£3-4k upgrade opportunity?

[Nativebon]

It's a continuing source of bafflement to me why people with a well known penchant for changing and fiddling with things are asking others why they want to change gear.

Were you unhappy with your system before your last change, or the one before that?
No, I thought not.
You just fancied seeing if things could get even better.

That definitely seems to be the idea behind the OP imo.

Your right that's the idea, but with more info and specifics, others may be in better position to advice how to enact change to better sq for OP.

 

[DomT]

It's a continuing source of bafflement to me why people with a well known penchant for changing and fiddling with things are asking others why they want to change gear.

Were you unhappy with your system before your last change, or the one before that?
No, I thought not.
You just fancied seeing if things could get even better.

That definitely seems to be the idea behind the OP imo.

If we don’t understand what is behind the decision how can we offer helpful advice.

Already someone has said streamer and DAC and someone else said speakers. My gut says a better amp. But unless we have some sort of idea of the OP’s problem to solve it’s all rather meaningless.

 

[rabski]

It's a continuing source of bafflement to me why people with a well known penchant for changing and fiddling with things are asking others why they want to change gear.

Were you unhappy with your system before your last change, or the one before that?
No, I thought not.
You just fancied seeing if things could get even better.

That definitely seems to be the idea behind the OP imo.

For me, the question was simply to get some idea as to what to suggest changing, not as to whether or not anyone 'should'.

If it was mine, and my money, I'd change the amp first. If it was you, probably the speakers. But what to change depends on what the aim is. Surprisingly, there are some people who don't just want to change things for the hell of it

 

[DUVET]

This isn't a must its an opportunity and they are different things . The OP may be perfectly happy with his system and is just asking for some opinions and it's what forums are about and we do have a tendency to over think things in response to questions like these. Your system is mighty fine but missing vinyl .

 

[Soundsinheaven]

I have the Venere 2.5 as well and think you would need to spend considerably more than 3-4k to get a significant upgrade. I'm looking into the possibility of upgrading the crossovers though.

That's exactly what I thought! I love the look of the speakers but just want more. Is it GR research Crossover upgrade your interested in??

 

[Soundsinheaven]

To many people this would be an end game system. So the best place to start with is to ask what is it that you are not happy with?

It's not I am unhappy I want audio navara, to experience the next level of hifi fildelity. Understanding what people think is the weakest link and take it to the next level.

 

[Soundsinheaven]

This isn't a must its an opportunity and they are different things . The OP may be perfectly happy with his system and is just asking for some opinions and it's what forums are about and we do have a tendency to over think things in response to questions like these. Your system is mighty fine but missing vinyl .

Thanks for your comments, spot on but vinyl not for me I'm afraid.

 

[DomT]

It's not I am unhappy I want audio navara, to experience the next level of hifi fildelity. Understanding what people think is the weakest link and take it to the next level.

In which case change your amp but go secondhand. I found that whilst there is a difference between DACs, I own DACs by Benchmark, Luxman, Auralic, Yamaha, and Audient, there is a bigger difference when you jump up to a much better amp. I used to own an Audio Research LS25 mk2 and VS115 but the valve heat was a problem in Spain and my wife was too scared to use it. So I bought a Marantz PM11S2 that has served me for the last ten years. It has seen off a lot of other S/S amps including the Marantz PM10 and NuVista 800 (I used to own a NuVista M3). These amps were different rather than better. Then last year I bought another Audio Research SP17 and D130 (s/s power amp). It’s a big leap ahead and I saved a fortune by going secondhand. At the time I also home demoed an Accuphase E380 that was a step up from the Marantz. At a dealer I also listened to the Krell 300 which was excellent and on par with the Accuphase and Audio Research.

 

[Soundsinheaven]

If we don’t understand what is behind the decision how can we offer helpful advice.

Already someone has said streamer and DAC and someone else said speakers. My gut says a better amp. But unless we have some sort of idea of the OP’s problem to solve it’s all rather meaningless.

My gut says your right about the amplifier and speakers, (the amp Gato Audio dia 250) mighty and fast this class D amp is , I think I could do with more warmth and more realism
No real problems with the speaker's but was just thinking they could be holding the system back? Have been thinking of a crossover upgrade from GR research?

 

[tuga]

I want audio navara

I googled it and a Nissan pickup turned up... You probably mean nirvana. But nirvana means freedom from yearning.

