Best audio upgrade investment.

Skynut
Skynut Posts: 2,967
edited April 2024 in Clubhouse Archives
We all started with some kind of cheap alarm clock radio or a boom box and eventually began to upgrade.
My question is what is the best upgrade investment you have made, what made the most impressive improvement to your system?
Skynut
SOPA® Founder
The system Almost there
DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
Sunfire Theater Grand II
Sherbourn 7/2100
Panamax 5510 power conditioner (for electronics)
2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
Sur FX1000
SVS ultra plus 2

www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
Thanks for looking
Post edited by RyanC_Masimo on
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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited June 2005
    You could have Levinson, Krell, Conrad Johnson, etc....
    Put 'em with a set of klh or bose and you still have **** for SQ!
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    edited June 2005
    Originally posted by Skynut
    We all started with some kind of cheap alarm clock radio or a boom box and eventually began to upgrade.
    My question is what is the best upgrade investment you have made, what made the most impressive improvement to your system?

    You left a catagory out in your survey. My DAC was the single best upgrade investment I ever made. My system sounds like it got a new lease on life. Very dramatic improvements everywhere. Actually quite a eye brow raising experience for this aging audio guru:D :D

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited June 2005
    I started out with a VCR and a 19" TV.

    Then I bought a HI-FI VCR and wanted to check out this new surround sound I kept hearing about so I went and bought a Sony mini system with 2.0 surround, 51 disc changer with 100 watts per channel for $500 back in 1998.

    Then about 4 years ago I bought a DVD player and 27" TV. Thats as far as Ive gone.

    Actually I still like my humble 2.0 system. It has good surround effects enough to create a difuse soundfield. The dialogue can be hard to make out sometimes in a noisy scene but 98% of the time its fine.

    As for music, it works great. Eventually Ill upgrade my speakers to Polk RTi's and then eventually a 5.1 receiver of some sorts.

    As for TV upgrades, Im waiting for LCD's to come down in price. I like the picture of a plasma better but I like the "no burn in" of a LCD.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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  • F1nut
    F1nut Posts: 50,734
    edited June 2005
    One has to remember that synergy plays the most important role, but when you get down to basics it all starts with the source, not the speakers. Garbage in, garbage out.
    Political Correctness'.........defined

    "A doctrine fostered by a delusional, illogical minority and rabidly promoted by an unscrupulous mainstream media, which holds forth the proposition that it is entirely possible to pick up a t-u-r-d by the clean end."

    President of Club Polk

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  • ND13
    ND13 Posts: 7,601
    edited June 2005
    Originally posted by F1nut
    One has to remember that synergy plays the most important role, but when you get down to basics it all starts with the source, not the speakers. Garbage in, garbage out.

    That's why your the Guru.
    "SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
    CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
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  • Shizelbs
    Shizelbs Posts: 7,433
    edited June 2005
    The best audio upgrade that I have ever made, was the addition of a powered sub to my two channel system. While that system is long gone, it made a huge impact.
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    edited June 2005
    Originally posted by F1nut
    One has to remember that synergy plays the most important role, but when you get down to basics it all starts with the source, not the speakers. Garbage in, garbage out.

    Absolutely the number 1 rule! All the other tweaks, so to speak, won't add up to much if your source is garbage.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited June 2005
    I like all the replies, sorry about the DAC, I allmost added it but I ran out of options.
    I have also had many improvements which have made a difference.
    I remember putting my first decent cables on and thinking WOW thats better.
    My new speakers had a similar effect.
    Now I am saving for a new amp and I really hope to get the same WOW effect.
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
    DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
    Sunfire Theater Grand II
    Sherbourn 7/2100
    Panamax 5510 power conditioner (for electronics)
    2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
    Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
    Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
    Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
    Sur FX1000
    SVS ultra plus 2

    www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
    Thanks for looking
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  • Toxis
    Toxis Posts: 5,116
    edited June 2005
    I'd have to vote source as well, but it depends on the type of system. It could be the CD/SACD player if it's for two channel or it could be the DVD player if it's HT. For me, it was the amp actually that made the most difference. Going from straight receiver to adding an amp. Wow.
    Never kick a fresh **** on a hot day.

    Home Setup: Sony VPL-VW85 Projo, 92" Stewart Firehawk, Pioneer Elite SC-65, PS3, RTi12 fronts, CSi5, FXi6 rears, RTi6 surround backs, RTi4 height, MFW-15 Subwoofer.

