antoniofhowe Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Hello everyone! Another upgrade advice request... Here is my current setup: Pro-Ject Debut Carbon with Ortofon 2M Blue (Just upgraded from a 2M Red last week) Cambridge Audio Azure 551P Phono Pre-Amp Cambridge Audio Azure 351A Integrated Amp Polk Audio TSi200 Bookshelf Speakers What would you guys consider to be my weakest link? I have $400 - $500 to spend on an upgrade this weekend and I suspect it's either going to be the Pre-Amp or the Speakers. I'm not sure if it would make a difference but I've noticed that the bass seems to be lacking a bit since upgrading to the 2M Blue, but I'm not sure if that's just a burn in issue (I have approx. 10-15 hours on it since upgrading). Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 replace the speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 Yea I was thinking that too... any advice on a speaker upgrade? (I know it's rather subjective). BTW, love your city. For three years in a row I spent the last week of August there for work. A lot of time spent at State Street Brats, go Badgers!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Bass was never an issues with my 2M Blue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
kannibal Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Looks like newegg is having a speaker sale. Go nuts. Definitive, Klipsch, pioneer. You can buy a pair of floorstanding for under $500. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 There are a number of options in that price range. Some go to's are Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s for $350, 10.2s for a bit more, Epos Epic 2s for $400. I like my Monitor Audio RX1s that I picked up for $500. Not sure if they are still available. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 Yes speakers. If you can go and listen to some before you make your choice and there always seems to be sales and deals coming and going so do your research. Depends what your budget is but I think of the suggestions if pushed I would go Epos, not my ears or my money though. The Wharfedale's are a very safe bet, not really Wharfdale anymore but that's not a bad thing after how they ended up. Ask about warranty and replacement if you are thinking about anything that isn't domestic or a company that has a big coverage in the US though, there was one VC'er that bought a pair of Epos and had a real job getting them fixed when he had a problem. They are British so over here no problem with that sort of issue here but there it seems it is and I expect that would be true for a few of the more exotic brands. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 There are a number of options in that price range. Some go to's are Wharfedale Diamond 10.1s for $350, 10.2s for a bit more, Epos Epic 2s for $400. I like my Monitor Audio RX1s that I picked up for $500. Not sure if they are still available. Thanks, I've had my eye on the Wharfedale 10.2's for quite awhile now. I'm going to see if I can find a pair in Calgary to give a listen too. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 don't forget the stands! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dangorange Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 In terms of lack of bass since the upgraded cartridge. Is it possible that you need to give it a little break in time before getting a full response from it? I've noticed differing opinions on cartridge break in periods, but a lot of what I've read is that the bass can be a bit light until you've put 20-30 hours on it or more. New speakers are always nice regardless. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 He mentioned "burn in" period. Last sentence. First post. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 In terms of lack of bass since the upgraded cartridge. Is it possible that you need to give it a little break in time before getting a full response from it? I've noticed differing opinions on cartridge break in periods, but a lot of what I've read is that the bass can be a bit light until you've put 20-30 hours on it or more. New speakers are always nice regardless. I would be surprised if the bass issue wasn't just due to the limitations of the small bookshelf speakers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 In terms of lack of bass since the upgraded cartridge. Is it possible that you need to give it a little break in time before getting a full response from it? I've noticed differing opinions on cartridge break in periods, but a lot of what I've read is that the bass can be a bit light until you've put 20-30 hours on it or more. New speakers are always nice regardless. I put another few hours on the 2M Blue last night and just now did some playing around switching between the 2M Red needle and the 2M Blue needle and I don't notice it anymore, so it must have just needed a burn in period. Looking forward to new speakers though because it still sounds like something is limiting the potential of the 2M Blue. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
