What has been your best component upgrade?
- Thread starter ScottK
- Start date
Duelund capacitors in the signal path (amps, preamp, dac, and crossovers).
Republicoftexas69
Well-Known Member
LessLoss Echoes End Reference DAC,
LessLoss Classic Power Cords,
LessLoss 640X Fire Walls.
AH X200.
Room Treatments.
LessLoss Classic Power Cords,
LessLoss 640X Fire Walls.
AH X200.
Room Treatments.
My system is vinyl-only. Excluding speakers and room treatments, upgrading my turntable to a Kuzma Stabi R/4Point 11/Etsuro Urushi Cobalt from a TW Acustic Raven One/Graham Phantom/Kiseki Purple Heart got me to the point that I worry any changes from the current setup are more likely to do harm than good.
Can I go way back to a system less that $50K? OK, how about 1995 when I borrowed an audio grade power cable from Bay Area Audio I said would make no difference. It didn't go back. Now I have >$10000 in audio cables. Tough hobby.
Tough to narrow it down to just one. There have been a few notable steps forward, but no single earth shattering game changers. The change from Merlin speakers to my current Sterling Acoustics speakers was significant. Switching from a Hafler preamp to my current Lazarus tube preamp was another noteworthy upgrade, as was the switch from a Distech LS2 solid state amp to my Dynaco 70s. The addition of the VTA driver boards to the Dyna amps was also a solid upgrade all around. The addition of the Nagaoka MP500 was also a milestone.
Once things get to a certain level, every small change is fairly apparent, so it becomes a matter of tailoring things to suit my preferences.
Once things get to a certain level, every small change is fairly apparent, so it becomes a matter of tailoring things to suit my preferences.
By far, the best improvement to my stereo is having Stirling Trayle come out and optimize my system! Huge improvement in sound!
Next is a group thing, which was when I replaced my respectable mid-fi system with a true hi-fi system.
Next is a group thing, which was when I replaced my respectable mid-fi system with a true hi-fi system.
Best component upgrade. That's a tough one as I go back nearly 6 decades.
Early on I might say the Transporter, makers of the Squeezebox 3. Big leap.
Later on the Pass Labs X350.5
Still later the Lindemann Musicbook DSD25. That was huge.
And in recent times the Allnic D10000 DAC. I've written about that in this forum.
Honorable mention goes to Oppo products. I still use the BDP105 in my HT setup.
Early on I might say the Transporter, makers of the Squeezebox 3. Big leap.
Later on the Pass Labs X350.5
Still later the Lindemann Musicbook DSD25. That was huge.
And in recent times the Allnic D10000 DAC. I've written about that in this forum.
Honorable mention goes to Oppo products. I still use the BDP105 in my HT setup.
I think the biggest upgrade I‘ve heard in a while in my system was going to tube amplification but I didn’t fully realize its potential until I I got all my tube gear on proper isolation platforms .. when I did that then some of the other changes I’ve made became even bigger, like my recent acquisition of MIT MA-X SHD speaker cables .. WOW! 
George
George
For me the switch from SS to tube amps was huge but I freely admit that I had made some poor choices choosing relatively expensive but poor performing ss amps.
After that it has been the DAC. I'm digital and the DAC is IMHO, the key to the system. Everything else is just tweeks.
Jerry
After that it has been the DAC. I'm digital and the DAC is IMHO, the key to the system. Everything else is just tweeks.
Jerry
Aside from the speakers, the DAC could be the most important component in one's system. But vinyl as a source is just as important. I feel it's harder to get there with vinyl as there's so much to learn from my experience. I'm not proficient with vinyl setup but feel I lucked out with my Rega P10/Allnic H5500. Good synergy.
That being said there's a battle going on in my main system between my tube integrated and my SS amp. It's bloody.
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