Thoughts on my current system


Good evening all,

I am in the process of moving in the next couple of months and might be making some changes to my current system.  Any thoughts and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  

System is as follows:

Amp: Aragon 8008 mk 2.....I do have an Parasound Halo A21 that is sitting in a closet.  Basically brand new
Pre amp: Audio Research LS17 se 
Source: Cary CDP 1 cd player
Speakers: Sonus Faber Venere 3.0
Wattgate 381 outlet
Speaker cables: Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun
Interconnects: Acoustic Zen Matrix Ref mk.ii XLR 
Shunyata PS8/Defender with Zitron Alpha HC 20amp
Shunyata Zitron Viper for source
JPS Labs Pac Black for Amp & Pre amp

Everything is plugged into the PS8 including the Amp. 

Thank you in advance. 
  


adiorio
I heard the Aragon in an unfamiliar system. In a system I knew well, I much preferred the Odyssey Khartago and Stratos amps to the A21, which were also less expensive.
the amps were filling in for a Pass X250.5 which was in for repair. I found the Odysseys to be a great bargain...
Adiorio, 

I do not have extensive experience with the amps you have. When Mondial first producing the Aragon, I did consider getting it. I liked the build quality and the look. I ended up falling into a fantastic deal on some Conrad Johnson Units that I could not walk away from at that time.   

What I have come to realize over the years is that it is more about how you match the electronics together and how you get there to accomplish your goals.  The Aragon you have has a dual mono amp configuration with a very solid frequency response. I suspect that there is not enough power getting to the amp to realize its full potential. It's like having a mid century muscle car that you only use to go to the grocery store. It's built to go
120 mph, when your only going 35.

Like you, years ago, after the CJ's - I had an amp that I was generally happy with but was considering getting a larger amp to get more.. everything.  Every Audio buddy/salesman was telling me yeah get this or that. Spend More $$$ ( a sideways move)  - I was fortunate enough to meet some one who explained to me, its not the amp, its the power.

I always knew I had to address the power issue, but had only done a half ass job of it because honestly who wants to invest that kind of money into something you can't see. How sexy is a power cord compared to an Amp.
To prove his point he loaned me one power chord that cost as much as my mono block Amps. I plugged it into the wall socket and then into my power distributor. I could hear the difference in the first 30 seconds. It took over the entire sound stage and opened up everything!!!

Instead of spending more $$$ on new amps I got new power cords, interconnects, speaker cables and power distributor. I have spent as much on power distribution as I have on components and speakers.  Eight years later I still have the same amps and speakers. That's not to say I have not considered up grading, but now I know for sure that any component or speaker that I consider I will get a true reading on. 
I concur- ggc

power cords are essential- one has to find its inner synergy to mate w/ the other gear in your system.