How good can it get, really? - my stereo sounds amazing!

A recent thread with some suggestions and the usual robust discussion

https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/which-of-these-power-cords

True.

"Then you never know what you are missing."

And isn't that a contradiction? Not using just 'any old cord.'

I'm very careful to use the cord supplied

Some additions are illogical.
The 0.75% should not make a noticeable difference. But it does.

They don’t need to be overly expensive either. Mine were $230.
I’m sure there are very reasonably priced used power cords around.

You get points for being "careful!"

Thanks for sharing, and demonstrating
that "limiting beliefs" are indeed very powerful.

Why not spend some time reading other
threads on this very subject? 

Suggestion: Don't ever listen to music through
anything other than stock power cords.

Then you will never hear what you are missing.

I have enjoyed this thread and agree with much that has been written, but I can not believe that expensive power cords make an audible difference.  At my rural home the current runs about 750 feet through aluminum cable from the last transformer to my service panel then another fifty or sixty feet through copper Romex cable from the service panel to the wall outlets for the stereo.  A six foot power cord is at most .75 per cent of the total cable supplying power to the stereo.  How can six feet of expensive power cord correct problems created the other 99.25 per cent of wire.  I just don't buy it.  That being said I am careful to use good quality power cords , usually the cords supplied by the manufacturer of the equipment.

Just upgraded to the Herron VTPH2-A Phono stage. I was wrong. It does get better! All I can say is WOW just wow! This thing is stunning! Good god! Everything is better. Beautiful midrange and fast bass without any loss of detail. Gorgeous tight transients too. I’ve only had it in my system for an hour now but already I love love love it! 

Prior to adding the Herron I’d been having what seems to be RF interference. Fast intermittent clicks and pops. It’s much louder with the Herron. I’ve ordered some clip on ferrite magnets for my power, speaker cables and interconnects to see if that helps. Any other suggestions I might try?

My system sounds truly great.  It has sounded better.  I am happy with my system. I would be happier if it sounded like it used to, before I destroyed it by trying to make a small repair and shorted everything out.  Most of my Audire equipment has been repaired  (Amp Preamp, Head Amp), as has my CD player. The rest is temporarily replaced with Bryston (Amp, Preamp;  yes I need two complete systems to run it properly).  Boo f'ing Hoo!  I am lucky anything was able to be fixed.  I am still amazed that 24 big Motorola outputs. powered by 4 500 watt trannies, which nearly deafened me when they tried to torch my big B&W's (due to 120 volts going through all the inputs), did not damage the speakers.  Yeah!  B&W.  I am truly impressed!

paulgardner  - You mentioned St louis Park earlier . Is that in Mn ? If it is do you currently live in mn ? Would love to hear your setup and get advice on mine as well .

it was the rule that I followed which was listening to different and varied voices that finally brought me to my present status and the place where I want to be.

If we could live our lives over again we wouldn't make the same mistakes again. We'd make different ones. 

Oh, ya betcha, yaaaah.

@sgordon1 I was neighbors with the Coen Brothers. Grew up in St. Louis Park. God they make great films!

What's the most you ever lost, on a coin toss?

hombre
”When in doubt do nothing". Somebody important once said that but I don’t remember who. Also Albert Einstein said " the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result".

>>>>Exactly!! That’s why you should do something different this time. Stop listening to the same voices that got you to your present status.

If the rule you followed brought you to this place then what good was your rule?

hombre - News about BMW: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZkQiMoWx2IU

"When in doubt do nothing". Somebody important once said that but I don't remember who.  Also Albert Einstein said " the definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting a different result". 
 Now I don't know what either of these has to do with anything here but they sounded pretty impressive to me. I think that at some point you just have to be happy with what you've got. If I won a lotto I'd keep my current stereo system and start shopping for a new BMW M3. With cars there's a significant demonstrable difference between a new civic(which I own) and the aforementioned Bimmer. With stereo amplifiers, not so much.

Go pound sand. I actually don’t care what you think.

I can definitively answer the question. I simply choose not to. You obviously do not know the answer. Really.

The proof I really don’t know is pretty overwhelming, starting with my admission of same. The proof of your knowing, is, uhhh, based kinda sorta solely on your word....which is...well...your word, nothing more, nothing less.

Me myself I’m still thinking you’re blowing smoke....for fun probably, but still blowing smoke...

