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How do you decide what your next upgrade will be?

As "audiophiles" or "audio enthusiasts", I think most of us are constantly on the hunt for our next upgrade to take their system to the "next level". How do you prioritize what your next upgrade will be?

I typically focus on what my weakest link in my system at the time is and choose my next upgrade based on that. But I know some people may upgrade based on "best bang for buck" or maybe other ways. How do you decide?

I have found myself at a crossroads trying to figure out my next upgrade. Right now I believe my DAC is my weakest link (by a long shot). I currently stream from my computer through tidal into a dragonfly cobalt into a Raven nighthawk. My phono preamp is also lacking. I have a VPI scout Aries with a Soundsmith MIMC star going into a Vincent pho-701. I recently purchased two Rythmik f12se subwoofers and I have no speaker isolation at all (isolation could be a potential upgrade). I have also thought about how fun it would be to roll some tubes through my Raven Nighthawk. There are so many possibilities. 
 

With all the upgrades we have to choose from how do you decide what would be most beneficial to your system?

james1911
russ69's avatar
russ69
3,360 posts
 

My best advice is to make big changes not incremental steps. Stretch the budget and jump up another step from just one level up. 

knotscott
806 posts
 

It can be tough to know which way to head. One way is to get really familiar with your gear, then try to isolating parts of the chain and compare/experiment with it. Not always an easy task, but it can help. Otherwise, it’s often a shot in the dark.

Joining up with some other audio buffs can help gain access to other gear you don't own.

 

mapman's avatar
mapman
21,846 posts
 

That's a tough one.  No easy answer. 

edcyn
1,876 posts
 

When I see an insult or a "ho hum" aimed at one of the components in my system. "Well...for an entry level component it's okay, but you'd really be doing yourself a big favor if..." Trouble is, I like my system just fine.

cd318
2,636 posts
 

When it comes to upgrades, apart from seeking out the best possible mastering, it's always loudspeakers for me.
 

For sure, as I get older/lazier/busier/less obsessed etc I'm looking for an easier life and may want to add streaming/ Bluetooth options but for sonic improvements I don't bother looking past transducers.

If I was to hear a clearly better CD player than my Marantz CD6000ki or a better amplifier than my Creek Destiny, I might reconsider, but as of yet this hasn't happened.

I've done enought chopping and changing of components in my time to finally accept that there's very little of gain to be found down those particular avenues.

Of course things might change, and if some of the things mentioned by Edgar Choueiri in his recent Audioholics interview come to pass then things will be different.

His insistence that the spatial aspect of sound is by far the most important aspect when it comes to realism in audio is one that has made me reconsider my opinions.

I think he's right.

 

 

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