Replaced the stock cable from my hard drive NAS to the Cambridge 851N. Major sound improvement—resolution, timbre, soundstage.
Cambridge Audio 851N
I’ve had Cambridge streamers in my system for a long time, starting with the StreamMagic 6. Got my first 851n when they first came out, 2016. Last year, I decided my original black one was long in the tooth, so I sold it to upgrade. But I ended up finding a much newer 851n with upgraded digital in and out connections at a good price so I decided to stay with 851n for the time being. I just don’t see anything in the price range that beats it (this was before the EXN 100 was announced.) I have also had a CXN v2 and currently have an EVO 75 in a desktop system. I’ve grown accustomed to the StreamMagic app. The 851n sits on Isopucks.
Morrow Audio MA5
XLR interconnect from 851N to the integrated amp. Big fan of the Morrow approach—relatively inexpensive, great sounding, and so flexible and easy to route. Always a safe bet and a clear upgrade path.
Morrow Audio MAP-3
I replaced Nordost Vishnu’s with the MAPs from Morrow for the 851N and Atoll IN 300 EVO. The Vishnu’s were great, but the Morrows seem to resolve a bit better, at least in my system. And importantly, they are so much more flexible and easy to route.
Atoll Electronique IN 300 EVO
Powerful integrated amp. Late last year I decided it was time to downsize and go to a one box all streaming system. I didn’t quite get there, but I did audition the Atoll all in one SDA 200 and liked the sound so much I went for the new and more powerful 300. Sounded great after 200 hours and then really opened up after 400 hours. Remarkable. Sits on two half-width maple plinths I had made for my monoblocks. I kept my Cambridge 851n for now — lots of changes happening in the streamer DAC space and I will wait a year or two till things settle down. Said goodbye to my Oppo 83 and my Bel Canto PRE5 and ref500 monoblocks. So I did go from five to two boxes — and decided to set up a separate one box system for office/bedroom. The journey continues.
Morrow Audio SP-5 speaker cables
Replaced my long-standing Acoustic Zen Cable’s after listening to Morrows in friends system also with Bel Canto monoblocks. Decided to give Morrow a try primarily because of their flexibility. I’ve always used big ole snakes for speaker cables and was pleasantly surprised at the Morrow sound given the flexible and small nature of the cable. These are the new series—all copper. Also, for the first time I went bi-wired and this really opened things up!
DALI Dali Mentor 6
Great floorstanders. These Dali Mentors do everything I expect from a speaker. Really opened up when I made the the switch to Morrow SP-5 bi-wired.
IsoAcoustics GAIA III
Wow, wow, wow. What a difference these made when placed under my Dali Mentor 6s. My biggest tweak ever, I think.
I used the 851N as a preamp until recently. we moved house, and in the new set up, I added a TV and wanted to run the sound thru the stereo. I picked up a used Marantz AV8801 and now use it as a preamp. When changing between preamp—no preamp, I would say there was a slight difference in sound but both sounded good. The 851N gave a balanced and probably more accurate sound, the Marantz gave up some highs and lows but presented a slightly more midrange. I preferred (Slightly) the Marantz on vocals and strings but the 851N on woodwinds and horns. Having said that, the system does sound much better now 1. A much better room with much better acoustics and 2. The audyssey multi eq in the Marantz really balanced the room and the sound. Especially the bass. Overall I’d do it again but not purely for the preamp sound but for the other benefits. I hope to update my virtual system soon. By the way, I’ve used “lesser” EQs in my second system and have never been impressed.
