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Critique my 2.0 system

2307 Views 21 Replies 16 Participants Last post by Dmon4u, Jun 10, 2021

Pickey Beecher

Discussion Starter · May 30, 2021

Speakers - Audio Monitor Silver 500
Stereo Amp - Yamaha N303
Turntable - Rega Planar 3
Cables - Monoprice 14 gauge

Room is 28' x 15'

I think my speakers and turntable are great. I recognize the Yamaha is a budget, and thinking of upgrading (Mcintosh MA352 is a dream product but too $$$ to justify at this time). Honestly though, I like the connectivity of the Yamaha (Bluetooth and Airplay 2 in particular). I also recognize diminishing return on any upgrades - music sounds great to me and don't have any problems, just mild upgraditis. One other idea I'm toying with is a subwoofer (SVS SB-1000 Pro in white to match speakers and turntable). Not an audiophile by any stretch, but up for anything that will get me listening to more music. I think I would add subwoofer and save up for a new integrated amp.

Thanks!

Reactions: 1

1 - 20 of 22 Posts

CharlesJ

· #2 · May 30, 2021

Well, the speakers seem to be sensitive at 90 dB spl. Min impedance of 3.1 Ohms @ 2.45kHz where power need is not much, so that 100W Yam should be fine.

RayGuy

· #3 · May 30, 2021

You're happy, be happy. When everything is good on the hardware side, treating the room is often the overlooked item.

Reactions: 3

Ratman

· #4 · May 30, 2021

RayGuy said:
You're happy, be happy.

+2

gajCA

· #5 · May 30, 2021

Pickey Beecher said:
Speakers - Audio Monitor Silver 500
Stereo Amp - Yamaha N303
Turntable - Rega Planar 3
Cables - Monoprice 14 gauge

Room is 28' x 15'

I think my speakers and turntable are great. I recognize the Yamaha is a budget, and thinking of upgrading (Mcintosh MA352 is a dream product but too $$$ to justify at this time). Honestly though, I like the connectivity of the Yamaha (Bluetooth and Airplay 2 in particular). I also recognize diminishing return on any upgrades - music sounds great to me and don't have any problems, just mild upgraditis. One other idea I'm toying with is a subwoofer (SVS SB-1000 Pro in white to match speakers and turntable). Not an audiophile by any stretch, but up for anything that will get me listening to more music. I think I would add subwoofer and save up for a new integrated amp.

Thanks!

For a 2.0 system with no need or desire to integrate a subwoofer I think you are good to go.

If you want to see how much "better" it might sound with what is considered a "great" phone stage order the Rega Fono MM Mk3 Phono Preamplifier from Music Direct to try for 60 days and if you don't have an "oh wow" experience simply return it for the cost of return shipping.

I'm perfectly happy with the phono stage of my ancient NAD7250PE receiver so never had the desire to try that but perhaps you might.

Mashie Saldana

· #6 · May 30, 2021

I think your speakers might be upside down if they are called Audio Monitor and not Monitor Audio.

Reactions: 1

Alex F.

· #7 · May 30, 2021

Pickey Beecher said:
I recognize the Yamaha is a budget, and thinking of upgrading (Mcintosh MA352 is a dream product but too $$$ to justify at this time).

Perhaps instead of the McIntosh MA352 ($6500), the MA252 ($3500) integrated amplifier may someday be within reach.

More easily affordable right now might be a different phono cartridge, such as an Audio-Technica AT-VM95SH ($199) or other brand and model that suits your sonic preferences.

www.whathifi.com

McIntosh MA252 review

An affordable and bold stereo amp from the masters

www.whathifi.com

citizen arcane

· #8 · May 31, 2021

Other than the upside down speakers

(thanks for the laugh Mashie) if you're happy then I am as well..............

Alex F.

· #9 · May 31, 2021

Headphones, maybe?

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Pickey Beecher

Discussion Starter · #10 · May 31, 2021

Thanks everyone for the thoughtful replies.

Mashie Saldana said:
I think your speakers might be upside down if they are called Audio Monitor and not Monitor Audio.

Thanks Mashie - apologies to Monitor Audio! They are great speakers.

Alex F. said:
Perhaps instead of the McIntosh MA352 ($6500), the MA252 ($3500) integrated amplifier may someday be within reach.

Thanks Alex - I think the MA252 is a great idea. I had it in my head that I would go big and get the MA352, but in reality, I'm sure the MA252 would more than meet my needs (as does the Yamaha as CharlesJ pointed out). I will be the first to admit its mostly for how cool it looks (sucker especially for the nostalgia of the meters on the MA352).

Any thoughts on an Airplay 2 adapter that could be used with the MA252/MA352? I know of a lot of Bluetooth adapters but have gotten to appreciate the Airplay connectivity. Would be nice to find one that offers both BT and Airplay...

