I've just finished with an upgrade of my system and I think I might be done. But one last upgrade might be in order.
A few months ago I had the following system (excluding sources):
Integra DHC-40.1
Emotiva XPA-5
SVS CS-Ultra/Adcom GFA-555
Paradigm Studio 100 v4
Paradigm Studio CC-690 v4
Paradigm Studio ADP-590 v5
Now I still have the Paradigm's but have upgraded the other components:
Emotiva XMC-1
Crown XLS2000 (three)
Two DIY sealed SI HST-18's/Crown XLS2000(two, mono-bridged)
My goal was to get cleaner, punchier bass, cleaner dialog, better dynamics soundstage and imaging. The improvement was substantial. My listening habits with this system were 100% movies, 0% music - mostly because the sound quality for music in my headphone rig was so much better than with the HT system, I just couldn't enjoy the music. But I do miss the visceral impact you get with speakers that is absent with headphones. Now that my system sounds much better, I have a renewed interest in music through the HT system.
Originally, I was thinking that 1099's were definitely in my future. But my current system is sounding pretty darn good. There are two things on my mind that I am really having trouble with:
a) People really rave about the 1099's, my curiosity is at a peak; and
b) I should be able to easily sell my current speakers to pay for the 1099 kits (and probably Volt 10's). But therein lies the rub - exchanging $6,600 worth of Paradigm speakers for $1,600 worth of DIY kits, and expecting an upgrade, seems like an insane expectation.
So this is my call to people who have heard the Paradigms and 1099's to speak up. I'd love to get some feedback on what differences I might expect to hear between the two speaker systems.
And I should note that SPL with my current system is no problem at all. The Paradigms play plenty loud and I haven't even come close to clipping the Crown's. So the high sensitivity of the 1099's doesn't mean anything to me.
Anxious to hear the opinions!
A few months ago I had the following system (excluding sources):
Integra DHC-40.1
Emotiva XPA-5
SVS CS-Ultra/Adcom GFA-555
Paradigm Studio 100 v4
Paradigm Studio CC-690 v4
Paradigm Studio ADP-590 v5
Now I still have the Paradigm's but have upgraded the other components:
Emotiva XMC-1
Crown XLS2000 (three)
Two DIY sealed SI HST-18's/Crown XLS2000(two, mono-bridged)
My goal was to get cleaner, punchier bass, cleaner dialog, better dynamics soundstage and imaging. The improvement was substantial. My listening habits with this system were 100% movies, 0% music - mostly because the sound quality for music in my headphone rig was so much better than with the HT system, I just couldn't enjoy the music. But I do miss the visceral impact you get with speakers that is absent with headphones. Now that my system sounds much better, I have a renewed interest in music through the HT system.
Originally, I was thinking that 1099's were definitely in my future. But my current system is sounding pretty darn good. There are two things on my mind that I am really having trouble with:
a) People really rave about the 1099's, my curiosity is at a peak; and
b) I should be able to easily sell my current speakers to pay for the 1099 kits (and probably Volt 10's). But therein lies the rub - exchanging $6,600 worth of Paradigm speakers for $1,600 worth of DIY kits, and expecting an upgrade, seems like an insane expectation.
So this is my call to people who have heard the Paradigms and 1099's to speak up. I'd love to get some feedback on what differences I might expect to hear between the two speaker systems.
And I should note that SPL with my current system is no problem at all. The Paradigms play plenty loud and I haven't even come close to clipping the Crown's. So the high sensitivity of the 1099's doesn't mean anything to me.
Anxious to hear the opinions!