Hello -- First post here, after reading from the shadows for some months.
I've enjoyed the same, mid-fi audio equipment for a long time, taking mostly a set-it-and-forget-it approach, years at a time. Now I'm thinking I can realize some very enjoyable improvements for a few thousand dollars, and am wondering how to go.
Here's what I'm currently playing: Joseph Audio RM20 speakers (circa 1995) driven by a B&K ST-202 two-channel amp. I play CDs, and recently upgraded my old MSB Link DAC with an SMSL Sanskrit Mk II (with thanks to amirm's review).
I'm fortunate to have a dedicated listening room (19.5' x 14.5' x 8'2" high, carpeted and wood-paneled). I've further improved the sound (thanks again to this site) by getting a cheap measurement mic, running Room EQ Wizard, and moving stuff around. I don't have Roon or any other electronic means of EQ.
I listen to 98% classical in this space. 9 or so feet from the speakers. Rarely more than 85 dB according to my phone.
I'm contemplating two paths to see if I can enjoy this arrangement even more:
Path 1: The incremental, passive speaker gambit
Path 1 starts by upgrading my amp to something like a 2 channel NC502MP, which I can do new for $700. That will give me more and cleaner power. I've never seen a frequency response graph of my Joseph Audio speakers, but I have seen reference to the B&K amps being too bright. I think there is a decent chance that the amp upgrade by itself will noticeably improve my sound and temper the treble. I see about a 60% chance that I will see this as a true step up.
With an improved amp, if I want to upgrade further, I would be free to try other passive speakers. I see fancy used speakers in the Nashville market where I live on a regular basis, so I could wait for something appealing at a discount. I foresee a budget of $1k to $2k. I could also buy something new of course, though the wealth of options is head-spinning. I'm charmed by the Philharmonic web site, and impressed by the reviews I've seen, so maybe a pair of ugly Philharmonic 3's ($3k) if I'm feeling flush and it's a major anniversary.
My hope with this path is that I would not feel the need to later add EQ. If I had to, I could rip all my disks to a dedicated PC and get Roon and a Raspberry Pi, but that sounds like a major hassle.
Path 2: Active speakers, (A) with or (B) without digital EQ
Path 2-A involves getting active monitors. Preferably something big enough to have some bass and punch at midfield distance. Genelec 8030c's ($700 ea.) or something similar, perhaps. I could later add a subwoofer (Genelec 7040 is $800) if desired. I hear such good things about active speakers, and I want to upgrade my amp anyway, so there is some logic to that. Pro audio monitors would also give me some basic EQ controls.
Path 2-B is similar, but contemplates springing for more full-blown EQ controls on active monitors, like the Genelec SAM system (8330a is $900 ea), or the Neumann EQ system run through their subwoofer. I might only ever run the program once -- I'm not setting up mixing rooms all over town -- but I gather it might make a material difference. This would add significantly to the cost ($400 in the referenced Genelecs), so might mean going with smaller speakers (the 8320a's are $625 ea.) and rushing to get a subwoofer sooner.
I think there is a better chance that paths 2-A or B will sound good to me -- maybe 80%-90%. But it costs more and isn't incremental. Moving incrementally has both financial and marital advantages.
Thoughts welcome!
I've enjoyed the same, mid-fi audio equipment for a long time, taking mostly a set-it-and-forget-it approach, years at a time. Now I'm thinking I can realize some very enjoyable improvements for a few thousand dollars, and am wondering how to go.
Here's what I'm currently playing: Joseph Audio RM20 speakers (circa 1995) driven by a B&K ST-202 two-channel amp. I play CDs, and recently upgraded my old MSB Link DAC with an SMSL Sanskrit Mk II (with thanks to amirm's review).
I'm fortunate to have a dedicated listening room (19.5' x 14.5' x 8'2" high, carpeted and wood-paneled). I've further improved the sound (thanks again to this site) by getting a cheap measurement mic, running Room EQ Wizard, and moving stuff around. I don't have Roon or any other electronic means of EQ.
I listen to 98% classical in this space. 9 or so feet from the speakers. Rarely more than 85 dB according to my phone.
I'm contemplating two paths to see if I can enjoy this arrangement even more:
Path 1: The incremental, passive speaker gambit
Path 1 starts by upgrading my amp to something like a 2 channel NC502MP, which I can do new for $700. That will give me more and cleaner power. I've never seen a frequency response graph of my Joseph Audio speakers, but I have seen reference to the B&K amps being too bright. I think there is a decent chance that the amp upgrade by itself will noticeably improve my sound and temper the treble. I see about a 60% chance that I will see this as a true step up.
With an improved amp, if I want to upgrade further, I would be free to try other passive speakers. I see fancy used speakers in the Nashville market where I live on a regular basis, so I could wait for something appealing at a discount. I foresee a budget of $1k to $2k. I could also buy something new of course, though the wealth of options is head-spinning. I'm charmed by the Philharmonic web site, and impressed by the reviews I've seen, so maybe a pair of ugly Philharmonic 3's ($3k) if I'm feeling flush and it's a major anniversary.
My hope with this path is that I would not feel the need to later add EQ. If I had to, I could rip all my disks to a dedicated PC and get Roon and a Raspberry Pi, but that sounds like a major hassle.
Path 2: Active speakers, (A) with or (B) without digital EQ
Path 2-A involves getting active monitors. Preferably something big enough to have some bass and punch at midfield distance. Genelec 8030c's ($700 ea.) or something similar, perhaps. I could later add a subwoofer (Genelec 7040 is $800) if desired. I hear such good things about active speakers, and I want to upgrade my amp anyway, so there is some logic to that. Pro audio monitors would also give me some basic EQ controls.
Path 2-B is similar, but contemplates springing for more full-blown EQ controls on active monitors, like the Genelec SAM system (8330a is $900 ea), or the Neumann EQ system run through their subwoofer. I might only ever run the program once -- I'm not setting up mixing rooms all over town -- but I gather it might make a material difference. This would add significantly to the cost ($400 in the referenced Genelecs), so might mean going with smaller speakers (the 8320a's are $625 ea.) and rushing to get a subwoofer sooner.
I think there is a better chance that paths 2-A or B will sound good to me -- maybe 80%-90%. But it costs more and isn't incremental. Moving incrementally has both financial and marital advantages.
Thoughts welcome!