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Please Critique my Setup and Recommend Upgrade(s)

As a lifelong musician and former recording / pro audio engineer, this is my first foray into the world of HiFi and I could really use some advice and direction.  Last week I bought the following setup for a dedicated listening room that is essentially a 13x13 square room on three sides with the area behind me extending back another 25 or so feet.  There is a partial backwall about four feet wide but it is mostly open air behind me.  Ceilings are 9' and I have GIK bass traps in all corners, early reflection points on the side walls, and panels overhead between speakers and listening position.  Speakers are about 2 1/2 feet from back wall, 6 ft. apart, slightly toed in on cheap stands weighted down by cinder blocks.

1. 2017 VPI Scout Prime turntable with Ortofon Bronze
2. 2017 Rega Brio Integrated 50wpc Amp and Phono Stage
3. ELAC Uni-Fi UB5 Speakers

So far this setup certainly sounds good, but it isn't blowing me away either.  At lower volumes the soundstage feels a little small and two-dimensional.  At louder volumes the sound seems to fill the room more, thereby enhancing the soundstage and making the music feel more natural as opposed to coming from directly in front of me.  The stereo imaging is okay, but I expected a little more stereo separation.  Also, perhaps the speakers are still breaking in, but the ELACs don't seem to do the best job of presenting the music in a cohesive manner.  It sounds like the frequency bands are a little disjointed.    

Should I stick with the ELACs but consider a higher end integrated amp that can feed them a little more power like a Parasound Halo?  Or should I nix the ELACs and invest in some more efficient and higher end loudspeakers,e.g. Devore, ATC, ProAc, etc...?  Would I still get an audible improvement with these nicer and more efficient speakers if I stick with the Rega Brio, or do these high end speakers warrant a truly high end amp?  I ask because I likely can't upgrade both speakers and amp at the same time.    

I also considered the KEF LS50, but it seems like they are similar to the ELACs in that they are rather inefficient and need a powerful amp.  

   
529proaudio
itzhak1969
369 posts
 
@proudio529 you bought low/mid end system and that’s the sound level that you’ll get .not more and not less. If you really want a big improvement you will need to upgrade your system .I can recommend one of the British speakers ATC,Proac,Harbeth or PMC.
Amplification : McIntosh,Bryston or ATC .
Also you’ll need good cables : Audioquest, Whireworld ,Cardas or Tellurium.
fstein's avatar
fstein
77 posts
 
Aimed too low for your speaker choice

fstein's avatar
fstein
77 posts
 
You are getting all sorts of advice, all of which is true to some extent. . I would suggest starting with the speakers as you will have an immediate improvement.  Listen to the new ones before buying if possible (if they are really nice, they will let you bring your amp) . Going "used" is usually safe, and will enlarge the pool of choices.
sfall
346 posts
 
" It sounds like the frequency bands are a little disjointed."

That's your speakers. The Elac's are OK, but you can do a lot better. You can fix that by getting time and phase correct speakers like the Vandersteen Model 1's. They're more coherent than a esl or ribbon type planar speakers. (I've actually put them next to ML's and Magnepans). I know your budget allows for a more expensive speaker like the Model 2's, but they may be too big for your room and amp. The 1's are much easier to drive. Also, Vandersteen gives you contour controls for the mids and highs that you can use in less than ideal rooms and placement. If you upgrade your other components in the future, the Vandersteen's will let you hear the differences in better electronics in ways the Elac's could never do.    
kennythekey
558 posts
 
+1 for fstein.
Start with speakers and then the amp. Go to as many audiophile stores that you can stand and listen to speakers in a room with enough space to equal your own. If you can find them, see if you can listen to some of the recommendations others have made in this thread. Most important, pick what sounds best to you. Then, see if you can demo them in your home. Finally, get an amp that goes best with those speakers. Make sure, the speakers can be driven by your current amp. If not, and you love the speakers, you know what's next. If you want to get on the continuous improvement merry-go-round, then the new components should better your turntable combo. Otherwise, just smile when you drop the arm!
Kenny

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