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January 2, 2006 - 2:36pm
#1
Sony "SE" series
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Some of that will depend on if you think the upgrade bug will bite you or what kind of options you wish to leave yourself. Plus, are you happy with the sound you're getting from your current Sony? If you buy a nice separate phono preamp at the upper end of your budget to use now, you can still use it later, should you opt to get a better amp in the future. The degree of improvement by getting another Sony in the same line might not be that large; you might benefit more by going for an amp from a specialty audio company at a later date. Are you certain you want to build an all Sony system? There are many more options out there, and arguably ones that are far superior.
Right..
Well, the "upgrade bug" won't exactly be welcome to bite me. At least not for a long time. I'm in college and getting married soon.
I was blessed several years ago to get almost my entire system for free. Sony STR-SE501 and the crappy point-source speakers, totally free of charge. Since then I've slowly upgraded here and there, mostly by way of getting better speakers. Next up, a new center channel.
The reason I'm looking at going two steps up the line to the SE591 is because of a two-birds-with-one-stone approach. I'd get a slightly better receiver, plus I'd have phono amplification, plus I'd gain at least one more (hopefully two more) S-video inputs on the back of my receiver. That, and I can probly find a used one for around $1-150, as opposed to shelling out an unaffordable amount for a specialty receiver..
So yes, I am happy with the sound I get from my system. Considering I am stuck playing CD's on it through a crappy DVD player... The upgrades I'd like to achieve this year are basically: 1) get a MH turntable, 2) be able to use it on my main system, 3) get a new center channel, and 4) get a dedicated CD deck.