Optimize your room. It will be the best bang for the buck and will make future electronics upgrades even better.
Upgrade path
I’m very new to the hobby. In the past I’ve had home theater dedicated speakers, Sonos, various Bluetooth speakers, AirPods. This past summer I stopped by a hifi shop out of curiosity and the step up from what I was familiar with was huge. Here is what I ended up with: ProAc D2Rs (arriving soon - using borrowed Totem Signature One’s in the meantime), Naim Uniti Star, Technics SL-1210GR2, Rega Fono MM Mk 5, Audio-Technica VM540ML. The room is 15” x 20”, 9” ceilings.
The temptation to start swapping stuff out is already strong, but I’m wary of tinkering without some long term plan (that’s already the second phono stage). So, what do people think is the most impactful change I could make? Add subs? A more powerful amp? Floorstanders? Have I already entered the world of small incremental improvements?
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- 22 posts total
Significant Upgrades:
Upgrade 1: Subwoofer
Upgrade 2: Since you have a ’long’ room.... Run the preout from your Naim to a fosi audio za3 amp (or some cheap amp with a volume control) and connect it to a 2nd pair of speakers. Set the 2nd pair of speakers behind your listening position, i.e., analog 4 channel stereo https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_MO3kmCzKsI (You can find several guides on this channel.) You will have a better listening experience than the guys sitting around with their same old 1 goofy pair of speakers, swapping cables all day long. |
As others have said. Run in and listen to what you have. For that size room, you may discover the Naim is short-changing your speakers and that your next upgrade is to provide it with more suitable amplification. I'm not saying there is anything inherently wrong with your choices, just that you really want to get this pairing right before thinking of other upgrades. |
ascertain what you have now and for the rest of your life you can use test tones and an inexpensive SPL mic and make a chart and measure what you are getting, the results of any alternate positioning and/or toe-in, and future changes. this CD has 29 1/3 octave test tones I could help you find an inexpensive copy and, you do not need professionally calibrated mic, just measure spl, each realative to the other, it needs a hole for tripod mount, set at seated ear height in your listening position
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I cannot really answer your question directly, but, note: The best advice I heard when building a Stereo system is "Start with the equipment closest to the ear and work backwards". So, this means to pick the speakers first (including if you are going with subs, or towers, or both), then pick the amp(s), then the pre-amp, then the sources - digital or analog. Of course most people pick the amp(s) and pre-amp together. The same thing regarding cables... Start with speaker cables, then pre-amp cables, etc.... Of course it is best if you could buy everything at once and hear it all together, but, most of us cannot, so, this is a good rule to follow. One good logic for following this plan is that all the components will match the speakers you bought because it is the first thing you picked, and the sound should get progressively better as you upgrade since you liked the sound of your speakers from the beginning. Another point is that amp to speaker matching is critical as you dial up the volume. So, check current requirements at specific ohms for the speakers and make sure your amp(s) are up the the task. Of course, this also means that you should spend the most time picking your speakers and how they will sound in the room they will be installed. Speakers have the most effect regarding the sound of the stereo system. |
- 22 posts total