ChrisNC
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New to audiophilia-looking for advice
ohfourohnine
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Don't be too eager to upgrade. Do it only when you're no longer happy with what you're hearing. As to where to start, when you decide to upgrade, I belong to the school which says, start with the speakers and don't scrimp on them. They'll determine the most you can get from your ensuing upgrades. Welcome to our lifelong addiction.

jackfish
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I think the Cambridge Audio Azur 840A is a pretty good unit that you should be able to get quite a bit of mileage out of. The areas of upgrade as I see it would be replacing the Oppo DV-970HD (I have one and love it, but high end it is not) and the speakers. I would look at buying speakers that cost two to three times what the amp does (approx. $2750-$4125) and a new source that costs the same as the amp does (approx. $1375). I think the Cambridge Audio Azur 840C would obviously be well matched to your amp and will be a real improvement over the Oppo. If you need to play SACD and DVD-A then something like the Marantz DV9600 should be considered. For speakers there is much more to consider, the first being listen to as many as possible and let your ears decide. See the Speakers <$2500 thread under Loudspeakers for a start. The Anthony Gallo Reference 3.1 with the Reference S.A. is impressive at $3900 ($2945 at audiophileliquidator.net).

ChrisNC
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Those 3.1s look like a definite audition (unfortunately there are no high end shops in Charlotte NC, so I'll be driving). The price is a little high, but I think I would be happy with those MUCH longer than with the Polks.

Starchild
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Chris,
I geberally agree with the previous posts. However, you can save tremendous amounts via the used market. There are great buys to be had on Audiogon daily. More importantly, get plugged in to your local audio society. From what I understand, Charlotte's Audio Society is pretty active. We've started a fledgeling audio society in the Piedmont-Triad areas (I live just up the road from you in High Point). Its exciting to fellowship with audiophiles on a regular basis and you can learn a lot from each other. Take your time and listen to as much as you can in real world conditions before you start coughing up 3 grand for a pair of speakers. There are a lot of options!!
Mike

PS
One last thing. A lot of folks (myself included) get on this merry-go-round and spend a lot of money on equipment and accessesories without having dealt with core issues. Stereophile and other magazines have said for years (decades even) that the best improvement in the sound of your stereo comes from room placement. Most folks don't heed that advice. I can tell you from personal experience, (if I may paraphrase Bill Clinton) "It's the room stupid". Invest some time getting a grip on your room set-up. The payoff will far exceed the investment. Good luck and good listening.

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