DarqueKnight
12-31-2008, 05:03 PM
Introduction
Year's end is a good time for quiet reflection. A long time ago, in 2003, I decided that I wanted a more realistic audio presentation: more resolution, more bass slam, more image weight, and more sound stage. After three years of research and listening evaluations, I began making purchases in the spring of 2006. A good part of my upgrades were financed by the sale of equipment that had accumulated in the attic and closets of my home. I sold a large part of my audio gear collection, including three pairs of SDA's*, and cleared (after advertising fees and packing and shipping costs) over $16,000. I also implemented a "no hoarding" rule in January of 2006 which stipulated that I must make a reasonable attempt to sell a piece of gear unless I have some current or future use for it.
I far exceeded my original upgrade goals. Additionally, upgrade concepts from the two channel system spilled over into my other rigs.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/UpgradePath/001audio-front6x4-s.jpg
Then: Two channel system early 2006.
Two channel equipment early 2006:
Adcom GFP-750 Preamplifier
Adcom GCD-750 HDCD Player
Adcom GFA-5802 Power Amplifier
Yamaha PF-800 Turntable
Nakamichi CA-5A II Preamplifier Used As Phono Stage
Yamaha MC-705 Moving Coil Cartridge
Monster Z3 Reference Speaker Cables
Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR And RCA Interconnects
Signal Cable MagicPower Power Cords
Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2TL True Stereo Loudspeakers
Bello AT-4103 Audio Rack
One Dedicated AC Outlet For Entire System
I still have all of the above except for the Adcom preamp and amp and Nakamichi preamp. I still have seller's remorse about the GFP-750 and GFA-5802 because they produced Such Good Sound.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/UpgradePath/002audio-frontnow6x4-s.jpg
Now: Two channel system late 2008.
Current Two Channel Audio System (after six iterations):
Pass Laboratories X0.2 Preamplifier
Pass Laboratories Xono Phono Preamplifier
Parasound Halo JC 1 Monoblock Amplifiers
Teres Audio Model 255 Turntable
Ortofon MC Windfeld Cartridge
Graham Phantom B-44 Tonearm
Cary Audio CD 306 SACD Player
Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2TL True Stereo Loudspeakers
Audioquest LeoPard and Sky XLR Interconnects
Audioquest Everest Speaker Cables
PS Audio Power Plant Premier AC Regenerator For Source Components
Three Dedicated AC 20 Amp Outlets Terminated By PS Audio Power Port Premier AC Receptacles
I went round and round with cables and cartridges until I came as close as economically possible to my sound. What, exactly is "my sound"? Primarily, it is the natural sound of real live well-performed music performed in an acoustically appropriate space. Secondarily, it is the natural sound of well-recorded music reproduced in my home. I prefer a minimum of electro-mechanical processing, and resulting coloration, between the performance and recording medium and between the recording medium and my ears. I went through two upgrades each for the phono preamp, line level preamp, tonearm, and SACD player. The Teres turntable and Parasound monoblocks were love at first sound, and they, along with the SDA SRS 1.2TL loudspeakers, have been stable platforms in my two channel system. I did do further upgrades to the SRS's: new driver seals (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=949112), heavy duty AI-1 non-common ground interface (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74472), driver basket vibration abatement (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74306), and a second crossover capacitor upgrade (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69245). In all, my upgrades to the SRS 1.2TL's have come to 76% of the cost to acquire them.
In addition to much better sound, I also acquired a much better understanding of how things work:
1. I was able to quantitatively prove, at least to myself, that there are measurable differences in interconnect, speaker, and power cables and that those differences can translate to audible differences in performance.
2. I verified, quantitatively and subjectively, that my concerns about the detrimental effects of the stock AI-1 were well justified. Fortunately, I was able to synthesize a much better alternative.
3. With proper tweaking, the ages old SDA SRS 1.2TL compares favorably to any high quality audiophile grade loudspeaker.
4. All gear, no matter how high the quality and cost, can be improved with tweaks and modifications. High quality gear in it's stock form just provides an excellent starting point for improvement. My musical enjoyment would diminish exponentially if all the tweaks were removed from my two channel system. When Nelson Pass was asked if it was possible to make a ''perfect'' X250.5 or X350.5 amplifier, he replied:
"No. The design is not perfect. When I create a perfect amplifier, I will disappear in a puff of smoke.
The X series is most easily improved by increasing the bias, which generally means better heat sinking and power supply.
There are the usual tweaks, your favorite capacitors, wire, resistors, etc, many of which work, adding some small measure of improvement.
It's not hard to form a list - unfortunately the items on it cost a lot of money. We have used all the economical approaches we know, and some that are not."
Note: Pass Labs X series amplifiers range in price from $8,250 for the X250.5 to $34,000 for the X1000.5.
