[jjfinley2001]

  Hello. I am looking at getting rid of my Audio Research LS-7 and try another Pre-Amp. I am wondering if anyone has suggestions on great pre-amps with a better sound stage than my Audio Research? Thanks in advance for your help! I am also considering upgrading my Ikon MKii cd player. Any suggestion on cd-players?

  Thank you- Justin

[lonewolfny42]

Welcome Justin...

Please post what's in the rest of your system....amp  / speakers

Are you looking for tube or SS preamp ?

How much do you want to spend for a Cd player...or maybe a computer setup ?

More details...better reply's.

[peter59]

Justin,
if you are interested in a great sounding cd player I have available a pristine condition DENON 3910 player (plays SACDs, DVDS CDS )
please see my ad  in source components and any further questions contact me at bestmagnumopus@yahoo.com or PM me.

Thx

[jjfinley2001]

Please post what's in the rest of your system....amp  / speakers

Are you looking for tube or SS preamp ?

How much do you want to spend for a Cd player...or maybe a computer setup ?

  Thanks for the reply. I am utilizing a McCormack 0.5 amp, & B&W 684 speakers. KCAG interconnects and Acrotec speaker wire. I am open to both tube and solid state, just wanting to get the best soundstage and detail possible.

  Thank you

[geowak]

The Sony SCD-XA5400ES is a very good one box cd player. The Rega Apollo is another good one. I have an older Sony XA20ES running into a Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC. The fixed laser lens of the Sony makes it a good transport.

[rollo]

  Hello. I am looking at getting rid of my Audio Research LS-7 and try another Pre-Amp. I am wondering if anyone has suggestions on great pre-amps with a better sound stage than my Audio Research? Thanks in advance for your help! I am also considering upgrading my Ikon MKii cd player. Any suggestion on cd-players?

  Thank you- Justin

Justin Audio Research is known for their sound stage capabilities. One of the best at it actually. Maybe you are barking up the wrong tree. Since you are considering a CDP maybe you can start there. Budget ?? DAC instead ?
    As Lonewolf stated more details a better reply. Maybe it is not the components but setup of such.  Improper speakers position can kill soundstage. Do you have a TV in the middle ? Lot's to talk about.


charles

[charmerci]

I think you'd be better off using that money (and saving a bit more money) to get a better pair of speakers.

[jarcher]

On the basis of limited information, would tend to agree w/ others that the AR LS7 is probably not the weak link in your system - and at 1200 or under - not sure you're going to find anything that's going to substantially top it.

Re: the CD player - I'd be looking at a DAC instead : the transport side of what you have it's likely to be as good as anything out there.  Also the DAC would allow you to move over to PC / media server audio at some point.  Hard to make recommendations w/ out a budget in mind or info about sound quality preferences / priorities.

Speakers are often what makes the most difference - so also consider an investment / change there as suggested.

Lastly - sometimes cable swaps can bring out aspects of sound you want : or remove unwanted veiling / obscurity.  I like wireworld "oasis" series interconnects and speaker wires for that reason (or the lower end "luna" series if your on a tight budget), along with their Stratus power cords.  All these seem to do well in making the soundstage broader / deeper + more transparent, as well as giving some more definition to the bass.  All of those could help to improve the soundstage, assuming your otherwise happy with the overall timbre of your gear.  The Cable Co online and other good local dealers would allow you to do in-home demos.

[jjfinley2001]

  Thank you for all of the replies. I have a couple of q's. I have never met anyone that uses a DAC. Can you explain how to integrate it into a /my system and maybe a little bit on the uses of one? Is it something that would make my cd player sound better? Sorry that I may sound a little ignorant, I have been in the hobby for 15 years or so and always stuck to the basics and it seems like I may be missing out. I have 30+ gigs of music on my computer, and you all have me intrigued about DAC's. Also, what does it mean when they say "transport".

The Sony SCD-XA5400ES is a very good one box cd player. The Rega Apollo is another good one. I have an older Sony XA20ES running into a Schiit Audio Bifrost DAC. The fixed laser lens of the Sony makes it a good transport.

What is the better of these CDP's


  Thanks Again!!

