Worthy upgrade?


I recently upgraded my system to a McIntosh 9500 integrated and Sonus faber Serafinos. My sources are Innuos Zenith Mk 3 and VPI Prime with Valhalla tonearm cable and a Soundsmith Zephyr Mimic Star cartridge. Most of my cables are Nordost Heimdall 2, with an Audioquest Hurricane power cable to the integrated. My current speaker cables are Nordost Heimdall Frey 2.  

Now my question is whether a speaker cable upgrade would be crazy? In upgrading the speakers I thought a speaker cable upgrade was in order. I tried the Nordost Tyr 2.  I heard a significant improvement in the sound. But, is the upgrade ridiculous in terms of the rest of my system?

This may be a stupid question so please be gentle. 😎

thanks. 
 

Ken

kenrus

Very nice system.

Looking at your system and considering you have Nordost Frey 2 now... I would consider these appropriate. I don’t think I would do it. If you want greater detail I would upgrade your integrated amp. Macintosh are good in midrange and bass but lacking in detail. You have attempted to get more detail with the Nordost and Hurricane. I would save up to upgade the amp. 

I agree your speakers are deserving of better amplification. A Gryphon Diablo 300 will give you comparable dynamics without the detail-obscuring overt warmth. 

I had heimdall 2 cables when I owned SF Serafinos. Tried more expensive nordhost cables and Audioquest. Any difference I heard was negligible and not necessarily better. That’s just to my ears- many hear a “night and day” difference in cables, but my experience is that the differences are subtle. 

I would move away from a McIntosh integrated. Your speakers are great and although McIntosh and Sonus Faber generally sound good together I think you are missing the benefots of a separate amp and pre amp.  I had a McIntosh set up and moved away from it to tubes (Audio Research Ref160S and Ref6SE) and this was an astonishing improvement in overall sound quality.  I think you might need more detail for those speakers.  I have since moved to SS but your system deserves a better amp and pre amp.  Let us know how you make out.

I heard a significant improvement in the sound. But, is the upgrade ridiculous in terms of the rest of my system?
 

Given that the goal of an upgrade is to improve one’s system, if you can afford it, I don’t see why not. You already heard “significant” improvement. The only question I would have is: could I spend less money somewhere else in the system and obtain better performance? Keep in mind that the rest of your system will most likely change too overtime. That’s the nature of the game. My 2 cents: significant improvements are not usually easy to come, thread wisely.