Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice

MattHasIdeas said:
Currently using a pair of KEF Q150s. Honestly, not really in the market per se - was moreso curious as to if an upgrade to the amplifier would really create any noticeable difference. Not sure what kinds of perceptible upgrades I'd see going from the Onkyo A-9010 to the Yamaha A-S801
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Honestly a great amplifier can make a difference but its shades and styles and it needs to match the speakers well. I think you’re probably right in your summation, I probably wouldn’t make that upgrade either. I would stick or if I was twisting I would want more and maybe to look at speaker combos.
 
MattHasIdeas said:
Currently using a pair of KEF Q150s. Honestly, not really in the market per se - was moreso curious as to if an upgrade to the amplifier would really create any noticeable difference. Not sure what kinds of perceptible upgrades I'd see going from the Onkyo A-9010 to the Yamaha A-S801
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I see the Onkyo has pre-amp out. If you have a friend with a spare power amp, try using the Onkyo as a pre-amp to the power amp. This can help you determine if the limitations of the integrated are mostly in the pre-amp stage or in the power amp stage. I have seen limitations exist in one or the other. I had an old Kenwood with a lousy power amp stage and a NAD whose limitation was in the preamp stage. You may find that a new power amp is all you need.
 
folsom_lives said:
I got my '09 Civic to 115 on a deserted stretch of Ohio freeway before I got chicken...
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I had a ‘91 Civic DX hatchback. I’m glad the speed limit back then was 55 MPH because “Lucy” was rocking a mighty 70 horses with her D15b1 engine and 4 speed stick. I think I got her to maybe 70 mph once on a long stretch of downhill out by Joshua Tree.
 
MattHasIdeas said:
Receiver/amp question: I upgraded my turntable (U-Turn Orbit Theory) and preamp (Darlington Labs MP7B) this past year. I've been rocking the same integrated amplifier (Onkyo A-9010) and have no real complaints. However, I am curious about how much the amplifier/receiver really affects positive audio quality gains in an architecture where you are using an external phono preamp forgoing the built-in phono stage of an integrated amplifier.

I know that technically I could be using a receiver or a power amp that doesn't have a phono stage. I haven't been able to find a lot of information explaining the real value of the receiver in this setup. Is this an area that I could get some decent bang for your buck gains, or is money better spent elsewhere (like speakers)?
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What speakers are you using and what’s your budget?
 
mindhead1 said:
What speakers are you using and what’s your budget?
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I see you have Q-150. I would update speakers first and agree with those recommending the R3 Meta.

As for amplification, I hesitantly went up the price chain when I picked up a Willsenton R8 tube amp and was wowed, I went further up the price ladder and picked up a Kinki Studio EX-M1+. Each of these purchases has been worth the price. If you can swing it I think amps in the $1500 - $3k range is a sweet spot. It’s also a sweet spot for speakers.
 
mindhead1 said:
I see you have Q-150. I would update speakers first and agree with those recommending the R3 Meta.

As for amplification, I hesitantly went up the price chain when I picked up a Willsenton R8 tube amp and was wowed, I went further up the price ladder and picked up a Kinki Studio EX-M1+. Each of these purchases has been worth the price. If you can swing it I think amps in the $1500 - $3k range is a sweet spot. It’s also a sweet spot for speakers.
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One of the unfortunate things about my listening area setup is that I am limited to having the speakers on an actual shelf. I have it remedied by being able to have them a good distance from the wall. I also have both of them sitting on IsoAcoustics pucks for dampening/isolation. However, with some speakers - having them on stands is nearly a necessity. Not sure if that's the case for the R3s.
 
MattHasIdeas said:
One of the unfortunate things about my listening area setup is that I am limited to having the speakers on an actual shelf. I have it remedied by being able to have them a good distance from the wall. I also have both of them sitting on IsoAcoustics pucks for dampening/isolation. However, with some speakers - having them on stands is nearly a necessity. Not sure if that's the case for the R3s.
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They’re a bookshelf the same as what you have. Obviously would prefer to be on a stand but the right size to do what you currently do as a compromise.
 
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