Advice requested on next move

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dromunds
dromunds Posts: 10,173
in 2 Channel Audio
I’m asking for a friend, he has a Marantz PM-10 integrated amp, PS Audio Gain DAC, a Wiim Pro Plus streamer, and Dahlquist DQ-30i floorstanders. His cabling is decent. He would like to take a step up in his audio journey and wanted to ask what y’all thought would be best bang for buck improvement with a budget of maybe 3-5K. I never got into streaming so my opinion don’t mean diddley squat. Streaming is about all he does now. If he replaced the Wiim with something better what would y’all suggest that would up his game noticeably? Any other thoughts? Thanks in advance.
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  • VR3
    VR3 Posts: 29,727
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    the streamer, 99% of the performance is the power supply, IMO.
    - Not Tom ::::::: Any system can play Diana Krall. Only the best can play Limp Bizkit.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,342
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    Get an R2R DAC. ANK or Abbas would work just fine IME.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • Butter
    Butter Posts: 57
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    I just recently bought a used eversolo dmp A-6 with an upgraded power supply. I love it! Its very versatile for me! I'm a limited budget guy so for less than $600, I'm golden! They now offer Dmp -A6 and Dmp -A8 Gen-2 and master edition. Linear power supply more inputs, yada yada yada. Some really great choices on the market!
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,173
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    VR3 wrote: »
    the streamer, 99% of the performance is the power supply, IMO.

    Do you have any specific suggestions for a significantly upgraded power supply for that Wiim?
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  • ptrooper
    ptrooper Posts: 663
    edited September 10
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    I recall Vr3 mentioning a Linear power supply giving great sound (no switching distortion) in a post somewhere .
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,342
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    He has used no name LPS's, as well as an Sbooster. He has also used others, but the Sbooster is probably the one you are thinking of. A good LPS can definitely increase the sonics of a unit, especially when coming from a SMPS wall wart.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • heiney9
    heiney9 Posts: 25,672
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    Not a lot of information to go on.

    A linear PS for the Wiim is a must. Not that familiar with the PS Audio, it gets great reviews. I'd say perhaps speaker upgrade, but that's a BIG category to try and navigate.

    I am unfamiliar with his speakers.

    "Appreciation of audio is a completely subjective human experience. Measurements can provide a measure of insight, but are no substitute for human judgment. Why are we looking to reduce a subjective experience to objective criteria anyway? The subtleties of music and audio reproduction are for those who appreciate it. Differentiation by numbers is for those who do not".--Nelson Pass Pass Labs XA25 | Galion TS P75 Pre | Holo Audio Cyan 2 Dac | MIT Shotgun S1 | Puritan Audio PSM136 Pwr Condtioner & Classic PC's | Legend L600 | Roon Nucleus 1 w/LPS - Tubes add soul!
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  • ptrooper
    ptrooper Posts: 663
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    I believe the streamer would be a bottleneck with a LPS,I believe @treitz3 comment regarding a DAC would be a better investment in the long run.
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,173
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    Thanks fellas. His speakers are pretty nice. Image and sound stage like a mother. I have no experience with linear power supplies, which is why I was asking for specifics. The PS Audio Stellar DAC sounds good to my ears, and was a jaw-dropping improvement over the Wiim’s internal DAC, but I really have no experience with DAC’s, and I’ll pass on the suggestions to look at a R2R DAC.
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,342
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    I believe Trey has one of those no name linear PS's still for sale in the classifieds. It's cheap enough to where you could at least get your ears on what it could do, and if he doesn't think the change is worth it, he could sell it for what he bought it for. Just food for thought.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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  • marvda1
    marvda1 Posts: 4,972
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    What does he think is lacking sound wise in his system?
    Amplifiers: Norma IPA 140, MasterSound Compact 845, Ayre v6xe, Consonance Cyber 800
    Preamp: deHavilland Ultraverve 3
    Dac: Sonnet Morpheus 2, Musical Paradise mp-d2 mkIII
    Transport: Jay's Audio CDT2 mk2, Lumin U1 mini
    Speakers: Rosso Fiorentino Volterra II
    Speaker Cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Organic Audio Organic Reference 2
    Interconnects: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2, Argento Organic Reference 2, Argento Organic 2
    Power Cables: Argento Organic Reference, Synergistic Research Foundation 10 and 12 ga.
    Digital cables: Crystal Clear Magnum Opus 2 bnc, Tellurium Q aes, Silnote Audio Poseidon Signature 2 bnc
    Puritan PSM156
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  • dromunds
    dromunds Posts: 10,173
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    I’m not so sure he thinks he is lacking sound wise, it’s that he wants to make a noticeable step up - and would like to know what his weakest link is. For the purposes of our discussion, I think we can take his amp and speakers out of the equation, those are not his weakest link. I (perhaps naively) just assumed it would be his Wiim streamer, but I’ve been schooled to learn the power supply is perhaps where he should begin, and maybe even look at the DAC. Any other thoughts by s would be appreciated
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  • treitz3
    treitz3 Posts: 20,342
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    He might want to entertain the thought of a Snubway and Master Class A/C filter combo. That will benefit his entire system, and reveal more to the music than he already has. If his system already images well, he should yeild a very noticeable improvement, for not too much money spent.

    These are also compatible, as his system evolves, no matter what direction he decides to go in.

    Tom
    ~ In search of accurate reproduction of music. Real sound is my reference and while perfection may not be attainable? If I chase it, I might just catch excellence. ~
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