Am I hopelessly dated with my gear? Upgrades?

[Azimuth]

My current setup would seem to be old and mid-fi to most. I have a Yamaha RX 596 receiver, which gets a great review as “vintage” here https://www.audiosciencereview.com/forum/index.php?threads/yamaha-rx-596-receiver-review.10344/. My turntable is a Technics SL-5210, which also gets a very good review here: https://herbnhifi.com/2020/08/11/vintage-review-technics-sl-5200-turntable/. The speakers are Paradigm 7se, which I like a lot, but they date from 1989, The have been refoamed. I have a variety of vintage cartridges, including two Shure V15 III and a V15 IV with good quality styli, but not original Shures. I have never gone for the JICO SAS, I’m happy with E and HE. I have no interest in a new turntable. This one cost $50 on the “bay” before prices went insane and it has so many great features. My question is: Is it time to upgrade or go more modern with some of these components? New speakers, a cartridge upgrade, etc? Am I hopelessly dated? I’m happy, but am I stuck? Suggestions?

 

[Small Fuses]

Just me, but maybe we're ALL dated; even the newest gear will eventually be improved-upon or enhanced...right? I'm still fascinated by the 1970 to 1980 era. If money were no object, I'd concentrate on that period. We each define our own musical happiness, whether it's new or old.

 

[HPMguy]

I think you are fine. Nothing dramatic has happened in amplifiers or turntables in the years since that would justify (to me) changing anything.

I personally think that the early 80's amps from all the Japanese makers are pretty much as good as you are going to get without spending huge sums of money. All discrete components from the most part, although more and more ICs show up as you get toward the end of that decade, the circuit designs are very very good, and they aren't expensive (yet).

Good speakers from that era aren't significantly different from modern ones, and occasionally better (because they were less expensive to build then), and at least for me I just don't hear enough difference to change anything.

A Shure V15 IV is as good a cartridge as anything you can buy to day for a reasonable price, and a line contact stylus will get the best out of it. Still cheaper than a new cartridge.

 

[stratokaster]

Who cares if your gear is dated? My newest turntable was made in 1985 and it's still much better than anything new I could possibly afford. The same applies to cartridges, especially MM: there are not many new cartridges that can compete with top designs from the 1970s.

 

[UncleAng]

Am I hopelessly dated? I’m happy, but am I stuck? Suggestions?

Earlier this year I felt exactly like you, so I read a ton of reviews and ended up buying a new Rega Planar 3 table with Ania MC cart to replace my 37 year old TT and arm and 20 year old cart.

Sold the Rega(s) 1 month later. It's akin to taking an online course. That bit of education cost me $500.

 

[matteos]

Your stuff is solid. I’m not sure you would upgrade your receiver or turntable much by replacing with newer unless you spent more money and went to a higher level… I’m not sure Yamaha has even changed the basic design of their receiver that much.
If it were me I would probably want to change the speakers. Turntables and amps haven’t advanced much or at all. But the speakers have got better since the 80s.

 

[hjames]

If you like how it makes your music sound - just enjoy what you have already!
Upgrades are incremental improvements beyond a certain $ point anyway -

 

[chris_f]

"Viintage" or dated doesnt mean inferior. Look at some of the more popular vintage turntables and what you can get them for and compare that to what a comparable sounding replacement would cost. To replace an AR XA or early Technics or Denon table you would be over $1K easily. Early Marantz receivers are a great example. What would you have to spend to outperform a Marantz 2220. It wouldnt be cheap. Upgrade for performance, not for "age".

 

[knotscott]

If you like the sound you have, be cautious about what you replace. It's so subjective, there's no guarantee that you'll like newer better, even if someone else does. Speakers and carts tend to have the biggest impact and differences, but speakers are also very room dependent, so be thorough before giving up on something you like that works well too quickly.

A new cartridge might be a fun incremental change that's noticeable without changing much of the system. Your Yamaha is "fine", but there might also be some opportunity in improving sound there, but it's likely to be a bit pricey. It all boils down to what you like.

How's your setup? Sometimes just optimizing placement, and isolating some vibrations or resonances can make a nice subtle change to improve a an already good system....isolation platforms or feet (good DIY project), better than stock interconnects and speaker cables, All part of the fun.

 

[homebrew]

A subwoofer! A subwoofer! My kingdom for a subwoofer! (Or two). It'll take the onus for reproducing low bass from your Paradigms which will clean up their midrange. In addition, you'll get the low bass to flesh out the full range response of your system while at the same time, you'll really be able to annoy the neighbors! Other than that, if everything is operating correctly, that's a nice system. I would check the Shure stylus if you can to be sure all is good.

