Circle Labs A200 hybrid integrated amp. Best I've owned over ~40 years of developing systems.
Products you added to your system in 2021 that made most impact to your music enjoyment
As 2021 comes to an end, just thought it would be cool to share some of the most impactful audio upgrades in your system this year?
Here’s my top 5 list…
1. Pass Labs XP-12: Upgrade path was from Rogue RP-1 to Rogue RP-5 and then to Pass XP-12 that was the final touch. Huge improvements across the board. Mates well with my Rogue ST-100 tube amp.
2. Phono Cartridge: Goldring E3 MM to Hana EL MC. Clarity, presentation, dynamics in spades!
3. Phono Pre: From the built in phono pre in RP-1 and RP-5 to MoFi UltraPhono to Sutherland KC Vibe MkII. Lowered noise floor, increased resolution, dynamics. The KC Vibe MkII is almost double the cost of the MoFi and it’s the one of the few upgrades where an improvement was proportional to the cost difference. At least in my system. Records that seemed noisy become more listenable. A great little phono pre.
4. Audience AU24sx speaker cables. These speaker cables are a clear window into a recording. Nothing hidden, nothing exaggerated.
5. Power Cords: Acoustic Zen Gargantua for preamp and amp. Lower noise floor, increased resolution, natural sound, expanded soundstage
Honorable mentions:
1. Acoustic Zen Absolute Copper interconnects. In my opinion the AZ cables don’t get the respect they deserve on these forums anymore, overshadowed by some of the “flavor of the day” newcomers (without going into specifics on brands).
2. Puritan PSM156 power conditioner.
3. Supra Cat8 Ethernet cable.
4. Lumin U1 Mini
5. MoFi LP#9 Stylus Cleaner. Better than the Onzo ZeroDust although I still use the Onzo between the sides.
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I switched from a Schiit Modi Multibit ver 1 DAC to an old SMSL M8 DAC that I had from a previous headphone desk top set up. The Schiit gave things a muddy boomy bass. The SMSL M8 cleaned up the bass without taking anything away from the mids and highs. The channel separation and imaging seems to be better also. |
So many cool toys!!! I am having a 300b amp built but it won’t be here til sometime early next year . I look at my other hobbies and those of my friends and I’m pretty sure my money spent on audio has given the most satisfaction per dollar of anything. I listen a few hours a day , sometimes many hours..... every day. Not impacted by the weather and seasons |
@oddiofyl You should have fun with the 300B amp. I have custom built 300B monoblocks, 300B sweetheart tube.
Speaking of recent purchases, latest Psvane Acme 300B and Linlai Elite 101D for Coincident Statement pre. Boutique 300B's worth the added expense!
Other than the tubes, constant experiments, upgrading of streaming network components. |
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