[srb]

A dedicated CD "Transport" is technically a CD player with no internal DAC.  It can have one or more digital output jacks, typically Optical (TOSLINK jack), Coaxial (RCA jack) and AES/EBU (XLR jack), which would plug into the corresponding input type on an external DAC component.

Almost all CD players with internal DACs can be used as a transport, using the digital output and bypassing the internal DAC.

Does one DAC sound better than another?  Yes, but which one sounds better depends on who you ask.  Will your existing CD player sound better with an external DAC?  Maybe, maybe not.  Sometimes the differences are there, but can often be subtle, or each one has strengths that the other lacks.  As mentioned previously, if you intend to also explore the world of computer based digital audio, then an external DAC makes more sense.

As also mentioned previously, the differences between loudspeakers is usually not so subtle, and your money and pursuit of better sound will likely go further with a loudspeaker upgrade.  Just don't ask which ones will sound better than your existing speakers ( ) as you will get a thousand different answers!

Steve

[jjfinley2001]

   Well I visited a local hi-fi shop today and saw a Naim that streamed from audio from a server and they were using an Ipad mini with an app to play their music. Talk about an eye opener. Sounded great! Does anyone have a preferred streaming device that has a downloadable app. to control it? I think I am going to go in this direction. I am also going to upgrade my speakers. I know I might be opening a can of worms, however I feel the need to ask the Q. I like a speaker that handles quick drums and vocals equally well with enough slam that does not degrade at higher, sometimes much higher levels if wanted. I prefer to stick with floorstanders under $3000 pair used.   I am really getting an education on this site! Thanks again!!

[geowak]

Speakers are really like ice cream. Everyone has a flavor, they like. One must listen to many speakers, to see what one prefers. I will mention three brands and two models. (But I would listen to as many as I could, if I were you).

Salk- you pick one!
Vandersteen- 2 CE Sig II
Magnepan 1.7

[jake55]

any opinions on a beveride rm1/rm2 combo ?

[jjfinley2001]

  Does anyone have a favorite B&W speaker that they would recommend? I can probably pick up a nice used pair for a relatively good price? I am also going to go with a Network music player. Any recommendations there? Naim, Linn?

  Thank you

[asliarun]

I loved the sound of the Matrix series when I last heard it.

[jarcher]

My limited experience with B&W is to try to stay with something in a 700 or above series. Their lower level models frankly just didn't sound so great. You be better of with PSB at price of 600 and other lower series B&W.  My favorite B&W are probably the 805 monitors, produced over various versions for over 20 years.
I remember the matrix 805 had a great mid range and good imaging. I guess a lot of people felt the same as they still command tip dollar even used.

Despite all of this, the speakers geowak recomended would be my top choices over B&W.

For a network streamer music direct is offering a marantz @ half off (only $400) :

http://www.musicdirect.com/p-45607-marantz-na7004-network-enabled-dac.aspx?source=igodigital&

The naim, linn units are frankly grossly overpriced.

The best thing is to go the PC / standalone DAC route for sound quality and cost. There maybe a bit more initial set up involved, but it will be way worth it in the end.

[jjfinley2001]

Thanks for the responses. I am wanting floor standers from B&W. Any suggestions or anyone have better luck with another brand under $3000 used.
  Thanks

[jjfinley2001]

The best thing is to go the PC / standalone DAC route for sound quality and cost. There maybe a bit more initial set up involved, but it will be way worth it in the end.

   Do you know if there is a way to control the music on an ipad if you go this route? Do you have any pics of what this setup would look like?

[TJHUB]

   Do you know if there is a way to control the music on an ipad if you go this route? Do you have any pics of what this setup would look like?

One of the best sounding digital sources I've heard is the CAPS v3's.  Check them out here:

http://www.computeraudiophile.com/section/c-p-s-489/

The computer runs J.River Media Center, and can be controlled by an iPad app called JRemote.  It is easily the nicest remote control of any computer music server I've seen.  Build or buy one of these, and pair it with a great DAC. 

Also, I ran B&W speakers for 15 years having owned several different pairs including newer 800 series.  There are so many other speakers that are both better and cheaper, some have been mentioned already.  But it sounds like you have another path to follow first. 

[sturgus]

What tubes are you running in  the  LS-7?  Tube rolling might help.