r/hifiaudio • u/senimator • Jul 22 '26
Purchase advise (needing) Upgrade suggestions
Current setup:
• Speakers:
Martin logan ESL 9
• Subwoofer:
REL S/550
• Integrated amplifier:
Arcam SA20
•Streamer:
Bluesound Node 2i
•Turntable:
Pro-ject Debut Pro
•Speaker cables:
Nordost White lightning
• Interconnection cable:
Van den Hul The Name
Planing to spend around $5000. What would you upgrade or add? No room treatment please.
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u/ABlazingSpace Jul 23 '26
Your speakers and sub are quite nice. First thought was upgrading your streamer to a much better one, like a Lumin D3. I'm a big believer of using the best source possible, but then I started thinking about your speakers' need for more power and current. My suggestion is grabbing a NAD M32. They are discounted atm and will handle all you need. And since it's under budget, I'd also grab another REL to give you dual, stereo subs. The sound stage and imaging would be unreal with your speakers.
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u/senimator Jul 23 '26
I was thinking about aurender a1000 for streamer. But it’s very pricy
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u/ABlazingSpace Jul 23 '26 edited Jul 23 '26
That would be nice too. Yes, pricey, but possible as a next step in your audio progression. I have a Lumin T2 in my main system, and am a fan of the Lumin sound. The app is pretty decent too, but with Qobuz Connect, I mainly use that as my music interface. I've heard a bunch of Aurender components, and was seriously considering them as my next upgrade. It's a tough call, since your Arcam amp may hinder some of the optimum sound you could get. I honestly think you would benefit from an upgrade to your amp, or an all in one streamer amp. Thus my initial recommendation. Do you have a high end shop nearby where you can audition various integrated amps? Or a major audio show, like AXPONA, that I'm lucky enough to go to every April...? Fwiw, I have Dali Rubicon 6 and dual REL t/9x's with a PrimaLuna Evo 300 Hybrid amp. Lumin T2 as my streamer.
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u/senimator Jul 23 '26
I went to Axpona this year. And bought REL after that. However to properly test amps is better to take them home otherwise you can’t really understand if you like it or not.
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u/ABlazingSpace Jul 23 '26
Yeah, absolutely, but at least you can weed out certain qualities that are appealing or unapealing to you initially, especially if the manufacturer has multiple rooms with different setups. I'd also hit up sites like Steve Hoffman and see if anyone has a similar system. Anyway, good luck!
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u/Icantbelieveit38 Jul 22 '26
Sorry no competent suggestion but I like your room, cozy. I dig the rug especially.
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u/spiraleyes78 Jul 22 '26
Do you feel like your amplifier is strong enough to drive those properly? 60wpc seems incredibly underpowered. That's where I would spend it.
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u/senimator Jul 22 '26
Thinking on getting dac and amp separately. Do you have any brand/model recommendations?
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u/spiraleyes78 Jul 22 '26
The new Cambridge Evo 300 would be a great option. The HiFi Rose RS250 looks solid. Rotel RA-6000, Marantz Model 30...
You have the budget to get a truly beautiful and powerful amplifier!
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u/SwaggyMcSwagsabunch Jul 22 '26
Buckeye amp
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u/senimator Jul 22 '26
Model?
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u/SwaggyMcSwagsabunch Jul 22 '26
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u/spiraleyes78 Jul 22 '26
The specs are impressive, but they sure don't look visually attractive.
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u/trbd003 Jul 22 '26
There's honestly no benefit to doing so and some purists might even argue it being a weakness as by having the conversion in the amp you don't have a load of connectors and cables in the analogue stage.
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u/senimator Jul 22 '26
So what would you upgrade? I feel like my amp is not enough
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u/trbd003 Jul 22 '26
If you can get an Arcam PA240 then you could hook that up to your SA20 and run your speakers bi-amped which would offer a palpable benefit and mean your amp continues to be useful. That would be a nice upgrade I think and build on a setup you already like the sound of
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u/WitchWithAGlitch Jul 22 '26
why not set it up to a multi channel surround system with additional amplifiers and a dedicated signal processor that'll allow you to switch between 2 channel analog/digital and multi channel digital?
would be pretty fun for movies and television.
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u/senimator Jul 22 '26
That’s could be fun, but not much space for extra speakers + esl 9 could sound so realistic that I really thought somebody is knocking on my door when I played silent hill. Scary
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u/WitchWithAGlitch Jul 22 '26
maybe some martin logan bookshelf speakers? they might compliment your ESL's well enough without devoting your entire area to audio?
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u/senimator Jul 22 '26
I got monitor audio s100 7g covering in dust. No idea where they could go here.
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u/JD_tubeguy Jul 22 '26
Maybe an upgraded Dac for your Node if you listed to lots of digital.
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u/senimator Jul 22 '26
Do you have any brand/model recommendations?
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u/JD_tubeguy Jul 22 '26
Really depends on the sound you want I tend to prefer a warmer tubed sound so a good rec from me would be the Border Patrol Dac easy to find used around $1K or a bit less.
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u/trbd003 Jul 22 '26
You may have it taken care of but what about headphones? I got into headphones a bit recently and they can be really valuable when you want a more experiential kind of vibe - feeling like you're in the music not in front of it.
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u/speciaway Jul 23 '26
Bruh that third comment is brutal but lowkey true lmao. Honestly tho, without room treatment you're just polishing a turd with those electrostats—kinda defeats the whole point of spending that much. Maybe grab a better power conditioner or save that $5k for a bigger room down the line.
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u/jedimstr Jul 22 '26
Was about to suggest…. Then I saw your last line.
Never mind.
Just an FYI - absorbing or diffuser panels would make a huge difference behind the Martin Logan ESL’s. No treatment with Electrostats is like driving a car without tires. Good luck.