Appreciate the headphone idea, but my classic Sony studio headphones don't get too much use and not for lack of quality.

Anybody regret getting a separate sub-woofer for a stereo system? The 8" bass drivers of the Silver 500 seem great but again for as much as I use my system, this might be a fun and relatively inexpensive way to advance it.

Finally, appreciate the reminders to be content with what we have - when I started the process a few years ago, it was a bit overwhelming (and a bit off-putting) how deep down the rabbit hole the world of hi-fi can get - have to remember its about enjoying the end result.

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Reactions: 1

Class A

· #11 · May 31, 2021

Pickey Beecher said:
Speakers - Audio Monitor Silver 500
Stereo Amp - Yamaha N303
Turntable - Rega Planar 3
Cables - Monoprice 14 gauge

Room is 28' x 15'

I think my speakers and turntable are great. I recognize the Yamaha is a budget, and thinking of upgrading (Mcintosh MA352 is a dream product but too $$$ to justify at this time). Honestly though, I like the connectivity of the Yamaha (Bluetooth and Airplay 2 in particular). I also recognize diminishing return on any upgrades - music sounds great to me and don't have any problems, just mild upgraditis. One other idea I'm toying with is a subwoofer (SVS SB-1000 Pro in white to match speakers and turntable). Not an audiophile by any stretch, but up for anything that will get me listening to more music. I think I would add subwoofer and save up for a new integrated amp.

Thanks!

The MA-252 is a good choice. Also I would check out the Luxman 505uXII. Would also make an excellent match w/your speakers.

👍

SmittyJS

· #12 · May 31, 2021

Pickey Beecher said:
"music sounds great to me and don't have any problems"

There's your answer. Money spent on solving problems is a wiser pursuit. Or save it and upgrade your investment account.

Reactions: 1

Dmon4u

· #13 · Jun 2, 2021

I have never been a fan of CCA speaker wire.

jdcrox

· #14 · Jun 3, 2021

Dmon4u said:
I have never been a fan of CCA speaker wire.

So all Monoprice 14 Gauge wire is CCA?

Ratman

· #15 · Jun 3, 2021

jdcrox said:
So all Monoprice 14 Gauge wire is CCA?

No.
CCA is not a terribly bad thing to use for speaker wire anyway.

Dmon4u

· #16 · Jun 4, 2021

There was a story out a while ago that many have contacted Monoprice about their Speaker wire. It was stated that the company does not think there's any difference. All their wire, at that time, was CCA.

Smokey B

· #17 · Jun 6, 2021

If you can, hit your local shop and demo subs. I have the MA Silver 300s and thought I wanted a sub. Narrowed down to REL and JL Audio...hit the local store...the sales guy played some great tracks for me but when playing my demo tracks I couldn't tell when he had the sub on or off. He basically said my tastes didn't benefit much from a sub...at least not with my speakers....and yours are better.

3db

· #18 · Jun 7, 2021

I think you have good solid system. If however the upgrade bug becomes a predator, I would go with a subwoofer either sealed from SVS or sealed/ported from Rythmik. HSU, Outlaw, and PSA also make really good subs. Subs fill in the bottom register that most of today's speakers cannot reach.

Ryan Statz

· #19 · Jun 8, 2021

Pickey Beecher said:
Speakers - Audio Monitor Silver 500
Stereo Amp - Yamaha N303
Turntable - Rega Planar 3
Cables - Monoprice 14 gauge

Room is 28' x 15'

I think my speakers and turntable are great. I recognize the Yamaha is a budget, and thinking of upgrading (Mcintosh MA352 is a dream product but too $$$ to justify at this time). Honestly though, I like the connectivity of the Yamaha (Bluetooth and Airplay 2 in particular). I also recognize diminishing return on any upgrades - music sounds great to me and don't have any problems, just mild upgraditis. One other idea I'm toying with is a subwoofer (SVS SB-1000 Pro in white to match speakers and turntable). Not an audiophile by any stretch, but up for anything that will get me listening to more music. I think I would add subwoofer and save up for a new integrated amp.

Thanks!

What's there to critique? That setup looks killer to me.

Reactions: 1

MalVeauX

· #20 · Jun 9, 2021

Hi,

Your setup is fine.

Before buying things, maybe consider:

1) Is your room treated? Do you know what your room is doing acoustically?
2) Do you want new music to enjoy on a system already clearly enjoy? Often you just want something "new." New music does that quite well.
3) Do you have other rooms that could benefit from better audio systems?
4) What exactly is having you shopping again? Dig down deep, think about what really is driving this.
5) What's the distance from your speakers to your listening position (I saw your room dimensions in total, but distances of wall behind speakers, speakers relative to the wall and distance of speakers to your listening position is profoundly important).

Very best,

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