ajxd Posted September 6, 2014 Share Posted September 6, 2014 I used a 2M Blue for 2 years. It's a great cart. I used it with Boston VR3s and Sons Faber Venere 1.5s... The bass only lacked due to the Sonus Fabers. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 6, 2014 Author Share Posted September 6, 2014 Well I just picked these up... http://www.monitoraudio.ca/products/bronze-bx/bx2/#/overview I listened to the Diamond Wharfedale 10.1's (they didn't have a set of 10.2's) and the 10.4's and these... these definitely sounded exactly what i was looking for. Now to hook them up! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 Setup complete! Getting the placement just right took awhile since they are physically smaller than the Polk's. They sound great though, bass is perfect and Norah's voice sounds amazing! Tardcore and slinch 2 Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tardcore Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 you, sir, are a man of action and I salute you. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 Good to see a hifi happy man, enjoy Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 7, 2014 Author Share Posted September 7, 2014 I grabbed some 24" speaker stands this morning (the ones in the pic are 36"). What a difference! I haven't been able to pull myself away from my listening spot for hours. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PTECH Posted September 7, 2014 Share Posted September 7, 2014 I have the debut carbon as well and have been considering cartrige updates, likely either the ortofon blue or maybe the bronze. Are you happy you upgraded? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 8, 2014 Author Share Posted September 8, 2014 Yes, I am. Bass took a little while to come in but the mids and highs were definitely cleaner right away. I do wonder if I should have skipped the Blue and gone straight to the Bronze though... too late now! If you do go with the 2M Blue (and currently have the 2M Red), then you only need to get the needle (slightly cheaper) because the 2M Red and 2M Blue use the same cartridge. The 2M Bronze/Black cartridge is different though. If you go with the bronze or do not currently have the red be VERY careful taking the tone-arm wires off the cartridge, I unfortunately didn't know that little bit about the cartridges being the same at the time I upgraded and replaced the whole thing... broke one of the tiny wires at the connector and had to get the soldering kit out. What should have been a 3 second job ended up taking 3 hours after the soldering and cartridge alignment. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 10, 2014 Author Share Posted September 10, 2014 @PTECH, I did a little playing around swapping the Red and Blue needles this evening and while I definitely notice a difference with the Blue (cleaner sound is the term that comes to mind) I'm not entirely sure the improved sound was worth the $225. I'm more convinced now that I should have jumped and gone with the Bronze. Of course, it's definitely possible that the potential of the Blue is being held back by something else in the chain. The pre-amp I'm running (Cambridge Audio Azure 551P) seems to be fairly entry level, and I am also still running the stock RCA / ground cable from the TT to the pre-amp. Both of these I hope to upgrade this weekend... If anyone has advice on a pre-amp that would pair nicely with my setup I'd love to hear it! Pro-ject Debut Carbon TT Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge Cambridge Audio Azure 551P (Pre-Amp) <-- This is what I want to replace Cambridge Audio Azure 351A (Integrated Amp) Monitor Audio Bronze B2 (Bookshelf Speakers) Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
dethrock Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 @PTECH, I did a little playing around swapping the Red and Blue needles this evening and while I definitely notice a difference with the Blue (cleaner sound is the term that comes to mind) I'm not entirely sure the improved sound was worth the $225. I'm more convinced now that I should have jumped and gone with the Bronze. Of course, it's definitely possible that the potential of the Blue is being held back by something else in the chain. The pre-amp I'm running (Cambridge Audio Azure 551P) seems to be fairly entry level, and I am also still running the stock RCA / ground cable from the TT to the pre-amp. Both of these I hope to upgrade this weekend... If anyone has advice on a pre-amp that would pair nicely with my setup I'd love to hear it! Pro-ject Debut Carbon TT Ortofon 2M Blue Cartridge Cambridge Audio Azure 551P (Pre-Amp) <-- This is what I want to replace Cambridge Audio Azure 351A (Integrated Amp) Monitor Audio Bronze B2 (Bookshelf Speakers) I have a very similar setup to you. Pro-ject Xpression III with a 2M Blue and I've got the Azur 551p as well. For me the 551p was a huge improvement over the phono stage in my old Rotel integrated amp. Do you have a budget in mind? I've heard good things about this Graham Slee one that's for sale. http://www.canuckaudiomart.com/details/649144359-graham-amp-2-se-phono-pre-amp/ Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
allenh Posted September 10, 2014 Share Posted September 10, 2014 Yes the Graham Slee would be an upgrade but that Cambridge should more than easily cope with a 2M Blue. Entry level it may be cost wise but it's still a very competent phono stage. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
antoniofhowe Posted September 11, 2014 Author Share Posted September 11, 2014 Well I've been eyeing the Bellari VP-530 and the Pro-Ject Tube Box S so my budget is somewhat high. I'd like to find something with a headphone out because I currently run my headphones through my amp but I can't help thinking it would be good to cutout the middleman. I'm a little hesitant on the tube ones though because I've never heard them and don't quite understand what they do. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Recommended Posts
Join the conversation
You can post now and register later. If you have an account, sign in now to post with your account.
Note: Your post will require moderator approval before it will be visible.