I'm basically a classic rocker, but I listen to a lot of jazz. I also like Indian music, like Ravi Shankar and Shakti. Now that I have moved to a house and have a dedicated music room (again), I was able to separate my music and HT systems (again). Although my music room is small, and I have no treatments for it, the sound of the music system is, to my ears, superb. Although I still have my 800+ LP's and a VPI record cleaner, I exclusively play music streamed from an Upscale Audio RS9 dedicated music server through the MSB to the ARC REF6 to the Pass Labs X250.8.
After feeling that the bass was not sufficient in my small listening room with my stand-mounted Focal Diablo Utopia's, I decided to get a REL Strata III on here, and after hooking it up, I had all of the bass that I was missing in this room. The addition of the REL subwoofer just brought the system up to a whole new level of performance. Then I replaced the Focal's and Joseph Audio Pulsars that I also had with the Wilson Audio Sabrina X's. They are fantastic speakers and perfect for my size music room. After getting the Sabrina X, I redid the cabling in the system and replaced the Strata with a s/510, which works great. I pronounce myself "extremely pleased!" :) I am now embarking on my last frontier — going to put room treatments in now to maximize the sound as much as I can!
My system now has that “you are there” feeling when I listen to music and although it is resolving, and good recordings sound amazing, even my poorly recorded stuff, such as my Led Zeppelin bootlegs, sound better, not worse. After putting in Shunyata power cables for all of my equipment, Shunyata Sigma IC’s, Shunyata Sigma v1 speaker cables, and now the magnificent Shunyata Everest 8000 with a Shunyata Sigma XC power cable, my system is better than anything that I have owned, and as close to my dream system as I have ever heard!
MSB Technology discrete dac with Premier Power Base
with USB, Digital and Renderer 2 input modules and volume control. Surprising to me, adding the ARC REF6 instead of going direct to the amp really sounds better. It’s counterintuitive that adding a bunch more wires, circuits and tubes somehow makes the sound better, but there you have it.
Audio Research REF 6
After trying out a couple of other preamps to see if they added something more than running the DAC direct to my Pass Labs amp, the ARC REF 6 preamp has topped out my system for now. A great preamp that fits in perfectly with the rest of the system!
Pass Labs X250.8
This amp needs no introduction. Simply a wonderful match for my system with plenty of power to drive the Sabrina X’s to insane levels if one so desired!
Wilson Audio Sabrina X
Carbon color. Great speakers and a great match with the Pass Labs!
REL Acoustics S/510
Just replaced my REL Strata III sub with the s/510 in my music system, and it really kicked my music system up to another level.
Shunyata Research Everest 8000
Power conditioner, with Sigma XC power cord. The Everest replaces a Tripp Lite Isolation Transformer. It matches up with the hype. I was never really a power conditioner “believer,” but the Everest literally has taken my system to a new level of excellence. Yes, it’s expensive, but for what it has done to the depth of soundstage and the clarity of the instruments . . . it’s not leaving my system, that’s for sure! Even my wife, who is not a critical listener, remarked that the system sounded much better with that “new thing you put in.”
Shunyata Research Sigma V1 speaker wire
The addition of these cables to the system, after the Shunyata power cable really kicked the system up a few notches. It really sounds fantastic and approaches that “you are right there” feeling that I have chased since the ‘70’s but couldn’t afford, LOL!
Shunyata Research Alpha NR V1 power cord
I recently replaced the stock ARC 20 amp power cable with a Shunyata Research Alpha NR v1 and the improvement was surprising! It really made everything sound better. I was impressed enough with it that I bought a pair of matching speaker cables. I am very happy with the Shunyata line and what it has done for the sound of my system!
Shunyata Research Sigma v1 XLR
Interconnects between MSB DAC and Pass Labs X250.8
Shunyata Research Alpha V2 NR
Power cords for the MSB Discrete DAC, Pass Labs X250.8
Revelation Audio Labs Umbilical power cable for the MSB Dac
Great umbilicals that replaced the stock ones. A definite improvement over the stock for small money!
RS9 RS9 Music Server
GigaFoil V4
The GigaFoil is right before the MSB Discrete DAC, with Supra CAT8 Ethernet cable from the Music Server to the GigaFoil and CAT7 from the GigaFoil to the DAC. Note that I picked a GigaFoil At the recommendation of the NSM for MSB, and for $500, made a noticeable improvement in SQ that even my mother=in-law could hear!
VTI Manufacturing Audio rack
Finally got an equipment rack from VTI, and filled it with sand. Very inexpensive solution!
Puron Power Filters
I put two of these tweaks into my system, one plugged into the Everest and one into the outlet into which my Pass Labs amp is plugged. A definite improvement. These little things really make an audible improvement for small money. Definitely try them!
Music Hall MMF-5
turntable gathering dust in the closet
Black Leaf Triple Distilled Glass Bong
Talk about improving the soundstage! One hit from this smooth bong and your system will sound like a whole new system!