Lots of laughs. Doing nothing is the Government’s fall-back Plan. And the thing they often do. Let me guess. You work for the Government.

I suggest you do nothing.  Doing nothing changes nothing, impacts nothing, and doesn't cause regrets.

I can definitively answer the question. I simply choose not to. You obviously do not know the answer. Really.

And a question that you apparently cannot answer

And I really don’t think you can definitively answer that either....

I don’t sell to members here. Don’t flatten yourself. 

Are you still salty about the sub springs that I shot down?

paulgardner OP
Open to suggestions for sure. Thx.

>>>>>I’m not so sure about that. 😬

I think I’m still a music listener. My new music consumption has slowed over the years but I do sit down and actually listen to music or go for a walk with headphones almost every day. I have enjoyed building my hifi and I recognize the rabbit hole and am conscious of the law of diminishing returns, snake oil products, etc. I think I am very close to arriving at an endpoint in regards to upgrading equipment, at least for awhile. I love music. I have many musician clients - I design and print concert posters on the side as well for bands like Wilco, The National, Bon Iver, etc. 

zerobias

I am all right with your remarks they are right on the spot...

I just want to add, that almost or at least, half of the audio system around here are already perfectly Hi-Fi potential good system...The necessity to upgrade is motivated by many reasons, but most of the times the vast majority of owners dont know what their audio system true potential are in the first place... The reasons are simple and had often NOTHING to do with the electronics components at all, except marginally...

They are linked to the necessity to remedy and treat the acoustical field of the audio room, to clean and decrease the electrical noise floor of the house and of the room and after that of the audio system itself, and also the controls of negative resonances through vibrations...I will not even speak of the necessary cheap and homemade tweaks that transform completely an audio system without buying anything costly...


Not knowing that and feeling the urge to upgrade tough is an illusion created by our own ignorance, entertained by strategic marketing on vulnerable customers... And also the results of science specialisation in a complex field like audio where they are too many complex variable to play with before gaining the best of an audio system without sometimes changing any electronical components ....


I own the same audio system for many years now and the difference between before and after these remedies application is not least than staggering... I does not entertain now the possibility of upgrading like before, it is only a fad for me now like my wife said, and no more the necessary step toward true Hi-Fi... My system, composed of vintage or used parts components, with low cost one, amount to under 1000 thousand dollars including headphones of high quality.... And if you look at "my virtual system" photos you will smile of my "poor audiophile" philosophy...But my audio system which does not compete for sure with higher, very higher costlier one, tough, is not so far behind than many of you will think...Music is here at last and the last smile is mine...

Paulgardner, curious question, and concern.  Could you be someone who no longer is a music listener, but rather, an equipment listener?  I think there is hope for the music listener.  The music listener can eventually arrive at a point where the goal of best (to the listener) sound reproduction, reasonably available, is achieved.  The equipment listener will never know peace, and will continue down the upgrade rabbit hole until one's hearing is gone.  Nothing wrong with this approach, it is an aspect of our hobby, it is just that there does not seem to be much happiness in the process.  No satisfaction, just the continuous tweak show.  Oh well.

taras22
>>>>I see. You did the experiment, you just don’t remember the results.

Here is what I see, I asked you a simple question, and you haven’t provided an answer....so you are being disingenuous, evasive, or have no clue what the change in your "experiment" produced and why.

Frankly this reminds me of the little dance you do around the theme, " what is an audio signal"... and the longer these dances go on the more I’m inclined to think the answers are behind door #3....please provide some answers and prove me wrong ...please disincline me...

>>>>There’s no reason to get huffy with me. You claimed you did the experiment decades ago, as if YOU know what’s going on. You are actually the one being disingenuous. What do you mean you did the experiment? What experiment? Why did you do the experiment. What did you conclude? That’s the place to start. I’m pretty sure you don’t even know what I’m talking about, no offense to you personally.

As for my question, what is the audio signal?, it’s not a little dance I do 🕺🏻- it’s a serious and legitimate question. And a question that you apparently cannot answer.

Really?! You cannot swear here? Soft people

Sounds good, Hombre

No, most charities are not thieves.You tell yourself that in order to excuse yourself from donating. You don’t know what you’re talking about. Do some research and learn something. And I can assure you that my glass is at least as transparent as yours.

>>>>I see. You did the experiment, you just don’t remember the results.

