This is the latest result after a flurry of upgrade activity. I had taken a hiatus from audio for the last 6 years and just listened to the music instead of all the audiophile neurosis. A couple of months ago, I got bitten by the audiophile upgrade bug. I am taking a breather for now, but there is always room for change.
The most recent changes are as follows:
1). Replaced Proceed PCD cd player with ML 37/360S combo with great results! Using Kimber Illuminations Orchid AES/EBU to connect.
2). Replaced Levinson 27.5 with 23.5 power amp.
3). Added dedicated power circuit with PS Audio Power Port
4). Replaced power cables with PS Audio Lab II
5). Added 2 PS Audio Ultimate Outlets
6). Upgraded Melos Audio SHA-1 headphone amp (currently at Melos Audio Restoration for the upgrade). More on this when I get it back.
7). Upgraded speaker cable from Straight Wire Rhapsody to Maestro.
Any suggestions for what to do next? The speaker cables and interconnects might be a place to start. I can't see spending the insane amounts of money for some of the latest-greatest hot new wires out there (a la Valhalla, etc..). Are these really worth the price of a good amplifier?
Removed the stock springs and substituted Sims Navcom Silencers. This table has served me well for the last 13 years. Considering the upgrade to MK IV. Also, thinking about the SDS and motor upgrade. Heard Walker audio controller is better. Any thoughts?
SME 309
Great arm for the money.
Sumiko Alchemist IIb
Nice sounding inexpensive MC cartridge. The first and only high-end MC I've used. May upgrade eventually. Any recommendations for a good MC cartridge for under $500?
VPI SDS
The Synchronous Drive System (SDS) combines a turntable motor speed controller and a line isolator in one box.
VPI SAMA
Stand Alone Motor Assembly
Magnum Dynalab MD-100
Melos SHA-1
This unit is used solely to power my Grado HP 2 headphones. It recently went on the fritz, and, fortunately, there is Melos Audio Restoration available to repair it. http://www.melosaudiorestoration.com/frame.html Actually, for about $500, I'm having Will Guering upgrade the unit with new caps and a few other mods he does. This little beauty also sounds great as a preamp.
Joseph Grado HP-2
Great sounding headphone. Melos SHA-1 built around this phone. Why doesn't A-gon have a headphone category on the system builder?
Classe Audio 6
Still a great preamp with an excellent phono section. I upgraded the original DR-6 to the Six.
Levinson No 23.5
I bought this amp on Audiogon to feed more juice to my hungry Thiels. It was an excellent upgrade...Tons more bass slam compared to my Levinson 23.5! I'm sending the amp back to Madrigal to have the caps and 5-way posts replaced.
Thiel Audio CS-3.6
I still love these speakers! I've managed to get great sound and imaging/soundstaging from them despite a smallish listening room. I haven't heard the CS7.2 model yet, but if I upgrade, I would probably need to wait until I moved to a different house with a large listening room. The current room is about 14 X 16. The 3.6s replaced my Maggie MGIIIa speakers that I really loved. The Maggies proved impractical in terms of optimal placement in my previous living arrangement, so they had to go. Any thoughts on the newer Maggie 3.6 model compared to the Thiels?
Kimber Illuminations Orchid
AES/EBU digital interconnect.
Straight Wire Maestro
8 ft. spades all-around. Any thoughts on upgrading?
Straight Wire Maestro
1m balanced pairs used to link the ML 360s w/ preamp and preamp to amp. Single-ended pair to connect preamp to SHA-1 headphone amp/preamp.
PS Audio Lab II
I have several of these running from a PS Audio power port to a Juice Bar, and from the power port to my Ultimate Outlets, then finally to my Levinson amp.
PS Audio P-600
w/ Multiwave II
PS Audio Ultimate Outlet
I have 2 of these. One is a 20 amp that lies between the AC wall receptical and the P600. A second 15 amp UO lies between the P600 and the CD transport & DAC and keeps the digital grunge away from the analog AC.