 

[gizzyman47]

Instead of jumping on the "gear" upgrade merry-go-round, try some room treatments and see how much better you can make your existing system sound.

 

[Legrace]

Breakdown and get a SAS for one of your V15III's.

 

[Fishead]

Agree with most of what has been said.....additionally, after you have made a few of the changes noted (emphasize @Legrace suggestion about the SAS) you might think about a separate phono stage which might improve things over the built-in unit you have in the Yamaha receiver. Note that there are sellers who will permit you to purchase one, use it for a period of time, and then return it if you don't believe it made an improvement in your system! Not sure I am allowed to mention who they are, but you can easily find them on the web. This way, you can "try out" the ride before you actually commit to it, which is always nice! You will be responsible for return shipment, which will likely set you back around $35.....

Having said that, I really like what knots and gizzy suggest about your setup and room treatment. I can tell you from personal experience that a simple movement of your listening position can sometimes have a HUGE effect on what you hear! It's fun, cheap (as in $0.00), and will very likely surprise you when you hit the "sweet" spot! There's a lot more to be learned over in the Listening Spaces forum about this and some very knowledgeable folks, some of whom post in this forum, that will no doubt be eager to help.

Finally, I have to say @homebrew made a most salient observation about a subwoofer......Now, I know subs aren't for everyone and no doubt about that HOWEVER, in my experience having a sub (2 for me!!) takes my system to a whole 'nuther level. I've helped others with this who were absolutely stunned at the difference in sound of their systems. As HB states, you will find your Paradigms taking a breath of relief as they no longer have to pump out the really, really low frequencies and can apply themselves to the more workable ones for a speaker their size. Oh, by the way, have you thought about re-capping the Paradigms? After 30+ years, I would if they were in my system! Should be really, really simple too.....

Good luck on your journey and time to have some fun.....listening.....that will tell you what you likely should do!

 

[MRL_Audio]

If your looking you must be interested in an upgrade somewhere. What that is, is up to you and your budget. Your doing yourself a dis-service by not trying the Jicao SAS for those Shure's Awesome replacement and in my opinion worth the price of admission. You did say a turntable upgrade was not in your future so maybe your not that into vinyl. Given how easy it is to sell vintage gear riht now I am always looking to try something new knowing that I will not be stuck with any of it if I don't like it.

 

[markmcmuz]

I would agree with others in that a subwoofer would be a nice addition without throwing out the baby with the bath water. A SVS SB1000 for $500 would surprise you I think.

 

[Azimuth]

I have been “into vinyl” my whole life. I am 71. I said I wasn’t looking for a turntable because I don’t think I’m ready to spend the bucks that would take me to a place that surpasses my Technics and Shures. People covet the SL 1200, and my SL 5200 and SL Q2 are more than halfway there. I have no interest in tables, however high-end they are, that force me to get up and dash to the table at the end of a side to lift the tonearm. I know that sounds like I’m pretty pedestrian, but falling asleep or becoming preoccupied with something (e.g. phone call) do happen. And I do not want anything belt-driven. As a boomer, the music I listen to and my vinyl collection, were made for tables like the ones I have. I hope this answers MRL_Audio and others.

 

[Azimuth]

If your looking you must be interested in an upgrade somewhere. What that is, is up to you and your budget. Your doing yourself a dis-service by not trying the Jicao SAS for those Shure's Awesome replacement and in my opinion worth the price of admission. You did say a turntable upgrade was not in your future so maybe your not that into vinyl. Given how easy it is to sell vintage gear riht now I am always looking to try something new knowing that I will not be stuck with any of it if I don't like it.

Please read my most recent reply.

 

[Fishead]

Hey Azi, thanks for providing more information regarding your disposition about things. This helps others in making better recommendations regarding your particular needs. I hope that you have found some of what has already been mentioned helpful.

 

[MacGM]

It it sounds good, it is good.

As a guy half your age, most of my equipment is older than me and I like it that way.

No sense in rushing out to buy new crap that won't last half as long and wind up in landfill anyway.

Use it til it breaks, then repair it until it's unrepairable.

The only part I've be wary of in that system is the Yamaha - specifically the selector switch. If the volume gets crackly when turning the knob take it in for a good service and get them to have all the controls properly lubricated with deoxit gold... Not all - but some - of the Yamaha's of that era were prone to bad contacts in the selector switch and they get intermittent after about 20 or so years. Better to lubricate it properly than trying to find a replacement contact assembly if it decides it's had enough.

 

[Azimuth]

Hey Azi, thanks for providing more information regarding your disposition about things. This helps others in making better recommendations regarding your particular needs. I hope that you have found some of what has already been mentioned helpful.

Very helpful indeed.