have a descent table etc. Your phono should be your next upgrade. Everything passes through there. So, if you upgrade it last it will be like paying for super fast internet, but having a device on your end that slows it back down. You won't realize the benefits. (all else equal in your current setup) IMO upgrades logically follow phono > cartridge > amp/speakers. I would think of table change only when i didn't think it could keep up with the cart, etc.

Then there are levels to all this, and diminishing returns come on pretty fast, so you just have to decide what your jumping off point is on improvement and how many steps you need/want to take to get there.
 
VMPKJ said:
Agreed. I think once you have a descent table etc. Your phono should be your next upgrade. Everything passes through there. So, if you upgrade it last it will be like paying for super fast internet, but having a device on your end that slows it back down. You won't realize the benefits. (all else equal in your current setup) IMO upgrades logically follow phono > cartridge > amp/speakers. I would think of table change only when i didn't think it could keep up with the cart, etc.

Then there are levels to all this, and diminishing returns come on pretty fast, so you just have to decide what your jumping off point is on improvement and how many steps you need/want to take to get there.
Click to expand...

In this case, though, I think his turntable has already outclassed his speakers down-chain. I agree with the phono advice, but I'd then look into speakers while hunting for an amp.
 
VMPKJ said:
Agreed. I think once you have a descent table etc. Your phono should be your next upgrade. Everything passes through there. So, if you upgrade it last it will be like paying for super fast internet, but having a device on your end that slows it back down. You won't realize the benefits. (all else equal in your current setup) IMO upgrades logically follow phono > cartridge > amp/speakers. I would think of table change only when i didn't think it could keep up with the cart, etc.

Then there are levels to all this, and diminishing returns come on pretty fast, so you just have to decide what your jumping off point is on improvement and how many steps you need/want to take to get there.
Click to expand...
kvetcha said:
In this case, though, I think his turntable has already outclassed his speakers down-chain. I agree with the phono advice, but I'd then look into speakers while hunting for an amp.
Click to expand...

I can see both sides of the argument. My upgrade process was a Grado Black for my first TT (MCS 6000), then a VPI 16.5, and then the Fluance RT-85. So I guess next is either the speakers or the amp. I like the aestehtics of tubes which is why I was thinking of upgrading that first.
 
bdm105 said:
I can see both sides of the argument. My upgrade process was a Grado Black for my first TT (MCS 6000), then a VPI 16.5, and then the Fluance RT-85. So I guess next is either the speakers or the amp. I like the aestehtics of tubes which is why I was thinking of upgrading that first.
Click to expand...

I think if you want to go tube you might want to be looking at both it and speakers as a package. To get a more affordable tube amp in/around what you were talking about an idea might be to go for a low power tube amp, like one of the decware ones, and pair it with a higher sensitivity speaker than the one you have, be that going up the klipsch line or looking at a zu. You would need a phono stage too because as previously mentioned they aren’t built into most tube amps.
 
Joe Mac said:
I think if you want to go tube you might want to be looking at both it and speakers as a package. To get a more affordable tube amp in/around what you were talking about an idea might be to go for a low power tube amp, like one of the decware ones, and pair it with a higher sensitivity speaker than the one you have, be that going up the klipsch line or looking at a zu. You would need a phono stage too because as previously mentioned they aren’t built into most tube amps.
Click to expand...

I'm...not sure I'd classify Decware as 'affordable.'

Anyway, I think he's likely to see more immediate improvement upgrading his speakers first. There's a lot of headroom to improve over the SB-1s even with the same Kenwood.
 
Joe Mac said:
I think if you want to go tube you might want to be looking at both it and speakers as a package. To get a more affordable tube amp in/around what you were talking about an idea might be to go for a low power tube amp, like one of the decware ones, and pair it with a higher sensitivity speaker than the one you have, be that going up the klipsch line or looking at a zu. You would need a phono stage too because as previously mentioned they aren’t built into most tube amps.
Click to expand...

