2. digital
  3. 186581-130

Does an upgrade make sense?

I may be coming down with the upgrade bug, and I’m open to suggestions. I’m quite happy with what I have—excellent imaging, musicality, dynamics. Maybe I could use a little more depth (left right is fine and speakers truly disappear), and maybe a touch more dynamics.

Almost everything I listen to is Qobuz streaming or hi res and flac files from a NAS (hard drive). My system:

Cambridge 851 Streamer/DAC

Bel Canto Pre5

Bel Canto Ref 500 monoblocks

Dali Mentor 6 floorstanders

Everything sits on maple plinths, Gaia iiis, or pucks.

Cabling is mid range Morrows. I previously had Kimber KS1116s but sold them as the Morrows sounded just as good, on the current set up.

What do I need to get more of everything? Speakers? DAC, Streamer? Amp?

tomaswv

Showing 2 responses by jerrybj

jerrybj
856 posts
 

@tomaswv

I agree with moving on to separates from your Cambridge 851.

Have 700 hours on my Puritan 156 with Puritan Ultimate power cable. A purchase that is well worth the cost.

Curious what you have under your electronics? I have Black Ravioli Pads and Big Pads, and Stack Audio Auva EQ.

Streaming by wifi or ethernet cable? Power cables?

jerrybj
856 posts
 

@tomaswv 

Certainly plenty of options trialled with cables. I have nothing to add to that, as you have found solutions that work with your system.

I found the Black Ravioli pads excellent under equipment. Noticeable improvement.

I went from wifi to ethernet cables. Found some second hand Meicord Opal to begin with.

A few months later purchased two Triode Wire Labs 'Freedom' cables. It was between them and Sablon 2020. Liked that they were Cat6, copper, neutral, and flexible. Pete from TWL was a good guy to talk to regarding my needs.

Have kept the Meicord cables on the modem and router to the first switch.

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