Am I done yet? LOL


Things are sounding pretty good at the moment. The Dynaudio Contour 30i speakers are the latest addition and are working better in this room than the Maggie 3.7i speakers were. 

Usually, when I ask the wife to come listen, she'll sit for a song, maybe 2, then make a "that's nice" type a comment and leave. With the Dynaudio speakers, she stayed, and played song after song. She listened for over and hour and said she really really liked these speakers. Great to know the wife was pleased.  laugh

But the audiophile in me feels like there is more to be had. The amp & pre-amp are on my radar as the possible candidates for improvement. Any opinions on where to head next? (There's always a "next" isn't there?)

traudio

@traudio 

While adding a second subwoofer is very often beneficial, I would be cautious about combining subs that are significantly different in size, design, or manufacturer. Even if they measure similarly in frequency response (and they probably won't, particularly if your aim is to buy a second, smaller subwoofer) they can behave very differently in terms of phase, timing, and transient response.

Those differences can create integration problems that are difficult to fully solve, especially around the crossover region where the subs blend into the main speakers. The result can sometimes sound less coherent, uneven, or slower than a single well-integrated subwoofer.

Using two matching subs generally provides more predictable integration, more consistent tonal balance, and better overall coherence. While advanced DSP can help, it usually cannot completely overcome the fundamental differences between two very different subwoofer designs.

Until recently I have two different, yet well regarded subwoofers. I decided to standardize on one type of subwoofer so I sold them both, bought a matching pair of the same brand and model.

It makes the sub integration much easier, and the lower bass sounds much more coherent and "snappy."

@bimmerlover I'm just tossing out ideas. A second sub would be ok, but they are pretty large and take up a lot of room (See my system for room size). 
Before I got these speakers I had a pair of SVS SB 3000 subs which were good, but jumping up to the Revolution 5000 was significant. It's a real beast to get downstairs and unbox however. 

@traudio I can of course not put myself in your shoes, but you’re listening room is not small. Maybe you can put the second sub for next to your record cabinet, to the right of it, at a nice diagonal from your existing sub in the front left corner?

Another approach could be to sell the sub you have and buy two identical subs with slightly smaller form factors, if you think that the size of the existing one would be too much for a second sub deeper in the room. 

Just tossing out some ideas myself. :-)

@bimmerlover 
Beside the record rack was considered, but on the right it would block the door to the rest of the basement. On the left you would trip over it entering the room. Maybe behind the couch or on the wall behind the couch and to the right (don't want to be tripping over cords). 
I wish I would have installed more outlets in the room. 
2 of the Revolution 3000 subs might work, but unfortunately they came out right after I bought the single 5000. 

The Accuphase dose have a very sweet sound …it is so me…but…I can see

Others preferring more bright.  I’ve heard that esoteric is more “clinical”?