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Advise please for best system upgrade under $2,000

I'd like to spend about $2,000 or less to update my system on either new or used components. What would you spend it on to get the most improvement? Speakers, CD, preamp, or amp?
I'm currently running all Solid State: Aragon 4004MKII amp, B&K Ref 20 preamp/processor, Sony DVP S7700 for CD and DVD (96khz/24bit D/A) and Magnepan 2.7 speakers. It sounds very good but I'd like to try tubes to get more musicality and depth. I mainly listen to Jazz and Rock(not Hard Rock).
Unfortunately, there aren't many high end dealers here in Indy so I'd probably be buying without auditioning.

Here's what I'm currently thinking:
1. Musical Fidelity X-Ray CD player($1,000) with a separate MF X-10 tube buffer attached($399).
2. ARC, CJ, Cary or other tube preamp ($2,000 or less used here on Audiogon).

Please offer your thoughts. Specific component and model recommendations are appreciated. Thanks.
noble100

Showing 4 responses by noble100

noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 
RealHiFi,
I'd like a universal player(SACD and DVD-A). Any suggestions on a model? Would a tubed output stage help or am I asking too much?

Mike,
I'm not using expensive cables. I'm embarrassed to say they're just Monster Cables. Do you think upgrading these would help significantly? Also, does the Marantz play SACD and DVD-A both?
I think the BAT's a good suggestion.
Thanks for both your help.
noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 
The above is what's so great about Audiogon users. I just got a lot of excellent advice in 1 day from people that know their stuff and are willing to take the time to respond.
So, to summarize, it seems to me I should:

A. Improve my room acoustics with traps and diffusors and other changes. This would benefit the music now as well as down the road with any future upgrades.
B. Improve my interconnects and speaker wire. I know this is important but it seems hard to compare different brands and figure out what works best (a lot of trial and error).
C. Improve my Source either with a new CD/DVP (Marantz, Quad, Wadia, etc)or a separate DAC along with my current DVP as a transport.
D. Upgrade to a tube preamp. I currently incorporate HT with the pre/pro but 2 channel is much more important to me. So I could just use the B&K as a processor hooked up to a very nice tube preamp (BAT, CJ,First Sound Presence, etc.)

All great advice. Thanks everyone for your thoughts and time.
noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 

I'll start by improving the room and cables and then go from there. Although I'm curious to see how tubes might help and it is fun to experiment. But I agree we need to recognize that more $$$ doesn't equal better music or sound. Thanks all.
noble100's avatar
noble100 OP
1,093 posts
 
Well, what I did was uprgrade to tubes, a VTL 2.5 tubed preamp with a ss Aragon amp. The effect is stunning and just what I was looking for, more satisfactory mid-bass and midrange and more essence and presence in the music. I think I still need to pay attention to my room and the interactions, that's next. Thanks for all your help.
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