speaker upgrading what can i expect for my money

[damonster]

Hi I haven't really had much experience with auditioning hi fi equipment .I. have gone from 200 pounds speakers to 550 pound speakers and have noticed a big difference as with upgrades to cd players and amplifiers.the main difference I noticed with speakers from 200 to 550 pounds speakers was a purer cleaner sound and a deeper more open soundstage.I was wondering if the gulf beetween say my acoustic energy aelite 3 speaker
and say some 1500 pound proac or focal speakers would be as big as the gulf beetween 200 pounds speakers against 550 pounds speakers.
Surley you must get to a certain level when the differences only becomes marginal.

What would you get from a 30000 pound system that you couldn't get from a 4000 pound system?

 

[Anonymous]

"What would you get from a 30000 pound system that you couldn't get from a 4000 pound system?"

Nothing!

 

[CnoEvil]

It's often worth cultivating a good relationship with a competent dealer who organizes musical evenings and demo days, where you can get to hear different brands at a variety of price levels.

IMO. You often have to double the price to get a worthwhile improvemeent.....unless you go for something totally different at the same price, that suits your taste better ie. swopping Focal for Sonus Faber or ATC for Spendor.

Whether you think the difference is worthwhile is totally individual, in the same way that people have different attitudes to cars, clothes or whatever else it may happen to be.

 

[matthewpiano]

I'm very much of the school of thought that affordable kit has improved immeasurably over recent years to the point where the performance you can get out of a relatively prosaic system (like my own, for example) is quite breathtaking particularly with the patience that I have put into positioning my speakers and choosing the right combination of (affordable) cables to suit the kit. I would tend to agree with Cno that you have to up the spend considerably to get worthwhile improvements these days. For example, if I were to upgrade from my present kit I think I would have to look at Marantz KI Pearl Lite electronics and Monitor Audio RX or even GX series speakers as a minimum. A change to Sugden Mystro electronics or Arcam A38/CD37 with Focal 806v speakers would be a big upgrade, but then we are looking at a huge amount of additional money.

If you want to improve on your current speakers then I'd be looking in the realms of the PMC range, better Focals, Vienna Acoustics, and some of the more expensive Dalis. These would undoubtedly give you significant levels of improvement, but whether it is enough to justify the extra spend is entirely down to you. As Cno says, we all have different attitudes to the relationship between money and performance.

Possibly the new Wharfedale Jade range would be worth a look, but I haven't heard any yet so can't comment.

 

[damonster]

Hi matthew piano you say the focals and the other range of speakers would be a significant improvement.in what way ? Would it be cleaner sound or better seperation between instruments .this is what I'm unsure of.

 

[matthewpiano]

Hi damonster.

What I've found is that with that next level up you tend to get better seperation between instruments and a more accurate portrayal of the timbre and character of different instruments and voices but without losing overall cohesion. There is also a greater sense of atmosphere and the acoustic space in which a recording was made. Certainly that has been my experience of PMC and Focal speakers although both brands retain their individual qualities. You have a very capable amp and CD player, and I think it is well worth exploring the best way of getting the most out of them.

 

[Lost Angeles]

"What would you get from a 30000 pound system that you couldn't get from a 4000 pound system?" Nothing!

£26000 less in the Building society

 

[plastic penguin]

Hi matthew piano you say the focals and the other range of speakers would be a significant improvement.in what way ? Would it be cleaner sound or better seperation between instruments .this is what I'm unsure of.

Pretty much agree with Matthew and Cno. My experience with Leema and Audiolab you'll need a very good speaker indeed. I've not heard much of Focal (with Leema) so it's pretty much "suck it and see". In saying that, you've got to be looking at a minimum budget of £1,000 to hear any worthwhile improvements. Personally, I would like to hear MAs PL range and see how it stacks up.

Go and listen to few different speakers at different price brackets and decide for yourself.

 

[CnoEvil]

Hi damonster.

What I've found is that with that next level up you tend to get better seperation between instruments and a more accurate portrayal of the timbre and character of different instruments and voices but without losing overall cohesion. There is also a greater sense of atmosphere and the acoustic space in which a recording was made. Certainly that has been my experience of PMC and Focal speakers although both brands retain their individual qualities. You have a very capable amp and CD player, and I think it is well worth exploring the best way of getting the most out of them.

I agree, but whether they actually achieve this, will be down to the quality of amplification, and to a slightly lesser extent, the source. IMO.Great speakers with a mediocre amp will sound mediocre....and mediocre speakers will sound better than you would ever suspect, on the end of a great amp.

Specs can also be slightly misleading......eg. The bass frequency response of the Kef IQ9 (38 HZ) and Kef Ref 205/2 (35 HZ @ -6db) have a similar figure, but in reality the definition, depth and quality from the 205/2s is in a completely different league.

 

[matthewpiano]

Oh I certainly agree Cno, but the OP does have very capable electronics. I do think the importance of amplification can get forgotten these days but I think it is absolutely crucial.

As for specs, I rarely read them to be honest. The proof is always in the listening IMO.

What I have said is very much a generic feedback of what I know better PMC and Focal speakers are capable of and isn't an indication of how I think they will perform in the OP's system. At this price level it is more important than ever to audition thoroughly and, ideally, at home hence the importance of following your advice about building a relationship with a good dealer.

 

[nopiano]

I'd echo the suggestion of going to listen for yourself. It is almost impossible to describe.

However, you know what your kit sounds like currently. Now, close your eyes and try to recall the impact of last good live concert you went to - whether that's an orchestra, a rock gig, pub singer, jazz club, or opera. That's the difference!

There's a hi-fi show near Silverstone next weeked if you can make it, at Whittlebury Hall . One thing I'll guarantee - the more expensive systems sound less like each other than the cheaper ones! Strange but true.

 

[CnoEvil]

There's a hi-fi show near Silverstone next weeked if you can make it, at Whittlebury Hall . One thing I'll guarantee - the more expensive systems sound less like each other than the cheaper ones! Strange but true.

......well worth doing; and how well a system sounds in a particular room, will depend on how much effort that company has put into its set up ie. warm up of the equipment, acoustic treatment of the room, the quality of the power and the synergy of the products. Very often the sound is not good on the first day.

 

[damonster]

Thanks MP,PP,CNO evil.I have gained a lot more understanding from your replies.my ae3 give me nice low base and a room filling sound and since pps recommendarion of my pulse amp this has really brought the timbre qualities out of the instruments.I am just trying to get the best out of my source and amp.

 

[AlmaataKZ]

from experience - also try active speakers before you buy. your budget allows e.g. avi adm9t