Finally upgrading my equipment

tcrossma

Well, after long last i've finally begun upgrading my equipment. It was a long time coming due to having to unload a house -- something that's not particularly easy or fun in this market.

Here's what I used to have:

Polk T90 Fronts
Polk Monitor 30 Rears
Polk RM202 center (which I wasn't even using because it sounded better without)
Yamaha RX-V2500 receiver
Paradigm Ultracube 10 sub
Old Yamaha DVD player

Here's what I have now:

Polk LSI 15 Fronts
Polk Monitor 30 Rears
Polk LSiC center
Yahama RX-V2500 receiver
B&K Reference 200.5 amp (200w @ 8 X 5)
Paradign Ultracube 10 sub
Old Yamaha DVD player

I have a set of IC's ordered from Signal (Analog Two with Bullet RCAs) to connect my amp to the receiver pre-outs. Lacking anything else until the new cables arrive i'm using those cheap RCA IC's that come with computer equipment, such as sound cards.

I purchased the LSI 15's first before getting the new amp. There was a noticable improvement over my old T90e's, but I was not overly impressed with the sound quality. I expected this, knowing that the LSI's need more power.

Once I added the amp, for the lack of a better way to describe it, the sound took on a level of "feeling" and "weight" that i've been hoping for. The soundstage isn't quite as open as i'd like, and the dynamics are not quite as punchy as I was hoping, but it's a 1000% improvement over what I had before and i'm pretty damn happy. Once I integrate the rest of my upgrades i'm hoping to resolve the few remaining issues.

I'm making progress, and my next upgrades i'm planning are as follows:

1. Get those new IC's installed. I'm hopeful there will be a noticable sound improvement over the ones i'm using now.

2. Replace the DVD player. I'm looking for a used Denon 3910 Universal, with hopes of getting both better redbook quality, adding SACD, and improved overall sound quality in movies.

3. Replace my Monitor 30's with some LSiFX.

4. Get an Adcom GFP-750 pre-amp that I can use for 2-channel music and enable HT-bypass for movies. I can't have two completely separate systems so i'm hoping this will be the next best thing.

5. Replace my speaker cables. I have some reasonble quality Monster cables now, and i'd like to upgrade them to the mid-range Signal cables.

Thanks for everyone that's offered help and suggestions thus far. So far i'm very happy with the increase in sound quality, and i'm only a little over halfway through my upgrade process. I've learned an awful lot over the past 6 months by hanging out in this forum.

jwhitakr

Congrats on the new setup and gladd to hear that you are enjoying the better sound!!!

Early B.

If you want better sound for redbook, you gotta get a separate CD player. A Denon 3910 ain't gonna make your Lsi15's sing.

MillerLiteScott

Number 4.

cfrizz

Congrats! Enjoy.

tcrossma

Early B. wrote: »

If you want better sound for redbook, you gotta get a separate CD player. A Denon 3910 ain't gonna make your Lsi15's sing.

Is that true? I have read so many good reviews for the Denon 3910 and it's supposedly good redbook CD playback that I was hoping i'd be able to kill two birds with one stone.

Since I need a good DVD player anyway i'll probably start with the Denon and then if it's really necessary add a separate CD player nearer the end of my upgrade list.

Thanks for the input, it's much appreciated.

woofiepaws

The B&K really made the difference with my LSi 25s. A whole new sound!

treitz3

tcrossma wrote: »

Is that true?

Yes, screw the reviews.

tcrossma

treitz3 wrote: »

Yes, screw the reviews.

Ok, then what's more important, a pre-amp (such as the Adcom GFP-750 i'm wanting) or a dedicated CD player? Will a good CD player be useful if i'm still using my receiver as the pre, or will it be wasted?

I know what I want in the end, but I won't be able to get there for 6+ months, so i'm trying to figure out the best order of items to get.

tcrossma

Ok, so i'm making progress. I have a Denon 3910 DVD player and some Signal Cable IC's for my amp coming. I can't wait to hear what kind of difference they make.

Up next will be some new speaker cables and some more IC's.

Question for everyone: I am currenly using my Yamaha RX-V2500 AVR as a pre/pro. I have been thinking of adding a 2-channel pre, such as an Adcom GFP-750 to the mix for dedicated 2-channel listening, and running it in HT bypass for movies.

But would I be better just replacing my AVR with a separate pre/pro, such as the Outlaw 990 and not getting the 2-channel pre?

I'm primarily interested in improving music quality, as I think movies sound just fine now on my current equipment. I just don't know if a good pre/pro will sound as good for music as a 2-channel pre?

Thanks for the help.

tcrossma

Anyone have an opinion? A good pre/pro such as an Outlaw 990 or a 2-channel pre, such as an Adcom GFP-750 and continue to use my AVR as the pre/pro?

I just don't know if a good pre/pro is good enough for music or do you really need a dedicated 2-channel pre to get good quality music???

john22614

I got my new 990 a few months ago, and I really like it for both HT and music. I play it in stereo mode for music, and it sounds great. It was a big improvement over my mid priced Yamaha RXV630 that I was using as a pre. I did an a/b test and the Yamaha sounded flat and tiny compared to the 990 which has a wide, deep sound stage, excellent clarity and bass tones and on overall richer sound. Outlaw gives a thirty day trial period....but it didn't take anywhere near that long for me to make up my mind.

tcrossma

john22614 wrote: »

Outlaw gives a thirty day trial period....but it didn't take anywhere near that long for me to make up my mind.

A 30 day trial period huh? Now that sure got my attention! Thanks for the info