Need advice for an upgrade

Oliver Bisazza Bronze Member Username: Black_octagon United Kingdom Post Number: 11 Registered: Oct-06	Posted on Wednesday, June 29, 2011 - 16:16 GMT Hi all. This is my current set-up, bought 5 years ago with the valuable help of folks on this forum: CD Player: Cambridge Azur 640C V2 Amp: NAD C320BEE Speakers: Wharfedale Diamond 9.2 Speaker Stands: Atacama Nexus 7 This has served me very well as an entry-level system, especially in recent years as I've left student accommodation to put the set-up in a proper sized living room. However, now I feel myself wanting a bit more 'punch' and would like advice for an upgrade. To my knowledge, this will involve replacing either the amp or the speakers with something more powerful. But: 1) Which needs upgrading more, the amp or the speakers? 2) What specifically would you recommend I get? My budget is up to 1 grand, and at this stage I'm only interested in replacing one of the two pieces of hardware. Thanks in advance for your help!

David Mitchell Gold Member Username: Dmitchell Ottawa, Ontario Canada Post Number: 4806 Registered: Feb-07	Posted on Wednesday, July 06, 2011 - 22:01 GMT Do you plan on keeping the Cambridge CD player? This is a pretty good CDP, actually. Everyone here knows I'm a big CA fan. Sell the NAD and pick up a CA 840A V2 integrated. BAM. Done and done.
George / SoundGame Gold Member Username: Soundgame Pickering, Ontario Canada Post Number: 1212 Registered: Jun-08	Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 00:46 GMT I'd agree with Dave that the weakest link is the amp - replace that first.
David Mitchell Gold Member Username: Dmitchell Ottawa, Ontario Canada Post Number: 4808 Registered: Feb-07	Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 00:52 GMT I think Nuck had the Wharfs for awhile. I remember him saying they had sumptuous bass. Not that Nuck would use the word sumptuous. Well maybe he would.....
Art Platinum Member Username: Artk Albany, Oregon USA Post Number: 14546 Registered: Feb-05	Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 01:47 GMT The Diamond 9.2 is the weak link. Put aftermarket jumpers on the NAD and sell the Wharfedales. My NAD can make my Harbeth's sound excellent but nothing I've owned could make the Diamond's sound acceptable over the long haul.
Oliver Bisazza Bronze Member Username: Black_octagon United Kingdom Post Number: 17 Registered: Oct-06	Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 07:37 GMT Argh, conflicting suggestions! Thanks all for the input. David: Yes, definitely keeping the Cambridge CDP since I also love it. Some friends with far higher-end systems than me constantly approve of it, so that's in. Art: I just put aftermarket jumpers on the NAD this week. I'm already hearing an improved sound, though I understand that even for a small change like this there will be a burn-in period after which it should sound even better? So, still unclear whether the amp or the speakers are the weakest link...does the size of the room make any difference? It's a living room, 4.8 x 6.1 (metres), and in an apartment so I almost never turn up the NAD beyond a quarter volume, which is already very loud...I guess I'm just after a slightly 'warmer' and 'musical' sound, since right now the system sounds almost so technically exact as to not really sound emotive.
Chris H Gold Member Username: Hawkbilly Nova Scotia Canada Post Number: 1362 Registered: Jul-07	Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 10:08 GMT To get a significant improvement in sound quality you're probably going to have to replace both the amp and the speakers. You'd notice the biggest difference perhaps with a speaker swapout, so perhaps start there and then reevaluate. That said, I would recommend shopping for a amp/speaker combination that provides you with the sound qualities you are looking for, even if you are only replacing one component for now. That way you'll know what amp will go well with the speakers you purchase.....or vise versa.
David Mitchell Gold Member Username: Dmitchell Ottawa, Ontario Canada Post Number: 4809 Registered: Feb-07	Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 10:39 GMT The burn in period on jumpers would be negligible at best. The NAD house sound is typically warm, so if you're still finding your system clinical then maybe you do need to try some new speakers after all. Or better yet, try a tube amp that has a warm presentation. I had a Jolida amp for awhile that was pretty syrupy smooth.
Art Platinum Member Username: Artk Albany, Oregon USA Post Number: 14550 Registered: Feb-05	Posted on Thursday, July 07, 2011 - 14:19 GMT For the jumpers they opened considerably after a couple of weeks. The burn in was more significant than I thought it would be.
Nick K Gold Member Username: Nickelbut10 Canada Post Number: 3530 Registered: Jun-07	Posted on Friday, July 08, 2011 - 11:59 GMT Got to remember too Art that the 320 is NOOOO 326bee by a long shot IMO. Although in my experience I would say the culprit for a sound that is too fatiguing would be the Warfedales based on the current system. Or room.
Art Platinum Member Username: Artk Albany, Oregon USA Post Number: 14553 Registered: Feb-05	Posted on Friday, July 08, 2011 - 20:15 GMT You make a good point, Nick. We have a C325BEE in the house as well (my wife's setup) and it is similar to the C320BEE. The problem with the Diamond 9 series is that they leave a lot of the music behind...lack of appropriate detail. I find the 9.1's to be boring and a bit unbalanced. My wife had the 9.1's in her setup with the C325BEE and it just never got off the ground. The Era Design speakers sound much better with that amp.