What Next for my 804 based system?

[rav934]

I have to admit that I am very happy with this system....but, I am always looking forward to the next upgrade. What would give me the biggest thrill? My guess is better speakers.

B&W 804s
Two Definitive Technology Supercube II subwoofers (used below 40 hz and relatively low power output)
Musical Fidelity A5 Integrated Amp
Musical Fidelity A5 CD Player
Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun speaker cables (bi-wire)
Acoustic Zen silver reference interconnect

Maybe 802D speakers? Ideas please?

[JimTW]

I have to admit that I am very happy with this system....but, I am always looking forward to the next upgrade. What would give me the biggest thrill? My guess is better speakers.

B&W 804s
Two Definitive Technology Supercube II subwoofers (used below 40 hz and relatively low power output)
Musical Fidelity A5 Integrated Amp
Musical Fidelity A5 CD Player
Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun speaker cables (bi-wire)
Acoustic Zen silver reference interconnect

Maybe 802D speakers? Ideas please?

Rav, as a side note.. how did you score the A5 cd player? Is it sold out
world wide yet? I heard the cd player was produced in limited quantity.
Btw, where did you purchase the Musical Fidelity stuff? Tks!

[Aussie Geoff]

Ray,

For my money it would absolutely be the 802Ds... They are (IMO) so much more capable than the 804s it is startling... Better midrange (significantly cleaner and more revealing), deeper tighter bass (making your current subs obsolete) and more transparent treble... And a sound stage that is truely 3D in the right room - they will reach out even behind you... Trade the 804s and the subs in to make the stepup to the 802Ds not so painful

Then later you could look at a better sub (the B&W 855 or 875) as the Def Tech subs are (IMO) not as tight and musical as the big B&Ws... and (as the 802Ds love clean power) more power... like the Musical Fidelity KW 500 or KW 750 :banana:

So years of fun feeding your upgraditis...

Or... you could stop now while you are happy!

Geoff

[BTB]

I have to admit that I am very happy with this system....but,

If I had 10 cents for everytime I've had this exact thought since getting into this hobby... nay, sickness, addiction, madness, around three years ago I'd probably own a system like yours RAV 934. Isn't the answer to your question right there in the first line of your post? Says the newbie who has owned 4 pairs of speakers (all B&W's), 3 amps, 2 CD players & 3 DVD players since getting hooked.

Honestly though, RAV... if you haven't identified a specific "problem" you feel needs to be addressed aren't you better off just staying "happy" for a while? Maybe since I'm so new to this I'd like to have some hope that it isn't always going to be this way? Maybe it's also because my running excuse for my "recklessness" so far is starting to wear a bit thin. Until now I've been assembling relatively modest systems but I'm about to enter the realm of the "big spender". Why oh why didn't I rather collect stamps to pass my leisure hours?

[tboooe]

I agree with the posts about speakers giving you the biggest improvement. I also agree with Aussie Geoff description of the 802D. The holographic and realistic nature of the 802D is amazing! The music has a weight, palpability that I do not get with my 804S. I think once you start looking at speakers in the range of the 802d the improvement or difference is not so much quantitative as it is qualitative. Needless to say I am planning on upgrade to the 802D and a new preamp.

As for BTB, once I get the 802D I would have purchased 4 different pairs of B&W speakers as well. However, I am only on my second amp and preamp. However, I have done all of this within 7 months....Hopefully once I get the 802D and preamp (still havent decided between Ayre, Classe, BAT, or Plinius) my final upgrade for some time will be the amp. Yeah right, in a few years (months) it will be me asking this forum what to upgrade next...this is a whacky hobby/sickness.

[BTB]

Hi tboooe

You beat me hands down! 7 months huh? That's got to be some kinda record! Funny, just yesterday my wife and I were talking about how this upgrade thing "works" (no argument or anything she's quite understanding)... this after she saw a print I'd made of specs on the Plinius 9200 integrated. I've listened to their 9100 integrated and liked it's midrange and high frequency performance very much, but thought the bass wasn't as tight as it could've been so I bought some Rotels instead. Now a few months later I'm not all that wild about the Rotels midrange performance... that's good for another couple of upgrades wouldn't you say? And so on, and so on.... :W