Hi everyone,
I'm just getting into stereo equipment, and I'm wondering what I can do to improve the sound of my current system. Here's what I have right now:
- Onkyo TX-8011 stereo receiver
- Sony SCD-CE595 CD/SACD changer
- JVC AL-A155 belt drive turntable (My dad's old model; I think it's just some generic 80s consumer turntable)
- Audio Technica 6006 cartridge (Description here .)
- Grado SR-60 headphones (I never use speakers)
- Some generic $25 phono preamp
- Generic interconnects that came with my components
- $5 surge protector powering everything
The system sounds decent (to my inexperienced ears), but I'd like to spend around $200-$300 to upgrade it. I was thinking about getting an equalizer, since I use iTunes' equalizer function all the time, and I'm always fiddling with the bass and treble knobs on my receiver. I was also considering getting a new phono preamp, since there's a very noticeable hum coming from my current one. I can hear the hum at normal listening levels, and it immediately disappears when I switch to another source. I was also considering an inexpensive power conditioner such as this, since I can hear a noticeable pop when turning my turntable and CD player on and off. Would I be able to tell a difference if I got some better interconnects?
Obviously I won't be able to get all of these, so which one would be most effective? Do you have any other ideas? Would an upgrade even be worth it, or should I just wait until I can afford to upgrade the entire system to something really nice?
Edit: I should note that I primarily use this system for playing LPs, so I'm most interested in anything that will improve the sound of my records.
Hi everyone,
I'm just getting into stereo equipment, and I'm wondering what I can do to improve the sound of my current system. Here's what I have right now:
The system sounds decent (to my inexperienced ears), but I'd like to spend around $200-$300 to upgrade it. I was thinking about getting an equalizer, since I use iTunes' equalizer function all the time, and I'm always fiddling with the bass and treble knobs on my receiver. I was also considering getting a new phono preamp, since there's a very noticeable hum coming from my current one. I can hear the hum at normal listening levels, and it immediately disappears when I switch to another source. I was also considering an inexpensive power conditioner such as this, since I can hear a noticeable pop when turning my turntable and CD player on and off. Would I be able to tell a difference if I got some better interconnects?
Obviously I won't be able to get all of these, so which one would be most effective? Do you have any other ideas? Would an upgrade even be worth it, or should I just wait until I can afford to upgrade the entire system to something really nice?
Edit: I should note that I primarily use this system for playing LPs, so I'm most interested in anything that will improve the sound of my records.