What Should I Upgrade Next?

Jbannas · « **on:** 29 Mar 2013, 05:48 pm »

I'm starting to get interested in upgrading my media room equipment again now that we're in a new house.
The room is 15' deep by 20' wide.
133" Black Diamond 2.35:1 Scope Screen
Left Right - Martin Logan Spires
Center - Martin Logan Stage
Surrounds - 4 x Magnepan MMGW
Front Highs - Martin Logan Encores
Sub - JL F113
Power Amp - Edge M8, Plinius SA-102
Surround Amp - Sherbourn 7120A x 7
Blu-Ray - Oppo 105, 93
DAC - Monarchy Audio M22C
Power Cords - Pangea AC9 for amps, Shunyaya Venom for Oppo, Harmonic Technology for Pre
Speaker Wire - Analysis Plus Oval 9
ICs - Harmonic Technology Magic Link and Pro-Sil III
Treatment - Cathedral Sound RDP
Other Gear - Darby Darblet, Buttkickers, HTPC, Shunyata Hydras, Richard Gray 400

Jbannas · « **Reply #1 on:** 25 Apr 2013, 11:50 pm »

Updated:
I'm starting to get interested in upgrading my media room equipment again now that we're in a new house.
The room is 15' deep by 20' wide.
133" Black Diamond 2.35:1 Scope Screen
Left Right - Martin Logan Spires
Center - Martin Logan Stage
Surrounds - 4 x Magnepan MMGW
Front Highs - Martin Logan Encores
Sub - JL F113
Power Amp - Edge M8, Plinius SA-102
Surround Amp - Sherbourn 7120A x 7
Blu-Ray - Oppo 105, 93
DAC - Monarchy Audio M22C
Power Cords - Pangea AC9 for amps, Shunyaya Venom for Oppo, Harmonic Technology for Pre
Speaker Wire - Analysis Plus Oval 9
ICs - Harmonic Technology Magic Link and Pro-Sil III
Treatment - Cathedral Sound RDP
Other Gear - Darby Darblet, Buttkickers, HTPC, Shunyata Hydras, Richard Gray 400

Bob in St. Louis · « **Reply #2 on:** 27 Apr 2013, 07:25 pm »

Welcome to AC.

Do you feel your system has a weak link somewhere, or do you just have an itch to change/upgrade/spend?

Bob

Blueshirt1 · « **Reply #3 on:** 27 Apr 2013, 07:46 pm »

Quote from: Bob in St. Louis on 27 Apr 2013, 07:25 pm

Do you feel your system has a weak link somewhere, or do you just have an itch to change/upgrade/spend?

Bob

lol, doesn't it always come down to that.

To the OP. Sorry I am so far removed from H/T I wont be much help. The only thing that jumped out at me was the Oppo. Look at the difference wit the new one and see how much you can get for the 95. Might be a cheap upgrade and scratch that itch if that is what it is.

Or do you think there is a weak link ans Bob said.

Freo-1 · « **Reply #4 on:** 27 Apr 2013, 07:53 pm »

Perhaps a Pass Labs X or X.5 series amp for the front channels.

Jbannas · « **Reply #5 on:** 30 Apr 2013, 06:11 pm »

I'm doing more 2 channel listening than HT in that room as we're spending more time with our toddler than our HT.
I've been thinking about getting a nicer 2 channel pre, but that would probably mean I would need to downgrade the HT side.
ie. sell the Integra 80.2 and the Sherbourn 7 channel amp to finance the purchase of a nice 2 channel pre and then a Pioneer 1522 (ie. re-badged Pioneer Elite SC-65) for the HT receiver and rear/center power.
Maybe the matching Edge SI-1M to go with my Edge amp or a tubed Modwright?
Would going from the Integra 80.2 with XT32 to a nicer Pre be a bigger gain than the loss of a HT PrePro with dedicated 7 channel center and rears amp if I went with the Pioneer 1522?

I'd say my weak link is probably room treatment, but unfortunately it's a living room media room and my wife is already sick of all the speakers everywhere. (she wasn't a fan of adding the Cathedral Sounds RDP even though they are the smallest room treatments out there)
Although it's also a case of wanting to change and try different things out.

Freo - Yes, I've considered going to an XA30.5, but I don't know if it would have been any different than the Plinius. (other than twice the price...maybe less heat) I REALLY love the look of it and have always wanted to try it!