2. cables
  3. 1273006461

Time to upgrade my PS Audio Quintet

I currently own a PS Audio Quintet and while it works well, I am hoping to find something that adds more transparency and reduces grain. My primary components are;

Exposure 2010S2 Integrated Amp
Sony SCD-XA5400ES CD/SACD Player
Dell Laptop / Wavelength Proton DAC
Spendor A6 Loudspeakers
Analysis Plus Interconnects and Speaker Cable
DH Labs Power Cords

I have the Exposure plugged straight into the wall and everything else into the Quintet. As I mentioned above, my main goal is to take the edge off the system. While I care about frequency extremes, they are not as important as a natural, transparent, uncolored midrange. Anyone who's used a Quintet and moved to something better, what is it? Around $1500.00 or so is my budget.

Products I am considering;

PS Audio Power Plant Premier
Shunyata Hydra & Guardian
Synergistic Research QLS 6 & 9

Thanks,

John Allen
allenjohns

Showing 6 responses by allenjohns

allenjohns OP
22 posts
 
I have tried my main components with and without a conditioner. The amp sounds better plugged straight into the wall, but the CDP sounds better thru the Quintet. With the CDP plugged into the wall outlet, I hear the soundstage as images in my room. With the CDP plugged into the Quintet, I hear the the images in their room. What I mean is that I hear the musicians in the room it was recorded in. I want more of that. BTW, I would also be interested in feedback on something like an Oyaide power strip compared to a power conditioner.
allenjohns OP
22 posts
 
Bacardi, my power amp cord is a DH Labs Power Plus.

Srwooten, what is 6N copper and how does it differ from OFC? Is Oyaide the only company that uses it?
allenjohns OP
22 posts
 
Karmatogdral, I was using silver coated copper cables from DH Labs. I've read that silver cables can add glare and grain to the sound so I moved to copper cabler from Analysis Plus. Copper Oval-In IC's and Black Oval 9 SC. The AP cables have about 80 hours on then and are just starting to open up. So far I'm happy with them.
allenjohns OP
22 posts
 
I have not tried the Oval 8. I bought the Oval 9 based on recommendations from AudiogoN members.
allenjohns OP
22 posts
 
Jdub39 , I'm using a DH Labs Power Plus cable from the wall to the Quintet. I originally used a PS Audio AC-10, but after comparing it to the DH Labs cable, I sold the AC-10. By comparison, the PS Audio cable was bright and edgy, although it went deeper in the bass.
allenjohns OP
22 posts
 
Well here's what I'm going to do. I've got two electrical outlets behind my audio cabinet and I have ordered a Tesla Plex for one and a Porter Port for the other. An electrician friend of mine is going to install them for me and then quote me a price on two dedicated 20 amp lines. It will be a while until I actually have those installed (unless he is ridiculously cheap, which I doubt). Then I am going to purchase a pair of power chords, one for the CDP and one for the amp and plug them both straight into the wall. They will probably be the new Black Sand Violet ZII or maybe the Kaplan HE. Those are the only two I am considering. I will post my results as I progress.
More to discover