How do I go backwards?

Oh my am I glad I clicked on this thread. JD, I wish you had at least gotten with me as we are closeby. I already had half a system for you in my mind by the time I got to Lugnut's response. And from what he can ship to you and what I can give to you, you should have pretty good music in short time with your CD player and speakers.

You know I'm a bloom and dimensionality fan here, not quite the high-resolution guy here as you, but I have an amp and several pairs of XLR cables for you if they bring on a musical enjoyment back at your home. The amp is my long time favorite backup: the Counterpoint NPS400 which might not have the Plinius detail, but brings on an outstanding level of musicality. And I can bring over a stack of XLR cables, NBS Statement, Signature, Harmonic Tech One, SilverAudio Apassionata, and some power cords too.

So between Lugnut and I, we have your electronics and cables covered. I can even bring these over one night this week to let you hear them and even help you set some things up. Just let me know when you have a free evening.

John

Progress indeed. I was so happy to work with JD to try a number of options that would result in minimal impact on the incredible musicality of his system.

I think the NBS Statement gave up just a wee bit of top-end extension compared to the Nordost Valhalla, but with the NBS came a little more presence and body. The result was indeed very nice.

The issue of the Counterpoint amp was another story. As JD pointed out, it did a wonderful rendition of massed strings but otherwise, the Plinius had much more low-end extension, far greater presence of brass instruments, clearly a more dynamic presentation, and more detail on the top. It was not even close!

I must confess that I got careless with this amp as a month or so ago, I noticed a 6DJ8 tube was going bad. I was loaning this out and so I just threw in 2 older Sovtek tubes that I had removed years ago from an ARC LS5 line stage. I had finally gotten around to replacing the older Sovtek tubes in that. Afterall, it's just a power amp....who needs premium tubes here? And the 6CA4 tubes in this amp are old old old and so who knows what's left on them. I understand the 6V4 to be a much better performing tube in this amp than the 6CA4. So I should have known better than to bring over an amp with old junkie tubes and expect much in JD's highly resolving system.

I have already purchased new 6V4 tubes and when those come in, I will try a number of much nicer 6DJ8 tubes I have in my coveted "premium" tube box. And then yes, I will return to JD's home and see if we can bring on some more magic, and maybe, just maybe, allow him to sell the other Plinuis and still be a happy camper.

John

JD, JD, JD, ......, JD, You just had to play some more and now look at what you did! 8-)

I think if any of us went back to a system we had 3 or 4 upgrades ago, we too would be experiencing much the same as you. For me, such changes would be easier to accept if I did one at a time. It sounds like you did one or two things too many before you gave yourself a chance to regroup. Hopefully we can turn that around and get you back to where you were over the weekend.

Before you do anything wild with the Sony, I'd like to bring over a DAC or two and see if anything changes. Also, if you have any prized pairs of 6DJ8's, put them aside and I can try them in the Counterpoint amp this coming week when the 6V4 tubes arrive.

And who knows, a Callisto might just bring on what you need. Other power conditioning, cables, CDP changes, etc., might all be unnecessary. So I'll bring that over one night too.

John

Oh gosh, pictures or not, no lipstick please! And even though it is hotter and more humid lately, cool it on the perfume too.

As a followup to this thread, I have been to JD's home a few times since the start of this thread. With a lot of effort, he has as good a system if not more musically enjoyable than before even with so many things he has sold off. The cable changes he has done alone easily make up for what was "lost" before. This man is more obsessed with the details of configuring an audio system than anyone I have ever known; I am a sad case in comparison. When you know what you're doing, success can indeed be had for less. So as a supporter here, I must say, right on!