Overall a great sounding system, that has reached incredible heights from when I started in 1999.
Still have a few things I want to accomplish. I would love to get my interconnects and speaker cables switched over to Argento Audio(Achieved 2009, but in 2012 also discovered Echole Obsession Signature). Also want to try a move up to the next level of Wyetech Labs amps, the Sapphire's (Achieved 2012). Next need to improve my tonearm, something like a Triplanar, Phantom, Ikeda, or Schroeder(Achieved 2008). Plus a few other smaller tweaks like some Silent Running Audio stands for my amps(Achieved 2009 with even better Appogg stands).
Once I accomplish those things I think I will be able to say I am completely happy and content, honestly. (Realized this is a complete and total lie, 2012)
Now that I know I am seeking even higher performance levels, my new upgrade list includes:
1) DPS/Ayre upgraded turntable powersupply
2) Speakers are becoming an eventual upgrade, but I do love me some Offrandes
3) Better rack, probably custom designed piece, we'll see
4) Want some Transparent Septimus's diffusors or something like it to go between speakers on front wall
5) Dedicated panel and isolation transformer - Torus, Equitech, or something similar
6) Improve ethernet in-wall cable that is actually in the audio system pathway from NAS
(Need to add new pictures, still)
9/1/20 most upgrades made to system, plus a lot more
rear wall absorbtion and diffusion (the skinny beige thing on the back wall)
Transparent Acoustic Clouds
Absorbtive Cloth Panels on Ceiling x 4, Awesome addition and beautiful looking
Argento Audio Flow
powercord on VPI SDS powersupply
Argento Audio Level 2 Mk II
powercord on BDP-2
Argento Audio Level 0.5
powercord on DPS turntable
Appogg Systems Isolation Platforms
Isolation under everything, very much outperformed my Silent Running Audio VR series 3.0. The Appogg platforms use an acrylic plinth supported by custom weight rated visco-elastic polymers which rest above a semi-solid damping compound sealed inside that converts virtually all vibrations into heat.
Keith Monks Sapphire Record Cleaner
must have with vinyl
Echole Obsession Signature IC
6M RCA run between pre and amps, great!
Echole Obsession Signature IC
1M RCA between DAC and pre
Echole Obsession Signature PC 2M (4)
on powerstrip, amps and pre
Echole Obsession Signature powerstrip
Oyaide frame, but all Echole Signature wiring inside
I feel my gear is of high enough performance, with most pieces in the $10K ballpark, that its true performance is not going to be realized until the sound pathway is optimized.
That equates to room acoustics, isolation, power delivery, and cabling.
Unfortunately, out of all 4 of these cabling in my experience costs a lot of money to get top performance, but man can it make or break a system.
I owe you a response from quite sometime ago, unfortunately due to unforeseen issues hinted at in a previous post, I haven't really been able to get a handle on the Echole sound until this week.
I have been a huge fan of Argento, and still am truthfully. But the Echole Signature line is amazing stuff. IC's and PC's in particular.
The FMR has been my reference PC for 4 years now, well it just got unseated by the Signature line, and with startingly clarity. So with the previous issue, I don't really have any expericence with the regular Obsession, but the Signature is stunning.
my room is 15' long by 13' wide and 9.5' tall. It is part of open loft style downstairs place in a modern house, thus the reason it has been such an uphill battle on conquering acoustic issues.
My listening postions is about 7' from the speaker front, and the speaker front is about 3.5' from the wall behind. Speakers are 6.5' apart.
As for the Sapphires additional refinement. They only do 5 more watts of power than the Onyx amps they replaced, and hence they do suck in a bit more power and current. So both of those don't hurt, but the biggest difference is just a much better power tube and circuit improvements.
On the second or third day of owning my Sapphire amps I took them over to a friend.s house. His speakers are Avantegarge Duo's.
I thought we had kept the amps at 8 ohm setting. I remember askin him if we should switch to 12 ohm or not, but thought we decided against swtiching it.
Well now after a month or so of listening at home and worrying the amp was not pushing my speakers the same as my Onyx amps did, I discovered it the amp had been trying to push my 4 ohm speakers at the 12 ohm setting. Big differnce. I was getting loads of compression and a big lack of bass. What a relief, things are back to sounding the way they had before, but with more detail and finesse. Finally!
Other recent additions are a new set of IC's and new amps.
I upgraded to the Wyetech Sapphires form my old Onyx, after desiring to do so for about 5 years. I nearly went with the New Audio Frontiers 845 amps, but decided to go with what I know. I liked the combo of my older Onyx amps and the NAF Absolute, but I just wanted more refinement. The Sapphires definately provide this.
Also resolved my long IC issue. When moving to my new house two years ago, I was forced to move my gear to the side wall, and thus needed a long IC run. So I had to sell my older TG Audio IC's as they were only 1M. I was able to try some Argento stuff, but their lack of shielding did not cooperate here. This forced me to use entry level Tara Lab that I had hanging around from my old HT set-up. This stuff sucked, but it was at least reasonably quiet. This summer I picked up a used pair of Echole Obsession here on the 'Gon. This transaction did not go well, and I ended up with a bit of a lame duck cable. Well a big thanks to Echole, as they helped me avoid a total loss and in the end I ended up with a 6M run of Obsession Signature. I have had it for only a few weeks, but the sound is SOTA and it has cleaned up every noise issue I was having. The crazy part is that I now own a cable that is the most expensive piece of gear I own. It's awesome though, and money well spent.
