Let's play the "what if" game


Say I had $10,000 to spend (that's the amount I recently spent on attorney's fees on litigation I had hoped could have been entirely avoided- In the last year I've been sued 3 times; 2 cases so far dismissed, crossing my fingers on case 3). Let's say I still had that $10,000 to play with.

Take a look at my system profile. Not saying you have to spend it all, or for that matter, any of it (I sure would like a week away).

Personally, I think all my stuff is at least very good, but I've had my speakers and turntable (plus arm and cartridge) and tuner each for over a decade and I get used to things and don't tend to flip major components frequently. So if there's a weakness , it's not glaring and right now I'm not really perceiving it. With good source material, I think my system sounds terrific.

Have friends who are into audio doesn't necessarily help. One fellow thinks my system sounds spacious and "locks" into my room very well. Another friend thought my system presents a great soundstage (I don't count that as one of my systems strengths) but felt the high end was a bit shut in (and yet, I've thought his system was bright). So what I took away is that different things appeal to different people. FWIW, the first friend tends to keep gear a very long time while the 2nd one is a searcher/flipper.

So with out the distraction of an audition (!) where could I improve things?

I have 2 thoughts- my phono cartridge, a Linn Arkiv B was pronounced by my Linn Dealer, in whose ears I trust, to still be in decent health, but fair is fair, and I bought it as a dealer demo at least a dozen years ago- maybe more.

My second thought are my speakers. I have heard the new Revel 208. I do believe they in fact image well, but I also think it's low end is not as voluptuous as my F30's (yet the newer speakers are no doubt tighter). Some years back I heard a pair of Wilson speakers which Knocked my socks off but I did not think them worth the asking price. FWIW, I do not at all care for a bright or tipped up sound as I'm not in the hyper detail camp.

A remote 3rd thought is to keep everything and add a JL sub. I've had a sub in the past with a pair of Magepan MG2.6R's ( had those a decade) and found that adding the sub not only increased the bass (duh) but that my soundstage took on magnificent proportions, truly extending past the speakers.

Look, music these days is my main distraction from some very rough turn of events,particularly over the last 2 years (significantly health problems with 2 surgeries - one was open heart, unfortunate domestic issues and uncertainties of work). Music allows me to forget, albeit temporarily, of these issues. So I figure, what the heck, let me enjoy my music to the max. One fortunate consequence is that these days I need not explain any purchase, audio,or otherwise, to a spouse.

So, brother and sister audio hounds, what further distraction do you recommend? As a side note, I found building my headphone amp from a kit (Kudos to Bottlehead for an excellent assembly manual) and building a line level switch box from scratch, were quite rewarding distractions).

Thank you for bearing with me and making it through this inordinately lengthy post.
128x128zavato
That's funny, I was going to recommend you upgrade your power strip to the Cablepro when I read that it was your most recent upgrade. You didn't really say whether you felt it made a decent improvement, but if it did, I would suggest you try one of the Audience PCs. The used prices, especially on the non-teflon versions, are stupidly low. I think that, if you're interested in listening at lower levels, which it appears you are, the Audience really lowers the noise floor and lets you better hear the space between the notes and the hall acoustics. Also - maybe I missed it, but what phono preamp are you using? I'm a big Linto fan and it would work great with your setup.
Zavato, I'm sorry to hear of the difficulties, no doubt it hasn't been an easy time. But with an excellent system like that, what you hear must be indeed enjoyable. The only thing I can think of is cabling. You do have a variety of different cables and I wonder if going with a single design might give you an uptick in imaging.

I can't tell what type of design you have, but I've had great results with solid core copper, or solid core copper that's plated in silver. In my system, it's given an improvement I wasn't expecting. Kimber, Audioquest and others make this as well as an internet direct company that I went with, Morrow Audio.

Just a thought if you're itching to try something...
Hi Chayro- the Cablepro is a nice addition. Can't exactly put my finger on it, yet I do perceive a deeper musical depth. I'll look into the Audience PCs.

Using a Pass XP15 phono preamp. I'm very happy with my Pass gear.

I did pick up the IKEA Kallax today. $35 plus tax, and 15 minutes to assemble. Not bad!
Hi Runnin- at one point I did use all Analysis Plus cables. Too much of a good thing! Aside from 2 pair of Harmonic Tech Pro Silway II in XLRs, all my other ICs are home made. I use 2 sorts of cable- either Klotz (think Rega Couple- it's Klotz cable) or DH Labs BL-1 Series II. I use either Neutrik or Vampire terminations, and Cardas solder. Right now I'm listening to FM and that's wired to my INT-150 with the DH Labs/Vampire wire, which I'm very pleased with.

As for my past troubles, well, they are behind me. Truly though music helped. When I was recuperating from heart surgery, if I wasn't sleeping I was either listening to music or watching Bond movies! And Percocet helped in the first few weeks after surgery!