What to add or change for my system?


This is my first post, so please have pity on me if I break any rules.... :)

I immersed myself in this hobby a few years ago, and I'm completely hooked.  And best of all, my wife is.....almost hooked.  I initially purchased speakers from Axiom, OPPO 103D from OPPO, and Parasound preamp and amp from a local dealer.  These were connected with Kimber Timbre cables.  I also have a Furman Elite power conditioner.

All of that changed in December.  My system now consists of:
  • Martin Logan Summit X speakers; purcahsed new on AG
  • Plinius Hautonga integrated amp; purcahsed on AG
  • Oppo 105 that has been modded by Tweak Audio for even better audio; purchased on AG
  • Bryston BDP-1; purcahsed on AG
  • Gustard X20 DAC that has been modded by Tweak Audio; purcahsed on AG
  • Gustard U12 USB interface; purchsed new on Amazon
  • Clear Day silver speaker cables; direct from Paul, a wonderful person!
  • Avanti Audio interconnects; direct from Avanti
  • Furman Elite power conditioner; Audioadvisor

As luck would have it, I just got a nice bonus and feel the itch to add to, or make better my system.  Not knowing what to consider, I'm hopeful to get some suggestions from you.  If this was your system, and you had $3-4 thousand to spend, what you add or replace?

Thanks for your thoughts!!!
smills59

Showing 7 responses by smills59

I was in Japan a few months back and went to Akihabra for a day.  It's a section of Tokyo that is packed with audio stores.  It's amazing!  While there I did purcahse two receptacles, but I don't remember the make.  The power conditioner and the speakers are plugged into these.  

I was thinking the integrated might be a change, but it does sound nice.  The Plinius puts 280 watts into 4 ohms.  Just not sure what additional power will get me (noob).  I listen mostly to jazz and some 70's rock.  Also don't listen at very high volume.

Would the room treatments go behind the speakers? 
Thanks djohnson54, sounds like good advice.  The one thing I will do is take a look at room treatment.  With the ML being dipole, I do think I'll get some improvement.  I had not even considered that.

I will get these ordered and then report back.  I promise!

Thanks everyone!  You guys are great!
Even more great suggestions!

I do have vibration pods for every component.  Also have Pangea power cords for every component going to the Furman, and a massive cord from the Furman to the audio receptacles.  I don't have a dedicated line from breaker box to wall, but that isn't really possible in my case.

I made cable risers from Styrofoam squares that I painted black and put a felt pad on the bottom to protect the wood floor.  Cables rest on top.

The room is not dedicated to audio, it's our living room.  It's 15x16 with one of the 15 foot sides open to our dinning room, other side is a fireplace.  Ceiling is 8 feet, sloping both sides to 12 feet in center. Speakers are 8 feet apart, 3.5 feet from the front wall, and 4 feet from the side walls.  It's a pretty big room.

I do have a decent music collection all on hard disk, and I listen to Tidal a lot.

I like the idea of room treatment.  Because the MLs are dipole, would a 2x4 absorption panel directly behind the speakers work best?

Thanks guys!!!

Stringreen, I'm not sure. But the risers were only about $20 to make and took only the time for paint to dry. I bought the styrofoam blocks from Michael's for $3 each, then a can of spray paint and felt pads from Lowe's. They look nice enough, and importantly really help eliminate dust bunnies.

Not to start a heated debate, but what about changing the fuses in the Plinius?  Pretty easy as all fuses are accessible from the back of the unit.  I've read pros and cons on this, as I'm sure all of you have too?

Thanks russ69, that's what I was afraid of. :)

I did add Synergistic research Black fuses to the Plinius integrated.  My daughter is staying with us and she is my help to make sure I'm not hearing improvement when it's not really there.  She has no dog in the hunt.  She's been listening to my system with me for about two months now.  She helped with the Clear day speaker cables.  As soon as I turned on the Plinius with new fuses, she looked at me and said "WOW!"  I heard the difference too, but usually doubt myself.  She is also very sure there is a significant difference.  I feel the money for the fuses was very well spent.  

Bryston told me not to bother upgrading the fuse in the BDP-1 because there are no fuses in the signal path, and the fuse in the OPPO is soldered to the board.  The DAC has no fuse, so I guess I'm done until I get the urge for those mono-blocks.

Thanks everyone!!!
auxinput, I still really like the SR Black fuses, but I confess these are the only ones I've tried so have no comparison.  You are right, they are expensive.  I had to get five of them!  :(   I like your comments on the silver cables versus others.  Perhaps that's a good next step for me.  Any suggestion given the gear I have now?  

raymonda, I know, I keep looking at turntables on Audiogon and  also magazines I get, but so far have resisted the temptation.  As much as I love the musical side of this hobby, and I do, I also love the technical side.  The gear, the cables, etc. fascinate me.  I want to try them all, but alas, money and family are a good limiting factor for me.

Thanks again everyone!