What in your path caused the biggest change?

2

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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2010
    Learning how to listen and enjoy my system at it's many different levels:smile:
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • carvcom
    carvcom Posts: 240
    edited November 2010
    In my H/T setup it was definitly swapping out the Adcom GTP-750 for a B&K ref 50. It was like night & day!!
    In my 2 channel setup, it was going from B&W DM570s to Klipsch KG4s (I know this is a Polk forum, but those Klipsch sound wonderful)
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited November 2010
    The biggest change came in part when I got the Esoteric DV-50 from Ted. Before I had some reservations as to how much of a difference something more expensive could make a system sound better. (I knew high end systems sounded better from hearing them, I just didn't think 1 single component could really make a difference, and as large of a difference that it made)After getting it, using it, falling in love with it, 2 channel will forever be my journey.

    Its sad I had to start with HT and work so much towards that to just drop it and want to spend all my day in front of my 2 channel rig. When I'm at work, I don't dream of going home to sit in front of the TV of my projector, I dream to sit in front of my 2 channel set up and just listen and melt way into my chair.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    The biggest change came in part when I got the Esoteric DV-50 from Ted. Before I had some reservations as to how much of a difference something more expensive could make a system sound better. (I knew high end systems sounded better from hearing them, I just didn't think 1 single component could really make a difference, and as large of a difference that it made)After getting it, using it, falling in love with it, 2 channel will forever be my journey.

    Its sad I had to start with HT and work so much towards that to just drop it and want to spend all my day in front of my 2 channel rig. When I'm at work, I don't dream of going home to sit in front of the TV of my projector, I dream to sit in front of my 2 channel set up and just listen and melt way into my chair.

    Do you run your DV-50 balanced?
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited November 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    Do you run your DV-50 balanced?

    No, at the current time the pre amp I have only has single ended RCA's. I've been on a hunt as of late to find what I'm going to be moving to for a pre and amp combo and then will run in balanced.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2010
    cstmar01 wrote: »
    No, at the current time the pre amp I have only has single ended RCA's. I've been on a hunt as of late to find what I'm going to be moving to for a pre and amp combo and then will run in balanced.

    I run my DV-50 balanced with my Primare Pre-30 pre-amp. I prefer the
    RDOT digital filter at this time. I agree that the DV-50 is a great CD player,
    and it really shines with SACD!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • megasat16
    megasat16 Posts: 3,521
    edited November 2010
    Biggest Change? It got to be my bank account dwindling down.
    Trying out Different Audio Cables is a Religious Affair. You don't discuss it with anyone. :redface::biggrin:
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    Biggest Change? It got to be my bank account dwindling down.

    Mannnnnn, so true!
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • cstmar01
    cstmar01 Posts: 4,424
    edited November 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    I run my DV-50 balanced with my Primare Pre-30 pre-amp. I prefer the
    RDOT digital filter at this time. I agree that the DV-50 is a great CD player,
    and it really shines with SACD!

    agreed. I think that was one of the really fun things as well on the player to play with is the filters. I know in the future if I upgrade I for sure would look at the Esoteric brand as BQ as well as SQ is fantastic.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited November 2010
    One day, one day and it won't be for a long time, I'm going to get an Esoteric but until then I love reading you guys.
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  • danz1906
    danz1906 Posts: 5,144
    edited November 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    One day, one day and it won't be for a long time, I'm going to get an Esoteric but until then I love reading you guys.

    It may be sooner than you think...Santa Claus is coming to town:tongue:
    Linn AV5140 fronts
    Linn AV5120 Center
    Linn AV5140 Rears
    M&K MX-70 Sub for Music
    Odyssey Mono-Blocs
    SVS Ultra-13 Gloss Black:D
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited November 2010
    danz1906 wrote: »
    It may be sooner than you think...Santa Claus is coming to town:tongue:

    I wish! :wink: I'm afraid Santa has holes in his socks this year!:eek::biggrin:

    Seriously though I've heard a number of Esoterics and the CD playback was nothing short of astounding and as far as the SACD playback is concerned I can only compare it to the MF kw which is incredible. They are built like tanks too.

