A properly setup system will never place instruments as radically out of place as you mentioned. Images should never go from center stage to far left. That is not something that cables or equipment will impact to the degree you described.
either something was broken or it is hyperbole. No piece of equipment properly designed and implemented does this, period!
Please review what you have written. If this was actually what you meant you must consider my be point. Otherwise if you believe that a properly functioning piece of equipment is rearranging instrument placement your open to anything. Equipment can improve perceived depth or slightly increase width but an instrument going from 0 degrees axis to 65....well, that is not the way equipment works. 55 degrees to 60, okay....but 0 to anything else is an indication of something seriously wrong. |
Raymonda,
Okay you win...I'm not going to argue with you about what I hear in my system. I try to be very careful about not exaggerating my findings. The facts are the soundstage has opened up and there is more spacing between instruments. I look forward to adding the Parasound JC2. |
Actually, I'm not trying to win. Honestly, there must have been something wrong with your preamp to mess up your soundstage to such a degree...as you describe it, you were almost listening in mono. Since you still have the pre you should plug it back in and check out that it is operating correctly before you sell it.
I have no doubt you are hearing improvements and that your new pre delivers the goods. What I'm questioning is, what was wrong with your prior preamp. |
Nothing is/was wrong with the preamp. I don't have a "new preamp yet"; I'm currently running the PS Audio PWD through the P5. Prior to receiving the new DAC, I was going from my CD player to the preamp. Now I'm going from my CD player via a digital cable to the DAC and from the DAC to the preamp via RCA cables. I won't say all of the changes are due to the new DAC, because I went from a unbalanced to a balanced cable, added the Wireworld Gold Starlight digital cable and changed speaker cables at the same time. I wished I would have changed one component at a time and maybe I could attribute the improvements to one thing. |
As a recording engineer, when mixing from multi-track sources I take particular care on where instruments are placed within the soundstage. Regardless of wire, cable, DAC or any other electronics I could never shift an instrument around from 0 degrees to any other place without using my DAW. For the life of me I can't see how this could happen. Imagine Jimmy Page playing his guitar straight in front of you....and then magically....without any movement of source components his sound magically appears 20 feet to the left. He didn't move....nor did his amp...speaker or for that matter the room he was playing in. You have to move the source itself or change the acoustics of the room to get a shift in source placement.
I'm not trying to be a pendant but something is wrong electronically for that to happen. Again. I would check your cables....if you are using balanced cables maybe your right cable has a short and you have essentially lowered the voltage in that channel...thus shifting your image to the left.
It could be something else for that matter....but you really should look into why this is happening.
Best of luck.
Ray |
Ray - he is probably just removing veils, jitter and distortion. When you do this, the imaging becomes less diffuse and things seem to "snap" into focus, appearing to relocate. They have not really moved, just focused.
Steve N.
Empirical Audio |
Should I upgrade from the Perfectwave DAC II to the Directstream or keep the Perfectwave DAC II and upgrade my transport from a NAD 565bee CD player to a PS Audio PerfectWave Transport? I just upgraded my preamp and this will be my last upgrade for a long time. Your suggestions are appreciated! |
12-13-14: Ricred1
Should I upgrade from the Perfectwave DAC II to the Directstream or keep the Perfectwave DAC II and upgrade my transport from a NAD 565bee CD player to a PS Audio PerfectWave Transport? I just upgraded my preamp and this will be my last upgrade for a long time. Your suggestions are appreciated! My brother upgraded his Perfectwave DAC MKII to Directstream and it was no contest. Also Directstream is more agnostic what's feeding it so probably can't tell the difference between transports. Google Directstream review where several reviewer specifically ask Ted Smith on the design. I'll repeat my suggestion again and also get a Synchro-Mesh reclocker. It has a 30 days money back guarantee so only risk is shipping cost. It sits between your transport and DAC and if the reclocker works as advertised, you should not hear any differences between transports. The LAST thing I would get is a transport. |
Knghifi,
Thanks for your response. |
I always like to close the loop when I ask a question. I decided to purchase a Parasound JC2 preamp and PS Audio Directstream DAC. I received both of them a week ago. Improvements, YES; unfortunately I can't tell you what component has had the most impact on the sound. I installed both of them at the same time. |
I should add, no transport. My next step is to try using a Mac mini and ipad. I need to read a little more regarding the best approach, because the last time I tried using a computer to download music I didn't like it. |
Just bought a new CD transport for kicks, CEC TL3N. Just thought I'd check it out. My first belt drive top loader, very nice. |
Rja -
I look forward to reading about your impressions on the CEC TL3N. This company has been building these outstanding transports for a long time.
Also, tell me about the rest of the gear, including cables/cords, in your system. Keep me posted & happy listening! |
I've owned a number of different CEC Transports and a CDP over the years (although I don't currently own one) and I have always found a special sound do to the belt drive system.
Enjoy... |
I use a 47 labs Flat Fish transport that is modified with Black Gate caps and an upgraded Super Clock. It is powered by a custom battery ps and sounds superb! I have pics of it in my gallery over on Audio Circle and You Tube, search rodge827 on both to get a good look at it. I can be contacted through both sites to get more pics if necessary.
Chris |
I hate this hobby:)! I disconnected my Parasound JC2 and went from the PS Audio Directstream strait into the Parasound A21 amp via balanced cables and it sounds slightly better direct! I tried direct with the PS Audio Perfectwave DAC II and it was terrible... I wish I knew then, what I know now. I could have saved some money. Needless to say, the Parasound JC2 is going up for sale on audiogon! |
12-30-14: Ricred1
I hate this hobby:)! I disconnected my Parasound JC2 and went from the PS Audio Directstream strait into the Parasound A21 amp via balanced cables and it sounds slightly better direct! I tried direct with the PS Audio Perfectwave DAC II and it was terrible... I wish I knew then, what I know now. I could have saved some money. Needless to say, the Parasound JC2 is going up for sale on audiogon! When you get a chance, demo a high quality tube pre in your system and might change your mind. High quality doesn't necessary equate big $$. What fuses are you using in Directstream? Try Synergistic RED Quantum fuses. I believe your DAC uses 2 small 1A slo-blo |