The Sound
What is the difference between then and now...besides the 5.35X cost? One of the most significant changes is the increased stability and reduction in noise content of the AC power (see power line noise studies 1 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71333), 2 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=907371), 3 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=909468), 4 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=922660), and 5 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=956598)). This, along with the higher resolution capability of the individual components, facilitated a wider, deeper, heavier, more life size, more lifelike, more dynamic, more detailed and natural sounding sound stage...even to the extreme sides and rear. I have been constantly surprised at the new musical details, particularly in the bass, that appear at every successive lowering of the noise floor. Clean, heavy, growling, multi-layered, articulate bass that was previously eaten up by noise is now free to rumble throughout the house.
There were some diminishing returns with some individual items. However, the collective, synergistic quality of the upgrades far exceeded their expense. The only downside is that the two channel system is more of a distraction since I now listen much more than in the past...often to the point of infringing on sleep time.:)
Further Study
Nothing in this world is, or ever will be perfect, but fortunately, perfection is not required for (my) satisfaction. Equipment-wise, the only thing I would change now is the power amps. Ideally, I would like higher powered, 1000 watt versions of what I now have. Why more power? For the same reason as a bigger television display. A 42 inch television will show just about everything that a 65 inch television will show. The 65 inch display just provides room for more details to come through and gets you closer to looking at a real life scene through a clear window. Likewise, quality higher powered amps are not about playing louder, but are about reproducing a larger, more realistic presentation of a musical performance at less than ear shattering sound levels.
I would appreciate a larger, dedicated, acoustically treated space for the two channel system, but that can wait until the next house.
In the near future, I will be looking at some turntable tweaks, equipment cabinet vibration abatement, minor AC power tweaks, and of course, enlarging my music collection. Long term, I will continue my years long quest to find a loudspeaker I like better than my tweaked SDA SRS 1.2TL's.:)
Some time next year I'll have to give some thought to planning for the next upgrade cycle.;)
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/Monolith4x6.jpg
The inscrutable monoliths have seen a lot of gear come
and go over the years. They, on the other hand, just
stand firm and get better with age.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/UpgradePath/yoda6x4cr.jpg
Shopped well you have, my old padawan. Much to learn you
still have.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/Devils/ohmy.gif Wow, even I was shocked by that. People have sold their souls for much less.
Year's end is a good time for quiet reflection. A long time ago, in 2003, I decided that I wanted a more realistic audio presentation: more resolution, more bass slam, more image weight, and more sound stage. After three years of research and listening evaluations, I began making purchases in the spring of 2006. A good part of my upgrades were financed by the sale of equipment that had accumulated in the attic and closets of my home. I sold a large part of my audio gear collection, including three pairs of SDA's*, and cleared (after advertising fees and packing and shipping costs) over $16,000. I also implemented a "no hoarding" rule in January of 2006 which stipulated that I must make a reasonable attempt to sell a piece of gear unless I have some current or future use for it.
I far exceeded my original upgrade goals. Additionally, upgrade concepts from the two channel system spilled over into my other rigs.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/UpgradePath/001audio-front6x4-s.jpg
Then: Two channel system early 2006.
Two channel equipment early 2006:
Adcom GFP-750 Preamplifier
Adcom GCD-750 HDCD Player
Adcom GFA-5802 Power Amplifier
Yamaha PF-800 Turntable
Nakamichi CA-5A II Preamplifier Used As Phono Stage
Yamaha MC-705 Moving Coil Cartridge
Monster Z3 Reference Speaker Cables
Signal Cable Silver Resolution XLR And RCA Interconnects
Signal Cable MagicPower Power Cords
Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2TL True Stereo Loudspeakers
Bello AT-4103 Audio Rack
One Dedicated AC Outlet For Entire System
I still have all of the above except for the Adcom preamp and amp and Nakamichi preamp. I still have seller's remorse about the GFP-750 and GFA-5802 because they produced Such Good Sound.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/UpgradePath/002audio-frontnow6x4-s.jpg
Now: Two channel system late 2008.
