Daily music therapy. Changes are coming. DSA just upgraded my phono 2 preamp moving everything to a more relaxed presentation with increased detail which seems to be contradictory but enjoyable. A DSA Pre 1 was just sourced and is at the company being upgraded and having its design revisited and embellished. The Gryphon Diablo 300 will soon be seeking a new home as a Class A amp will be replacing it in the new system along with the new Lampizator that is currently breaking in… Need more time for everything to arrive and settle while getting used to the slightly changed acoustics of the refreshed room
System edited: Audience AU24e ICs placed into system. There is an immediate improvement in micro detail and correction of an excessive siblance issue that was present from both my analogue and digital sources. Continued changes are expected as the cables breaking, but my initial impression is very positive.
The KEF Blade speakers were special to me (though not in my present price range). With the Ayre amps they produced a wonderful sound stage with precision, detail, and a lack of any fatigue. The Audio Power Labs room with their 200 watt Class A tube amps and the Tidal audio speakers was also special. MBL and YG, well another set of amazing rooms that were well set up in difficult space. The new equipment by Bob Carver along with meeting the man himself was a very interesting experience. I would like to hear that system in a larger room. A lot of great equipment, great improvement on digital presentations, and new technology. Spent a good amount of time talking with company owners and head designers which made it another great experience.
Thank you Lapierre. The VAC paired with the ACs presents a dynamic and detailed soundstage. Since I just added the Benz Ebony I will be focused on vinyl for a while, as it moved the system to a new level of detailed presentaion. I think the future will be a change of speakers as the next step. Just spent the weekend at Axpona show thinking about possibilities......
Beautiful system! I found the same with my purchase of a Benz Ruby Z, but I was prepared for it because I previously had a Benz Ruby 3.
I've long been considering a VAC Phi 300 integrated to replace my Plinius 9200. I discovered I love tubes when I purchased an Art Audio Vinyl One phono amp several years ago. And the tube rolling has been fun.
Regarding power: I too added dedicated home run lines and it made a big improvement. Over the last few years, power cables have been my biggest education. I started with Shunyata Diamondbacks, then Taipan Helix, then Python Helix, then Black Mambas and Python Helix CX. Your equipment will really shine with the right power cables. Be aware that most of them require significant burn-in time (e.g., 100+ hours).
System edited: The addition of a Benz Ebony H cartridge has displayed amazing synergy with the Origin Live Encounter arm and OL table. The cartridge has taken alot of time to dial in with an extreme sensitivity to SRA and antiskate bias adjustment, but the time and effort (along with a lot of patience) has been rewarded.
The change from the OL Silver Mk1 tonearm to the Encounter Mk3c has not been small. Base response has more definition and control. The sound stage has better integration with increased micro-dynamics and continuity. The VAC PA100/100 factory front end upgrade now has about 100 hours of listening time. The phi300.1 frontend upgrade was significant in making this amp more detailed and transparent along with tightening the slightly loose bass that the amp originally portrayed.
System edited: I changed the OL Silver tonearm to the OL Encounter Mk3c. The Silver was very good, but the Encounter evolved the system to a new level. The Silver, in use for the past two years, provided a wide and deep soundstage presentation that was very satisfying in my system, but the Encounter brings better extension at the extremes and increased coherence within the soundstage. Their may be additional synergy between the Aurora and the Encounter being they are from the same designer. A very enjoyable upgrade.
The PA100/100 just returned from visitng VAC and Kevin Hayes with the Phi 300.1 front end upgrade installed.
VAC's description of the upgrade - "Fits the new front end circuit topology from the Phi 300.1, resulting in greater speed, dynamic, detail, and bass punch."
All I can say is the improvement is not subtle. Extension, detail, and impact in all areas is definitely improved. Overall a change that has made this excellent amp even more impressive to me in my system.
I have 2 dedicated 20 amp lines for my sound system. My EquiTech 2Q has digital, normal and unfiltered outlets. I find my mono amps sound best plug direct to the wall outlets. Preamp best to 2Q unfiltered but will try direct to wall once I have the new longer PC and DACs best to 2Q digital outlets.
Thank you for that insight Knghifi. I will look at trying some other PCs and seeing how they may perform. I had a dedicated line placed to my setup and removed all my power conditioners about 8 months ago. The sound really opened up with that change, but again there is always room for other trials and changes.
Dr., You have a very well thought out system and it must sounds fantastic.
From my experience, Zu IC and SC are EXCELLENT especially for their price but NOT the PC. I find the Zu Mother is VERY limiting even on my DAC where lots of information is missing in familiar materials.
IMHO, you should try some different PCs especially on your amp and preamp for your next best ROI upgrade. On my VAC preamp, I found it best plug in the unfiltered (essentially direct to the wall outlet) outlets on my EquiTech 2Q otherwise dynamics are dramactically limited which is very very surprising. I'm waiting for a longer PC to be made and try going direct to a 20 amp wall dedicated outlet.
You don't need to spend big $$ for good PCs but they do make a DIFFERENCE :-)
Thank you for your comments Rhljazz. Once the amp is settled back in with the new front end upgrade I will do some tube rolling. It came to me with Phillips JAN 6189s and a new set of KT88s sourced from VAC that had been recently installed the seller. I had previously reviewed you system due to the OL and VAC similarities. Beautiful setup.
System edited: VAC PA 100/100 was sent to VAC for the phi300.1 front end topology upgrade 14 days ago. Just received an e-mail that it is ready for final review by Kevin Hays and should be back soon.
Nice looking system. I have similar taste in equipment including the danish design chair. The Vac amp is a great piece. You can make some nice changes swapping input tubes. It's funny one set of tubes will sound better depending on the speaker it is powering. I hated the electro harmonix with the N802's but find they are the best tubes with the ESP's.
System edited: A VAC PA100/100 has replaced the Shanling SP80s. The upgrade has not been subtle with greater musical detail, beter soundstage, and a presentation that makes music just sound more correct. There also seems to be a synergy between the VAC pre and the PA100/100 that has reinforced the system cohesiveness. I find myself now listening only to the music and not being able to listen to the equipment, no matter how hard I am trying. This is what I was looking for.
I specifically used the section Jim calls "playing the room". I was very surprised how minor changes of less than 1/2 inch on speaker placement changed what I would call the "cohesiveness" of the sound. I have found a precise measurement for their palcement that works in my room. I do know that Jim would prefer that my rack was not between me speakers, but my room does not allow that at this time.
System edited: Additional changes were implemented following Jim Smith's advice in GET BETTER SOUND and his seminar at the Axpona Show. Small changes in my speaker palcement and alignment that were immediate and amazingly substanitial improvements in the system.
drrsutliff on 