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How to upgrade stereo

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Young MT

New Member
Hey all-

For years I’ve been listening to music on my pioneer solid-state receiver SX-737, pioneer turntable PL- 530, and JBL L88 speakers. The set up looks great but the sound is only OK. Either not enough bass or kind of booming, or sometimes too much high and low and no mid, and overall just not as much depth as I’d like. Wondering what you guys think the most important upgrade would be in terms of hearing a big difference? Like if you could only upgrade one thing what would it be? I feel like it used to sound better with some other speakers I had that I had to let go during a move but that might just be in my head. And if I upgraded the whole system do you think I’d hear super dramatic difference? I’m guessing the answer is an obvious yes but still wondering your thoughts.

Thanks dudes!
 
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Phono cartridge is a good start if yours is not one of the better ones. That would give the quickest and least labor-intensive sound improvement. Have your receiver/speakers had a recap?
 
this might sound like an odd suggestion, but I'd mess with the room first. If the speaker placement is bad or the room has unfavorable characteristics pumping money into components won't fix that.

assuming the components are working as they should be of course.
 
gadget73 said:
this might sound like an odd suggestion, but I'd mess with the room first. If the speaker placement is bad or the room has unfavorable characteristics pumping money into components won't fix that.

assuming the components are working as they should be of course.
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Good suggestion! Have you noticed the change in sound after the move and corresponding change in speakers?
 
benricci said:
If that were my system I'd pump as much money as I could into my speakers and the best phono cartridge I could afford. I'm assuming your receiver is in good working order (kept up to date on its service, at least?)
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Oh man I wasn’t even thinking about upgrading the cartridge. Currently have audio technica AT 90. What would be a good upgrade here? I know exactly 0 about cartridges
 
eiraved said:
Good suggestion! Have you noticed the change in sound after the move and corresponding change in speakers?
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I haven’t had the speakers i recall sounding great in years and years (and many apartments ago). I was using some JBL bookshelf speakers at my last place but never expected much out of them. But I moved to my new place which is bigger and that’s when I bought the JBL 88 which I have now. This is the basic set up I have photo taken standing.
 

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Young MT said:
I haven’t had the speakers i recall sounding great in years and years (and many apartments ago). I was using some JBL bookshelf speakers at my last place but never expected much out of them. But I moved to my new place which is bigger and that’s when I bought the JBL 88 which I have now. This is the basic set up I have photo taken standing.
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the cabinet between is causing all kinds of issues especially with the speakers actually farther back, as another mentioned moving them out 18" will make a big difference and help with the boominess.

It's free so try this first
 
+1 on move the speakers. Living close to the turntable is also prone to feedback which can make the bass boomy if it doesn't go into outright howling. Would really only be noticeable on phono input, so thats a quick and easy test.
 
I’m loving these suggestions! I did move the speakers out and I think it does sound better. I will say the speakers were against the wall looking at photo. There’s a good foot and a half between the wall in the back of the speaker.

Anyone have thoughts on a new cartridge? I have audio technica AT90 currently.
 
All good suggestions so far

Here is another idea....redoing and freshening up input and speaker connections can make a noticeable difference. When they are not moved for a while corrosion will creep in to the contact surfaces, ever so slowly but surely diminishing sound quality. Get some deoxit and some of the special Caig black brushes. The brushes are great for cleaning the insides of both input RCA connectors and speaker connectors (on amp and speakers). Hit the outside of the RCA connections with deoxit too. If your speaker wires are bare stripped wires, cutting off 1/2 inch and re-stripping is an effective way of freshening them.

A very reasonably priced and well thought-out Deoxit kit including the brushes and more. No affiliation with the seller other than I have purchased a few of these from him in the past:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/281463470106?epid=1237319169&hash=item418887b81a:g:NFEAAOSw8lBTonep
 
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I would try moving the speakers away from the cabinet. Put your album racks next to the cabinets and the speakers on the outside toed in 10 or 15 degrees. The cabinet is making a baffle step response with the waveforms
 
roger2 said:
All good suggestions so far

Here is another idea....redoing and freshening up input and speaker connections can make a noticeable difference. When they are not moved for a while corrosion will creep in to the contact surfaces, ever so slowly but surely diminishing sound quality. Get some deoxit and some of the special Caig black brushes. The brushes are great for cleaning the insides of both input RCA connectors and speaker connectors (on amp and speakers). Hit the outside of the RCA connections with deoxit too. If your speaker wires are bare stripped wires, cutting off 1/2 inch and re-stripping is an effective way of freshening them.

A very reasonably priced and well thought-out Deoxit kit including the brushes and more. No affiliation with the seller other than I have purchased a few of these from him in the past:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/281463470106?epid=1237319169&hash=item418887b81a:g:NFEAAOSw8lBTonep
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+1
I've had audio issues that cleared up just by twisting the RCA connectors. Just make sure that your received is OFF when doing this.

Speaker placement and room treatment is crucial, and not something that can be fixed with bigger/better components.

Best advice I can offer is take all the above suggestions and work them from cheapest to most expensive. As you've found, just moving your speakers made a difference, and left your wallet unmolested. :)

Good luck, and remember, it's a journey. So enjoy the trip!
 
Yeah, that AT90 is only a conical stylus so going to something elliptical will be much better. Maybe a nice Grado or Shure.

Also a speaker upgrade could be in order as well and there are literally thousands to choose from. So what you get there will depend on budget and whether or not you want to go with smaller speakers and a sub or some larger speakers and no sub.

Where exactly is your budget?
 
I'd plus one the vote for cleaning connections, and a better cartridge.. and..... I'll be the only one to suggest this but ....

Use Amazon and order two or three pairs of different $50/pr speaker cables ...and try them.
Try at least one braided twisted pair type cable (Kimber Kable copies) ...

Things just might brighten and sharpen up a bit and cure your upgrade-itis ..without damaging your wallet.
And you can easily just send them back if you're not satisfied ..
 
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I’m definitely going to get a new cartridge I think. Might try the speaker cable thing too. Still dabbling with speak placement a bit as well! I wish I knew what the ceiling was on how good I can get the stuff I have to sound.
 
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