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Which to Upgrade first? My Amplifier or Speakers?

I have owned a nice system for years, but I am hardly an audiophile. You people impress me with your depth of knowledge of audio. I've been following this site for some time. This is my first post.
From time to time I replace or upgrade components. I've got a tricked out Linn Sondek LP 12 turntable. I recently acquired a McIntosh MP 100 phono amp and am hearing LP's now that exceed anything I've heard on CD's and equal if not exceed the output of my SACD's. I bring this up only to give a flavor of what I listen to.
The issue is as follows: I have a McIntosh MC 206 Amp that I bought in 2003 that puts out 200 watts per channel. I have no issues with it, although I've never had anything to compare it with. I've read some impressive reviews of how much of a difference an amplifier can make to the quality of sound output. For speakers I have Magnepan 3.6R's that I also bought in 2003. I love them. I can only afford to upgrade one at a time - let's say in the neighborhood of 10 - 12K. So, I'd like to hear what this august body has to say about which I should upgrade first and why? The amp or the speakers? Thank you.
normantaylor
lukaske
307 posts
 
First,you buy the speakers: listening (at the store or wherever) on different amps. You take speakers you can afford, listen to it, read reviews. Than you can find out with kind of amp is the best in that system: tubes or transitor. The reason why I say this , is because : you will change your amp.more than your speakers. ( normally) Do you want optimal music sound (for you) : you also have to take into account the source, wiring... Don’t let the big brands influence you!
lukaske
307 posts
 
First,you buy the speakers: listening (at the store or wherever) on different amps. You take speakers you can afford, listen to it, read reviews. Than you can find out with kind of amp is the best in that system: tubes or transitor. The reason why I say this , is because : you will change your amp.more than your speakers. ( normally) Do you want optimal music sound (for you) : you also have to take into account the source, wiring... Don’t let the big brands influence you!
colin44ct357's avatar
colin44ct357
122 posts
 
ERIK IS SPOT ON, SORT THE ROOM OUT!
YOU DONT NEED ANYTHING ELSE.
discopants
149 posts
 
Plus 1 on the room , and the subs. See if you can demo a Lyngdorf digital amp as a preamp and add 2 subs. You will get a much better sound.


Then look at tweaks, PPT and synergistic research, will take the system to audio nirvana.
optimize
164 posts
 
It is so easy to just swap components. But room treatment is a totally different animal. You need to know what to strive for and which/where the issues are in your environment.

I believe you need measurements so you don't wasting your time.
Some even goes so far and say:
"If you don't have listed on YOUR system in a treated and well controlled room. Then you haven't heard the capability of your system."

I have measured dedicated 2ch rooms there bas frequencys have still being in the room after 1000ms. That shows clearly that we have difficult to hear other sound details that your speakers and system is playing during the time when a prior sound is still bouncing around in the room. And hide/smear over it.

So with that reasoning above your system consists of: "TT, amp, speakers AND the room"

If you fix that your room then you will be able to hear how good the rest of your system for the first time. And if you just keeping and swapping out components less than optimal room conditions than that is also a waste of time.
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