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
I'm not trying to be mean spirited. It's just that I have heard systems in rooms similar to yours with an open floor plan and opening behind the speakers and the sound is not so great. A solid wall would be much better. Just sayin.....

Shakey
It's an interesting compromise. The opening to the hall behind the speakers allows me to have the speakers closer to the back wall than I would with a solid wall behind the speakers which gives me some boundary reinforcement. Yet I also get the imaging more normally associated with speakers pushed out far more away from the back wall.

Now if you have any suggestion given my present physical parameters, I'm listening!
Hi Zavato,
Yes, recommendation... start with the perfect triangle set up... Meaning if your speakers are 8 ft from your ears, make them 8 ft apart, then use a full tow... On Revel F30's, point the midrange directly at your ears. This formulation helps remove the room acoustics from the picture... If you have the need, you may reduce your tow a bit, but now you have the issue of no back wall reinforcement, but I suspect as long as you don't completely remove the tow in, You will still have good results. As far as changing your equipment... feel lucky that you don't have that disgusting virus that makes you want to change everything every few month... No matter how you look at it, there is always something better. If you want a different flavor, I would consider changing speakers, but they are proven performers. They go done fairly well, but as you, a subwoofer as always improved my soundstage also, Good Luck brother, let us know how it goes, Tim