Unsettled and considering changing stuff


I honestly have no idea why but I got an itch lately to change my main system. Probably that damned trip to Vegas to see the toys at CES. To my ears my system is very good and I haven't really changed much recently. So why the hell change anything? Do you guys get bored with your setup every now and then and swap things out even though the system as a whole is putting out some good tunes? In keeping with the spirit of providing all the information needed for other members to provide an informed opinion...

We'll start with the room...My room is roughly 14' x 25', cathedral ceiling that goes from 8'(back wall where the speakers are) to 20' (listening position). Persian rug of some sort on the hardwood floor. The speakers are on the back wall (standard sheet rock construction) about 4' from the wall and 3' from the side walls (toed in slightly) and about 15' from my listening position. Got a leather couch in-between the speakers but the Logan's are tall and don't seem to suffer much from having the furniture there. Directly behind my listening position is a set of glass patio doors but I have heavy drapes to take care of that. I have hospital grade outlets for everything, other than that no room tweaks. This room is the family room so doing room treatments and such is out of the question (I've tried every sleazy angle to get her to give in, no luck at all), and there really is no other room I can set up my rig. All in all not that bad a room anyway.

Music? My music collection is about 800 CD's and roughly 2500 LP's. I listen to my turntable 50% of the time, CDP 30%, tuner 15%, tape deck 5%. I listen to a wide variety of music but generally spend about 70% of my time listening to rock, 20 % blues, 10% classical. My musical tastes run from grunge (think Rage Against the Machine) through to Steely Dan but I spend the majority of the time listening to the likes of Dire Straits, Steve Winwood, Blue Rodeo, Peter Gabriel, Roxy Music, Sting, etc... Yeah, I like vocal based music, preferably acoustic.

The current system (I never turn off any of my gear):

- Oracle Delphi MkIV, SME345 Arm, Grado Sonata Cartridge (marble base)
- Lehmann Black Cube Phono Preamplifier
- YBD CD Integre CD player (remote)
- Sansui TU-517 tuner
- Nakamichi RX-202 Cassette Deck
- Rega EAR headphone amp (used along with Senn 600's)
- Balanced Audio Technology VK30 Tube Preamplifier (with remote, EAR feet)
- Balanced Audio Technology VK500 amplifier (with BATPAK, EAR feet)
- Martin Logan Quest Z speakers
- Sennheiser HD600 headphones, Cardas cable
- (2) 5' Synergistic Research AC Reference power cords (preamplifier, phono stage)
- (1) YBA Diamond power cord (CD player)
- (2) Harmonic Technology Pro AC11 power cords (amplifier)
- (2) MIT Z-Cord II power cords (speakers)
- (2) Maple Audio Works Ambiance interconnect (Black Cube, CDP)
- (1) Transparent MusicLink interconnect cord (Tuner)
- (2) Phoenix Gold RCA-Balanced interconnect cable (Nakamichi Deck)
- Goertz Micropurl 25' Balanced interconnect (preamplifier to amplifier)
- Transparent MusicWave 10' Bi-Wire speaker cables (spades)
- Nitty Gritty 1.5Fi MkII record cleaning machine
- Custom built oak stand for source components, preamplifier, and music. Amplifier stand

So what's wrong with the set up? What don't I like? I guess I find it less involving than it ought to be, sounds good but doesn't draw me into the music they way I would like it to. Wonderful detail, but not engaging. I suspect maybe I ought to consider changing the speakers but I'm not a box-speaker fan at all. Maggies? Maybe consider the Avantegarde Uno? If I went this route I'd sell off the amp too cuz the Uno are powered speakers and have the added benefit of being designed to be used right up against the wall (they even sell wall mounting brackets for this purpose). Or stay off the merry-go-round and buy even more music?
jeffloistarca
Sean,

I am leaning towards a new phono stage at some point. I'm budgeting $2000 for the phon stage, so I hafta come up with the extra $1500 to make the upgrade. In the meantime the Lehmann isn't too bad..

Rhljazz,

I do fool around with different gear all the time, particularly my home office system (also has a DR-8 amp BTW). Click on My Systems, they are all there. I'm probably due to swap stuff out and change things around a bit for a change. And tweak, I need to tweak more!
Roll some tubes!!!!!!!!! You can totally change the personality of your amp by new output tubes. If you want to keep it subtle, change some of the gain/pre tubes.
Get those Sound Lab's you found so sweet! They are great if you have the room.
Tube rolling, adding a Richard Gray Power Company or power conditioner, upgrading your phono stage and the power cord on your BAT amp will help balance out your system. For me, there is more joy in discovering new artists than there is in tweaking the system. Here's a few suggestions from the world of international music:
Cesaria Evora: Cafe Atlantico
Buena Vista Social Club
Buena Vista Social Club Presents Ibrahim Ferrer
Buena Vista Social Club Presents Omara Portuondo
Orchestra Baobab: Specialist in All Styles
Compact Jazz: Antonio Carlos Jobim, Verve 843 273-2
FWIW, I suggest you spend the next several weeks (or months) taking in as much live music as your schedule permits.

Let me clarify. As a performing and studio musician, I have always found this a great remedy to all sorts of musical pathologies - unhappiness with the current state of my system, stale creative juices, dead ears from protracted recording sessions, fatigue from prolonged mixdowns, etc.

Getting reacquainted with live music washes all those things out, acqaints me again with the timbre of live instruments, reminds me that live sound systems are often lacking, and that the fire and passion and opportunity for self-expression in music is why I'm doing this in the first place. Helps take my focus off that tubed phono stage I can't afford. And those monoblocks that will surely sound better than what I've got. And that Teres turntable that Tom has been raving about.

Might I suggest you take your wife with you. This would present the added benefits of having more time with your spouse, demonstrating that it's the fidelity of the art, not the accumulation of equipment that you are pursuing (and that's the story you should stick with), further refine your wife's ear, and maybe even soften her up to the idea of that next big purchase. Or not.

YMMV,

Tim