Help Andrew/anyone else!! Worth upgrading from Audiolab/Mission to .......?

[admin_exported]

About 10 years ago, I bought the following - (Pre-TAG) Audiolab 8000CD, 8000S amp, 8000SX power amp and Mission 753 floorstanders. Cable Talk (remember them) and WBT? interconnects and 4 strand Cable Talk speaker cable to bi-amp the Missions. I think I must have spent about £1000+£700+£700+£700 respectively +misc bits = over £3K at the time. Recently I added a DACMagic to play lossless files from iTunes via laptop.

I cannot help but wonder whether technology has moved on so much in the last 10 years that I could be replacing the two amps and speakers (not CD player) with latest items which are cheaper than the above prices, but still maintain roughly the same level of "sound quality", for example Roksan K2 amp + B&W 685 speakers .... or other recommendations the more experienced forum members can offer me.

Or am I better off sticking with what I have unless I want to spend up to a couple of thousand pounds? I will appreciate any comments or observations, thank you all.

 

[Andrew Everard]

I'd stick with it - you'd have to spend some serious money to get a better sound, IMO.

 

[the record spot]

I think the 753s will take some beating to be honest. I think the B&W speakers, even ten years on from the Missions, will be a step down. The 753 was such a good speaker, Mission arguably haven't topped it since. That 75 series range was the mutt's whatsits and I'd be inclined to see how your other kit shapes up first before losing those beauties.

I don't know if you'd find a massive difference unless you make a significant step-up. Is this a case of "I need to change the sound because I'm missing something" or is it more a case of, "I've had this for years...."?! Your kit is good, it's a nice set-up and if you enjoy the sound you have, perhaps the first step would be to work out how much a worthwhile upgrade would be that returns a tangible audio benefit in terms of the sound you want. At least then you can determine if the improvement is worth the notes you hand over.

 

[WinterRacer]

I used a similar setup to you - Marantz CD6000KI, Audiolab 8000A and 8000PX biamping Mission 753 Freedoms. I was happy with this sound for a long time, but recently when the 8000PX started playing up (right channel intermittently cutting out) I started out on a road of upgrading, currently ending in: Cyrus XT-SE transport, Cyrus DAC-X, Roksan Caspian pre and mono-bloc power amps driving Monitor Audio GS10s.

IMO, I'd look at the speakers first in your line-up. The Missions definitely have their strengths, but I find that they have a forward midrange and dull treble in comparison to modern speakers.

FWIW, in a very limited audition of the B&W 685s, I didn't like the sound of them, I could hear a distinct "cuppy" colouration on female vocals (Massive Attack - Protection).

Hope this helps.

Rob.

 

[Anonymous]

Thank you Andrew, the Record Spot and Rob for your erudite and speedy input, much appreciated.

I guess mine is a case of "I don't know what I am missing" because unfortunately, none of my friends think it is worth spending more than a few hundred pounds on a hi fi system so I have nothing close to compare my kit with.

But if technology has moved on so much in 10 years that a current £350 Amp plus £350 speakers are going to produce the sort of sound quality - I mean "generic" qualities like clarity, separation, soundstage, wide frequency response etc - that my pre/power amps and speakers are capable of (and for which I paid over £2K for 10 years ago), then I will be very tempted to "update", but not necessarily upgrade my system,.... or perhaps buy a second system for my office.

But if I still have to spend between £1.5 to £2K or thereabouts on amp/speakers to notice any real improvement in those generic qualities, then I might as well keep what I have as I am very content with it.

Andrew knows a great deal about the older Audiolab kit and his response would make me think twice about scrapping my old kit and spending serious money like Rob probably did to upgare to his Cyrus kit?