Thread: Update from The Cretaceous Period

Posts: 10

Post by douglasadeacon December 17, 2013 (1 of 10)
As can be seen, my set-up is quite ancient. The KEF speakers I must have had for 50 years.

As a not well off pensioner in poor health, what would anyone recommend as an upgrade to this system or is it simply a case of dump and start again.

YAMAHA RV-X 765 RECEIVER
PIONEER DV-565A ( SACD )
2 x KEF CONCERTO SPEAKERS
2 x ROGERS LS6 SPEAKERS
SONY SUB WOOFER AND CENTRE SPEAKER

Many thanks in advance

Doug

Post by onenairb December 17, 2013 (2 of 10)
Hi Doug,

Hope your well.

I have always followed the Linn mantra of 'Source First'. I have recently upgraded from an OPPO BDP-95EU to an OPPO BDP-105EU, which I rate as good as my Linn Unidisk 1.1 but with the advantage of Multi-channel streaming including DSD files, DTS HD MA processing and so much more as well as superb SACD playback.

With that said I would think the upgrade path is
Source
Amplification
Speaker

I have no experience of your kit so can't make a judgement call but the first question Is what sort of budget do you have?

Post by Jonalogic December 17, 2013 (3 of 10)
douglasadeacon said:

As can be seen, my set-up is quite ancient. The KEF speakers I must have had for 50 years.

As a not well off pensioner in poor health, what would anyone recommend as an upgrade to this system or is it simply a case of dump and start again.

YAMAHA RV-X 765 RECEIVER
PIONEER DV-565A ( SACD )
2 x KEF CONCERTO SPEAKERS
2 x ROGERS LS6 SPEAKERS
SONY SUB WOOFER AND CENTRE SPEAKER

Many thanks in advance

Doug

Doug, Hi

Being from the Pre-Cambrian, personally, I would have to ask:

1) What are your priority music sources now? CD, SACD, tuner...? It doesn't sound like you do vinyl any longer.

2) Do you want to listen in 2CH or MCH?

3) Classical/acoustic music or headbanging?

If - as it seems - budgets are tight, you might be better off focussing on getting 2 decent channels of amplification and speakers first rather than aiming directly for 5 mediocre ones... but others might disagree!

Good speakers tend to age less than electronics; my old BBC LS3/6s and LS3/5s were marvellous for their times and remain listenable.

My initial thought would be to replace the receiver. Again, others on this Forum might disagree, but most advanced lifeforms have regarded sticking all your electronics in one box as a bad idea, ever since cyanobacteria ruled the earth.

At the front (source) end, an Oppo 103 or 105 will give you superb CD, SACD and download playback quality in terms of bang per buck. Since it also serves as a preamp, all you would need was half decent power amplification to start cooking with gas.

One way to get more bang per buck might be in going for pre-used equipment; however, normal caveat emptor strictures will apply.

If you have a decent and friendly hi-fi shop in your area, they could assist in this.

Good luck.

Cheers

Jon

Post by steviev December 17, 2013 (4 of 10)
Every upgrade to my rig was prompted by a particular displeasure with the sound quality -- distortion, pops, resonances, fake-sounding soundstage caused by poorly matched speakers. Are you dissatisfied with your current rig? If so, how so? And if not, why bother with new riggage?

I've heard nothing but raves about Oppo players and I plan to buy one. Eventually. Probably when/if my current players die.

I can't hear any differences among different AVRs, so I can't help you there.

And when it comes to speakers, you just have to take a favorite recording with you to speaker shops and listen to it through different speakers until you find some that you like. Speaker preference is entirely subjective and your response is unique, so there's no way another person can give you advice in this regard.

Post by douglasadeacon December 18, 2013 (5 of 10)
Scott, Jon, Steve

Thank you so much for all your valuable advice and suggestions - all of which make perfect sense.

I have been looking at the OPPO series and have read nothing but praise for them and since my main purpose would be for SACD, both MCH and Stereo, these would be a serious contender especially taking into consideration the source first ideal.

My main listening is classical but with the amazing work some companies are doing with jazz from the 50s that is featuring more and more in my collection.

