System edited: In the process of upgrading the cdp from Rega Planet 2000 to Cary 303/100 (i.e. new cdp in en route). Hoping that the new cdp will match well with the rest of the system. Any opinion guys?
I guess it's been awhile since I updated my system notes as my Tesla's died recently and I replaced them with Svetlana KT88's and very much for the better I think. Unfortunately the Svetlana's cost me quite a bit more but everything came more alive with them. There's almost a sense of needing a bigger room (I have moved recently and the pictures are not up to date). I guess "need" is the wrong word as I am very pleased with the new Svetlanas just that I'm not used to the new "authority" and dynamics of my amp since the switch. Don't think I'd ever go back to the Teslas given a choice. My next tube experiment will be with the rectifiers but that's another day and another story.
Stuart, I agree with Gregm above, the next thing to go would probably be the Rega. A few that I have in mind include: - Arcam FMJ 23 or 33 - Shanling T100 or T200 - Naim 5 - Maybe Cary - Or Ayre CX-7 if my friend doesn't want his anymore
Leaning more towards Shanling since I have connections in Hong Kong and it's much cheaper there. Guess I just need to keep auditioning until I come across with one that suits my musical taste and price.
Hey, just checked out your system and saw the JJ power tubes. How do you like them? I've the JJs for the input stage and kept the stock tubes (Chinesse Golden Dragon?!?) for power (EL34). I'm very happy with the JJs as input and am contemplating getting a set for the power too. Have you done any A/B comparisons with other brands? Specifically Svetlana's? I've tried the Electro Harmonix and they are just a little too dark for my system. Thoughts?
Hi again. Your logic is sound (heh). I had the blue heaven's for awhile in an earlier incarnation of my system and forgot that I have no real reference as to what these cables sound like considering only the CDP is the same. I found them very pleasing and bright but have settled on my Yamamuras. The synergistic research pro silways are another really good option for your system. They open up darker systems and I think are the better to the blue heavens. Anyway as they say 3 audiophiles, 5 opinions. If you change from the Rega let me know as I am looking at changing this link in the chain too. Happy listening.
You are going to chuckle, but to be honest with you, I actually haven't done much comparison but relied on my friend's recommendation on the Blue Heavens. Nonetheless, I'm very satisfied with the performance.
Although I didn't do any A/B cable comparisons, before I made my cable decision, my friend and I had several long discussions on which cable that best fit my system. As you can see, all of my gear are more on the warmer/darker side of things and the last thing I need is another warm cable. That said, my friend recommended me to try the Nordost Blue Heaven since it leans more on the "bright" side as confirmed by so many of you here. Just thought it would balance out my system along with the IC. I love what I have right now and intent to keep it for a while. Overall presentation in my system is very clean, revealing, detail without the edginess and fatigue, front to mid stage with open ambience and wide soundstage, and very fast, which brings out quick and tight bass. At the end of the day, it's all system dependent.
Other cables that I've used/experienced with a different system included MIT Terminator (for my home theater), different Monster models (my earlier days), Tara Labs RSC, and AQ Bedrock.
My friend also upgraded his cables lately to Synergistic Research and heard great things about them. Hope this helps.
Try the CARA software to guide speaker placement. It has a steep initial learning curve and requires hours of "work" at your pc but, if you consider how many hours you'll devote to listening in the future, the investment in time is well spent. My best CARA tips: 1.) make the effort the accurately "build" your particular loudspeaker, if not in the (very sparse) existing list; 2.)weight "frequency response" a 10 and the two other variables 1 or 0 when running the positional optimization part of the program; 3.) also, when running positional optimization, run SEPARATE trials for bass, mid and treble frequencies, with the goal of getting a position where the "quality" percentages agree most closely. To accept an "optimized" position derived from the full frequency spectrum of your speakers (I found) can hide potentially terrible acoustical performance in one or more smaller frequency bands.
Great perspective and thanks for your response, Jb0194. Good suggestion to check out the "Room Acoustics" forum, especially when my set up is relatively new in a new home. Currently, the listening room is 12' x 20' and 10' ceiling (speakers on the 12' side) with half of one side open and a fireplace/built-in book shelves on the other. Bare hard wood floors, bare walls, and a 3-piece sofa set with a coffee table. I do plan to put an area rug in the sofa area, which may help dampen the bare wood floors. Any other suggestions/perspective on room acoustics?
Or back to the original question, if the upgrade bug comes out of hibernation, what's next?
If your listening room has been chosen, address its acoustics before any component change, to REALLY hear what your existing system can do. Besides, it should be very cost-effective. I wish I'd have learned that one much sooner!(Rives "Room Acoustics" forum on Audio Asylum helped me greatly). Source would come next (a recent $500 cd transport mod convinced me once and for all of the validity of the "source first" approach). Though I've become a real believer that cables are a "component", I'd leave cable upgrading until all the other pieces have been assembled to your satisfaction. Incrementally stepping up in cable quality as I improved other components cost me a lot. I would have saved a bundle if I'd left that part of system building for last.
