Upgrade Interconnects/Cables or…?


At 71 years of age, I have two possible upgrades I’d like to perform. After that I’m done, except for the usual tweaks (i.e., tubes, isolation, etc.). I’m very happy with the system I’ve built over the years, and it fits my room (medium), and the sound I’ve been after has been realized. I am guilty of concentrating on the main components of my system, and not paying much attention to what connects them. And, I’m in the hunt to upgrade my line stage…Maybe? So, what to do first, and perhaps I can hold off on the second option entirely? My budget is under $6,000 for either one.

I’m still an analog guy, even though I do have a DAC, Streamer, and NAS. My concentration here is for my phono playback. My interconnects and cables are old, but even so, each time I’ve upgraded a main component I have heard definite and sometimes significant improvement. Whenever I purchased interconnects/cables in the past, they were always decent ones at the time.

Option 1 - I’m looking at replacing the following interconnects/cables for my phono playback…

Turntable, Arm, Cartridge: Upgraded TW Acustic Raven, Ortofon RS 309D, Ortofon Verismo

               Current Phono Cable: Cardas Cross

Phono Stage: Tron Seven with the Reference caps

               Current Interconnect to Line Stage: Cardas Cross Reference

Line Stage: Boulder L3AE and recently upgraded the caps by Boulder

               Current Interconnect to Amps: Crystal Piccolo

Amps: TW Acustic 300B Monoblocks

               Current Speaker Cable: WireWorld Silver (original)

Option 2 - My system is fully unbalanced, so when considering a line stage, I don’t want to pay extra for designs that benefit from using the balanced side when I won’t be using that. One consideration for replacing my Boulder, is the Audible Illusions L3B.

So, which option might you choose if you could only choose one? And, what might you go with?

Thanks,

Kenny

kennythekey

Showing 4 responses by pindac

@kennythekey I have over the past few year carried out my own investigations in Cables produced using PC Triple C Wire and D.U.C.C Wire as the Signal Path.

What did I learn immediately through the trials and increasing the Cables using these Wire Types, to be extended through the System.

Digital is going to show a increased noticeability that a Signal Path has undergone a change of Wire Type. Analogue is less noticeable and requires a little extra attention to the listening, or even a little extra for the Cable to Burn In, before the changes that are occurring are perceived in a way a reasonable assessment can be made.

The same also goes for Power Cables produced using these same Wires, I myself strongly suggest that Power Cables are not overlooked.

I have wrote on the Gon on a few occasions about my usage of these Wires and how my loaning them into other Systems impacted on those who were receiving demo's. The use of PC Triple C Wire spread quite fast through a Forum Hifi Community in the UK, especially to the point, other ideas for the usage of it evolved and it become a Signal Path Wire throughout the system, as Umbilical and Internal Hook Up.

As a Wire impacting on a System, in a nutshell, it will remove veiled sound, opening up a more Voluminous Soundstage, deeper and wider is usually detectable after a short period of Burn In.

In use for myself and others who have adopted the wire, the general discussion makes it known how the perception of a increased lucidity through the sound produced, improves the Envelope, Attack, Dynamics, Micro Details. Once these traits are discovered to have manifested, when returning to previously used Cables, even allowing for  a period of settlement, in all cases I know, the old cables used are Superseded with Triple C Wire used.

I have shown through the Links the most budget entry to being able to experience the Wire.

I started my investigation with the Cart' Tag Wires.

SAEC also use this Wire in their most recent produced $13K Tonearm

PC Triple C / EX is also an option, especially if Silver is seen to have an importance.  

 

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/auction/yahoo/input/h1143602773/

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/https%3A%2F%2Fjp.mercari.com%2Fitem%2Fm48219969165/13_1/

https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/https%3A%2F%2Fjp.mercari.com%2Fitem%2Fm15020742609/13_1/

 https://www.fromjapan.co.jp/japan/en/special/order/confirm/audio9:10000582/2_1/        

I think Furutech have secured all the ACW 11 Wire Bulk Purchase, as this has vanished from the market place. It is a loss for DIY Cable Builders not having an option on Purchasing this wire outside of a Big Name Brand.

A Furutech equivalent Cable, using the same Wire and ones own connector choice had a substantial saving to the advertised Big Brand Pricing.     

@kennythekey It is pleasing to see you have the idea if producing a Build Your Own Cable as an option. Substantial monies are to be saved, even when using Connectors that are known to be an upgrade to how the signal passes through them.

@kennythekey An analogy, In nearly all cases a flea on a dogs back, keep safe beyond the gnaw area of the dog and will never ascend the hair to get a view of the outside world, the flea usually spends it life down under on the dogs skin.

Very rarely a flea ascends a hair and sees the real world and all it has to offer.

Are you not feeling like such an individual in relation to Audio Equipment, where your route is not the typical Investigation and Purchases made that were the end result?

I certainly feel an affinity to such types of individual.