What should be my next upgrade?

KrazyMofo24

I have around $200 to put in to improve my setup.

My current system:

Speakers: Vienna Acoustics Haydn Grand
Sub: Velodyne VX-10
Pre: Parasound P/SP-1000
AMP: B&K ST-202
Speaker Wire: Monster ZR1
Interconnects: 1m Audioquest Sidewinder, 1m Audioquest G-Snake
Source: PC through USB Sound blaster and using a cheap 1/8-RCA cable, PS3 using optical cable to H/k avr-330.


This is one of a few upgrades I'll do along the line, but for now this is it for the next month or two.

I'm thinking the biggest improvement I'd get is upgrading my source, I have been wanting to get a USB dac, and I'm currently interested in this one.

http://www.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?dgtlconv&1275555283&/Keces-DA-151-Mk2-The-best-just

However that's a little out of my budget, so unless I can find a good alternative for $200 or less I'll have to wait on that.

Next thing I had in mind is cables if I had the money I would go with Kimber Kable 8TC and Kimber Hero interconnects.

So one option is to get a used pair of 8tc's or try to get two Hero interconnects.

On craigslist there is one ad I have been thinking about.

http://dallas.craigslist.org/dal/ele/1638650611.html

My only problem with this is that the cable is bi-wire so I would need to cut the ends or reterminate to be able to connect it to my speakers since they are not bi-wireable.

Another listing I'm interested in is a Parasound HCA-1000 for $125 I don't know if it'll match better than the B&K I have.

Also I could look in to purchasing room acoustics material.

Lastly I could purchase a pair of SDA 2B's.

Any advice or suggestions would be greatly appreciated.

phuz

DAC or 8tc is what I would pick.

coolsax

what about this? http://www.mavaudio.com/base/

KrazyMofo24

coolsax wrote: »

what about this? http://www.mavaudio.com/base/

That looks like a good option. I'm going to look more into this one. I like the fact that I can connect my PS3 and cable box to it too.

maximillian

Room acoustics is next on my list.

steveinaz

Change out that Monster speaker wire to Audioquest SLATE, 52% off at Audio advisor. Then send me a Christmas card this year when you hear the improvement.

98Badger

Krazy,

Have you checked out the Musicstreamer DAC? It is definately within your budget. I haven't had one in my system (currently using a Cambridge), but I've read a lot of positive reviews and comments. Just thought I'd throw it out in case you haven't run across it.

KrazyMofo24

steveinaz wrote: »

Change out that Monster speaker wire to Audioquest SLATE, 52% off at Audio advisor. Then send me a Christmas card this year when you hear the improvement.

I may go with that actually. It looks like only the shorter runs are actually 50% off. The 4 feet for $109 is the one I'm considering it's long enough to reach the speakers in it's current position. Would prefer to get longer cables, but I can use the rest of the money to get the Musicstreamer DAC for $99.

I'll entertain other suggestions but at the moment looking in to that.

KrazyMofo24

Well I went to a local shop today, and they sell the Kimber 4TC $106 for 8 foot pair $130 for 10 and they terminate it.

At that price I'm most likely going with those.

The DAC I'm still researching.

bklynNupe

coolsax wrote: »

what about this? http://www.mavaudio.com/base/

What's up with this, any reviews? looks good.

coolsax

Headfi.org really likes it and its currently making a tour at audiocircle, most seem to think its a great piece for the price. I've been thinking about getting it to replace my AVR for Two channel when I get a pair of speakers that I want to use exclusively for 2ch.

steveinaz

KrazyMofo24 wrote: »

Well I went to a local shop today, and they sell the Kimber 4TC $106 for 8 foot pair $130 for 10 and they terminate it.

At that price I'm most likely going with those.

The DAC I'm still researching.

4TC is also an excellent choice.

KrazyMofo24

After reading some reviews and comments online I think it's worth the shot on getting the Musicstreamer DAC. It got good reviews on stereophile, TAS, and Soundstage.

I'm looking forward to listening to Kimber's this'll be my first time being able to compare speaker cable. Hopefully I'll be able to hear the difference.

tonyb

Go with the 8tc and be done with it. The 4tc is not up to snuff for your speaks, in my opinion that is. I would definately do a cable upgrade first.

KrazyMofo24

tonyb wrote: »

Go with the 8tc and be done with it. The 4tc is not up to snuff for your speaks, in my opinion that is. I would definately do a cable upgrade first.

You are probably right. However I'm a bit impatient, and I don't know I just feel I'll get a better sound with a decent dac, and good cables. With the DAC I can also use good interconnects instead of the cheap 1/8-RCA cable I'm currently using.