    Car Setup: OEM Radio, RF 360.2v2, Polk SR6500 quad amped off 4 Xtant 1.1 100w mono amps, Xtant 6.1 to run an eD 13av.2, all Stinger wiring and Raammat deadener.
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  • danger boy
    danger boy Posts: 15,722
    edited June 2005
    I have to agree with heiney9.... for me it was my DAC too. While i now listen to more music than i ever did.. mostly due to the tube DAC. It's what made the biggest difference while listening to CD's.

    after that it would have to be speakers, then interconnects. all things listed do play a part in the overall sound though..
    PolkFest 2012, who's going>?
    Vancouver, Canada Sept 30th, 2012 - Madonna concert :cheesygrin:
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited June 2005
    it depends on where your system is in the food chain .if you are using a receiver and have halfway decent speakers going to seperates is the next logical step but i have heard that a system is only as good as its source and in my own experience i would have to agree that this is true. and as for the people who listed a dac as thier greatest improvement dac.s are a extension of and really part of the source. when i went to hdcd there was a noticeable improvement and when i went to a high end single box redbook cd player with a high quality internal dac and a hdcd chip for each channel the sound was greatly improved. the sky is the limit as far as sources go. the only limit is how much you are willing to spend. you could buy a nice home for the amount of money that some of the high end turntables cost.
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,203
    edited June 2005
    Another area that’s worth mentioning is proper speaker placement. This is another area for me that made a dramatic improvement in sound. I didn’t know what I was missing until one day I started moving things around. I used to have an entertainment center with the TV and components inside. The speakers were on each side of the entertainment center. This setup was on a short wall. Overall pretty decent sound, or so I thought. Then one day I just wasn’t happy with the imaging so I spent a few days running different scenario’s over in my head.

    I dumped the EC and bought a TV stand and lowboy type cabinet and decided to separate my TV from my speakers and components. So the corner where the short wall and long wall connect is where I put the TV on the stand, with associated equip (DVD,VCR,CABLE BOX). On the long wall I place the lowboy cabinet in between the speakers which are now 6.5 feet apart and 1.5 feet away from the wall. I stacked my 4 components on the lowboy (2 stacks of 2). This keeps the space, at tweeter level, open between the speakers. Plus there is now aprox 3-4 feet distance between the side walls and each speaker.

    What a difference, wonderful solid bass. The imaging was the most noticeable. By not having anything but open air between the tweeters really opened up the soundstage, both depth and width. The system was much more balanced and natural sounding. I really wished I had moved things around years ago.

    H9
    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | EE Avant Pre | EE Mini Max Supreme DAC | MIT Shotgun S1 | Pangea AC14SE MKII | Legend L600 | BlueSound Node 3 - Tubes add soul!
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  • janmike
    janmike Posts: 6,146
    edited June 2005
    Probably the addition of a 2 CH amp. But, I totally agree with F1 as all components must work together in harmony. The amp would not be as good had I not invested in a better power cord, interconnects...
    Michael ;)
    In the beginning, all knowledge was new!
    NORTH of 60°
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited June 2005
    Definitely speakers.;)
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • MSALLA
    MSALLA Posts: 1,602
    edited June 2005
    I always bought low to middle of the road DVD players. My recent purchase, The salesmane talked me into a Denon DVD-2900. I never new the DVD player could make that much improvement on the same tv. ( It helped that the unit was on sale for 300.00 on close out. List was 999.00)
    Michael


    Samsung 50" HD DLP
    Yamaha RX-V2500
    (2) Outlaw 200
    Adcom GFA 555
    Sony BDP300
    Denon 2900 DVD
    Lsi9's mains
    Lsi7's rear
    Lsic center
    12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
    Harmony 880
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  • AsSiMiLaTeD
    AsSiMiLaTeD Posts: 11,728
    edited June 2005
    Ah, the source vs speakers discussion again.

    Would you rather eat a candy flavored terd or a terd flavored candy...
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2005
    IMHO nothing provides more change in the character of your sound than speakers; with that said, your best upgrade choice really depends on what you already have. If you have really good speakers already, but a mediocre CD player, I'd say upgrade the source or get an external DAC.

    There's alot of variables in your question.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • MSALLA
    MSALLA Posts: 1,602
    edited June 2005
    Originally posted by Polkmaniac
    Ah, the source vs speakers discussion again.

    Would you rather eat a candy flavored terd or a terd flavored candy...

    Now theres an analogy. I'm good on the terd thing though.
    Michael


    Samsung 50" HD DLP
    Yamaha RX-V2500
    (2) Outlaw 200
    Adcom GFA 555
    Sony BDP300
    Denon 2900 DVD
    Lsi9's mains
    Lsi7's rear
    Lsic center
    12.1 SVS driver in 4.53 cuft. tube
    Harmony 880
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited June 2005
    The question is about what you think was the best improvement to your system. Not what I should do to mine.
    I am just interested in what people think was their best bang for the buck.

