What Upgrades for $700?

[savatage1973]

I have some spare cash and figured I'd try to upgrade my system. I don't NEED anything, but figured you can always improve on your system and would love to hear some better sound quality.

Go see a doctor IMMEDIATELY!!! You have contracted a very serious illness--"upgrade-itis". It is not fatal (unless the wife kills you), but it can drive you insane and do serious damage to your bank account.

Good Luck On Your "Journey"

 

[delfam]

Go see a doctor IMMEDIATELY!!! You have contracted a very serious illness--"upgrade-itis". It is not fatal (unless the wife kills you), but it can drive you insane and do serious damage to your bank account.

Good Luck On Your "Journey"

I guess. Even though I'm happy with my system I know it's a very basic system that could use improvements. I haven't really heard many systems so I can't tell how good my system actually sounds on a 1-10 scale. Figured I'd try to get the best sound improvement for the price. I'm still young and have disposable income so figure I'd do it now rather than later.

 

[savatage1973]

I'm still young and have disposable income so figure I'd do it now rather than later.

Just wait--it is like shingles from chicken pox--after the house is paid off, the kids are gone, and college is paid for, it will come around and bite you in the ass--again.

And just remember that in the end--it only matters if it sounds good to YOU--so cancel your subscription to "Stereophool" and take every bit of "you need one of these" advice with a grain of salt.

 

[davidb1]

Eventually the $ spent on albums will be your biggest investment. I'm a "source first" believer. I would go for a record cleaning machine first to maintain your investment and maximize used records. After that, upgrade the TT/cartridge first, then speakers then amplification then room treatments and/or room correction, especially if you move and have a bigger room and can play louder. http://www.dspeaker.com/
If you have any audio shops near you, why not go take a listen?

 

[GarmanVardon]

Sorry, I'm late to the party here, but I was recently presented with similar situation. I also have the Harman Kardon 630 twinpower, great amp but poor preamp. I added the Cambridge audio Azur 551P, big improvement. I know there are other preamps that may be better but I've had good luck with this one and at $150 new and a lot less used- hard to beat. I then upgraded to my cartridge to the Super OM30, I think it was about $230. Something like that may work for you. And the cartridge is moveable if you decide later you need a different TT. Plus, you have $ leftover.