My journey to audio nirvana in a small apartment. I appreciate comments. Thanks for looking
-D
updated 02/08/09
several new gears have arrived.
Slimdevices Transporter didn't make the cut is its out. Bel Canto DAC3 is in, so are Aesthetix Calypso, Kimber 8TC speaker cables, Nordost blue heaven XLR balanced, and Kimber Hero XLR.
My system sounds different but I'm liking the sound.
I'll be busy listening and comparing the next few months and deciding which to sell.
Updated 12/26/08
New picture; added slim devices transporter. So far not very satisfied. The web interface is not as intuitive as iTunes (hard to see all music catalog). The sound itself is not as good as my ikemi. Not sure if i want to keep or return yet.
Updated 11/10/08
Some changes have been made. For music, I added a subwoofer (ACI Force XL). I'm using a high pass filter between pre and amp. The biggest advantages are that the bloated sound in the upper bass and is gone and it sounds less polite. This comes with the expense of thinner and slighly more analytical sound. So far I like the change but can't really say for sure if it is an upgrade in sound or just horizontal change.
I also added 4.1 sound for video. The system is so so for home theater purposes but my main priority is music, so for now it will do.
updated 12/01/06
**deleted since system strength/weaknesses doesn't apply anymore
Well I've tweaked myself right out of the Calypso and into a CJ Act 2!!! I'm trying different isolation under it and the CDP and amps. Once again I'm surprised at the improvement/change in clarity with better isolation, yesterday I changed the position of isolation pucks from beneath the shelves the amps were sitting on to under the amp's feet on the shelf. It's almost "to clear" now I'll start listening in 3hrs after my wife goes to work(it's 5:30 here on the left coast) I had the volume up much louder than I'm used to yesterday checking the clarity so today I get to start at zero. Have you reinserted the sorbogel yet? Have you tried any different tubes yet?
Something I found with my Calypso is how sensitive to vibrations it is. I had leading edge hash that was driving me crazy especially on highs and thought all CD's sucked!! Just to see what would happen I put AQ Big Feet Sorbogel under the Calypso, WOW the leading edges of the highs and everything else for that matter were clean, high violin notes went from strident to beautiful!!!! Isolation under the Plinius would probably help also, I'm not sure you could hear this until you switch out the Monster Cable. After you do just for fun give it a try!
I came over from your forum tube question and the first thing that struck me was the monster cable. I don't think you realize what your system really can do because the I/C cable is limiting the quality of the sound. Soooo......... my recommendation is, keep the stock tubes you have in the Calypso and upgrade the I/C's. The benefit of starting there is you won't spend money on tubes and when you change I/C's ( and you will change those out ) find you have $400 in tubes you don't like in the system. You said funds are low so try Anti-Cables or if your looking for a little brighter presentation find a cable with some silver in it. First changing the Monster( well named) I/C's out will be a BIG BIG jump in inner detail and a move towards the more analytical system you want.