Current Two Channel Audio System (after six iterations):
Pass Laboratories X0.2 Preamplifier
Pass Laboratories Xono Phono Preamplifier
Parasound Halo JC 1 Monoblock Amplifiers
Teres Audio Model 255 Turntable
Ortofon MC Windfeld Cartridge
Graham Phantom B-44 Tonearm
Cary Audio CD 306 SACD Player
Polk Audio SDA SRS 1.2TL True Stereo Loudspeakers
Audioquest LeoPard and Sky XLR Interconnects
Audioquest Everest Speaker Cables
PS Audio Power Plant Premier AC Regenerator For Source Components
Three Dedicated AC 20 Amp Outlets Terminated By PS Audio Power Port Premier AC Receptacles
I went round and round with cables and cartridges until I came as close as economically possible to my sound. What, exactly is "my sound"? Primarily, it is the natural sound of real live well-performed music performed in an acoustically appropriate space. Secondarily, it is the natural sound of well-recorded music reproduced in my home. I prefer a minimum of electro-mechanical processing, and resulting coloration, between the performance and recording medium and between the recording medium and my ears. I went through two upgrades each for the phono preamp, line level preamp, tonearm, and SACD player. The Teres turntable and Parasound monoblocks were love at first sound, and they, along with the SDA SRS 1.2TL loudspeakers, have been stable platforms in my two channel system. I did do further upgrades to the SRS's: new driver seals (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=949112), heavy duty AI-1 non-common ground interface (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74472), driver basket vibration abatement (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=74306), and a second crossover capacitor upgrade (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=69245). In all, my upgrades to the SRS 1.2TL's have come to 76% of the cost to acquire them.
In addition to much better sound, I also acquired a much better understanding of how things work:
1. I was able to quantitatively prove, at least to myself, that there are measurable differences in interconnect, speaker, and power cables and that those differences can translate to audible differences in performance.
2. I verified, quantitatively and subjectively, that my concerns about the detrimental effects of the stock AI-1 were well justified. Fortunately, I was able to synthesize a much better alternative.
3. With proper tweaking, the ages old SDA SRS 1.2TL compares favorably to any high quality audiophile grade loudspeaker.
4. All gear, no matter how high the quality and cost, can be improved with tweaks and modifications. High quality gear in it's stock form just provides an excellent starting point for improvement. My musical enjoyment would diminish exponentially if all the tweaks were removed from my two channel system. When Nelson Pass was asked if it was possible to make a ''perfect'' X250.5 or X350.5 amplifier, he replied:
"No. The design is not perfect. When I create a perfect amplifier, I will disappear in a puff of smoke.
The X series is most easily improved by increasing the bias, which generally means better heat sinking and power supply.
There are the usual tweaks, your favorite capacitors, wire, resistors, etc, many of which work, adding some small measure of improvement.
It's not hard to form a list - unfortunately the items on it cost a lot of money. We have used all the economical approaches we know, and some that are not."
Note: Pass Labs X series amplifiers range in price from $8,250 for the X250.5 to $34,000 for the X1000.5.
The Sound
What is the difference between then and now...besides the 5.35X cost? One of the most significant changes is the increased stability and reduction in noise content of the AC power (see power line noise studies 1 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?t=71333), 2 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=907371), 3 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=909468), 4 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=922660), and 5 (http://www.polkaudio.com/forums/showthread.php?p=956598)). This, along with the higher resolution capability of the individual components, facilitated a wider, deeper, heavier, more life size, more lifelike, more dynamic, more detailed and natural sounding sound stage...even to the extreme sides and rear. I have been constantly surprised at the new musical details, particularly in the bass, that appear at every successive lowering of the noise floor. Clean, heavy, growling, multi-layered, articulate bass that was previously eaten up by noise is now free to rumble throughout the house.
There were some diminishing returns with some individual items. However, the collective, synergistic quality of the upgrades far exceeded their expense. The only downside is that the two channel system is more of a distraction since I now listen much more than in the past...often to the point of infringing on sleep time.:)
Further Study
Nothing in this world is, or ever will be perfect, but fortunately, perfection is not required for (my) satisfaction. Equipment-wise, the only thing I would change now is the power amps. Ideally, I would like higher powered, 1000 watt versions of what I now have. Why more power? For the same reason as a bigger television display. A 42 inch television will show just about everything that a 65 inch television will show. The 65 inch display just provides room for more details to come through and gets you closer to looking at a real life scene through a clear window. Likewise, quality higher powered amps are not about playing louder, but are about reproducing a larger, more realistic presentation of a musical performance at less than ear shattering sound levels.
I would appreciate a larger, dedicated, acoustically treated space for the two channel system, but that can wait until the next house.
In the near future, I will be looking at some turntable tweaks, equipment cabinet vibration abatement, minor AC power tweaks, and of course, enlarging my music collection. Long term, I will continue my years long quest to find a loudspeaker I like better than my tweaked SDA SRS 1.2TL's.:)
Some time next year I'll have to give some thought to planning for the next upgrade cycle.;)
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/Monolith4x6.jpg
The inscrutable monoliths have seen a lot of gear come
and go over the years. They, on the other hand, just
stand firm and get better with age.
http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/UpgradePath/yoda6x4cr.jpg
Shopped well you have, my old padawan. Much to learn you
still have.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
*http://i148.photobucket.com/albums/s23/darqueknight88/Devils/ohmy.gif Wow, even I was shocked by that. People have sold their souls for much less.