I do have a hifi shop literally across the road - friendly tho ???? More interested in securing max bucks from shoppers and prices 25% more than online. Too much to pay for advice that is questionable methinks.

Am going to look into the OPPO options and see what is possible.

Thank u all so much

Doug

Post by AmonRa December 18, 2013 (6 of 10)
One clean and easy way to replace an aging rig is to get an integrated active system like the ones Genelec makes. Professional quality and balance, and as the amplifiers are built in only a multichannel preamplifier is needed + player.

Post by Jonalogic December 18, 2013 (7 of 10)
douglasadeacon said:

Scott, Jon, Steve

Thank you so much for all your valuable advice and suggestions - all of which make perfect sense.

I have been looking at the OPPO series and have read nothing but praise for them and since my main purpose would be for SACD, both MCH and Stereo, these would be a serious contender especially taking into consideration the source first ideal.

My main listening is classical but with the amazing work some companies are doing with jazz from the 50s that is featuring more and more in my collection.

I do have a hifi shop literally across the road - friendly tho ???? More interested in securing max bucks from shoppers and prices 25% more than online. Too much to pay for advice that is questionable methinks.

Am going to look into the OPPO options and see what is possible.

Thank u all so much

Doug

Doug Hi

AmonRa's idea of Genelecs is not a bad idea, especially since they include built-in matched power amps.

My final suggestion, therefore:-

Oppo 105EU. On the general principle of source-end first, this £1100 unit massively outperforms the £500 Oppo 103 where it really matters - in sound quality. Note this will also serve as a very high quality 2CH preamp, with output control of the stereo channels managed in the digital domain. Cool.

So you can then go straight out of the Oppo via its good quality balanced analog XLR (stereo) outputs to a pair of Genelec 8030B bi-amped speakers - another £1k, with free balanced cables (of unknown quality) through some vendors I googled. Use of a good, stable and preferably spiked stand is essential for such tiny speakers moving a lot of air. Seriously.

Remember these are intended as near field monitors; they will not voice or throw effectively into big rooms - sit close, as designers intended.

The 8040Bs are a bigger and better option, but a pair will set you back ~ £2k.

If you must go MCH, you can buy 5x 8030s. But I don't believe in this religion, as most folk on this Forum know. You will also need preamplification for the centre and rear channels. Nor do I believe in subbies - just not my bag. Unless they're seriously good and matched/crossovered in well, they'll just add mud. Under any circumstances, get the 2 front channels sorted first...

Cor' £2k for stereo starters is a pretty good deal...

Cheers

Jon

Post by AmonRa December 18, 2013 (8 of 10)
onenairb said:

mantra of 'Source First'.

Should be: bottlenecks first. Usually speakers, room and placement...

Post by Jonalogic December 18, 2013 (9 of 10)
Doug Hi

Please ignore all of us from now on; this is now, methinks, about to degenerate into a religious conflict...

Good luck

Jon

Post by Beagle December 18, 2013 (10 of 10)
AmonRa said:
Should be: bottlenecks first. Usually speakers, room and placement...

I don't recall agreeing with AR before*, but it was Douglas's 50 year-old speakers which leapt off the webpage at me:

My father-in-law has some circa '62 speakers which, in a word, sound 'damp'. And it's literal dampness: whatever the water-proofness was 'way back in JFK's hey-day, it has decreased and the moisture-content of the fibre has increased. There's no credulity-begging moonshine in that observation; as the grave-digger told Hamlet, 'Water is the great destroyer'. But on a more technical plane, I have read that it was necessary to increase the response-time of speakers when digital sources arrived. That too might be true, or it might be salesmanship bumf, dunno.

As a put-out-to-pasture pensioner myself now, I am sympathetic with Douglas's financial restraint but -- DAMMIT! -- one wants golden tones for one's golden years. Doug, gitch yerself some new woofers and tweeters! I purchased all my speakers as post-xmas bargains (three separate xmases), so go audit now and come back in January with cash and watch the store manager melt.
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*It's a cool minus twenty-three Celsius here in Pinchgut today, so maybe hell has frozen over.

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