If the best combo of affordability/quality is to buy speakers w/ phono stage and tube amp then I'd probably be better off saving like $2K and doing it all at once instead of slowly upgrading one thing for $500-750 a year like I've been doing.
 
kvetcha said:
I'm...not sure I'd classify Decware as 'affordable.'
Click to expand...

More affordable! Still expensive 😂 The budget was $500-$1000 and the super zen triode is at the high end of that. That’s a lot less than a higher power tube amp to feed less sensitive speakers as I well know!
 
Joe Mac said:
More affordable! Still expensive 😂 The budget was $500-$1000 and the super zen triode is at the high end of that. That’s a lot less than a higher power tube amp to feed less sensitive speakers as I well know!
Click to expand...

I mean, the Super Zen Triode *starts* at $1300 and two watts will only get you so far with even some efficient bookshelves.
 
bdm105 said:
If the best combo of affordability/quality is to buy speakers w/ phono stage and tube amp then I'd probably be better off saving like $2K and doing it all at once instead of slowly upgrading one thing for $500-750 a year like I've been doing.
Click to expand...

Yeah I think for approx 2k you could get something like a decware super zen triode, a musical fidelity lx2-lps/Mofi ultra phono and those klipsch speakers @kvetcha mentioned. To get some zu speakers or a higher power tube amp to play with less sensitive speakers you’re going to have to double that...
 
Joe Mac said:
its listed at $995 on their website? And yeah agreed but for powerful tube amps bigger budgets are needed generally.
Click to expand...

Oops, I was looking at the version with balanced inputs.

I really considered a Decware but couldn't bring myself to spend the coin on the Zen Torii Jr.

One day, maybe.
 
bdm105 said:
If the best combo of affordability/quality is to buy speakers w/ phono stage and tube amp then I'd probably be better off saving like $2K and doing it all at once instead of slowly upgrading one thing for $500-750 a year like I've been doing.
Click to expand...
My best advice from where you are is to have patience as well, take in all you can, get a clear plan of what you might want to build and keep your eyes and ears open ;)

It'll come together :)
 
@bdm105 , you might also want to drop Upscale Audio an email and ask what they have in terms of "open box" tube amps if you're looking to go that way. They don't advertise them, but they almost always have some, that's how I got my Prima Luna, just a suggestion.
 
AnthonyI said:
@bdm105 , you might also want to drop Upscale Audio an email and ask what they have in terms of "open box" tube amps if you're looking to go that way. They don't advertise them, but they almost always have some, that's how I got my Prima Luna, just a suggestion.
Click to expand...
Unless they sold them all in the past couple months, I know they have open box ProLogue 4s and 5s (power amp only, not an integrated) in stock and NOT listed online. If I remember correctly the ProLogue 5 was going for 1k. The ProLogue 4 would be less. I have the 5 and its great.
 
Splunders said:
Unless they sold them all, I know they have open box ProLogue 4s and 5s in stock and NOT listed online. If I remember correctly the ProLogue 5 was going for 1k. The ProLogue 4 would be less. I have the 5 and its great.
Click to expand...

Are they integrated amps or just power amps? If it’s the later then we’re factoring in the price of a pre-amp as well as a phono stage. A prima Luna would be a pretty awesome option if it could be got within budget though!
 
Joe Mac said:
Are they integrated amps or just power amps? If it’s the later then we’re factoring in the price of a pre-amp as well as a phono stage. A prima Luna would be a pretty awesome option if it could be got within budget though!
Click to expand...
Power amp only. I was using the Schiit Saga as a preamp, and for $300-400, depending on the version, the price to performance is hard to beat.
 
Joe Mac said:
Are they integrated amps or just power amps? If it’s the later then we’re factoring in the price of a pre-amp as well as a phono stage. A prima Luna would be a pretty awesome option if it could be got within budget though!
Click to expand...

Finding a PL integrated under $1k will be a tall order. They hold their value extremely well. A preowned JoLida is pretty easy to find in that price range and is a very solid choice.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top