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Hi all, I'd love your perspective on what to upgrade next in my 2 Channel PC set-up. What would you upgrade next if you had a max of 2k to spend?Just as context I've been thinking about upgrading my PC, but I'm wondering if those dollars would be better spent elsewhere. The set-up sounds pretty darn good to me, but I'm curious as to what I'm missing out on by using the Emotiva amp, and the Song Towers as oppose to some other speakers.Set-up:1. Speakers: Salk Song Towers2: Amp: Emotiva XPA-2: http://emotiva.com/xpa2.shtm3. DAC/Preamp combo: Wyred 4 Sound Dac-2 : http://www.wyred4sound.com/webapps/p/74030/117839/4579754. Computer Set-up: PC with Windows 7 Running JRiver Media Center 16. Loseless files stores on External drive (not Solid State)Grateful for any insights you can provide
Thanks for the great suggestions guysTJHUB to answer your questions - I am connected to the DAC via async USB. It sounded weak compared to coax initially, but after a firmware update the DAC-2 sounds at least on par with Coax.Room size at the moment is 9ft x 16ft (a lively basement with wooden floors and a rug) but we are planning on moving house soon in the near future.I did audition a peachtree nova (combined dac/pre-amp, and amp), but the W4S Dac and XPA-2, had a waay more fuller sound. The W4S Dac was just in a different leagueI think my only issue is that sometimes high frequency sounds come through too prominently on certain tracks compared to lower frequencies. On some tracks this sounds amazing (Dave Matthews, Jazz, Norah Jones), but on others (like Sean McDonald) that sound great in the car, I find percussion instruments like cymbols and triangles to be overbearing and not at all like hearing a band live. Similarly on songs that do have more bass I cannot replicate the same type of sound I'm used to hearing on Vinyl with Monitor speakers.I heard alot of noise about the DAC being too detailed, but I'm wondering whether the song towers or the XPA-2 are the limiting factors for this issue. Thoughts?
Update: I've moved house, and would appreciate revisiting advice on upgrades.So here's the backstory: I ended up pulling the trigger on the rythmik sub, and this has certainly helped fill out my music, thank you! My remaining issue now is that I feel like the music has a noticeable veil on it, almost as if if some sound effects were being applied (which is not the case).The setup now isRouter>Synology NAS (where my music is stored)>Laptop PC with JRiver via USB cable> W4S Dac-2> Emotiva XPA-2 (via XLR cables) W4S Dac-2> Rythmic Sub(via RCA)Room wise things are a little different here. I'm in the family room now with dimensions of width 14ft, length 18ft (however there is a small wall separator, before this wall flows into the kitchen. My speakers are on the long side of the room and opposite are windows. Here's my question - given I'm now in the family room with speakers facing windows is there any minimal kind of room treatment that might pass the WAF? Additionally given where the equipment is. Is this this my limiting factor OR would changing out my 5 year old dell laptop to a CAPS 3 PC make more difference than an amp upgrade? More details here: http://www.computeraudiophile.com/content/495-computer-audiophile-pocket-server-c-p-s-v3-lagoon/Thanks for any guidance!
Can you close the curtains behind you when you're listening. Also pull the speakers out towards you and see if that makes a difference. If that works you could put them on a base that allows for easy moving in and out to keep the wife happy.