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Recommendations for 5k upgrade

As winter approaches more time is spent listening so I have allocated this budget for system changes and/or improvement. Planned changes are marked between brackets.

Source:
PC based music server / SB Touch (ext. power supply upgrade, maybe Bolder?) fed into Eastern Electric MiniMax DAC with Dexa opamps. Alternative source: Sony DVP 9000ES CD/SACD via optical.

Amplification:
Conrad Johnson CT-5 with 6H30DR tubes, CJ LP140 mono blocks (tube rolling planned, which 6922?)

Speaker/sub:
Dunlavy SC-IV modded, Velodyne DD-12 or REL R305 (haven't decided which one to keep)

Power Conditioning:
Audience AdeptResponse 12 with e PowerChord (AU24e PC planned, dedicated 20A lines planned with the next room renovation)

Cabling:
IC: NordOst Valkyrja throughout (maybe Valhalla, looking for alternatives with better price/performance), NordOst Silver Shadow for S/PDIF
SC: NordOst Heimdall (probably the weakest link here, upgrade to Tyr2 ? Alternatives?)
PC: NordOst Vishnu to preamp and power amps, stock PCs on other devices (waiting for the final direction for PCs, not sure to stick to the loom theory, having all PCs of the same brand)

Isolation: mostly Black Diamond Racing cones/pucks and one BDR shelf under the preamp, some Stillpoints (planning to experiment with alternatives like Aurio, Symposium, etc, under the devices, maybe some for under the speakers)

Room treatment: just acoustic panels behind the speakers, need high WAF suggestions for my 21' x 30' room which has a half sloping cathedral ceiling and an open staircase. (looking for bass traps that can blend in with the interior for the corners)

I am not unhappy with the current setup but like to have more details without being too lean/bright.

What is my weakest link?

Of course YMMV but appreciate any suggestion to take this system to the next level without a second mortgage (or divorce) and/or improve the synergy between components. TIA!
polyglot
vhiner
533 posts
 
Polyglot,

As I'm sure you've noticed, the harder the "sell," the more dubious the product. Hope you have a chance to audition a higher end digital source. Please report back if you do.
roscoeiii's avatar
roscoeiii
1,155 posts
 
Yes, I would agree that the source is where I would direct my attention first.

One A'goner recommended the DEQX. Another option would be the DSPeaker Dual Core 2.0. Got a Golden Ear award in TAS, and Kal Rubinson also thought highly of it in Stereophile. The DSP improvement of your bass could lessen some of your need for room treatment (if they turn out to not pass the WAF test). You also get balance control, an EQ, time delay and a number of other features that let you fine tune your sound. These are available at online outlets with solid return policies like Tweek Geek if there is not a dealer in your area. It has been fabulous in my system, and I am using both with digital and analog (!) inputs. Did not expect it to be as transparent as it is with my turntable's analog input.

As for power conditioning, I find this to be very system dependent as well dependent on the specific power problems you may have. Very important to audition in your own system here (and try any conditioner with amps plugged into it, vs into the wall to see if there are any dynamics being restricted). My apt's power is poor enough that I needed a conditioner I could plug my amps into (so I could sleep well at night). The Running Springs Haley and the Equitech 2Q are the two best power conditioners that I have had in my system. But in all things power conditioning, YMMV.
douglas_schroeder
1,824 posts
 
Since you are using the EE Minimax DAC which I reviewed I can give some guidance in regards to that unit and potential upgrade.

If you like the nature of the EE DAC's performance in general then please read my Audio Blast article Discrete Opamp Rolling the EE Minimax DAC Plus at Dagogo.com. (Note this is the DAC Plus version; the move to the Plus version holistically imroves definition/detail as well as all other areas of performance). If you are interested by the discussion of using a mixture of discrete Opamps to tune systems, then feel free to contact me to discuss.

Regarding other aspects of your rig, I would avoid Toslink/optical cables. Typically superior sound will be obtained by use of digital coaxial S/PDIF cables. The quality of digital cable and transport will vastly influence the sound quality of Redbook playback.

Change out the stock PCs asap. Even an economical upgrade to the PCs will reward handsomely.
polyglot OP
77 posts
 
Thanks for the continued comments and suggestions which I have taken to heart.

Here is my action plan:

IC: (after rereading the many comments on the Gon) upgraded to Valhallas and got what I expected: much more detail, better imaging...a sizeable step up from the Valkyrja so certainly no buyers remorse here. I have come to respect NordOst even more but will keep an eye on more affordable solutions for speaker and power cables.

SC: n/c, may try the Tyr2 or Audience AU24e.

PC: replaced the NordOst Vishnus with Audience PowerChords: a blacker background, more solid imaging, will order the AU24e PC for the prime link as planned.

Source:
Cary 306 or 303 SACD/CD player targeted, will also audition an used Sonic Frontiers SFT-1 as transport.
(your comments needed here to help me decide between those three).
Actually I only need a better transport as my main source is the HTPC.

DAC: my rationale is that technology changes so fast in this area that does not warrant the purchase of a 3k+ DAC (I learnt my lessons seeing the depreciation of the high end receivers I bought a decade ago and selling then at 10cents on the dollar).
My current EE MiniMax DAC Plus with the DEXA opamps sounded more realistic and a bit smoother than the Wyred4Sound DAC2 and PS Audio Perfect Wave DAC MkI that I A/B'ed. I will audition the PWD MkII, just to have a piece of mind. Douglas: a big thank you! I read your write up on Dagogo a long time ago which prompted me to seek out this DAC. Question to you: would you recommend upgrading the output caps?

Thanks for reminding me of digital room correction, I plan to test the DEQX someday as I need to stick with the very limited acoustic treatment options (WAF!).

Thanks guys to help me spend 5k+ that quickly :-)
roscoeiii's avatar
roscoeiii
1,155 posts
 
The DSPeaker Dual Core I mentioned earlier would be a more inexpensive way to get some digital room correction than DEQX. And you have a 30 day return policy at some retailers. (I'd also be curious how it compares to the EE DAC, it could be used with that DAC via its digital output, or it could replace that DAC).
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