Since I am very budget minded the only addition that I will make in the new future is adding a subwoofer to add deeper base to my music. I am a little worried about that, because from what I understand it can be difficult to get a subwoofer to integrate well into a 2-channel system. I am thinking about buying an SVS or Velodyne subwoofer.
A very nice simple 125 W/channel SS amp. I think it mates very well with my system. The sound of this amp is neither bright nor warm. It sounds great to my ears!
Adcom GTP-602 tuner/preamp
This is Adcom's latest 2-channel tuner/preamp. It works wonderfully well with my system. The tuner, however is only adequate.
Rotel RCD-1070
This is the predecessor to the Rotel RCD 1072 CD player. Very well built and great sounding single CD player
Paradigm Signature S2
This is a great sounding bookshelf speaker that I got on sale for only $1400. My speakers have the stunningly beautiful gloss rosewood veneer. It is light on the bass, but it is adequate for my humble system.
Velodyne SPL-800R
An 8-inch sealed subwoofer that gives pretty good bass for being so small!!
Straightwire Chorus
Straightwire Stage
Adcom ACE-615 line conditioner
I honestly do not hear a difference in quality in sound with the ACE-615 line conditioner, but I bought it for its solid surge protecting capabilities because it uses series rather than MOV based surge protecting.
PS Audio Prelude power cable
I bought this B-stock power cable for my amp, but to be honest I don't think it makes one bit of difference to my system. It does makes an interesting conversation piece.
System edited: I just got a new digital camera and so I decided to upload pics of my humble stereo system. I really like it and I am truly done updgrading for a long while. I have no more $$$$!!!!
I have almost the same amp setup as you, a GTP-502 and the GFA-5400. I have them paired to some NHT ST4s though, and dont see a need for a sub. I think te Adcom amps are not too bad at all. They are not the sweetest sounding amps out there, but are good affordable power, and sound decent. My brother thinks that they are a good match for my speakers, him seeing my speakers as warm, and the amps as clinical and a touch recessed and cold, hence matching well. I dont know if I fully agree, but I do like the sound that I get.
The main thing is that you enjoy your setup and hav fun listening!
System edited: I decided to include into my virtual system descriptions the PS Audio Prelude power cable that I purchased a while ago. As I said before it does not make a bit of difference. Why is this? Is it because(1)I have too modest of a system to hear the difference or (2) Power cables don't make a bit of sonic difference? Possible future changes to my system is adding a second Velodyne SPL-R 800 sub.
Edlchiang62, Thank you for taking the time to post follow-up. Sometimes people ask a question and then forget to tell people what they've decided on. I really like to see the end of the "story," like you just posted. -Bill
Well I have finally finished updating my system by adding a Velodyne SPL-800R subwoofer. It integrates pretty well with my system/room. Since I have a second pair of ouputs on my preamp/tuner I just hooked up my subwoofer to it and set the subwoofer low pass crossover to 50 HZ and did not use a high pass crossover for my main speakers. Using the high pass crossovers for my main speakers seemed to make it sound worse. I don't know why.
I am completely happy with my budget system. I do not want to step into a hifi shop because then I will probably get the upgrade bug again!
a very very excellent sub to consider is TBI .. they have very "fast" subs with lightening fast transient response .. they have been able to successfully match with electrostats ..
about 1300 gets you a cool/strange looking sub ..
http://www.thoroughbassinc.com/magvipsu.htm
something to think about .. only thing is they only get down to 25hz or so .. so they do midbass and some lower bass .. not supposed to be the loudest, but considered to be the best by people who have heard them [i havent yet my audiofile buddy has tho]
you are a step before me i am looking into getting my system 2gather, hopefully this summer?!
Have you considered a PARADIGM subwoofer, given that your mains are the S2's? I had studio 100 V 3's, and the Rel Storm 3 that I owned integrated VERY well. Here's a link to a GREAT (in my opinion, anyway) review of the Rel Strata mkIII, where the author discusses subwoofer (sub-bass unit in the case of Rel) INTEGRATION issues in depth:
