2. analog
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if you had my system and $2,000 budgeted for an upgrade, where would you spend it?

This post may go a bit beyond analog, as it could encompass other parts of the system, but I am not interested in adding to the digital side of things, so here it is.

As far as I can tell, it seems like the places to spend that $2K would be on a better tonearm or perhaps a preamplifier upgrade.  I may be able to sell my Audio Research LS-25 and upgrade to ARC Ref 3.  As for the tonearm, I could sell the RB202 and get a Michell Tecnoarm, or step it up to an arm for about $1600 (are the Clearaudio arms nice?) and still have a little left over.

Can a tonearm upgrade make a significant sonic improvement?

I am not dying to spend money on an upgrade, and if the benefit of that $2K will be minuscule, I am happy to stay as I am for a while, my system sounds excellent.  But I am curious to know what the experienced people on this site would do the the $2K if they were in my shoes.

Where is the most improvement possible?
Thanks!
Mark

System Gear List:

Amplifier:  Audio Research VT-100 mkII
Preamplifier:  Audio Research LS-25
Phono Stage:  Whest Audio PS.30R
Cartridge:  Lyra Delos
Table:  Michell Engineering Tecnodec with standard RB202 tonearm
DAC:  PS Audio PerfectWave DAC mkII
Power Conditioner:  Shunyata Research Talos
Speakers:  Rockport Technologies Mira Monitors
Subwoofer:  Wisdom Audio SCS
Speaker Cable:  Cardas Audio Cross
Interconnect:  Cardas Audio 300B Microtwin XLR
Digital Music Storage & Player:  Apple Mac Mini + ROON + Hard Drive
Power Cables:  Shunyata Research Venom HC (amp, sub, conditioner)
Power Cables:  Shunyata Research Sidewinder VTX (sources)

My system can be seen here:  https://systems.audiogon.com/systems/5421
marktomaras
jperry
1,408 posts
 
Upgrade the Rega tonearm. A used Basis Vector would make a significant difference
oregonpapa's avatar
oregonpapa
2,850 posts
 
I replaced my tonearm wiring and my speaker binding posts with Cardas  ... and the improvement was quite nice. 

Mark ... I wasn't kidding about the fuses. And I'm not the only one. Check this thread out:

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/synergistic-red-fuse

jafant
10,525 posts
 
I concur w/ inna- Mark.

Cardas are too rolled off to taste. A cable/power cord upgrade is always warranted. ARC and Transparent cabling are sonic matches! Keep me posted and Happy Listening!
anwar
75 posts
 
I suggest you consider adding an isolation transformer.  If your incoming AC voltage is not stable, add isolation transformer with voltage regulation.

I started with passive power conditioners (Shunyata Hydra Alpha and Furutech e-tp609 x 2) for my main system.  Then I have power supply tube failure in my AR Ref 5SE which blew the speakers' mid-bass drivers.  It was caused by AC line over voltage (I am in 230V country).  I bought Torus AVR30 Wall Mount which does not come with power strips, so I wired the 3 passive power conditioners to AVR30 outputs.  Oh man, what a big difference it makes to background noise and resolution.  It was a very significant upgrade.

Since then, I added Torus RM (isolation only with built-in power strips) to my other systems without any passive power conditioners.

The comment by almarg about impedance matching is very correct.  Initially the output of my AR Ref 5SE goes into Bryston 10B-SUB (10k impedance) which drives MC452 and JL f113 subs.  Too low of impedance cause high frequency roll-off.  I eventually went to passive route (semi DIY fully balanced silver slagleformers) and sold the Ref 5SE.
fliz
63 posts
 
I'd spend the 2k on stillpoints.
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