in a rut

[sucks2beme]

Current system
AMC cd8b cdp(modded)
Parasound p/sp1000 preamp
Audio Research v60 tube amp
Paradigm studio 60 v2
Kimber hero i/c
AQ cv-6 speaker cable

on deck: Rotel rb980 amp
B&k st202 amp
Nad 917 pre
Accurus acd11 cdp

The AR v60 was a great find. Adds tube sound without sounding too
"tubey". Very good top end and tight bass. This is why I've got two
SS amps in the closet.
The Accurus cdp is nice, but known to better as a transport.
The AMc after modding bested it.
I can see several next steps. One is a tube pre. I tried a PAS 2, could be
good with some work. Maybe just springing for a real nice pre would be money better spent.
The other is getting a good DAC and pairing it up with the Accurus.
I've been researching, but I tend to distrust much of what I read.
There are too many people pushing cheap, sterile sounding China DACS.
I know some are good for the money, many others are so-so.
True audiophile DACS that you can trust to live up to their rep are pricey.
I am also thinking of switching from AQ to Kimber for the speaker cable.
There is a used 8tc for about $100 that got my attention.
There it is. This would be easier if son #2 wasn't just starting college.
Damn, If he just would run off and enlist, think of the good stuff I could afford.

[I-SIG]

Awash in the stereo doldrums (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=56216)

See my thread. I feel your pain. I've decided that nice tube amp might be what I'm looking for along with some room treatment.

Wes

[Early B.]

I like the tube pre idea. However, keep your AQ speaker cables. Put a DAC lower on the priority list.

[GV#27]

If you want to try a different pre I have a Nelson Pass designed single ended MOSFET design you can borrow .It has a nice blend of both SS and tube sound.

[sucks2beme]

I like the tube pre idea. However, keep your AQ speaker cables. Put a DAC lower on the priority list.

With the current set-up, the Kimber heros killed the AQ king cobras I was using.
I was thinking the speaker cables might be the same deal.
Tube preamps are tough to get on a budget. I've starting using my
tube headphone amp with the modded Senn 650's again lately.
The all tube audio path sounds good. The Senns have a Cardas cable, and I've got
the woody cups on them. Very good sound. This is the Headphile pic.
Mine are done in the same wood.

[sucks2beme]

If you want to try a different pre I have a Nelson Pass designed single ended MOSFET design you can borrow .It has a nice blend of both SS and tube sound.

Interesting. But I wouldn't take the chance of trying to get it through customs more than once. They tend to get excited by stuff passing
back and forth. Thanks anyhow. I will do some research on this pre.
Nelson Pass seems to have some interesting designs.

[reeltrouble1]

A bit pricey, but will end your doldrums...........the SE models are particularily sweet.

http://cls.audiogon.com/cgi-bin/cls.pl?preatube&1190775902

RT1

[bikezappa]

Some one once told me the following.

I have components to listen to music, not music to listen to components.

Maybe your in a rut because you have no new music to listen to.

If you play the same things over and over you get bored.

Get some new tunes. Maybe.

[AndyGwis]

Spend a week listening to some tunes through bose gear or any other HTIB.

Listening to other people's crappy setups always makes me feel better about my gear.

[mulveling]

With the current set-up, the Kimber heros killed the AQ king cobras I was using.
I was thinking the speaker cables might be the same deal.
Tube preamps are tough to get on a budget. I've starting using my
tube headphone amp with the modded Senn 650's again lately.
The all tube audio path sounds good. The Senns have a Cardas cable, and I've got
the woody cups on them. Very good sound. This is the Headphile pic.
Mine are done in the same wood.
How much time have you spent comparing the Headphile'd HD650 to the stock form? Personally I prefer the stock grills and cable; these sounded more natural than the wood cups & headphile cable. The Cardas cable isn't bad, and isn't as colored as the Headphile cable, but it can seem a bit muted on dynamics. Give the stock form a shot if you haven't already. The headphile cups (the closed ones, at least) can sure give it a more "sparkly" sound, but IME upgrading the upstream component upgrades will vastly improve the HD650's dynamics and slam without the cup's acoustic tradeoffs. The H650 are fantastic bargain headphones that can easily scale up with $4K+ amps and sources, btw.

[sucks2beme]

How much time have you spent comparing the Headphile'd HD650 to the stock form? Personally I prefer the stock grills and cable; these sounded more natural than the wood cups & headphile cable. The Cardas cable isn't bad, and isn't as colored as the Headphile cable, but it can seem a bit muted on dynamics. Give the stock form a shot if you haven't already. The headphile cups (the closed ones, at least) can sure give it a more "sparkly" sound, but IME upgrading the upstream component upgrades will vastly improve the HD650's dynamics and slam without the cup's acoustic tradeoffs. The H650 are fantastic bargain headphones that can easily scale up with $4K+ amps and sources, btw.

I pulled the Dynamat out of the cups, and went with a heavy self stick felt.
It's the kind that Home Depot sells for putting on the bottom of furniture
to protect wood floors. The felt stops the hard bounce back the Dynamat
was giving. This helped smooth out the closed cup sound, giving it a very fast bass.
The cardas cable is a 20' long, and sounds better than the stock cable with any extension
I could find. I started using the 650's again to help get an idea where to improve.
I just went back to the wood cups a couple of days ago. I know
gains could be had from the source. That's what going straight from the cdp to
headphone amp helped show me. The pre would also be an improvement.
To add insult to injury, the Paradigms could easily be improved upon also.
Maybe I should dump it all and start over?:confused:
Headphones were so much easier to deal with. You could have several sets sitting
around without upsetting the wife.

[GV#27]

Interesting. But I wouldn't take the chance of trying to get it through customs more than once. They tend to get excited by stuff passing
back and forth. Thanks anyhow. I will do some research on this pre.
Nelson Pass seems to have some interesting designs.I guess customs could be a problem.
Its a DIY unit that I have had sitting around collecting dust for a while.Heres the details of the design. http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/brideofzen.pdf . The Adcom GFP 750 was designed by Nelson and uses basically a balanced version of the circuit and would be worth some serious consideration.

[sucks2beme]

I guess customs could be a problem.
Its a DIY unit that I have had sitting around collecting dust for a while.Heres the details of the design. http://www.passdiy.com/pdf/brideofzen.pdf . The Adcom GFP 750 was designed by Nelson and uses basically a balanced version of the circuit and would be worth some serious consideration.

Interesting. I'm leaving town for two weeks. I'll have to research this more when I get back!!!