Aesthetix IO Signature upgrade path?

Thank you all for the responses. I was awaiting some responses from users in the field before I made any official calls to the factory.

@Albertporter,

I have used so many different power cords in my system, from HMS, Bryston, Neotech NEP 3001 with Oyaide 79's, snd Harmonix Reference. In the end, I keep going back to the Neotechs and Bryston power cord. I have tried lately the new Pangea AC14 and AC9, the AC9 does add more midbass warmth but I believe at the expense of some of the highs.

From my experience, high end power cables on my system are hit and miss. The Octave amps and preamp are not that picky about PC's I believe because I have an upgraded outboard power supply (Super Black Box -100,00Pf) that increases power reserve supply and that uses a nice silver umbilical cord between that and the amp.

For some reason, I just seem to migrate back to the lower end cables. I do not have a cable cooker, but I am going to purchase one soon, maybe that will change my views.

Ciao,
Audioquest4life

Hi Albert,

I am pretty sure, almost 100% sure, that the Odin's will be out of my reach in the future due to both, cost and WAF. I think my wife would kill me for spending that much on cables, despite saving, eating macaroni and cheese, selling her car, ha, and penny pinching to own them. I could realistically evaluate the Valhalla’s and would like to know if you have had the pleasure or experience of having those cables connected to your Aesthetix (assuming you still own the Aesthetix) and what were your impressions.

I have been skeptical of high end cables on my system and have had both the HMS distributor and Harmonix guys at my house only to tell them, to my ears, they do not work.

If the photos on the Aesthetix web site are your work, they are excellant.

I used to be a photographer in one of my careers many moons ago, used one of the first professional Nikon digital cameras, I believe it was a DC460 or something like that. Apparently my digital memory is going bad.

Again, thank you for the information.

V/r
Audioquest4life

Hi Albert,

Interesting comment:

"I only swap equipment for superior performance and/or reliability."

I guess that means you are suggesting that the Alnico is better in some ways that the IO did not do it for you. And this was after you had both power supply options, the Signature upgrade and extensive tube rolling on the IO to boot. I guess that means you were really wowed by the Alnico.

Ciao,

Audioquest4life

Hi Albert,

Thank you for your thorough reply. I was interested in your thought process as to why you switched to another phono stage. Space alone is a compelling reason for many not to get the full blown version of the IO, in addition to the added costs of the full upgrades. Yet, the IO does perform well under the construct of what it was designed to do since 1994 and I like that in a company. My German made amps and preamp (Octave) are basically the same design concepts from the 80's. It took me about 4 years to find a better phono stage than the one built in my Octave HP 500SE preamp, a testament to the quality. I make this point because it is fair to say that Aesthetix has made a great product and like you, I jumped into another phono stage because it was better, in this case, I went from the Octave HP500SE phono to the Aesthetix. That being said, it is hard to be king of the road for such a long time. Even Octave has developed their own phono stage (a small write up is in the 2011 buyers guide, either TAS or Stereophile, forgot), and I am waiting patiently to try it out, go figure.

I am glad to read your posts and appreciate the time you take to answer questions, even drive by questions. Thanks.

Enjoy your new phono stage.

V/R
Audioquest4life