[ralfale]

Hi all

Need some advise. I am currently running a pair of SongTowers, together with Emotiva UMC1 and XPA-3 (using only 2 of the 3 channels). UMC1 to me is already a marked improvement compared to my previous denon avr.
My hands feel itchy, and i feel like upgrading again 

Which do you guys think will improve the sound more? Power amp or adding a pre?
Any good options which will have more significant improvement based on my current gears?

[Art_Chicago]

a preamp goes first then a power amp, all made by Van Alstine

[ralfale]

A kind brother pm me this:

Nuthing will improve your sound better than  your source.
there are 2 places where you need to spend money on ..
1. speakers
2. source

My current source, is a simple htpc output via ATI5450 via hdmi to umc1 for mkv/mp3. And a Samsuny bluray player acting as cd / bluray player.

I suppose my gap here should be a better DAC? Not really farmiliar into this area. Will appreciate all input.

Cheers.

[Big Red Machine]

Get a new dac and then find your preamp wanting.  New preamp next and after that get a better amp when the preamp exposes the weaknesses of the old amp!

[catastrofe]

Get a new dac and then find your preamp wanting.  New preamp next and after that get a better amp when the preamp exposes the weaknesses of the old amp!

What he said!!

[coke]

I recently got a new DAC and am amazed at the difference it made 

You can also get a few gik panels for a couple hundred dollars.

[ralfale]

I recently got a new DAC and am amazed at the difference it made 

You can also get a few gik panels for a couple hundred dollars.

Mind sharing what's your previous setup and what is the new addition?

[newzooreview]

Hi all

Need some advise. I am currently running a pair of SongTowers, together with Emotiva UMC1 and XPA-3 (using only 2 of the 3 channels). UMC1 to me is already a marked improvement compared to my previous denon avr.
My hands feel itchy, and i feel like upgrading again 

Which do you guys think will improve the sound more? Power amp or adding a pre?
Any good options which will have more significant improvement based on my current gears?

Everyone's experience will be different depending on what the weakest link was in their system before upgrading.

For me, moving from the Wyred4Sound integrated to their separates (STP-SE preamp and SX-1000 monoblocks) was a very good improvement to natural, effortless resolution, instrument separation, and musicality and detail in the bass. I found the Van Alstine AvaStar and 550 Double Ultra to be equally resolving but to be missing the natural presentation and wonderful timbre that the Wyred4Sound separates provide. The STP-SE preamp is also a lot more convenient and flexible and everything runs cool.

This change was in the context of already owning a pair of HT1-TLs and a fine-tuned Mac Mini/Tranquility DAC front end. Everyone who's heard the Tranquility seems to report that it betters other things in the price range that they compare it to. For me it was clearly better than the PS Audio DLIII with level 3 Cullen mods that it replaced.

So, I'm sure you'll get a lot more data from other perspectives, but I vote preamp (and DAC possibly).

Happy listening!

[Nuance]

Get a new dac and then find your preamp wanting.  New preamp next and after that get a better amp when the preamp exposes the weaknesses of the old amp!

+1

[ralfale]

Get a new dac and then find your preamp wanting.  New preamp next and after that get a better amp when the preamp exposes the weaknesses of the old amp!

I appreciate this piece of advise. For me I really enjoy the process of upgrading and experiencing new discovery or sound.

I can see that many of you have gone down this path as well. Looks like the poison is hard to resist isn't it

[OgOgilby]

Get a new dac and then find your preamp wanting.  New preamp next and after that get a better amp when the preamp exposes the weaknesses of the old amp!

+2

I have also discovered that as your speakers and electronics improve and reveal more detail, things like cables do effect the sound (I never believed that in the past). Upgrading is a slippery slope - but it's a whole lot of fun hearing "new" things in familiar recordings.

[Sparks]

A kind brother pm me this:

Nuthing will improve your sound better than  your source.
there are 2 places where you need to spend money on ..
1. speakers
2. source

My current source, is a simple htpc output via ATI5450 via hdmi to umc1 for mkv/mp3. And a Samsuny bluray player acting as cd / bluray player.

I suppose my gap here should be a better DAC? Not really farmiliar into this area. Will appreciate all input.

Cheers.

Source definitely.