zavato:
I hope you will trial the Synergistic Research Black fuse in your Bricasti DAC and a Synergistic Research A/C wall outlet.
I believe these will allow your fabulous DAC to exceed all your expectations.
David Pritchard |
@zavato, Congrats! I have been there myself on several occasions. Hopefully you have a better run of success staying there than I have. Having my system dialed in perfectly many times doesn't stop me from making changes, often screwing things up again in the process.
DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING!
@davidpritchard , do you work for Synergistic Research? I see almost all of your posts seem to be pushing the SR brand. |
Well, I might bring my tuner to Audio Classics for refurbishment, but that's a different matter- |
jmcgrogan2: No I do not work for Synergistic Research. I am not a paid reviewer. I do not get samples. I do not get an industry discount. I have a fairly limited time to evaluate possible upgrades. I certainly do not have the time or money to try all the products being developed and released. Therefore I do not jump around from manufacturer to manufacturer and product to product. For me using a slow meticulous approach to an addition to one of my systems has been the most rewarding from a sonic standpoint. For the last several months I have spent a lot of time evaluating fuses and A/C outlets in my the three systems. I have tried to report what I have heard as so not everyone will have to repeat the experiment. I do think after an audiophile has a speaker, amp, front end, and room acoustics picked, the audiophile can then make or break those choices with cables, fuses, and A/C outlets. The Synergistic Research Black fuses and Black outlets have made an enormous improvement in my systems when considering the cost of a fuse to a new amp or a pair of Elrog 300b tubes. I hope (as does oregonpapa) that Audiophiles will not overlook evaluating an improved fuse in their quest for improved music listening. David Pritchard |
I do think after an audiophile has a speaker, amp, front end, and room acoustics picked, the audiophile can then make or break those choices with cables, fuses, and A/C outlets.
David, I totally agree with you on this point. I have tried a few different fuses and outlets, and many, many, many cables and cords over the past few years/decades. After decades of trying different cables/cords, I am of the mindset that ANY gear can be made to sound good or bad depending on the cables/cords used with the gear. I have heard cables sound terrible with some gear, sound fabulous with other gear. I have heard some gear sound terrible with some cables, and fabulous with other cables. It's all about system synergy and personal tastes, IMHO. I feel so strong about this, that I don't know that I agree with this statement of yours:
I have tried to report what I have heard as so not everyone will have to repeat the experiment.
While a noble sentiment, I don't know that there is any substitute for personal trial and error. What sounds good to me may not sound good to you, and vice versa. Also, since we are probably using different gear, I tend not to take anyone's opinion as something that will prevent me from running my own "experiments". I have owned too many highly praised items over the years that did not work in my system to think that anyone can perform an experiment that will save me from having to repeat the experiment. I've also learned that if someone is happy with there current sound to congratulate them. I do not try to stir the pot to continue to feed the disease. I've been perfectly happy with my system a few times in the last 30+ years. I wished I could have learned to stop and just enjoy the music. It seems every time I'm "perfectly happy" I get bored after a year or so and try to "better" my system by trying some great new XYZ that the Net and/or Mags rave about, only to screw up my perfectly tuned in sound. Then it takes me a year or two to dial the sound into where I am happy again, but the cycle will repeat itself. Sigh.....like a dog chasing his tail, this is what we do for fun. |
jmcgrogan: You are absolutely correct there is no substitute to doing your own work. But as there are so many different audio fuse manufacturers, and wall outlet manufacturers, I decided to try several fuses and wall outlets and report my results. Hopefully my one data point along with other reporters will give other audiophiles an idea of what changes a product might impart. The other interesting thing about fuses and outlets is you can easily take them out of the system and revert back to the system you were happy with. I do feel real empathy for the audiophile who sells a component to fund the next purchase that then is a step backward. This situation is also common place in the professional musician's world. Most artist's I know wish they had not sold at least one amp or guitar. David Pritchard |
Hello John,
You posted words of wisdom based on many years of listening experience. One pertinent factor for long term contentment with one's system is what is the ultimate objective? You mention that you were perfectly happy with a system set up but then you become bored.
If genuinely happy why the boredom rather than continued happiness with a well conceived system? My humble guess is perhaps the goal was perfect sound as opposed to pure music listening enjoyment and emotional involvement. If the objective is the latter then once reached there should be no sense of boredom. If the goal is the former then long term contentment remains elusive (something is always better just around the corner ). I absolutely recognize that for some the pursuit of the unobtainable perfect sound/system is what motivates them. No right of wrong choice, but people need to define what is their end game.
Charles, |
Hi David,
We all can agree that actually listening to something is the best method to make a sure buying decision. However this isn’t always practical or possible. I’ve been able to obtain first rate products based on impressions posted by trusted experienced members of this site. The SR Black fuses being the most recent example in my case. Current discussion of the SR Black and Cerious Graphene cords has caught my attention.
Just fine tuning for a system that has been intact nearly 7 years (source, electronics and speakers ). I have no plans to change the system foundation, just tweak it. It's funny but very rewarding that replacing stock AC wall receptacles and component fuses with better quality versions truly matter.
Charles, |
If genuinely happy why the boredom rather than continued happiness with a well conceived system?
