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When Did Your System Disappear?

As we upgrade our audio systems, things (hopefully) keep sounding better and better. I have found that after a certain point, the system completely disappears. It’s no longer a pair of speakers, amps, preamps, sources, etc. Music is created out of thin air floating between and behind the speakers with little to no colorations in the sound. The regular audio verbiage can be thrown out the window because all you hear is the recording. If something is bright or harsh or bass heavy, it’s the recording not your system.
I noticed this when I modified my source and preamp to accept better power supplies. Using a combination of linear power supplies and large SLA batteries took my system to a new level where the equipment just disappears. Of course, this wasn’t the only thing that helped. Up to that point, every component has been experimented on to achieve a high degree of synergy. Interconnects, power cables, speaker cables, etc. all play a role too. Everything matters. 

My question to you all is when did this happen in your system? Did it develop slowly over time or was there a definite change that occurred with a certain upgrade?
mkgus
jtcf's avatar
jtcf
1,620 posts
 
Yes,we want to know some dark secrets!

My system does the disappearing act more often since I've replaced the input tubes in my pre with nos Mullards.The room treatments along with getting the bass dialed in was the biggest step forward in being able to hear that illusion.
noromance's avatar
noromance
10,502 posts
 
I always felt like it dissapeared a long time ago with tubes and Quad ESLs. However, it truly disappeared when I changed my 12" Jelco 750 tonearm for the newer 850. New turntable bearing and bulk foil resistors in the phono amp finished the job. 
perkri
934 posts
 
When I got married.

Second time when the kids arrived.


iopscrl
211 posts
 
I suppose you never forget your first time.

Thorens TD318, Stanton 881s
VanAlstine Super PAS 3 with GE Milspec tubes
Heathkit W4m monoblocks (serviced not restored)
NEAR 10M speakers

Miles Davis 4 and More / My Funny Valentine
Ella Fitzgerald- various Verve LPs- all mono.

With the lights out the sonic image was holographic.   I was not aware of the confines of the speaker boxes, or the spatial limits of the room in which I sat.

I felt I was in the audience back in 1964 experiencing Miles in person.

Ella was in the room, front and center.  Sure it was mono, but I heard depth and air.  The back edge of the band seemed to recede into the horizon.  

Late 1997.

In the present, I can tell when my system is dialed in by how much I don't hear the physical placement of my speakers.   I can close my eyes and be enveloped in sound that exists free of the dimensions of my speakers.  Speaker quality and placement is key (of course) but quality of system components also affects the ability to disappear.   

The first time I clearly heard "height" as a distinct component of a central image was after changing to an ARC SP10-MK2.   I could follow the path of a trumpet horn as the musician moved around.  I could hear the relative position of a trumpet bell and then hear the different position of the bell of a saxophone during solos.   

danvignau's avatar
danvignau
935 posts
 
     It first happened when I went from my (Shure V-15) Crown IC150, and Phase Linear 400 driven stacked Advents to Audire electronics, (Supex 900 Mark IV cartridge), driven B&W's, followed by gradual enhancements over the decades with upgrades of the same brands (Or designer).
     Another interesting change was my 25 years with electrostsatics, while never selling my old B&W's, then replacing both with newer B&W's.  Old B&W's now on TV.  'Stats gone!
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