Hi,
I have been lurking on this great forum for sometime now and learning a lot from it.
I am planning to upgrade my electronics (timeline: later this year and early next year) and need your inputs.
Please note that I understand the importance of auditioning gears myself, the fact is it is very difficult to audition different amplifiers, etc. to be in my room at the same time.
Secondly, I am a novice and frankly I am unable to express my sonic preference due to lack of experience in listening to different options.
Thus, your subjective suggestion with the understanding that you do not know my detail sonic preference, room, system synergy, etc. - the regular caveat is understood when replying.
Here is my current system:
1. Digital streaming only, currently via Roon (Qobuz and FLAC over network). I ripped all of my CDs into FLAC a while ago.
2. Listening room: 12'W x 16'L x 11'H. I listen at 70-85dB range, 90 dB at the most.
3. Speaker: Wilson Audio Sasha DAW
4. Integrated amp: McIntosh MA12000 - 350w. This has built in DAC and currently using it.
5. Streamer: Optical Rendu + power supply
6. Cable: Shunyata Research and WireWorld
Earlier this year, I upgraded the speaker from WA SabrinaX to Sasha DAW.
Sasha DAW is definite improvement of most areas (midrange, bottom end, sound stage, vocal height presentation, etc) and really happy with it.
I enjoy a wide variety of music:
1. Prog rock - Pink Floyd, Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree
2. Female vocals, Diana Krall, Sarah McLachlan, Norah Jones.
3. Electronic: Daft Punk
4. Blues - Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters
5. Jazz - John Coltrane, Miles Davis
6. Pop: the Beatles
I grew up with my dad listening to classical music as well, I listen to it from time to time.
So yeah, it's all over the place.
My next step is to improve the electronics (preferred used) and I plan to allocate around $50k for:
1. Amp
2. DAC
3. Streamer
Requirements:
1. Amplifier: Solid state that can grip Sasha DAW - 91Bb sensitivity, nominal impedance: 4ohms, 2.48ohms@85hz.
I am going to exclude McIntosh amps. Not because it is not great, I would like to experience different sonic flavor.
I would like the amp to be as close to neutral sonically as I prefer to use DAC tube to experiment with the sound if I want to do so.
e.g. Gryphon Antileon EVO intrigues me, however, I read its sonic characteristic is on the warm side thus I decided to exclude it from my consideration.
2. DAC: tube so I can experiment with different sonic flavors. Bonus point: one with excellent volume control has stronger appeal to me since I may not need a linestage in the digital only system.
3. Streamer: dedicated streamer function (no DAC nor linestage on the streamer).
I would like to spend the least here, from 0-10% at the most. I would like the ability to upgrade only the streamer in the distant future.
4. The brand must have good US customer service reputation.
The goal of this thread is to:
1. Gather options from you - for me to consider options that I have not discovered.
2. Learn from your feedback and see how you would allocate the budget for the different electronics.
3. Help me narrow down from the seas of options out there
Examples of options that I am considering - keep in mind all of these are using used price:
1. CH Precision M1.1 (~$32k) + LampizatOr GG3 DAC with VC (~$13k) + Lumin U2 (or Aurender N200). If Pacific DAC with VC turns up in the used market and say around $18k, stay with current Optical Rendu as streamer for now.
2. Vitus Audio SIA-030 Integrated Amp ($27k) + LampizatOr Pacific without VC (~$16k) + Lumin U2.
This integrated amp appeals to me as it can be both Class A or AB. I am not sure about Vitus Audio's reliability and US customer service reputation.
3. Gryphon Essence amp and preamp ($27k) - although my room is small, I am still concern whether 50W (I know it is class A) is sufficient to strongly grip Sasha DAW on all cases.
Secondly, I read that it may take 30 mins or so to sound best - this may not be ideal as my listening session is usually around one hour or less.
Thirdly, I am in TX, listening during summer may mean I need a towel as well,
.
From the above, you can tell given the budget, I would allocate 50-60% of the amp, 30-40% on the DAC, while I even be happy to not upgrade the streamer if it means I maximize on the amp and the DAC.