Good question Charles. I don't know if boredom is the correct word. I know myself, and over the decades I have found that I can remain happy for a longer time if I 'leave' the audiophile community. For me, glossy rags and audio forums drive the desire to upgraditis. That feeling that something new has come along and audio now is better than ever. I feel in many ways, ignorance is bliss. Many folks live for decades very happy with one set audio system. Those folks tend to not read audio magazines or frequent audio forums. Those who know me know that perfect sound is not my goal, at least not the highest possible resolution. Like any other audiophile, I like to balance the sound to my tastes which lean just slightly to the warmer side of neutral. From what I have read, I would say the majority of members here tend to like more definition and analytical sound then I do. Some like it warmer than I do. At it's core, I think it is man's nature to be a hunter, finding ways to seek 'better'. Whether that is a better car, job, audio, whatever. I feel that most of us on these forums are hunters, few are happy nesters, at least in the audio realm. I have been married for over 32 years, so I'm not hunting women, or homes, or cars. Audio is an outlet where I find it difficult to settle down though. Eventually, I find my way back to the forums, and soon find the idea churning that I am missing out on something. Of course not all of my audio happiness has been disrupted by 'boredom'. I have had to disassemble systems I was perfectly happy with due to unforeseen economic disturbances as well. When the well runs dry, many times priorities change. Not fun, but life does go on. |
John,
Thanks for sharing your perspective. I was curious about your specific audio goal. I assume that you're satisfied with your current system ☺
Charles, |
Charles,
My specific audio goal is to make the music as enjoyable as possible to me, within my constraints of budget and room parameters. Obviously many factors figure into designing a well organized system, and many of us have certain restrictions to work with.
After many years of playing, I am now of the mindset that all of my goals cannot be accomplished with a single system. Since so much depends on the quality of the recording, and the genre of the music. Trying to find just one system that will perform best with all types of recordings/music has lead me to believe that one system simply cannot do it all. Perhaps if my musical tastes were more limited, this would be feasible.
I have been to the home of other audiophiles who are fortunate enough to have 2, 3, or even 4 systems. Ones where they can adapt different systems for different types of music as well as different quality of recordings. SET/Horns for small intimate quartet music, large dynamic speakers driven by solid state amps for large orchestral/rock music, etc., etc.
In my opinion, this would be the way to go if I had the rooms/money. Unfortunately I do not. So I try to balance one system the best that I can to suit my tastes, which vary from rock, jazz, blues, classical, and more.
A difficult, if not impossible task.
I would say that I am not satisfied with my system in it's current iteration. I recently changed my front end analog and digital components, which of course requires more tuning with cables/cords/fuses, etc.
I am in the process of tuning the system now. I have done this several times over the decades. Hopefully, this time, when I finally have it all dialed in to suit the majority of the music I listen to, I hope to leave it alone.
Accepting that it is impossible for any one system to do all things perfectly is the first step to accepting limitations of a system.
The key is to not touch anything once you have a system performing up to your expectations. Once happy, do not change ANYTHING, not even a fuse. In my experience, ALL changes have ripple effects that may (usually do) require other changes to be made.
Cheers,
John |
"Trying to find just one system that will perform best with all types of recordings/music has lead me to believe that one system simply cannot do it all. "
I’ve actually found one system can PERFORM best with all types of music in regards to always delivering all the goods in most any recording in a musical way all the time. I’ve also found that like ice cream, I may have my favorite flavor of sound that is always my goto, but I also enjoy certain other flavors from time to time. That calls for multiple systems, some better pure "performers" than others. The extent of my craziness in this regard is I currently have 9 different places and ways to listen these days at home. Each is unique and enjoyable in different ways but there is only one best performer that always sounds "best" and most enjoyable day in and day out to me no matter what.
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I’ve actually found one system can PERFORM best with all types of music in regards to always delivering all the goods in most any recording in a musical way all the time.
You are very fortunate Mapman. |
jmc,
jmc, thanks, yes I would agree and am very thankful for good fortune whenever it occurs. They do say variety is the spice of life so what is possible may not necessarily be the same as what one prefers. |
zavato, Congrats! I have been there myself on several occasions. Hopefully you have a better run of success staying there than I have. Having my system dialed in perfectly many times doesn't stop me from making changes, often screwing things up again in the process.
DON'T TOUCH ANYTHING
I'm not touching a thing!!! |
...proof that Nirvana can be reached...*S* I've lived to see the day.
Although the means is subject to the intent and desire of the Searcher, as it always has been, will always be.
Enjoy the bliss, zavato. And it's wonderful to hear (no pun intended) that it has been attained for at least one entity in these pages of woe and whoa. ;) |
Nine systems, mapman? Now, that's impressive. It would be quite a read to see a list of what's mated to what, and the environment each resides in, and what each is relegated to play.
...and the deviant within me wonders if the master of these realms has ever had all playing the same source at the same time at whatever level each is possible to achieve without strain. And how long it took for the neighbors to respond...
...unless they're far away....;) |
...I don't even have 9 rooms... |
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I'm sitting in a very comfortable chair, listening to an LP though my system, and for the life of me there truly is nothing o would change. I've got full and broad frequency response, nuance, image specificity, depth and width, dynamics. There truly is nowhere for me to go to get any greater satisfaction out if my music! Not merely famous last words, but good last words too!
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Davidpritchard said-
"I hope you will trial the Synergistic Research Black fuse in your Bricasti DAC and a Synergistic Research A/C wall outlet."
My M1 has a circuit breaker, and I'm already running a good outlet. FWIW, I did a software update on my M1. It's not screwed up a thing.
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