Finally getting my new room dialed in. Installed some Transparent Acoustic Clouds for the ceiling. Added some nice looking columns from Design Within Reach to break up the front corners as well as hold my records. Also built two diffusion panels for the back wall, made entirely from re-purposed wood. The front face plate swings open to reveal coat hanging space as well. These are pretty sweet looking, and helped the acoustics alot, need to get some pictures added. Now I just need to tackle adding a nicer carpet and two chairs. Also want to add two of the Septimus from Transparent Acoustic to go front center between the speakers. Oh and a better rack.
System edited: Purchased new home and have been working to bring room up to par. So been slowly tackling room acoustic issues but I am just about there. Added the Perfectwave DAC about 8 months ago Just purchased an Echole Obsession IC, which leaves me needing at least one more top quality IC. Lots of other changes to add and need to post new pictures.
The Allnic seems to be a really nice step-up. It is extremely well built, super thick aluminum chassis that altogether weighs about 7 pounds. Way overbuilt.
It is extremely quiet, once I grounded it to my preamp. Quieter than the few others I have tried even before the full grounding.
As for others. I gave up on the new Bent as it just was taking too long. I have not heard the Auditorium stuff And I used to own teh ZYX CPP-1, it was OK, but I think the Allnic is a better all around unit. The ZYX also developed a noise issue, that only presented itself once my Triplanar was added.
My Allnic still needs more break-in but it hints at very good performance. IT certainly trounces an old vintage step-up I had on loan.
Thank you, I feel fortunate to have picked his up.
It was a table that I had been lusting after ever since I saw it in an early 6Moons Roadtour edition.
It is funny. I saw your post on Audiocircle to John Chapman about the MU2. I have also been bugging him for the last couple of months, as I too am interested in that particular step-up. I am also probably going to call David about the Allnic Audio step-up, as I am getting a bit antsy.
I purchased the DPS-2 a couple of years ago from David Beetles, before he became Hammertone Audio. At some point, I am going to explore the new Ayre 3 phase power supply for it just to bring it up to rare air levels. I love this table. It is small, good looking, sounds great, easy to maintain, and by far the easiest turntable to use amongst those I have messed with.
And I picked up the Offrandes from Mike Masztal, just before he closed his audio dealership (?Sounds Right Audio?) around the Atlanta area back in 2000 or 2001. I think they are the version that Bob Neill first reviewed back then for Enjoy the Music, or perhaps the version before then.
I see you have Analysis Plus cables. I used to own Analysis Plus cables as well, but they also really pissed me off. I had the big Oval 9 speaker wire, and one of the spade lugs on the amp end, lost contact with the wire. This happened because the cable is just too darn thick and I had to contort it just to get it hooked up. Anyhow, this happened when they where connected to an Art Audio amp. Needless to say the Art Audio blew some parts and had to be sent in for repair. And it wasn't until after I had shipped the amp off and already blamed it for being faulty, that I discovered that the darn cables were the reason it blew. Those things were just too big, and the jumpers made it even worse. They are huge! My speakers are 16" deep, then i had jumpers sticking an additional 7" or 8" behind them. Not good for WAF!
System edited: New pictures added throughout My cabling changes are almost complete with the arrival of the Flow Master Reference power cord. What a tremendous cord! I am left with just the IC's to replace with Argento. I have tested, compared, owned many cables over the years and this Argento stuff is incredibly good. Just ask the Audioexotic guys in China. :)
System edited: Have swapped out nearly every powercord in favor of some lovely Argento Audio cables. Also changed speaker cables to Argento Serenity. Argento cabling is really exceptional, and I am surprised how so few in the states have tried it.
Sure, send me an email, actually I am open both today or tommorrow, well at least after this morning. I am going to go listen to the 3 box Esoteric digital system vs. the 4 box DCS system here in an hour or so.
System edited: traded in the Shunyata Guardian 2 for a Hydra 6. I gave the Guardian about a month of break-in and when I finally decided it was ready for some comparisons, I discovered it didn't change a thing. So I returned and upgraded to the Hydra 6 with which I had had good luck before when I borrowed either 6's or 8's from friends. Now the improved phrasing, better delineated bass, and overall greater naturalness are back, what I had come to expect from the Hydra's in my system. I love this combo (Equi-tech and Hydra) of all the power conditioners I have been able to try here or other places.
System edited: Just purchased a couple fo new things. I upgraded to the ZYX Atmos cartridge and added a Shunyata Guardian 2 for my amps with an Anaconda Alpha powering it.
System edited: Pictures finally added. Also I recently received my preamp back from Italy where it was upgraded to MK 2 status and had the outboard power supply added.
System edited: Decided on a cartridge for my new table, getting the ZYX Airy 3 and to make things even better hopefully I also am getting the matching ZYX headamp. God I hope this sounds killer!
System edited: System edited - sold off the Pro-ject a while back and recently jumped on a table I had been lusting after for awhile, the dps 2. The table will be arriving in a few days, I am in the market for long term cartridge for it. In the short term I will be using a friend's vdh MM-1. I am thinking along the lines of an Audio-Technica AT-33 PTG, but am open to suggestions. My big problem is that I belw what little budget I had on the table and arm, and thus can't go crazy on the cartridge and the step-up device that a low output moving coil will need for my system.
Yes, the Wyetech's seem to do exceptionally well driving my 2001 vintage of the Offrandes. I have had a variety of amps, either borrowed or owned, over the years in my system and the the Wyetech's easily have the best bass control and extesion of them all. Stuff like Bryston 3B-ST, Air Tight ATM-2, Art Audio Concerto MK2, Granite Audio 864, Rogue Audio Stereo 90 Magnum.
