Ozzy, I'm very interested in your experience with P3 on Pass amp and pre. I have XA30.5 + XP-10 pre and I just ordered 4 P3s. |
I completed my HiDiamond loom yesterday albeit the models I have aren't very top of the line like some of you (all the cables I order do have graphite in them). Started off with a few D3 powercords and now I have all HiDiamonds. The latest additions just started the break-in process, but from listening after a few hours, phase coherency is a beautiful thing. Music just sounds whole and one (if that makes any sense).
The cables still have a way to go, but so far I'm very much liking what these cables do to my system. My cabling experience isn't very vast, but since I started changing cables 8-9 months ago, last night listening session was the best in a very long time. |
Hi Skywalker,
Make sure you give P3 a full 300 hours of break-in time. P3 sounds good right out of the bag, but after fully broken in it's a different cable altogether (you can read this thread for various break-in experience).
For speaker cable, D5 is minimum you should get. This is where HD starts using graphite in them.
One thing to note is you wouldn't know the full effect of HD cables until you have a complete loom. I started off with one P3 and now I have 5 P3s, digital RCA reference, D5 IC, XLR2, D5 SC and awaiting another set of D5 IC for the subwoofer. With each addition, it is a cumulative effect in my system. For Devialet, do you also need a digital cable?
BTW, I have the same speaker as yours with Pass Labs amps.
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Hi Bacardi,
I was hoping no one would say that. lol I'd really love to try P4, but the thing is one P4 is equivalent to 4 P3s. :( Besides, there're other things I'd like to add to my system at the moment (power regenerator, dj setup, symposium shelves, etc). If there's a deal on P4 though, I'm sure I'll be all over it. |
Hi Skywalker,
Unfortunately, I'm not in SG. I'm indeed interested in Devialet though. :) With Devialet, I can convert all my various HD cables to one P4 PC and one pair of D8 speaker cables. :D
I think you're in luck with what you are (or your wife is) looking for. One thing I remember noticing with P3 break-in is midrange clarity. It doesn't necessarily get prominent per se, but with lower noise floor and smoother/more coherent presentation, midrange appears to be prominent. :) I too am breaking in my 5th P3 on the Pass amp (currently at 120 hours).
BTW, do share your impression on Devialet, PM or in this thread (hope others don't mind). |
Anyone has experience with "settling time" of a used P4? I have full loom of P3s (all bought new) and just inserted a used P4 (main PC - wall to the power regenerator) for about 5 days now. The improvement is immediate but at the same time I could tell it's not fully "settled in" or "burned-in in my system". The P4 had already about 500 hr of playing time before I received it. And I haven't been playing music 24/7, but I do have my class A amp on 24/7, which is connected with a P3 to the power regenerator. |
Hi Lak,
Thanks for the info. The system starts to settle in last night after P4 has been in the system for about 6 days. I have no idea how much actual music playing time I had put on, but I do have my class A amp running 24/7. The system has never sounded better.
And thanks to someone (I forgot who) that suggested I need at least one P4 amongst my P3 loom. It's definitely worth while and much more. It's going to be hard to tame the desire to add more P4s.
Question for the upgrade path in the future. I currently have:
one P4 (from wall to power regenerator)
P3s (from power regenerator to amp, pre-amp, dac and sub)
HD digital reference (from clock to dac)
D5 IC (from dac to pre-amp)
XLR2 (from pre-amp to amp)
D5 SC (from amp to speakers)
What would you upgrade first? More P4s or IC/XLRs or SC? I'm eyeing on XLR3/D9 IC/D8 SC. |
Thank you guys for the reply. Another P4 is on the way, I'm thinking it'd go to the pre-amp. I will also try it on the DAC or amp as well. But my system is 2-channel/HT and pre-amp is where everything meet, including the sub (I use RCA output for sub and XLR to the amp).
If it is on the DAC, it might only improve 2-channel. I'm also intrigued with the kind of improvement I'd see if it is on the amp. Any thoughts? Could be a good learning experience trying P4 on each equipment.
I now agree with you guys that P4 is at whole another level than P3. With all the effort and money spent for the last 2 years putting together this system, it seems P4 is the door to the real high fidelity sound. All the equipment seemed to be hindered previously and P4 is that last missing piece. My first P4 is now from the wall to the power regenerator. Without me mentioning anything, my gf asked if I bought new equipment because it sounds so much better now. (BTW, even my TV brings out the pictures better. This is the comment from family and friends). |
Thank you for all the info, guys. Second P4 is now on the Pass pre-amp (another P4 is from wall to power regenerator), the improvement is not subtle at all. Feel like a very worthwhile improvement. I ordered a set of D8 speaker cables also and will arrive in about 2 weeks. |
I currently use HD D5 SC, which is preferable over Nordost Frey in my system. Can't wait for D8 to arrive. |
HD SC D8 arrived today. 500 hours to go. :( |
Hi Lak (and Ozzy),
D8's are now at about 150 hr. I haven't really had time to sit down and listen for long stretches but the reason I said "500 hours" to go is based on info from people on this post and my own experience with D5 SC's break in. D8's didn't blow D5's right out the gate but just more extension, details and lush. Bass is still come and go and top end also not as refined (sometimes sound a little worse than D5), but you could tell the potential once it fully breaks in. It may or may not meet my expectation but going from D5 to D8, I could feel a little easy that it will definitely be better. |
Hi Bacardi, funny how you mentioned that. D8s are now at about 270 hr and I was just wondering earlier, before I read your post, where all this volume increase and bass extension coming from. lol It is much louder now for the same volume setting I have been listening for the past year. But at the same time, it is still quite noticeable that these D8s aren't fully broken in (mostly based on my experience with D5s). Can't wait to hit that 500 mark. |
