First place to upgrade
- Thread starter jasbirnandra
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garylkoh
WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
With that system, I'd be building a music server and using the mps3 as a DAC.
Gary, my experience tells me it's the speakers first. As I said earlier, the best sound system I've heard was a modest front end (a Marantz transport with an Audio Space DAC, Conrad Johnson ART II preamp and a 70 watt VAC amp) driving your G1.1 and despite a less than ideal room. This system easily thrashes all of the other mega-buck systems that I have listened to. My conclusion is if you have a great pair of speakers (adequately driven), even with a modest front end, the system can be top class.
Great trial lawyer always start working on their cases by analyzing what the jury instruction will look like. After you know what the jury instruction should look like in your case, then you work backwards from there. I would recommend the exact same approach in building a system.
1.The Room
2.The Speakers
3.Amps
4.Source
Of course, I didn't actually do it this way. I wish I had. I would have saved alot of money.
1.The Room
2.The Speakers
3.Amps
4.Source
Of course, I didn't actually do it this way. I wish I had. I would have saved alot of money.
So, at the risk of being practical for a minute, if the OP ever does return, what's the consensus? I looked up the speaker, there was an english translation of a german review on 6moons. It looks like a serious piece of gear. The Dartzeel integrated ain't too shabby either. (If I ever went to a solid state amp, that brand would be on my short list). I know literally nothing about his front end, other than Myles' translation of the brand name, and i assume the OP is doing computer based audio of some sort? So, rather than forcing the OP to wade through all of our digressions about what in theory, one ought do, anybody got any views on how this guy's system might be improved? (I liked the first time poster's suggestion of sorting his AC and haven't a clue about European electrical systems, other than what i've read about power conditioners marketed there). But, beyond that?
This is the unit Bill:
http://www.playbackdesigns.com/products/mps-3/
Steve and Bruce B. also use Playback Design in their system albeit the more expensive MPS-5. This unit would be at the top of my list if I was going to upgrade my digital playback.
I think given the nature of his system that perhaps upgrading to the top of the line Playback Design (or computer based high rez playback) and/or optimizing room acoustics and electrical supply should be at the top of the list.
...And the music material (high quality recording sources; hi res music mediums). :b
-----Hey, Welcome Btselect!
* What 'bout Developing the Art of Listening? ...As another good upgrade.
...'Cause from it you'ld be able to tell what to truly change, or improve in your room and setup.
Last edited:
garylkoh
WBF Technical Expert (Speakers & Audio Equipment)
Thanks for that. The G1 doesn't require a megabuck system to sound good, and the 70W VAC is pretty good. As a dipole linesource, it is probably a bit more forgiving of a less than ideal room, but the room does have to be large enough.
Since you're in KL, please do me a favour and check out the Genesis distributor at the audio show there at the end of the month. I unfortunately won't be able to attend the show, but since we paid for the room, I hope that they put on a good show.
I never understood the source first approach GIGO is fine and all but if your speakers are mediocre whats the point?? I always put the most into speakers first and went from there. It makes no sense to spend a fortune upgrading the front end if your speakers don't allow you to hear the improvements. Compared to speaker upgrades the front end are in most cases much more subtle.
Rob
Rob
I never understood the source first approach GIGO is fine and all but if your speakers are mediocre whats the point?? I always put the most into speakers first and went from there. It makes no sense to spend a fortune upgrading the front end if your speakers don't allow you to hear the improvements. Compared to speaker upgrades the front end are in most cases much more subtle.
Rob
If in anyone's situation their speakers were mediocre or mediocre in comparison to other components, than you have a valid point, and I'd say sure....get new speakers. To me however it seems like the OP has a pretty balanced system, so I don't think that's the case. In fact, I'm a little confused as to why he wants an upgrade, but then I think he probably already has something in mind.
I never understood the source first approach GIGO is fine and all but if your speakers are mediocre whats the point?? I always put the most into speakers first and went from there. It makes no sense to spend a fortune upgrading the front end if your speakers don't allow you to hear the improvements. Compared to speaker upgrades the front end are in most cases much more subtle.
Rob
First of all, nothing is going to help a mediocre set of speakers except sxxt canning them! You [the consumer] didn't do your homework then.
Second, we're assuming a certain level of speaker quality for its price range. Ergo, you will get everything out of the speaker that one can. Now if you want to argue buy the best speaker you can and then build around that, OK. But even then, you need a balanced approach to setting up the upstream equipment and eventually the source is going to be the limiting factor (and let's include a modicum of some room Rx and good speaker set up).
Third, how do you know if the speaker is the issue or the front-end. As I've said, I've heard speakers that most of us would turn their nose up at sound like a million bucks fed a master tape.
Hello Myles
Well I don't know about you but I got bit by the bug when I was in my teens. I purchased my first pair of speakers with paper route money back in the early 70's. If I knew then what I know now I might have purchased a different set of speakers but aside from that I purchased what I felt was the best I could afford in my budget at that time.
My point is there are many issues when first entering a hobby and for that matter after 10 years in. Examples being knowledge, listening habits and of course economics that are going to effect your choices. To make a blanket statement that you didn't do your homework is a very narrow view. The speakers I own now could not have been manufactured 40 years ago or 10 years ago for that matter. Technology does change over time and the manufacturing know how to make rolled beryllium foils is a recent break through.
As far as the OP is concerned there is absolutely no useful information on the speaker manufacturers site to determine what you are getting before you purchase the speakers. To me that's red flag to make sure you can return them for a full refund if you are not happy.
The source being the media of choice then yes I agree. I am not saying the the quality of the source components does not matter. Just that there is much less variability with them compared to speakers.
Well in that case maybe we should be more open minded and actually listen to something before we write it off. You don't need a master tape to determine if you have a good speaker or not. It's obvious with well recorded media the average guy can get their hands on.
Rob
That's the other thing about great trial lawyers- they always see something after the fact that they think they shoulda/coulda done.Great trial lawyer always start working on their cases by analyzing what the jury instruction will look like. After you know what the jury instruction should look like in your case, then you work backwards from there. I would recommend the exact same approach in building a system.
1.The Room
2.The Speakers
3.Amps
4.Source
Of course, I didn't actually do it this way. I wish I had. I would have saved alot of money.
Best,
bill hart
A reformed lawyer.
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