Custom Audio LLC Reference Gold
Very high quality custom-made p/c with 90 degree IEC for my Levinson 360S. Can't be beat for the price!
Dedicated 20 Amp Circuit :
I ran this from my breaker box using 12 guage Romex. Fortunately, I didn't electrocute myself in the process! The wall outlet is the nice high quality PS Audio Power Port.
Skylan 5-Shelf Equipment Stand
This is a great equipment stand from a not well known Canadian company. I've used it for 14 years. The support pylons have been filled with 100 lbs. of lead bird shot. It comes with heavy duty casters that I removed and repaced with spikes. Here is the link for those who are interested: http://www.skylanstands.com
Vibrapods Vibrapod Resonance Damper
Various weight capscities used under amp, DAC and transport.
System edited: System Edited 9/25/04: I forgot to add the PS Audio P600 that I bought a year ago. Will wait on further upgrades until I upgrade the listening room (i.e. buy a different home). Will likely add second system in the next couple of months.
Mstram, there are good power cords available, or can be special-ordered with the 90 degree iec bend. I'm not sure, but I've read that Levinson products are made with 20 amp iec inputs which are different from the standard 15 amp versions. Double check yours before trying or buying. Have fun experimenting.
Any suggestions for the Levinson 360S power cord? This DAC has the IEC socket on the bottom (in the center) of the chassis. It would require a 90 degree bend in the IEC connector.
I would suggest that you try out different AC cords. You can get amazing performance out of your digital with putting better AC cord on your transport and DAC (especially your transport). I would suggest demoing the Kimber Palladium PK10 AC cords and the Elrod Signature cords. Both are pricey, but very worth it. I have a friend with a ML transport and Dodson 217mk2 DAC and we put the Palladium AC cords on both of those pieces and the differences were jaw dropping compared to any other cord he had tried on these components.
I am not familiar with your cables and ICs, but you may want to give Audience speakers a shot. The Audience AU24 speaker cables may not be the final word in speaker cables, but for $425 or so (6' used), they have few peers at that price range. They are not Valhalla, but they are close. I like them better than SPM (having had SPM in my system for several years).
ICs are tough. Right now I have the latest and greatest of the Virual Dynamics Nite. They are quite good, but I am sure there are better out there... Maybe not A LOT better, but better nonetheless.
I think you can get a lot better sound by getting a new cartridge.I suggest the Shelter 501 I have a Shelter 501 MII and to me it sounds better than my old Vandenhull Frog.
Here is a cool site you will like. Discussed are the best cartridges, including the Shelter 501 MII , Shelter 901, Lyra Helikon, Vandenhull grasshopper, ZYX R-100 Fuji and many more
This is a must read, should answer a lot of questions for you, detailed and thorough,hope it will help you.
http://www.high-endaudio.com/RC-Cartridges.
Be sure to check out this whole site especially reviewing the reviewers.
I'm not familiar, other than by reputation, with all your electronics, but they all sound good to me. I used to own Thiels, but the highs were just a litte too... Hey, you love 'em-that's all that matters. I see you have the PS Audio Power Ports. Maybe, you might want to consider some other power conditioner. I use the Audio Magic Matrix for my amp and their Stealth Mini Digital for my front end. I never thought a sound stage could reach depths and widths that I'm experiencing. There are a host of other benefits, including extended bass, more intimate vocals and a feeling of clarity/openess, if you will, that is just impossible for me to describe with my limited writing skills. My Matrix makes a dramatic, absolutely, positive, presence in my system. Just something to think about. peace, warren
I strongly suggest replacing The Straightwires with Acoustic Zen Matrix MKII's and Satori Speaker Cables.I went from Rhapsodys then Maestros[good improvment] also.The AZ products will take you to a whole new experience.The music will open up and come to life in every area.You will feel you upgraded your entire system and you have[Huge improvment] and you're DONE.Yeah right !The next step up cable wise is a large financial one with very little to gain according to info I've read here and at audioasylum.com.Do a search.You have a great system.Audition if you can,if not just DO IT.JD's.02
