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My System's Weakest Link - What Say You...

First off, McIntosh bashers need not respond.  The synergy of this system is outstanding.  

I think I have my system pretty well fleshed out now, and love what it is doing for me.  But, I have my eye on my weak link.  I have a few thoughts, but I'm Interested in objective, and somewhat random comments from some insightful folks here.

My Habits:  Love listening to vinyl most of all. Don't know exactly but have over 3000 LP, I think, and keep getting more.  Obviously do lots of streaming too via Tidal > Roon. Also on thousands of CDs of varying quality.

My Room: Open main floor Floor plan to the kitchen and formal dining room.  Open space has 9 foot ceilings, with fabric chairs and carpeting.  No need for any room enhancement identified.  Still sounds great.  Lucked out on that one.

Anyway, where is what I have:
  • (1) McIntosh MT5 Turntable
  • (2) Sumiko Palos Santos Cartridge
  • (3) McIntosh MP1100 Phono PreAmp
  • (4) McIntosh C1100 2-piece PreAmp
  • (5) McIntosh D1100 DAC
  • (6) McIntosh MCT 500 CD/SACD Transport
  • (7) McIntosh MVP 901 A/V Player
  • (8) McIntosh MC2152 70th Anniversary Amp
  • (9) McIntosh MPC1500 Power Controller
  • (10) Sonus Faber Lillium Speakers
  • (11) Roon Nucleus
  • (12) Sonore Signature Rendu SE w/ Optical Feed
  • (13) All Connected via Clarus Crimson interconnects, power cables and Balanced Cables
  • (14) Will avoid the details on isolation, AC outlets, etc. for now.
Choose a number, product or idea.  Have fun with this one.

"Long haired, freaky people, need not apply" or dismiss my enjoyment of McIntosh.  [btw - anyone remember that song quote?]

pgaulke60
tablejockey
3,772 posts
 
Just looks like good stuff to me.

The room and speaker setup is the deal breaker in any situation.
Put your setup in the bathroom, it gonna be awful. In a nice treated room it’s gonna sound like a million bucks.

You have it all in a living space. Compromise from the get go.

IMO if you were able to place speakers WITHOUT limitations and add some damping/diffusion to critical areas, it would sound the way YOU want it to sound.
geof3
1,124 posts
 
I disagree that your room couldn’t use some treatment. I have a similar situation and room treatments made a huge difference. It took some convincing, wife wise, but very worth it. The problem you will have is echo, with high ceilings it does happen. You need to tame those a bit. Otherwise, unless you are just bored (part of it) leave your system the way it is. The room treatment stuff is cheap overall and can be made to look like anything you want. Call GIK, they will help you. There are tweaks, a Schumann resonator made a difference in my room, you can mess with cables, if you are into vinyl look at other carts, or perhaps a new phono stage. The only limitation is $$$.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Acoustic treatment no longer has to be unsightly panels and tubes. Synergistic Research HFT Speaker Kit improves image focus and brings out effortless detail that makes speakers disappear. I choose (14). Put HFT on the speakers, put the speakers on Townshend Podiums. Huge upgrade!
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,137 posts
 
There are better phono preamps, but I don't see where you really have to change anything.
ozzy62's avatar
ozzy62
2,834 posts
 
My vote is for the room. Open floor plans are the worst for audio systems. You say you think it sounds good, I say you are only getting (at best) 60% of the potential of your system. It may not be something you can change, but I’d be aware of that shortcoming.

Oz
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