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Weakest Link? Your honest opinions.

Before I spend any more on audio equipment, I'd like some opinions on my current vinyl rig:

Nagaoka MP200 Cartridge (this I will be upgrading to a Zephyr as soon as possible)>

VPI Classic 1>

Blue Jeans BJC LC-1 RCA Cables>

Jolida JD9 Phono Stage>

Monster RCA Cables>

Marantz PM-68 Int Amp>

Canare 4S11 Star Quad Speaker Cable>

Kef Q55 Speakers (bi-wired)

Everything aside from the turntable/cartridge I've had for 5 to 6 years, and are my first foray into HiFi audio.

Just bought the Classic 1 recently, and I'm loving it so far, but I feel a better cartridge will really improve the sound. The Nagaoka was used previously on my Rega P1 (which I'm using in my office rig). I'm saving up to buy the Zephyr, but does anyone notice any other obvious faults in my system?

I feel like the Marantz and Kefs could be replaced at some point, but I wouldn't want to make a purchase unless I know it's going to make a significant improvement over what I already have.

Also, does anyone think some part of my rig might prevent the Zephyr from performing as well as it should?
narticus
narticus OP
11 posts
 
Good to hear you enjoyed the Kefs.

Not sure what tubes are in the Jolida now, but they're definitely stock. I'm going to look into replacement tubes and opamps for it.

On the integrated end, I've been eyeing tube amps primarily. Icon Audios seem nice.
torevado
12 posts
 
"Get a better job and buy some real Audio".
What other response to expect from the snobby audiophile.
Actually 20% of so call audiophiles are pure snobs.
The Cables thick like a pregnant Anaconda and Amplifiers
with the at least 500 Tubes. Less is no good.
riffer
362 posts
 
Amp & speakers.

If you are going to fiddle with cables, use the LC-1 from the phono stage to the amp and get a nice phono cable like the VPI one for the tonearm to phono stage. That's how I have my Scout>Trigon VanguardII/VolcanoII>MD-209 set up.
sdcampbell
2,136 posts
 
It's been quite a few years since I posted a comment on A-gon, so hello again. To get immediately to my point, I think Elizabeth's comments have much merit, but I'm going to be even more fundamental. When starting to improve a fairly basic audio system, start by looking at the components that are transducers: phono cartridges and speakers. Converting mechanical energy to electric energy, and vice versa, requires a well designed, linear transducer. If the signal isn't
accurately converted, then even the best amplification chain won't really help. Hence, I think I'd start with upgrades to your cartridge and speakers. Just my opinion, FWIW, after 45 years as a middle income audiophile...
viridian's avatar
viridian
4,184 posts
 
SD as a lower income music lover I completely respect your position, but find myself on the other side of the fence.

While the distortions of transducers are orders of magnatude greater than those of electronics, I find the distortions of electronics much less consonant with the fabric of the music and much more jarring to the ear. Not to put too fine a point on it, electronics have electronic sounding distortions and transducers do not. I would rather live with pedestrian loudspeakers and phono cartridge and fine electronics than the other way around.

And this brings up a central point, we all hear differently and the hobby has room for all of us, even if we don't always agree.
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