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What should be the first component when upgrading?

I currently have this terrible system:

-Infinity SM 62 Bookshelves (on stands)
-Sherwood RX-4105 Receiver
-Source is Apple Powerbook (iTunes) or iPod

This summer I bought Grados SR80 headphones and they simply BLEW my mind. I heard things in my music which I've NEVER heard before (and this is with MP3's!). I listened to practically every song over again because of this increased resolution.

So naturally I wish to upgrade my above system. I've been researching the last few months and have come up with a couple of options:

-Epos ELS-3/Wharfedale Diamond 9.1/PSB Image B25 speakers
-Cambridge Audio 540a v2.0/NAD C320BEE/used Marantz/etc. integrated
-Hsu research VTF-2/STF-1/STF-2
-Standalone CD player (cambridge audio 540c?)/NAD ...

I just found a VTF-2 on here for 275 which seems like an awesome deal. Just wondering which component you guys would replace and in what order?

I was thinking of getting the sub first because I could use it with my existing system and then upgrade the other components in this order (integrated amp, speakers, cd player) ....

But after reading some more on the forums, maybe I should keep my existing system and upgrade the cd player first (garbage in= garbage out) ...

Or maybe I should get the integrated amp first?

Seriously seeking guidance in building this budget system as this will be my fisrt foray into budget hi-fi .... what would you guys do??
bobcuzi

Showing 4 responses by tvad

tvad
9,467 posts
 
Well, I guess I disagree with the other suggestions, although I genuinely respect their approaches.

In my opinion, if you're looking to upgrade (whatever that means), and you're considering every aspect of your system as a candidate, then I suggest finding a speaker/amplifier combination that pleases you, and working backward from there. I believe speakers make the most obvious impact on a system's sound...especially when combined with synergistic amplification. I sometimes wish more speaker manufacturer's took the system approach that Bobby Palkovic of Merlin takes with his customers. Bobby will recommend very specific amplification and wiring to maximize the sound of his speakers. Whether you prefer the sound of Merlin is really a side issue. It's his approach that's so wonderful. As I said, I wish more speaker manufacturers did the same.

Without a decision made about the sound one wants to achieve through the selection of speakers and amplifier, I cannot understand how one can begin to select a source, because the quality of one's source can only be really heard after one's speakers and amplification have been upgraded to the extent that the budget will allow.

Anyway, that's my 2 cents. Worth about a penny.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
How does one judge the sound quality of a source component without speakers/amp that will resolve the info being fed? Without headphones and an excellent headphone amp it's not possible. One can select a source component known to be resolving based on reviews and user opinions, but it's not possible to judge the component's sonics or compare them against other source components.

Catch 22.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Reverse the situation and put a world class front-end with a world class middle components, and crap speakers and I'd bet you could listen and be amazed for a whole lot longer than compromising the source...This is an endless debate, repeated over and over here. There's my .02 lincolns again.

Marco
Jax2 (System | Reviews | Threads | Answers)
Marco, in general, I agree with your point, but without good speakers, one cannot judge a world class digital player against another...and we all know no two world class digital players sound the same. The differences between those two world class players will not be audibly apparent without resolving speakers and amplifier.

As you say, it's an endless Chicken-or-the-Egg debate.

Perhaps, as Drubin intimates, it's better to make incremental improvements in all components rather than upgrade only one component to world class level.
tvad
9,467 posts
 
Clearly, there is no right answer. On this we all agree.

Don't we?

:)
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