Here is what I see, I asked you a simple question, and you haven’t provided an answer....so you are being disingenuous, evasive, or have no clue what the change in your "experiment" produced and why.

Frankly this reminds me of the little dance you do around the theme, " what is an audio signal"... and the longer these dances go on the more I’m inclined to think the answers are behind door #3....please provide some answers and prove me wrong ...please disincline me...

be happy with the system you've got. I am. (OPPO brp,Schiit Vidar amp, maggie LRS speakers, B&W powered sub). If you can't resist the compulsion to spend more money, donate to the charity of your choice once in a while. You'll have a lot less explaining to do when you go to meet your maker. My entire system cost about 2500. "Audiophiles don't listen to music on their equipment,they listen to their equipment with music".

Look it up.

What was the original question? I have long term memory loss. 😬

Do the experiment, take them all out of the room. Report your findings

.

Did that experiment decades ago....and frankly can’t be bothered to haul stuff into my listening room at your command. Was actually curious what exactly your experience was....were veils removed ?....did the sound-stage extend beyond the room?....was there a frequency specific suck-out?....was there a frequency specific glare or overhang ?....will you actually answer the question originally asked ?

I agree that you should just enjoy what you have. Having said that one thing that improved my enjoyment of my 805D3 speakers is one of the B&W subs. Namely the Db2Dwhich is stereo in one box. It includes built in frequency settings for their speakers.  The integration seems just about spot to me and no need for floor standing speakers. 
 
Cheers!

@hdbc3036  :-)

Have to admit - a cold brew or a couple of wines may have something to do with the enjoyment of my late evening audio sessions....Jim

I have found my stereo sounds especially great after a bit of cannabis and a glass or two of wine. Even a modest system benefits from this tweak.

@davegardner OP
I feel the same.
In all, I am very pleased with my system, in my space.
My little pair of Maggies, very well integrated with a ADS sub and driven by a Cronus Mag II and meticulously set up, in a well treated room, sounds incredible. Whether standing, sitting or laying down, when listening late evenings, at moderate levels - the timber, placement and air seems just right and stays focused where it belongs - on a large stage behind and beyond the plain of the speakers 
Even though there are one or two things I would like to upgrade, I’m not sure that the upgrades would be worth the cost, or if it would even make an improvement ....Jim
.

You have system hardware that probably couldn't be improved enough to make the extra costs worth it.  On the other hand, playing around with the listening area may not even have to cost much to bring about significant improvements.  Once you know how to control the room, you can then, perhaps, profitably experiment with some hardware changes (remembering that speaker changes will require further analysis of the room).  Cartridges are a good place to start--they provide a much quicker education on differences in sound than other components.  If you can't hear a difference between cartridges, you probably won't hear differences between other components.  Of course, cartridges interact with arms in many ways, so you may find yourself experimenting with arms, as well.  Maybe it's better just to sit back and enjoy the music. 

I am always amazed as well. Amazed quite honestly at how awful most of the rooms sound. Most of the rooms are poster children for the need for proper room acoustic treatment. I know that is harsh, but I always get a kick out of the "Best Sound" awards ... of which the number seems to grow every year. How many "best" can you have?  

Check out an audio show like Axpona or one of the other regional shows to see how other systems sound. I am always amazed when I go.

If the EMI/RFI is already on the AC line, a power cord is not going to get rid of it unless it has passive elements (inductors, capacitors) to eliminate EMI .... and I would rather pay $1.00 for those than spend $1K plus to have someone put them in the cord.


The last 3 feet or first 3 feet is specious since it is part of a circuit, potentially from the transformer outside your house. We can likely ignore the other 500 miles. If you are using an isolation transformer, power conditioner, etc. then it could be considered the first and last 3 feet. Where grounding is concerned, you could also consider it the first and last 3 feet. And you could call it the first 3 feet is your audio product is generating EMI and you don't want it getting into anything near.


I am not sure calling it an extension of a transformer is a good idea. Should you be paying $1000+ to put an "extension" on 50+ feet of somewhat generic copper wire, that is part of magnetic circuit with limited bandwidth, hysteresis, etc?

I do agree that once you get into higher end audio it’s amazing how the smallest change can affect things for better or worse. So sensitive!

Check out an audio show like Axpona or one of the other regional shows to see how other systems sound. I am always amazed when I go.