    I didn't even miss the fact that the Esoteric had no tubes!:wink:
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  • lakesailor
    lakesailor Posts: 319
    edited November 2010
    In opinion there is no question that a speaker change is the single biggest change you can make to alter the sound of your system, excluding your speakers then I would submit the following in order

    1. Pre-Amplifier.
    2. Amplifier
    3. Tube rolling (if you are using tubes)
    4. DAC
    5. cabling
    6. power supply
    7. mass loading (where possible)
    8. dedicated AC lines
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2010
    I would have to say tubes and horns for me. But another thing that really surprised me with audio performance is the use of power tubes to produce gain on my CDP (vs small signal tubes).
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited November 2010
    zarrdoss wrote: »
    Joining this forum.

    I second the motion! :biggrin:

    I think I've done about everything listed above. MIT Shotguns were the first visceral revelation for me; I could FEEL the difference, and Sonicaps are real nice to listen to. A tube preamp and then amp raised the bar a bunch. Power cords, outlets and a conditioner made a subtle difference creating "blackness" and a bit more detail.

    Then it hit me when a friend brought over a stock set of 2B Studios for a listen . . . I'm now convinced RDO198-1's were the most dramatic (and by far cheapest) improvement I've made.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • maximillian
    maximillian Posts: 2,144
    edited November 2010
    Upgrading my ears. Or maybe that's my brain.
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited November 2010
    megasat16 wrote: »
    Biggest Change? It got to be my bank account dwindling down.

    In 1974 it started as a hobby . . . now it's officially an addiction :biggrin:
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited November 2010
    1. Tube amplification.
    2. No eqs, no crossovers, no extra things in the mix - CDP or Turntable > PRE > Amp > Speakers
    2. Crossover update.
    3. Good sources now including a good Turntable.
    4. Power Conditioner
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited November 2010
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    1. Tube amplification.
    2. No eqs, no crossovers, no extra things in the mix - CDP or Turntable > PRE > Amp > Speakers
    2. Crossover update.
    3. Good sources now including a good Turntable.
    4. Power Conditioner

    Attaguy!:wink:
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  • concealer404
    concealer404 Posts: 7,440
    edited November 2010
    $6 speaker spikes from Parts Express.

    No, i'm not being facetious. Freddy was there. :tongue:
    I don't read the newsssspaperssss because dey aaaallllllllll...... have ugly print.

    Living Room: B&K Reference 5 S2 / Parasound HCA-1000A / Emotiva XDA-2 / Pioneer BDP-51FD / Paradigm 11se MKiii

    Desk: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / ISK HD9999

    Office: Schiit Magni 2 Uber / Schiit Modi 2 Uber / Dynaco SCA-80Q / Paradigm Legend V.3

    HT: Denon AVR-X3400H / Sony UBP-X700 / RT16 / CS350LS / RT7 / SVS PB1000
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  • anhchungdoan
    anhchungdoan Posts: 760
    edited November 2010
    From ML Aerius I to SL3 then to Eminent Tech and for now Sennheiser 280 pro/ Audiotechina ath a700. My finally goal is the Senn. hd 800.

    Physical impairment due to aging, this is my best compromise when the golden ears are no longer in equilibrium.
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  • zingo
    zingo Posts: 11,258
    edited November 2010
    inspiredsports wrote: »
    In 1974 it started as a hobby . . . now it's officially an addiction :biggrin:

    Took you a lot longer than it took me! :eek:
    Jake
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited November 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    Took you a lot longer than it took me! :eek:

    Yep. 4 kids (now 16, 18, 20, 22) caused a nearly 2 decade hiatus. They are still at home, but in high school/college and working so I could afford a hobby (addiction :biggrin:) again.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • inspiredsports
    inspiredsports Posts: 5,501
    edited November 2010
    zingo wrote: »
    Took you a lot longer than it took me! :eek:

