#171
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Clearaudio Ovation with Tracer Dynavector KARAT 17DX Naim Uniti Core Schiit Yggdrasil McIntosh C22/MC275 Wilson TuneTots B&W DB3D Nordost QKore/QBase/Frey 2 Transparent Super IsoAcoustics GAIA II Stax SR-009S with SRM-700T |
#172
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#173
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I heard from Transparent finally, and it's not anyone I've corresponded with previously. Having provided a complete list of my equipment, his first recommendation is I audition some Transparent speaker cables. They design their stuff to be in a matched system, and he/they believe that would yield the most profound changes. I've never had any complaints concerning my Kimber 12TC, but a networked cable matching my gear would yield real results, Transparent says.
As for the PCs vs. ICs, they recommend I start with the interconnects, actually. That means going from Plus to Super before the HPPC to Premium upgrade. The IC swap, even with the upgrade program discount, is still more money than the PC swap. Auditioning any of this is tricky these days, but the dealer I worked with on my PC upgrades might arrange one. So some things to think about, even as the overall idea of upgrades has cooled a bit. Cooled, but not cold.
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#174
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I upgraded my Transparent Plus ICs to Super a year or so ago--between my DAC and pre amp, and between my pre amp and power amp. I was stunned by the improvement in each case. I then tried going up to Ultra, and struggled to notice a significant difference.
So--assuming you have a dealer that will loan you a set or two for a few days--I recommend moving up to Super ASAP. Good luck!
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Clearaudio Ovation with Tracer Dynavector KARAT 17DX Naim Uniti Core Schiit Yggdrasil McIntosh C22/MC275 Wilson TuneTots B&W DB3D Nordost QKore/QBase/Frey 2 Transparent Super IsoAcoustics GAIA II Stax SR-009S with SRM-700T |
#175
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You can take this to the bank: all things being equal, PCs by far are more important with respect to overall system performance and audio quality and bring bigger improvements than ICs. Just one example, better ICs won't give your power amp, preamp or DAC the dynamic current transient response it needs to perform maximally. They also can't prevent the reflection of noise coming back out of the component's power supply to contaminate other components. In my experience about this after over a decade of experimentation is: if you don’t sort out the power system FIRST, you will forever be chasing your tail with component upgrades and swaps and cable changes. Power cables are not tweaks after you have done everything else. They are foundational and at the base of the audio pyramid. For example, the most significant and meaningful upgrade I've made, which respect to across-the-board peformance and and taking the presentation to a completely new paradigm of music reproduction was getting the Shunyata Everest power distributor powered by the new Shunyata XC for Everest and NR series of power cables for components. These improvements have been more significant in degree and kind that upgrading amps, preamps, and speakers. Assuming there's no single cable that is notably lower in specification or performance relative to the others in the system, in decreasing order of importance, the impact of cables is: PCs>Digital Cables>SPs>ICs. And the power distributor is the "central station" for getting that current where it needs to be.
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. Last edited by Puma Cat; 08-01-2020 at 06:48 PM. |
#176
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I agree with Puma Cat that clean power is essential. My Nordost QKore and QBase grounding system with a single Frey 2 cable into the wall were pricey, but a huge improvement over stock power. Interestingly, once these 3 components were installed, I could not hear additional benefit from upgrading the stock power cables into the QBase.
But as I noted in my last post--it's critical to demo any cable change for a few days at home. Some cable upgrades will help a lot, some will hurt, some will be neutral.
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Clearaudio Ovation with Tracer Dynavector KARAT 17DX Naim Uniti Core Schiit Yggdrasil McIntosh C22/MC275 Wilson TuneTots B&W DB3D Nordost QKore/QBase/Frey 2 Transparent Super IsoAcoustics GAIA II Stax SR-009S with SRM-700T |
#177
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I have replied to Transparent's reply, asking for specific prices. I'd like to see what going through the upgrade program does for the IC prices. Then, if this gets as far as an in-home trial, I'd try one Premium PC and one pair of Super ICs. Just in case, I asked for prices on a 4ft or 5ft pair of their Plus speaker cables; standard length is 8ft to start ($900 MSRP and too long for my needs). Since I bi-wire using two pair of 12TC, the price then doubles.
Question: Given the noise-reducing power of the Premium PCs on my preamp and power amps, is it still possible for the amps to pass noise to the speakers? Transparent speaker cables all have noise modules on them, as the Transparent rep pointed out, but would I really need that?
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
#178
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Lumin P1 streamer/DAC/preamp, Constellation Inspiration integrated TT: Michell Gyro SE MkII, SME V, Koetsu Urushi Vermilion, EAR324. Harbeth 30.2s, REL R-305, Shunyata Alpha V2 ICs, Alpha V2 SPs, Sigma XC, Sigma NRv2, Omega QR-s & Alpha NRv2 PCs, segmented Altaira SG stack w/ Alpha & Omega CGCs, Everest 8000 PD. Remote Server Room: Uptone EtherREGEN, AfterDark Master Clock & LPS, Alita, Battle Angel, (Akasa NUC Roon Core), iFi DC Purifiers (for SMPS used for Alita & router), Shunyata Gemini combo power distributor & Altaira-type CG GP-NR hub, Venom & Alpha CGCs, Shunyata NRv14 power cords for digital components. |
#179
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Let's go back to the process though--there is no need to do this all at once, or even to speculate on a grand plan. You can do this piecemeal and in a relaxed way. My cables and grounding system were purchased over 4(?) rounds of demos/upgrades as I compared several levels of ICs and PCs. My expectations were often wrong in doing this, but each round yielded a significant improvement. You should get Transparent or your dealer to send you a few things to try. Then buy anything that makes a significant positive improvement. Then, if you till have budget remaining, get them to send a couple of more things to try. Also, don't be surprised or discouraged if some "upgrades" yield nothing you can hear or even make things worse. If that happens, you've either maxed out on a given brand, or you do not like that brand.
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Clearaudio Ovation with Tracer Dynavector KARAT 17DX Naim Uniti Core Schiit Yggdrasil McIntosh C22/MC275 Wilson TuneTots B&W DB3D Nordost QKore/QBase/Frey 2 Transparent Super IsoAcoustics GAIA II Stax SR-009S with SRM-700T |
#180
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So yes, there is no all-at-once in terms of a purchase; it's maybe one change and that's it. I don't notice any noise issues, but there was improvement when the Premiums went into the system. This is sheer curiosity, which is why the audition would be ideal. I've said it before but part of me thinks a Premium PC on a source is overkill, but who knows? When I went from Kimber 8TC to 12TC there was more air around the music, though the music itself didn't seem to change. The 12TC is 8 AWG; 8TC is 9 AWG; based on that, going from a 12 AWG PC to 10 AWG plus a network module could bring some benefit. I may be overthinking this, but it's part of how I process stuff. I could take the risk of auditioning all three (PC, IC, speaker), then buy the one that showed the most improvement in the system; maybe I'd discuss the merits of that with the dealer if I dare!
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SOTA, Grado, SME, Van den Hul, Gingko turntable setup; Pioneer Elite LD, BDP; Sony OLED TV; Magnum Dynalab tuner, antenna; MIT S-video cable; Pangea HDMI cables; DVDO video processor; McIntosh SACD, preamp, power amps; Telefunken Black Diamond preamp tubes; Kimber IC; Transparent IC, PC, SC; Mirage speakers; PS Audio, Shunyata PC; Audio Additives RCA caps; Furman power conditioning; Sanus: racks |
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