Question about older equipment vs new stuff

I haven't looked at buying new hifi equipment in the last 10 years so I'm
going to be comparing my existing kit to the latest stuff, the question is,
should new equipment that costs that same as the original stuff sound much
better?

I've currently got :-

Marantz CD52 Mk2 CD player (not the special edition or KI)
Bought around 1991, cost around £180

Denon PMA-350 amplifier (Original model, not the mk2)
Bought around 1992, cost £200

Tannoy Mercury M2 speaker
Bought around 1996, cost £140

Assuming I were to spend about the same amounts on new kit (CD player, amp
and speakers) should I get much better equipment, or is it likely that it
would sound much the same? This might sound like a stupid question but I
don't want to spend all day auditioning new kit and waste my time (and the
shop owners time too) to end something that looks prettier but sounds just
the same.

To be honest, I'm not unhappy with the kit I've got, it all works OK but
after 10+ years I can afford and deserve something new!
I may just upgrade the amp and CD player to begin with, or even replace it
with a "lifestyle" system if there is one that sounds good and does what I
want. I'd particularly like a system (or CD player) that can handle CDRs
with mp3s on them if possible.

I don't want a DVD player (I know they'll do the job) nor do I want to
connect my PC up and use that.

Any advice (or kit recommendations too) gratefully recieved.

Regards

R

In article , R
wrote:
I haven't looked at buying new hifi equipment in the last 10 years so
I'm going to be comparing my existing kit to the latest stuff, the
question is, should new equipment that costs that same as the original
stuff sound much better?

I don't have specific experience with the items you mention below, so my
comments are only generalisations. Also, you don't give any idea of your
taste in music, or the acoustics of your room, etc, so it is hard to give
specific comments.

Unless you are prepared to pay more now than then, I am not sure that newer
items will be 'better' in any objective sense, although a particular item
might be different in a way you personally prefer.

I've currently got :-

Marantz CD52 Mk2 CD player (not the special edition or KI) Bought around
1991, cost around £180

Denon PMA-350 amplifier (Original model, not the mk2) Bought around
1992, cost £200

Tannoy Mercury M2 speaker Bought around 1996, cost £140

Assuming I were to spend about the same amounts on new kit (CD player,
amp and speakers) should I get much better equipment, or is it likely
that it would sound much the same?

My experience is that the differences between CD players and amplfiers tend
to be small compared with those between loudspeakers. Hence unless there
are specific reasons why you are unhappy or worried about your CD player or
amp, my suggestions would be to focus on loudspeakers.

Whatever, the main question, though, is to consider what aspects of the
performance, you are unhappy with, or would like to improve.

To be honest, I'm not unhappy with the kit I've got, it all works OK but
after 10+ years I can afford and deserve something new! I may just
upgrade the amp and CD player to begin with, or even replace it with a
"lifestyle" system if there is one that sounds good and does what I
want. I'd particularly like a system (or CD player) that can handle CDRs
with mp3s on them if possible.

If you are happy in general terms, but are interested in an improvement,
then new speakers (or perhaps a subwoofer) might be the best area to
consider first.

If you thinking of upgrading the CD and amp together on the basis of the
above prices, this implies you might be willing to spend 300 to 400 UKP.
This could perhaps buy some good speakers. Difficulty here is that speakers
are very much a matter of personal taste, and influenced by the acoustics
of your listening room. Hence hard to make specific suggestions, although
there are some models that people here tend to rate highly.

I don't want a DVD player (I know they'll do the job) nor do I want to
connect my PC up and use that.

OK.

Any advice (or kit recommendations too) gratefully recieved.

Other people may have specific concerns about the items you have at
present, so can focus on their potential limitations. However I offer the
above as general ideas... :-)

Slainte,

Jim

--
Electronics http://www.st-and.ac.uk/~www_pa/Scot...o/electron.htm
Audio Misc http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/AudioMisc/index.html
Armstrong Audio http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/Audio/armstrong.html
Barbirolli Soc. http://www.st-and.demon.co.uk/JBSoc/JBSoc.html