    Yep. 4 kids (now 16, 18, 20, 22) caused a nearly 2 decade hiatus. They are still at home, but in high school/college and working so I can afford a hobby (addiction :biggrin:) again.
    VTL ST50 w/mods / RCA6L6GC / TlfnknECC801S
    Conrad Johnson PV-5 w/mods
    TT Conrad Johnson Sonographe SG3 Oak / Sumiko LMT / Grado Woodbody Platinum / Sumiko PIB2 / The Clamp
    Musical Fidelity A1 CDPro/ Bada DD-22 Tube CDP / Conrad Johnson SD-22 CDP
    Tuners w/mods Kenwood KT5020 / Fisher KM60
    MF x-DAC V8, HAInfo NG27
    Herbies Ti-9 / Vibrapods / MIT Shotgun AC1 IEC's / MIT Shotgun 2 IC's / MIT Shotgun 2 Speaker Cables
    PS Audio Cryo / PowerPort Premium Outlets / Exact Power EP15A Conditioner
    Walnut SDA 2B TL /Oak SDA SRS II TL (Sonicaps/Mills/Cardas/Custom SDA ICs / Dynamat Extreme / Larry's Rings/ FSB-2 Spikes
    NAD SS rigs w/mods
    GIK panels
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  • organ
    organ Posts: 4,969
    edited November 2010
    Now that Megasat mentioned bank account, it reminded me of another thing....
    Another huge change happened to me just a few months ago when I was out of work for almost 2 months. When $ was very low, it made me think about how much I've spent on audio and where I am now. I decided to stop with big purchases and just focus on tweaks and mods.
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited November 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    Attaguy!:wink:

    Thanks, Had a cheap Turntable from Vestax that I modded with Dynamat, more weight and other stuff but it doesn't hold a candle to the Rega P3.

    I forgot how good Vinyl could sound.
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  • hearingimpared
    hearingimpared Posts: 21,137
    edited December 2010
    Joe08867 wrote: »
    Thanks, Had a cheap Turntable from Vestax that I modded with Dynamat, more weight and other stuff but it doesn't hold a candle to the Rega P3.

    I forgot how good Vinyl could sound.

    It gets better Bro! A good reflex record clamp a thick acrylic or delrin platter, tweaking and dialing in the cartridge and tonearm etc.:smile:
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  • Earthy
    Earthy Posts: 488
    edited December 2010
    When I unexpectedly received a pair of SDA SRS 2.3TL's. $2500 later and I still have my eye on more stuff. One thing changes, and all of a sudden nothing you loved for years can measure up.
    Polk Audio SDA SRS 2.3TL
    Parasound Halo A21
    Parasound Halo P3

    Home theater
    Polk LSiM 707, 706c, 703, 705
    Polk Blackstone TL3 for height
    SVS PB12-ISD Sub
    Denon AVR-X6400h
    Parasound Halo A51
    LG OLED65B7A
    Sony UBPX800
    Logitech Harmony Elite
    PC LSiM 703
    Spare LSIM 702 and 706c

    Home Theater #2
    Polk Audio LS70, CS350LS, LSF/X, S4
    Onkyo TX-NR808



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  • Ricardo
    Ricardo Posts: 10,636
    edited December 2010
    What in your path caused the biggest change?

    When I realized that I am perfectly happy with a squeezebox Touch, pandora and internet radio (Let me rephrase that. I am happier than I ever was). And that the gear does not really matter that much.
    _________________________________________________
    ***\\\\\........................... My Audio Journey ............................./////***

    2008 & 2010 Football Pool WINNER
    SOPA
    Thank God for different opinions. Imagine the world if we all wanted the same woman
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  • Joe08867
    Joe08867 Posts: 3,919
    edited December 2010
    hearingimpared wrote: »
    It gets better Bro! A good reflex record clamp a thick acrylic or delrin platter, tweaking and dialing in the cartridge and tonearm etc.:smile:

    It gets better and more expensive everyday. I need to get a clamp and platter big time. A buddy of mine has a an acrylic platter that is just awesome to see and hear. He got it tinted this cool blue green color. I am still having issue with the WAF. But she'll come around as she does love the sound of the system so far.

    I do have the cartridge dialed in pretty good so that isn't a huge issue. I bought a Grado Gold Prestige 1 with the Rega. the Grado was way over the Stanton the other table had. Tried both on the Rega and the Grado was in a different universe not just league.

    I guess you would call me a baby stepper as I didn't go all the way on the cartridge and all yet. Did I say yet?

    What clamp do you suggest? Easy on the price if you can.....
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