Upgrade this stereo. [long]

Merle · « **on:** 3 Oct 2004, 02:35 pm »

I have a little money to play with and am thinking about making my stereo better. With maybe $2500, what would you upgrade and why?
Amp: Bryston 3B-SST. This is the best amp I've ever owned and it will be staying. I truly believe it's all the amp I'll ever need.

Preamp: Van Alstine T6. It really doesn't sound like a tube pre nor does it really sound like solid state. I was not wild about it at first but I'm starting to come around to it. It is very nutural and clean. Actually a pretty nice match with the Bryston. I could go either way on the preamp. A fully tubed, remote controlled pre could get my attention.

Speakers: Shamrock Audio Keelins. I adore them but I also realize they may be the weak link in this system. I think my amps are good enough to do justice to more reveiling speakers. I would kill for a pair of Shamrock Eires but just can't afford them at this time. [$3000] The Keelins are smooth and detailed and look great. At $750 they are one of the great bargins in audio. Where they fall a little short for me is in depth of bass response. If they only went down another 10 or 15 hz, I'd keep them forever and never look back. They are good to about 48hz, I've thought about adding a subwoofer but 1: don't really have the room, and 2: I'm not big on three piece speaker systems. I fear adding a subwoofer to the Keelins would just give me set-up and placement issues I'd rather avoid.

Source: Sony SACD player. Don't know the model number off the top of my head [too many letters and numbers, Sony should simplfy their model designations

] It's a fine player. Sounds fantastic with either CD's or SACD's. It was around a grand new, is well built, and so far, has been dependable. I suppose there is better out there but this one does pretty well.

Source: Denon TU767 tuner. Mint condition, more than meets my needs.

Cables: Speakers are bi-wired with Audioquest Bedrock to woofers, Audioquest Slate to tweeters. Interconnects are MIT T2 between amps, MIT T4 to tuner and Audioquest King Cobra to CD. It sounds pretty good to me.

So, there you have it. My leanings are preamp or speakers, maybe better cd player or possibly cables. I recently got rid of a Music Hall turntable and a slew of albums. Might consider another turntable but at this point, I have over 5000 cd's, so that's were my priority is. I also really don't have space for a turntable without re-arranging the whole set-up. The room is not that large so big speakers are not really an option. What would you do with this system?

mcgsxr · « **Reply #1 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 02:44 pm »

A great job explaining each piece, and listing your pro's and con's along the way.

Other than low bass, what else are you after, OR what is it that the system does not do for you?

Mark in Canada

Merle · « **Reply #2 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 02:53 pm »

Other than low bass, what else are you after, OR what is it that the system does not do for you?

Well, I guess it comes down to getting the best out of the Bryston amp. I believe it's "better" than either the speaker or the preamp can give it, yet I could live with either. I do want deeper bass and better resolution is always a good thing. The current set-up with, say, Totem Hawk's would probably be pretty sweet. On the other hand, the current set-up with, say, a Rouge 99 Magnum might be even better?

Marbles · « **Reply #3 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 03:05 pm »

I don't think we can help you.

I think that you have put together a very nice well thought out system.

I think YOU need to try different components now to see how they work in your system.

If it were me, I would talk to Adire or DIY Audio, or other sub makers to make me a custom (or off the shelf sub) to integrate with my speakers.

The Rava sub is pretty darn small but very musical and for $400 might be just what you need. I think I would try this first.

I have had the amp you have (well it was a Lexicon badged 3b-st, not sst) and the nOrh multi-amp was better for me, the Odyssey Stratos amp was better than the nOrh, so you might want to see if you can get a demo of the Odyssey.

Other than that, just try different components.

I love my Bent transformer based pre, but I know folks who like the Odyssey (very full sounding) and the IRD (no remote).
Sonic Euphoria pre-amps have received good press lately.

As far as speakers go, if you can listen to the VMPS 626R's, I think they would surprise you in a positive way.

Good luck.

mcgsxr · « **Reply #4 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 03:50 pm »

OK, I don't think I have enough experience with varied gear, in a similar configuration, to truly offer insight.

That said, if you love your amp, and front end, and cabling is fine, and it is down to pre vs speakers, I can offer a suggestion or two, but in the end, you will have to hear it of course.

Totem Model 1 Signature - nothing else in the Totem lineup (I have owned the Rokk for 10 years, and heard most of the Totems over the years) measures up from a price/performance perspective, to my ears. I love these, and always twitch when I see them on Audiogon for around US$12-1400. Great speakers, great bass, very transparent, they just make music for me. A very full sound to my ears, but some don't dig the metal dome tweeter thang that the upper registers reflect.

Preamps - interesting. I am seeking a tube pre at the moment now, in order to bring a little bloom to my system. I have heard very good things about affordable offerings from Rogue, and Quicksilver, and Space-tech.

Having not heard any of the preamps, I cannot really direct you there.

Good luck,

Mark

lonewolfny42 · « **Reply #5 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 04:02 pm »

Merle,

warnerwh · « **Reply #6 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 05:12 pm »

You say nothing of room treatment. This can easily improve your bass, not to mention the rest of the frequency spectrum. Check out Realtraps.com. A sub could be a good idea also. I'd steer you toward a VMPS sub, bargain prices with of the best bass available.
You'll do yourself a great service by doing some reading on Room Acoustics, I promise you!

Tyson · « **Reply #7 on:** 3 Oct 2004, 05:20 pm »

I'd say get a pair of VMPS subs, a good amp, and an excellent crossover. You will be stunned at how much a pair of subs in stereo config will improve the sound you have.

Also, what about room, does it have any treatment? If not I'd highly recommend some treatments from 8th nerve.

doug s. · « **Reply #8 on:** 4 Oct 2004, 01:56 pm »

Quote from: Tyson

I'd say get a pair of VMPS subs, a good amp, and an excellent crossover. You will be stunned at how much a pair of subs in stereo config will improve the sound you have.

Also, what about room, does it have any treatment? If not I'd highly recommend some treatments from 8th nerve.

i'm with tyson here. this will easily be the best bang-for-buck improvement. and, it's one that will transfer to any other system upgrades you make in the future.

but, i have one other suggestion. much as you like your bryston amp, make your new amp tubed, & use the bryston for the subs. for s/s amps, i personally prefer electrocompaniet, but there's no way i would ever willingly use any s/s amplification for my monitors, now that i've tried tubes. of course, this may change in the next coupla years, w/the advent of digital amplification, but i'm not so sure...

doug s.