 

[cotes-du-rhone]

I still think that to get a significant upgrade, you need to spend between 3 and 10 times the original component cost, unless there is something significantly wrong. The OP doesn’t suggest that. £4K will buy something like what he has now. It may be different, he may like it better, but it’s unlikely to be an upgrade. Upgrading your relationship with your significant other on the other hand…😍

 

[Nothingface]

Upgrading your relationship with your significant other on the other hand…

Swingers club...?

 

[rabski]

My gut says your right about the amplifier and speakers, (the amp Gato Audio dia 250) mighty and fast this class D amp is , I think I could do with more warmth and more realism
No real problems with the speaker's but was just thinking they could be holding the system back? Have been thinking of a crossover upgrade from GR research?

Now we're getting somewhere.

You want 'warmth and realism'? The Fabers will do it. The Gato probably won't. Some people love 'em, and I understand why. Not that I agree. I've only heard one once, and I thought it brittle and thin sounding.

Sonus Faber and valves are a classic combination. BUT... they do need some current, and the 'warm and cuddly' horrible valve sound won't work well at all. I'd keep everything else (any change to the DAC and streamer will make relatively small differences that you may well hate) and play with borrowing/auditioning some amp combinations. Ideally, either poweful but 'tight' valve integrated, or valve pre and class-A solid-state power amps. I can't find the link at the moment, but there's a Pass Labs intergrated somewhere that may just work ideally.

 

[Lawrence001]

https://www.futureshop.co.uk/entreq...K00eWssi2XyANHxrN24cDSH61HSzDA6IaAtBCEALw_wcB

 

[Rockchild]

Audio Research and SF. Classic proven combination.

 

[rabski]

Audio Research and SF. Classic proven combination.

I was going to suggest AR. The note of caution is that not all AR are equally good, IMO and IME.

 

[Jules_S]

Now we're getting somewhere.

You want 'warmth and realism'? The Fabers will do it. The Gato probably won't. Some people love 'em, and I understand why. Not that I agree. I've only heard one once, and I thought it brittle and thin sounding.

Sonus Faber and valves are a classic combination. BUT... they do need some current, and the 'warm and cuddly' horrible valve sound won't work well at all. I'd keep everything else (any change to the DAC and streamer will make relatively small differences that you may well hate) and play with borrowing/auditioning some amp combinations. Ideally, either poweful but 'tight' valve integrated, or valve pre and class-A solid-state power amps. I can't find the link at the moment, but there's a Pass Labs intergrated somewhere that may just work ideally.

Not often I disagree with you, Guru Rab, but I will this time. As an ex-owner I think the Gato is anything but thin sounding, I found it very even-handed and without any obvious emphasis. But then again I think Living Voice are hateful, shouty things so what do I know? 🤣🤣 Shows how much we all differ in our preferences!

That said, I would probably have thought that something like a Pass Labs would bring out the best in SF speakers.

 

[CnoEvil]

My gut says your right about the amplifier and speakers, (the amp Gato Audio dia 250) mighty and fast this class D amp is , I think I could do with more warmth and more realism

As somebody with that Gato Amp - you might try it with Harbeth (or similar BBC design). IMO. They work very well together and should give both warmth and realism (especially for acoustic/Classical/Jazz)

 

[rabski]

Not often I disagree with you, Guru Rab, but I will this time. As an ex-owner I think the Gato is anything but thin sounding, I found it very even-handed and without any obvious emphasis. But then again I think Living Voice are hateful, shouty things so what do I know? 🤣🤣 Shows how much we all differ in our preferences!

That said, I would probably have thought that something like a Pass Labs would bring out the best in SF speakers.

Amp + speakers though.

I've heard a Gato with ATC and to me it sounded overly 'clean' to the extent of being thin and lifeless. But then much as I love them, the LVs are incredibly amp sensitive too. If you make it to the October show, you can see what mine are like with a goodly bit of 845 magic and a fast sub (which makes more difference than some may expect).

I suspect that Gato + Sonus is not an ideal mix.

 

[julesd68]

That's exactly what I thought! I love the look of the speakers but just want more. Is it GR research Crossover upgrade your interested in??

Yes that's what made me think about it - his views on improving cabinet rigidity were also interesting. I'm not unhappy with the speakers in the least, quite the opposite, but worth investigating if one can squeeze a bit more from them ...