From what I haven been reading today when looking at cables, I'm hearing the word synergy a lot, and having the find the right cable to match your particular setup. So it sounds like I may be going through other cables later down the road anyways.

tonyb

Well,look at it this way. If you buy the dac, how are you suppose to hear what it can do if your cables aren't up to snuff?

Don't dismiss the importance of good cables,you have nice speakers,they deserve better.

cnh

I'd say see if you can 'borrow' a number of different cables so 'you' can hear the difference. No use in investing in cables that don't have the right synergy for you. That's a real pain in the you know what.

That synergy thing is a bitxx! You can spend a fortune and never find it? A bit depressing I'd say. So don't 'buy' till you 'know'.

cnh

steveinaz

I found the 4TC to peform just as well as the 8TC, it just has a little bit different tonal character.

vc69

tonyb wrote: »

Well,look at it this way. If you buy the dac, how are you suppose to hear what it can do if your cables aren't up to snuff?

Don't dismiss the importance of good cables,you have nice speakers,they deserve better.

I wholeheartedly agree. For 200 clams, cable is the best upgrade.

sucks2beme

steveinaz wrote: »

I found the 4TC to peform just as well as the 8TC, it just has a little bit different tonal character.

How would you describe the difference?
I'm currently using Heros for the i/c, and AQ for the speaker cables.
I've been mulling over the move to kimber 8tc for a while.
The AQ cv-6's and AQ Bedrocks are very different cables
Same was true of AQ King Cobra i/c's and the Diamondbacks.
My jumpers, though , are 4tc's! I tried AQ and they made no difference.
the 4tc jumpers- whole other story. That's what got me re-thinking
the Kimber for all around use. I orignally found the Bedrocks to be
a poor match to my sytem, but with the new DAC and the 4tc jumpers,
they seem to be a much better match than the cv-6's. I'm giving
them a week to see. The CV-6's aren't as lively in the top end
as the Bedrocks, and my speakers are benifitting from that.

steveinaz

The 4TC doesn't quite have the bass punch of the 8TC, but it's a negligible difference--and who really knows which one is producing a more realistic bass? I heard no difference in midrange/treble presentation between the two.

KrazyMofo24

I went with the 4tc's so far they have made a big difference. I honestly wasn't expecting to hear much of a difference. I'm now a believer in cables, I should have got these long time ago.

As for the dac, I can get a good deal on Cambridge dacmagic, but I need to come up with more funds. I really would like to get this one, but if I can't get the money I'll settle for the Musicstreamer HRT.

cnh

If you check the gon you will discover a place in Northampton, Ma. www.spearitsound.com that sometimes sells refurb Cambridge products and warranties them. Good to check their website from time to time or give them a call? They also sell a lot of high end like Krells, Esoteric, etc. Things that are out of my league price-wise.

cnh

KrazyMofo24

I could have gotten the Cambridge Audio Dacmagic for $250 used. If I had known that prior to buying the cables I probably would have passed on the 4tc's and just gotten that.

So I'm going with the Musicstreamer+ dac for $169.

steveinaz

KrazyMofo24 wrote: »

I went with the 4tc's so far they have made a big difference. I honestly wasn't expecting to hear much of a difference. I'm now a believer in cables, I should have got these long time ago.

As for the dac, I can get a good deal on Cambridge dacmagic, but I need to come up with more funds. I really would like to get this one, but if I can't get the money I'll settle for the Musicstreamer HRT.

Don't settle, better to cry once, than twice.

markmarc

Definitely a DAC, the question becomes whether you want a short term budget solution now. Such as the Musiland MD-10, or the FooBar unit. Or, save up and get something of quality. A good value, especially at bringing out some warmth is the Music Hall, with it's tube output.

KrazyMofo24

Well I picked up the Cambridge DacMagic today, and so far it's great. I can definitely hear a difference more so than with the Kimber upgrade. I'm glad I got it, I was worried about how much of a difference it would actually make.

I can hear the instruments more now, and some female vocals were a bit harsh, but not anymore.

Thanks everyone for your advice.

steveinaz

There you go! Nice choices man.

Face

Give the DacMagic some time, it'll sound even better broken in.

KrazyMofo24

Face wrote: »

Give the DacMagic some time, it'll sound even better broken in.

I hope so that would be an added bonus if it does. However I did buy it used from a local audio store I believe they said he had it for about 3 months. I'm not sure how often he used it though.

Face

In that case, it may be broken in.

I noticed mine was harsh and grainy at first, but mellowed out after a few days of use. It's a great sounding unit for the money, IMO, it was almost comparable to the 840C. Enjoy!