@moto_man Shunyata Everest does sound like a beast... Congrats on the great sound! I saw you also used Alpha V2 NR to drive your super high current power Pass Labs amplifier. How good is that? The official website states "The Alpha v2 NR is an ideal power cable for source equipment like CD players, DACs, tuners, preamplifiers and it makes an excellent amplifier cable." I wonder if there is any difference between "ideal" and "excellent." I assume not really, but am curious what you think. (For now, I am planning to use it for the two PSUs and maybe my SACD Transport.) Thanks!
joyceulysses, first, thanks for the comment! I would definitely go for the Premier Power . . . I had the two PSU's while I waited for the Premier Power Base and it made a big difference over the dual PS's. Everything had more "punch." I am a Shunyata fan boy, and going from the Alpha speaker cables to the Sigma v1 was another audible difference. Same with the Revelation Audio Umbilicals. That is a cheap upgrade for the sound improvement, BTW. All these changes add up ... 5% here 5% there, each adds a brick to the wall. I hesitate to say the "biggest" change, but the Everest was a very surprising improvement in both "black background" and depth of soundstage. It was a very worthwhile addition to the system and the overall sound quality. I have never heard your Accuphase, but yes, the Pass ARC combination is really great!
Great system so pleasantly played out in your room!
My system is very similar with yours. I have Sabrina X and just ordered the same DAC and cables: MSB Discrete (with dual PSU though), Shunyata Research Alpha V2 NR, and Revelation Audio Labs Umbilical power cable. Do you find those cable upgrades worthwhile? Initially I thought I would get a DAC with premier powerbaye but ended up not being able to get it on used market so I redirected some of the extra budget to get cable upgrades, to be connected to my Niagara 3000.
My amplifier is Accuphase E-800 integrated and it still amazes me all the time. I am sure your Pass Lab and ARC REF 6 sounds amazing as well. Happy listening!
Dhite71, interesting! I have long contemplating trying a Pass 32 pre instead of the ARC Ref 6, only because I am concerned about the long term availability of tubes for it. However, I have a full replacement set, and given how so many NOS tubes are available, I figure that maybe I'm just being paranoid. I still think about a D'Agostino Momentum HD pre, which supposedly is great with Wilson, but then so is my REF 6!
Regarding the placement of the Wilsons, they are the first Wilsons that I had, replacing Focal Diablo Utopia III's. I love them. they were set up by a Wilson Dealer and so I have not messed with the placement at all. They sound great, and I have a very small room, 11.5x11.5x10. I definitely do not have them toed in as much as you are talking about though.
Just for for thought . . . the Shunyatsa cables made a very nice difference in my system, but the Shunyata Everest really kicked everything up to a new level. I was very surprised at the amount of improvement from something that I never thought would have such an effect! Worth checking out!
Great looking system and collection of gear. I am also an ARC and Wilson fan. I did try a PASS pre a few years ago and really liked it but couldn't get away from ARC. I have not ever tried one of their amps though. I see your posts below about power cords. I ran a 12ga dedicated circuit a few years ago but am going to upgrade to 10ga and move to a different location to allow more standard length cords. I have all stock or generic PCs now.
I wanted to ask how much experimenting you did with your Sabrina's location. It doesn't appear you have them toed in as they advise. I have had Sophia for several years and recently bought some Yvettes. I haven't ever had a dealer out to my home but have read through the WASP and talked to several dealers and Wilson directly about the importance of their positioning. The easy takeaway from Wilson is that when you are in the listening position you should just see the inner sides of each speaker. For me, that really does make the soundstage come together to have more focus of the voices and instruments. I am listening to the UD1S of Mingus Ah Um and things are coming from far outside each speaker as well. Mine are on hardwood so it makes it easy to slide in small increments. On carpet it will take more time and you may need to get some furniture sliders like they recommend.
@mcli, what cable are you getting? I started with a Shunyata cable for my ARC REF 6, because I needed a C19 end and all of my power cords were 15 amp ends. It was such a difference that I started replacing all of my power cables with Shunyata Alphas. Then I got IC’s, then speaker cables. Everything was a step up. Then I started switching to Sigma’s. Now with the new Sigma X’s out, you should be able to get a good deal on some used ones! Although with Shunyata, a “good deal” is a relative term, since they are pretty pricey!
@mclinnguy , what cable are you getting? I started with a Shunyata cable for my ARC REF 6, because I needed a C19 end and all of my power cords were 15 amp ends. It was such a difference that I started replacing all of my power cables with Shunyata Alphas. Then I got IC’s, then speaker cables. Everything was a step up. Then I started switching to Sigma’s. Now with the new Sigma X’s out, you should be able to get a good deal on some used ones! Although with Shunyata, a “good deal” is a relative term, since they are pretty pricey!
@mclinnguy , what cable are you getting? I started with a Shunyata cable for my ARC REF 6, because I needed a C19 end and all of my power cords were 15 amp ends. It was such a difference that I started replacing all of my power cables with Shunyata Alphas. Then I got IC’s, then speaker cables. Everything was a step up. Then I started switching to Sigma’s. Now with the new Sigma X’s out, you should be able to get a good deal on some used ones! Although with Shunyata, a “good deal” is a relative term, since they are pretty pricey!
@davt , thanks very much! Well-balanced is a good way to describe it. There is significant synergy between all of the components, so that nothing particularly stands out. Everything works very well together.
Nice system there. How is the Plinius? I too have a small room but not as a perfect cube room like yours. How is the room responding to the sound without treatment?
I'm now using Cardas Golden Cross biwires, after going through AP 9 shotguns (didn't work in my system) and then AZ Satori Shotguns (excellent, by the way) and I have replaced the MIT's with Red Dawn as well. Since I listen to a lot of LP's from the old days, I need the preamp.
Your system sounds/looks great. If you just want to do one simple thing, a permanent steroid injection for your system; get an Audio Magic Stealth Purifier. This will open up your system beautifully. It's discounted nicely, down from the list of $1700. I own one and am very happy. I did some extensive homework with this baby, and found it to be.... good luck
