Technology in the form of improved DACs in CD players have taken monstrous leaps forward so it is expected that the difference would be night and day. Regarding your receiver, it is 20 years old and technology has stepped forward some though I am not 100% sure you will hear a dramatic improvement. I have Carver equipment from the same period and am continuously surprised at how good it sounds when it receives a high quality input.

There are units available that are exceptional in the $1500 to $2500 price range and they may be a step forward. The only way to tell though is to listen to them in your home.

There Musical Fidelity M3si is a darn nice unit at $1500 but if you are used to an older NAD, I am not entirely certain you will love this unit. As you cull through the reviews, the one critique of the M3si is that unit can sound a hair bright in certain circumstances. It is ultimately why I have a Rega integrated instead of a Musical Fidelity.

The Rega Elex R is a killer unit at $1695. It is ultra detailed and perfectly neutral. The current line of Rega integrated amps are WhatHiFi category best buy units and are generally deemed amazingly good products for the money. This includes the higher priced Elicit R and less expensive Brio R.

The Roksan K2 BT at $1900 is super detailed integrated and delivers a bit more power though interestingly gets a 4 star rating and is rated a hair behind the Elex R. I have not heard the K2 BT, but have heard the K2 and loved it. It is a hair to the warm side of neutral and the consensus is the K2 BT is a step forward in detail from the K2.

The Rogue Audio Cronus at $2295 is an extraordinary tube integrated amp and is a broadly recommended component / best buy. If you like a warmer sound and don't mind a little extra work / maintenance, this is an amazing unit.

The really new Parasound Halo Integrated is a John Curl designed unit making it quite intriguing at $2499. It has been out for 2 weeks and there are no review. It will be interesting to see comparisons to the Halo P5 Pre-Amp with a Halo A23 power amp for less money.

Other than the K2 BT, I am 100% sure these units are available from retailers with liberal return policies. Might be worth picking out a unit and doing an in-home demo and seeing if you like it better than the NAD.

Alternatively, what speakers do you have from Focal? Could be another place to consider upgrading.

Hi Orange

It would be helpful to get an idea of your budget and your current speakers.

That said...

* NAD still makes great integrateds. If you like the old one, it's worth considering a new one.
* Half a dozen British companies make great integrateds in that $1500-$2500 price range, too. Roksan, Creek, Naim, Rotel, Rega, MF, Cambridge. They're all good. It's a matter of features, speaker compatibility, and taste. Most are available online if you want to try at home for 30 days.
* I recently heard a Rogue Pharaoh, Cronus' big brother. It was fantastic. Bierfeldt is right to mention them.
* Bel Canto has an integrated in this range. I find Bel Canto a little "clipped" but they make quality stuff.
* If you're budget's a bit higher, Audio Research becomes an option. That's just another level of product all together.
* I wouldn't recommend a PrimaLuna, Cayin or other low-power tube product until you're sure about the speakers.

Finally, a lot of these products are available on Audigon or Ebay used at great prices. For example the Audio Research VSi60 lists for $5,000 but there's one on Audiogon for $3,100.

I know this was all a bit rambling - without a price range or certainty on speakers, it's hard to be specific. But hopefully it gives you some ideas.

Scott

I couldn't agree with shp more. Everyone will sound a little different and it is very much a matter of personal preference. Unless you find a dealer that has several to listen too side by side, you will struggle to hear differences. Even then, that won't mean anything outside of your home with different speakers.

I would revise my list above and suggest the Roksan Caspian M2 instead of the K2. The Rega Elicit R is your price range but unless you need the power, the Elex R is going to sound shockingly similar. I would also look at the Marantz PM-14SI. I have heard several of the Marantz Reference units including this one and they are spectacular. You might also consider Simaudio Moon.

In this price range, I feel confident that you will experience a step forward in quality. I am unfamiliar with the Focal Aria's and your mods and can't say what a clean step forward would be if you were to spend on speakers instead.

Hi Orange

Hope we haven't overwhelmed you.

I couldn't find much information on that Focal model - maybe because it's older or because it was a kit?

I'd recommend making an appointment with a local hi-fi shop that has some of the products/brands we've recommended. Tell them you'd like to bring in your own speakers to audition. Many will accommodate you if you make an appointment; some will let you take equipment home.

Listen to your speakers with integrateds ranging from $1,500 to $3,000. And try $1,500 integrateds with some speakers between $1,500 and $2,500. This will give you a good idea of how to allocate your budget. (I know, $1,500 + $2,500 is more than your budget. But you might get the cheaper integrated and then buy the new speakers later.)

If that all sounds too complicated, you can just shop at sites like AudioAdvisor.com or MusicDirect.com which have 30- or 60-day return policies.

HTH.

Scott

Orangemonster wrote:

Thanks for the replies everyone! Like I said in the original post, you are the experts. As far as my speakers go, they are Focal Aria 5 couple to the Aria Subwoofer (both kits that I made - I'm a woodworker and engineer). As far as budget, I'd like to stay under $3k.

You have very good speakers there.

The M3i amplifier is very good; I used to have one (I now have the M6PRX power amplifier and an Audio Research preamp).

The M3i would no doubt be a big improvement for you.

Another excellent one which I would recommend is the Arcam A28, which Magnolia Audio has listed for $1699.

Congratulations.

I fell for the Cronus on first listen as well. I even like the unusual size of the chassis. Reading Stereophile's review of the amp had me a little puzzled, though it reinforced my already long held belief that reviews have their limitations. It's an incredibly good value.