    As for the **** question. **** flavor candy for me, it just taste like crap a candy flavored **** is still a ****.
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
    DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
    Sunfire Theater Grand II
    Sherbourn 7/2100
    Panamax 5510 power conditioner (for electronics)
    2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
    Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
    Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
    Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
    Sur FX1000
    SVS ultra plus 2

    www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
    Thanks for looking
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  • steveinaz
    steveinaz Posts: 19,538
    edited June 2005
    ok, ok, don't get your nuts in a bunch...

    My new speakers were #1 followed closely by my DAC.
    Source: Bluesound Node 2i - Preamp/DAC: Benchmark DAC2 DX - Amp: Parasound Halo A21 - Speakers: MartinLogan Motion 60XTi - Shop Rig: Yamaha A-S501 Integrated - Shop Spkrs: Elac Debut 2.0 B5.2
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited June 2005
    Originally posted by Skynut
    The question is about what you think was the best improvement to your system. Not what I should do to mine.
    I am just interested in what people think was their best bang for the buck.

    As for the **** question. **** flavor candy for me, it just taste like crap a candy flavored **** is still a ****.

    Is **** or terd correct for spelling?:D
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • W WALDECKER
    W WALDECKER Posts: 900
    edited June 2005
    what came first the chicken or the egg? in the overall scheme of things the source is key everything after it should ideally impart as little of its own signature to the sound as possible up to and including the loudspeakers. every improvement in the chain helps but as f1 nut said earlier and i still have to agree... garbage in garbage out...
    Rogue Audio stereo 100 tube amplifier - Lector Zoe preamplifier with 6H30 pi's
    .Audience AU24SE speaker and ic cables- Chord Qutest DAC - Black Cat Silverstar II 75ohm digital cable-Tyler Acoustics Linbrook Signature system with large bass cabinets to accommodate 10" Seas magnesium woofers.2xhmpsuownoj.jpg
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  • Skynut
    Skynut Posts: 2,967
    edited June 2005
    I asked my boss and we both think it is ****.
    Spellit however you like, it slang.
    And my nuts are not in a bunch:D I don't think?
    Skynut
    SOPA® Founder
    The system Almost there
    DVD Onkyo DV-SP802
    Sunfire Theater Grand II
    Sherbourn 7/2100
    Panamax 5510 power conditioner (for electronics)
    2 PSAudio UPC-200 power conditioners (for amps)
    Front L/R RT3000p (Bi-Wired)
    Center CS1000p (Bi-Wired) (under the television)
    Center RT2000p's (Bi-Wired) (on each side of the television)
    Sur FX1000
    SVS ultra plus 2

    www.ShadetreesMachineShop.com
    Thanks for looking
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  • landry_p2000
    landry_p2000 Posts: 1,313
    edited June 2005
    Originally posted by Skynut
    I asked my boss and we both think it is ****.
    Spellit however you like, it slang.
    And my nuts are not in a bunch:D I don't think?

    **** it is!;)
    Main Set-up: 55" 120 hz Samsung LN55B650, Onkyo TX-SR806, Emotiva XPA-5, Emotiva XPA-2, PS3 Slim, Sony BDP-S560, Apple TV (160g), Panamax M5300-PM, Polk Audio CSi5, RTi10's, FXi3's, RTi4's, and SVS PB12 Plus

    Bedroom: Panasonic 50" S2 Plasma and Panasonic BD65 blu-ray player, Onkyo TX-SR707, Emotiva XPA-3, Emotiva UPA-2, KEF IQ7's, IQc, IQ8Ds, and SVS PB10-ISD
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  • MacLeod
    MacLeod Posts: 14,358
    edited June 2005
    Personally I believe speakers are the most important part of your system.

    That doesnt mean you can run down to Radio Shack and snatch up one of their nifty RCA receivers for your LSi9's and be happy tho.

    I believe when building a system that you should spend the most care and money on speakers while still allowing enough to buy good quality source and signal components as well.
    polkaudio sound quality competitor since 2005
    MECA SQ Rookie of the Year 06 ~ MECA State Champ 06,07,08,11 ~ MECA World Finals 2nd place 06,07,08,09
    08 Car Audio Nationals 1st ~ 07 N Georgia Nationals 1st ~ 06 Carl Casper Nationals 1st ~ USACi 05 Southeast AutumnFest 1st

    polkaudio SR6500 --- polkaudio MM1040 x2 -- Pioneer P99 -- Rockford Fosgate P1000X5D
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