I have been lurking on this great forum for sometime now and learning a lot from it.
I am planning to upgrade my electronics (timeline: later this year and early next year) and need your inputs.
Please note that I understand the importance of auditioning gears myself, the fact is it is very difficult to audition different amplifiers, etc. to be in my room at the same time.
Secondly, I am a novice and frankly I am unable to express my sonic preference due to lack of experience in listening to different options.
Thus, your subjective suggestion with the understanding that you do not know my detail sonic preference, room, system synergy, etc. - the regular caveat is understood when replying.
Here is my current system:
1. Digital streaming only, currently via Roon (Qobuz and FLAC over network). I ripped all of my CDs into FLAC a while ago.
2. Listening room: 12'W x 16'L x 11'H. I listen at 70-85dB range, 90 dB at the most.
3. Speaker: Wilson Audio Sasha DAW
4. Integrated amp: McIntosh MA12000 - 350w. This has built in DAC and currently using it.
5. Streamer: Optical Rendu + power supply
6. Cable: Shunyata Research and WireWorld
Earlier this year, I upgraded the speaker from WA SabrinaX to Sasha DAW.
Sasha DAW is definite improvement of most areas (midrange, bottom end, sound stage, vocal height presentation, etc) and really happy with it.
I enjoy a wide variety of music:
1. Prog rock - Pink Floyd, Steven Wilson, Porcupine Tree
2. Female vocals, Diana Krall, Sarah McLachlan, Norah Jones.
3. Electronic: Daft Punk
4. Blues - Eric Clapton, Muddy Waters
5. Jazz - John Coltrane, Miles Davis
6. Pop: the Beatles
I grew up with my dad listening to classical music as well, I listen to it from time to time.
So yeah, it's all over the place.
My next step is to improve the electronics (preferred used) and I plan to allocate around $50k for:
1. Amp
2. DAC
3. Streamer
Requirements:
1. Amplifier: Solid state that can grip Sasha DAW - 91Bb sensitivity, nominal impedance: 4ohms, 2.48ohms@85hz.
I am going to exclude McIntosh amps. Not because it is not great, I would like to experience different sonic flavor.
I would like the amp to be as close to neutral sonically as I prefer to use DAC tube to experiment with the sound if I want to do so.
e.g. Gryphon Antileon EVO intrigues me, however, I read its sonic characteristic is on the warm side thus I decided to exclude it from my consideration.
2. DAC: tube so I can experiment with different sonic flavors. Bonus point: one with excellent volume control has stronger appeal to me since I may not need a linestage in the digital only system.
3. Streamer: dedicated streamer function (no DAC nor linestage on the streamer).
I would like to spend the least here, from 0-10% at the most. I would like the ability to upgrade only the streamer in the distant future.
4. The brand must have good US customer service reputation.
The goal of this thread is to:
1. Gather options from you - for me to consider options that I have not discovered.
2. Learn from your feedback and see how you would allocate the budget for the different electronics.
3. Help me narrow down from the seas of options out there
Examples of options that I am considering - keep in mind all of these are using used price:
1. CH Precision M1.1 (~$32k) + LampizatOr GG3 DAC with VC (~$13k) + Lumin U2 (or Aurender N200). If Pacific DAC with VC turns up in the used market and say around $18k, stay with current Optical Rendu as streamer for now.
2. Vitus Audio SIA-030 Integrated Amp ($27k) + LampizatOr Pacific without VC (~$16k) + Lumin U2.
This integrated amp appeals to me as it can be both Class A or AB. I am not sure about Vitus Audio's reliability and US customer service reputation.
3. Gryphon Essence amp and preamp ($27k) - although my room is small, I am still concern whether 50W (I know it is class A) is sufficient to strongly grip Sasha DAW on all cases.
Secondly, I read that it may take 30 mins or so to sound best - this may not be ideal as my listening session is usually around one hour or less.
Thirdly, I am in TX, listening during summer may mean I need a towel as well,
From the above, you can tell given the budget, I would allocate 50-60% of the amp, 30-40% on the DAC, while I even be happy to not upgrade the streamer if it means I maximize on the amp and the DAC.
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