How to best upgrade my setup (which amp to buy)

[argaman040]

Hey all,

I am looking to upgrade my current setup, which now is:

• Amplifier: Argon SA1
• Streamer: Bluesound Node (N130)
• Speakers: DALI SPEKTOR 2

I used to listen over Bluetooth, but bought the Bluesound streamer about 6 months ago.
Now I am thinking to first update the setup by buying a new amplifier.

What amp would be the best option for between €500 and €1500?

One option I was thinking about is the Marantz PM6007/N1SG Amplifier .
But is that really an upgrade compared to the one I have now?

Another option could be this one: NAD C 3050.

Maybe there is another option that is closer to €500 than to €1500, that's a really good amplifier?

Then after swapping the Argon SA1 for something better, I would like to improve the speakers.

Thank you for anyone replying and sharing advice!

 

[twinkletoes]

Welcome

Buy once buy right is the best i can give anybody!

I’d give the marantz M1 serious look sell the blusound and put the money towards something like that.

Or a left field option would be use the bluesound into pair of active speakers like a pair of ae1’s it would make for a very formidable system indeed. And very elegant.

Best wishes

 

[gasolin]

sell amp and streamer an get a wiim amp pro

 

[abacus]

Go to a dealer and try some out with your speakers as amps will sound different with different speakers. (Unless you go really high end where the power supply and output stage have such capacity that no matter what you stick on the end of it, it will not alter)
If you are thinking of upgrading your speakers at a later date, then try some amps with those speakers, as then you will know that when you do upgrade the speakers the amp is the optimum for them.
NOTE: Nobody can tell you what is best, as everybody ears and preferences are different.

Bill

 

[Noddy]

Here’s measurements for your amp:

Argon SA1 Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Argon SA1 integrated amplifier with phono input and Bluetooth. It is on kind from a European member and costs €369. I have a soft spot for white audio electronics and the SA1 goes right after that! Quite elegant. What I didn't like is the lack...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It’s fine if you use the digital input. Your Bluesound streamer should be very good. I doubt it’s worth spending a fortune on a new amp given your budget speakers. Would a new amp make a difference to the sound? I suspect not. Some dealers such as Sevenoaks allow you to audition a demo unit at home, it’s the only way to know if a unit works well.

 

[argaman040]

Here’s measurements for your amp:

Argon SA1 Amplifier Review

This is a review and detailed measurements of the Argon SA1 integrated amplifier with phono input and Bluetooth. It is on kind from a European member and costs €369. I have a soft spot for white audio electronics and the SA1 goes right after that! Quite elegant. What I didn't like is the lack...

www.audiosciencereview.com

It’s fine if you use the digital input. Your Bluesound streamer should be very good. I doubt it’s worth spending a fortune on a new amp given your budget speakers. Would a new amp make a difference to the sound? I suspect not. Some dealers such as Sevenoaks allow you to audition a demo unit at home, it’s the only way to know if a unit works well.

Thanks for your reply!

So perhaps I need to save a bit more... And then buy a new pair of speakers + the amp in one go.

 

[argaman040]

Go to a dealer and try some out with your speakers as amps will sound different with different speakers. (Unless you go really high end where the power supply and output stage have such capacity that no matter what you stick on the end of it, it will not alter)
If you are thinking of upgrading your speakers at a later date, then try some amps with those speakers, as then you will know that when you do upgrade the speakers the amp is the optimum for them.
NOTE: Nobody can tell you what is best, as everybody ears and preferences are different.

Bill

Thanks Bill! I might go to Hifi Klubben, one of the dealers here in Scandinavia. And ask them to pair my small bookshelf speakers to the Marantz amplifier for example.

 

[argaman040]

sell amp and streamer an get a wiim amp pro

I went with Bluesound because I have a small Bluesound speaker in the kitchen. So on some days, I play music on the living room set + the speaker in the kitchen. Works really well and is great for things like cleaning the house - walking from one room to the other all the time.

 

[argaman040]

Welcome

Buy once buy right is the best i can give anybody!

I’d give the marantz M1 serious look sell the blusound and put the money towards something like that.

Or a left field option would be use the bluesound into pair of active speakers like a pair of ae1’s it would make for a very formidable system indeed. And very elegant.

Best wishes

Thanks twinkletoes!

I like this idea. But it's not so 'future proof'. I would like to go with a better amp first, and then in a year or so upgrade my speakers to Wharfedale Diamond floor speakers or even Q ACOUSTICS 5050.

 

[Al ears]

Thanks twinkletoes!

I like this idea. But it's not so 'future proof'. I would like to go with a better amp first, and then in a year or so upgrade my speakers to Wharfedale Diamond floor speakers or even Q ACOUSTICS 5050.

What do you need to be 'future proof ', nothing really is?

 

[Noddy]

What do you need to be 'future proof ', nothing really is?

Indeed. Future proofing is a great marketing wheeze. It makes sure you spend more now than otherwise, and you still end up upgrading anyway when The Next Great Thing appears.

 

[ultraminiature]

I read an article suggesting a better cartridge to my turntable and then went on a search for a tweak to achieve better hi-fi sound.

A dealer offered me a demo with my set up compared to their choices at different price points. Whilst I make excellent choices for turntable, amplifier and speakers I could have done much better with the pairing. More efficient speakers for my amplifier or a more power amplifier for my speakers. But when they moved to a more expensive system the performance level rose.

I went away to investigate more choices and spent every week-end in the shops listening to the demos of different components. I liked the active speakers over the same manufacturer's amplifiers tri-amp'ed to other speakers. Although one marque performed better on some music the ones I went for did better across the board. I ending up with a system more than ten times the cost of my first and about 7 months gross salary.

I have the system 45 years later. I have heard just as good, ones that I could live with but not better. My reason to look at modern equipment is because of repairs and the shortening of time between needing repairs and hauling heavy electronic boxes to the repair shop.

You mentioned future proofing. Most devices need a mobile phone app for control if not direct streaming. The app gets updated and will not run on the phone you have or it gets no updates and is difficult to get a new phone to load an old app. Some companies make modules in their systems that add features, allow for a smaller package to be sent for repairs and for user or dealer upgrades. Meridian 800 series have cards like a desktop PC. Buchardt have a user removable amplifier in their wireless speakers with a smart hub for inputs and streaming. If tech changes you replace the hub. B&O have cradle to grave life cycle with modules to update the system. Already they have been able to add features via software that many said they wouldn't and couldn't do. November 2024 they added a digital surround system to their three year old speakers that now become satellite speakers tot he Beosound Theatre over coming lip synch issues with the speaker on its own. Whether they will ever offer a hardware update we don't know. They have offered circuits to turn passive speakers into streaming active speakers for models that sold in over 20 years ago. They have created add on boxes to bring older speakers into a modern wireless set up but have also dumped technologies from 2015 because external services changed and there is no update for discontinued products.

It is a nice idea to upgrade just one piece. A new amp might make your speakers worse than they are with your old amp or still not be suitable for the speakers you hope to get. You might plan it. I thought I did. I had a nice 20% discount from the manufacturer and was near to getting the centre speaker for my set up. They upped the price 26% and I couldn't find the extra £2k, lost my discount and it is now £9k not £5 to find. Probably a good thing as I found a satisfactory solution via a couple of £300 boxes to what I already had or is it?

At full price and if in the same job I had originally my system is closer to 24 months salary. Fortunately second units are occasionally affordable. I got front, sub for 50% the new price and rears with a good discount re-using my loved centre and a WiSA receiver.