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Seeking Advice to Improve My Audio System ($1000 Budget)

Hello everyone. I have started collecting physical media (mainly Classical Music, but also some Metal, and older singer/songwriter material) for a few years now, and have built up a collection that is mainly vinyl, but also some CDs. I have slowly built up a stereo system to support it. I am not very knowledgeable with audio equipment and feel like I am drowning in information, and so I have pieced together what there seems to be a consensus around with my budget. So far I have:

Audio Engine A5+ 150 W Speakers

REGA Planar Plus 1 Turntable with built in stage

SMSL PL200 CD Player 

I use the RCA port for my turntable, and the aux port for my CD player.

Now I am wondering where I should go with my setup. I want my next investment to be around the $1000 range, but am not sure where to go with it. Should I get a woofer for the speakers and an external preamp for my turntable? Or at this price, am I better off looking for better speakers...or is there another weak point in my system? My main concerns are that the midrange and upper frequencies do sound muddy compared to other systems I have heard (but they aren't terrible) and while the bass isn't bad, it certainly could be enhanced.

As a final question, I am confused when it comes to the pre-amp. I don't quite understand how they work, and I am a bit confused and worried that I would run into an issue with my existing built-in preamp overriding an external one? Any advice?

carlyleciv
mihorn
910 posts
 

I recommend to get Wavetouch audio WT-95 which is the world’s best sound SACD, CD, FLAC, media player + streamer. 

Compare sounds:

Original music  vs. WT-95  vs. dCS Varese DAC (million $ system)

Original music  vs. WT-95  vs. dCS Varese DAC (million $ system)

My 2 cents. I wish I knew below info at beginning of my audio journey 40 years ago. Then I didn’t have to waste my effort, money, and time so much. All audio systems in the world are severely veiled, noisy, and distorted. There is no audio system sounds close to the original sound and WT-95 is the closest (the most accurate) to the original sound. 

All audio systems (incl. million $ systems) sound/behave like the left speaker in below.  Your audio system sounds like the left speaker

Many people merry-go-round upgrade audio gears forever hoping their audio will sound satisfactory with next purchase but no one has done it. So, upgrade wisely. Alex / Wavetouch audio 

mahler123
4,047 posts
 

I think that you will get the biggest bang for the buck by putting the $1K into speakers.  There are many other things to upgrade in your setup as well, but given the budgetary constraints here I would try to add the best set of floor standing full range speakers that $1K will get.  Otherwise other improvements in your system will be hard to evaluate.

hilde45's avatar
hilde45
6,018 posts
 

I agree on the idea of better speakers. Even inexpensive integrated amps can, these days, do a great job powering speakers until you can upgrade them.

Consider buying used and maybe local if you can. Saves on shipping cost and damage. 

One way to do that is to go here and add in your zip code plus a distance radius. Try sorting by price to find what works for you. Then look up the seller and see their rating. Correspond with them, and maybe have a phone call. 

Another way forward is to see if there is an audio club in your area. Make contact with members and see if they have a way that members buy and sell from one another. Friendly, local people are great ways to find your next speaker.

zlone
1,360 posts
 

It is tough to break away from active speakers on a budget, as the whole chain has to be replaced. Staying within your budget, here is a system that will be a big upgrade over your current setup.

I have only heard ELAC speakers at an audio show, but I was always impressed with the sound, a great value. There are several models that will work for you, these have a front port which gives you some placement options.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_970DB62/ELAC-Debut-2-0-B6-2.html?tp=186

An integrated amp will give you the best bang for your buck. I restarted my audio journey with NAD, and it served me well. There are other options, but this is a pretty decent unit. It even has a phono amp built in which may be an improvement.

https://www.crutchfield.com/p_745C316V2/NAD-C316BEE-V2.html?cc=07

And you will need some speaker cables, Blue Jeans has a good product:

https://www.bluejeanscable.com/store/speaker/index.htm

These are all new products, you might be able go up the line with these brands by buying used. Check out hifishark for scouting used gear. 
 

 

 

 

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