What do I upgrade next to soothe the soul?


I currrently have an Aragon 8008BB AMP, 28K preamp and D2A2 DAC, plus Polk 2.3 speakers, MK MX145 sub, Nakamichi MB1 CD player and Monster M1 Reference interconnect (that I won in a CD Review contest with the entire Telarc Cd collection). I have the system setup in a 38'by 22' room that is fairly live with windows and woodfloors.

I was happy for years) and now am seeking a fresh sonic experience. And my wife would love smaller and visually attractive speakers. I love classical and Rock music. I want the system to play well at lower as well as higher volume. Music is one of the most importannt loves of my life - it truly soothes the soul. I live in rural area with no dealers for 200 miles.

Thinking of upgrading the Polks or CD player as the next step. What do you all think would make the most difference and any products you'd recommend. Budget 3K and willing to go used.

Thanks
128x128gammajo
You are likely to get the most "bang for your buck" from upgrading your speakers, and from proper room treatment, such as installing diffraction / absorption materials.

One of the important factors, given your room size, is how loudly you like to listen to music. If you prefer to listen at high volumes, then you should look for a speaker that has relatively high efficiency (90 db or higher) (Horn speakers are typically high-efficiency, but they may lack "wife appeal", and not everyone likes their sound.)
Coincident Technology, for example, makes very efficient dynamic speakers. Virtually all "bookshelf" size speakers are of low-to-moderate efficiency, although there are a few that might be worthy of consideration.

Most of your system is of good quality, but in my opinion the Polk speakers are the "weak link". There are a number of very good speakers available today for less than $3000 (MSRP), and a number of them are listed in the most recent "Recommended Components" issue of The Absolute Sound. Among the speakers in your price range that TAS recommended are:
1. Audio Physic Yara ($2000)
1. Focal-JMLab 906 ($2200)
2. Totem Hawk ($2300)
3. Thiel CS 1.6 ($2400) (these speakers can be very bright, which may be a problem in your live room)
4. Reference 3A MM DeCapo I ($2500)
5. Von Schweikert VR-2 (($2500)
6. Spendor SP-1/2 ($2750)

There are four other speakers I'd add to this list:
1. Gallo Nuclear Reference 3 ($2700)
2. Spendor Sp-1/2 ($2750)
3. Vandersteen 3A ($2800) (or the Vandy 3A Signature: $3500)
4. Martin Logan Aeon "i" ($3300)

Whatever speakers you decide are worthy of final consideration, they will definitely be affected the large size and "liveness" of your room, so you will probably want a speaker that is capable of projecting a large soundstage (unless you effectively reduce the size of the room by adding some free-standing acoustic panels about mid-room). And, given the size and acoustics of your room, I think an "at-home audition" is virtually mandatory.

So, despite the fact that you have no dealers near your home, you should try to locate a good dealer that will allow you to take the speakers home for at least one night, and preferably for the weekend. If you will tell our readers where you live (which state, at least), some of us may be able to give you recommendations about dealers that are within a half-day's drive of your home.
Dear Sdcampbell
Thank you so much for your well thought out, helpful and detailed response. Though the room is large with much glass it also has alot of overstuffed furntiure and several carpets. Not sure how you measure the liveness scale. I will begin to research the speakers you have suggested. I am excited to have a place to start. I am in western NC - 2hrs from Charolette and 3 from Atlanta.
Gammajo
Until last week, I would have wholeheartedly endorsed Sdcampbell's response. Then I heard that darned APL Hi Fi Denon 3910 mod and my world went topsy turvy.

I can't believe the info that thing got out of plain old CD's - fabulous.

My motto with upgrades has alsways been, "Do it once." No stop gap moves, go definitive each time and you'll end up with a more satisfying system.

So, just for fun, seek out the APL player and see what you think.

Otherwise, I go back right in lockstep with the first reply.