Streamer or amp upgrade

[bartlett23]

Evening all. Thinking of upgrading my Cambridge Audio MXN10 to the new Audiolab 9000N. I have an Arcam A15 (which What Hi-Fi pairs with the Audiolab in a recent system recommendation). I have Spendor speakers which are amazing, so where’s money best spent in a system upgrade?

 

[Fandango Andy]

Evening all. Thinking of upgrading my Cambridge Audio MXN10 to the new Audiolab 9000N. I have an Arcam A15 (which What Hi-Fi pairs with the Audiolab in a recent system recommendation). I have Spendor speakers which are amazing, so where’s money best spent in a system upgrade?

Same question as any upgrade, what are you hoping to achieve?

 

[bartlett23]

The same reason as most upgrades. Better sound quality…

 

[Fandango Andy]

The same reason as most upgrades. Better sound quality…

The simple answer is your amp is better than your streamer, so if you want better sound you upgrade the streamer. Is a streamer at more than double the price of your amp overkill? What can you get for around £1,000?

Having said that your speakers and your room will have the greatest impact on your sound. Spendor are a great brand, but you don't say what speakers you have. Are they better, or not as good as your amp?

But this is where you get to the real question, in what way do you want to improve your sound?

 

[Witterings]

The upgrade I've just done that's had most effect is adding a Chord Qutest and a Bluesound Nano using it's USB out.

Prior to this I was using a Wiim Pro coax out into my Arcam SA30 and my recent change has been a big improvement, might be worth a try but make sure you get things with e reasonable return window.

 

[bartlett23]

The upgrade I've just done that's had most effect is adding a Chord Qutest and a Bluesound Nano using it's USB out.

Prior to this I was using a Wiim Pro coax out into my Arcam SA30 and my recent change has been a big improvement, might be worth a try but make sure you get things with e reasonable return window.

Interesting suggestion! But I'm not sure I'm savvy enough to get my head round this...

 

[bartlett23]

The simple answer is your amp is better than your streamer, so if you want better sound you upgrade the streamer. Is a streamer at more than double the price of your amp overkill? What can you get for around £1,000?

Having said that your speakers and your room will have the greatest impact on your sound. Spendor are a great brand, but you don't say what speakers you have. Are they better, or not as good as your amp?

But this is where you get to the real question, in what way do you want to improve your sound?

All good questions! Spendor 4/5 Classic. No room for anything beefier. Would like a greater sense of scale and separation, and a little bit more low end welly. The MXN10 is great, but can't help but think it's not doing the rest of system justice. Perhaps the CA EXN100 is more price appropriate (but the Audiolab looks awesome).

 

[Fandango Andy]

All good questions! Spendor 4/5 Classic. No room for anything beefier. Would like a greater sense of scale and separation, and a little bit more low end welly. The MXN10 is great, but can't help but think it's not doing the rest of system justice. Perhaps the CA EXN100 is more price appropriate (but the Audiolab looks awesome).

You have small speakers that take some driving. Have you considered taking some of the strain off them and adding an active sub?