In my digital only system, my 2024 DAC upgrade was very impactful. Get the very best DAC you can afford and it will be money well spent. HNY and good listening in 2025. Rick N
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Hello and Happy New Year,
I returned to the warmth of tubes with the addition of a Prima Luna EVO 400 integrated amp for my music system rig. I added a HSU VTF-TN1 sub primarily for the movie surround to add more low end as an adjunct to my smaller/older HSU VTF-MK 2. For more details on the subs you might check out
https://HSURESEARCH.COM
I'm fortunate to reside about 30 minutes from Dr. Hsu's facility. He's a brilliant engineer (MIT PHD) designing, building subs for over 40 years and loves to talk subwoofer. Oh and he answers the phone (or his main assistant, Kevin. Enjoy the music!
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I finally retired my 27 year-old bridged Rotel RB-980BX amps and 15 year-old Rotel RC 1580 pre-amp with PS Audio BHK 300 amps and BHK Signature pre-amp (they really make the La Scalas sing). The Rotels served me well for almost 3 decades so the BHKs should last longer than I will.
Now for a streamer...it's always something.
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Power Supply upgrade for my BlueSound Node N130. I did the PD Creative first and it made a significant difference. Then I saw a picture of the LHY board covered with capacitors and decided to upgrade again. This upgrade also made a noticeable improvement in sound quality. Both upgrades are highly recommended depending upon how much you want to spend.
Prior to the upgrade, I felt that the Node sounded flat and lacking in top end compared to my CDP to the point that I couldn’t listen very long without getting distracted. The Node with the upgrades still doesn’t match my Raysonic tubed CDP, but it is much closer, and I can enjoy listening for extended periods.
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Furutech NCF Clear Line AC Power Supply Optimizer
I already own a Furutech very high end wall outlet. Adding this little device Did make a small difference. Seemed to have help smooth out upper mid range.
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Hard to decide between them, but these 3 were the best upgrades in 2024
(1) Aric Audio Motherlode XL tube preamp
(2) Aric Audio Transcend "Push Pull" EL 34 tube amplifier
(3) CODA S5.5 solid state amplifier
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My upgrade is coming in Jan 2025. A pair of Mur audio SP1 speakers. Can’t wait
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I changed a VPI table for a Dr Feickert Volare and I am very pleased.
I also added a 2nd Plinius SA102 amp that feeds my Canton Ref 3K speakers.
I think I am done.
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I added five new WyWires Platinum power cords, a Furutech GTX-D Gold receptical and a Snake River Boomslang digital cable.
N
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Vivid Giya 2 v2 speakers...love them!
Shunyata Denali 6000 v2 w Sigma v2 XC power cable...really opened up one of my systems...
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I have 2, pair of burmester 218 amps and the airtight opus 1 cartridge, my main system is now complete
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SIM audio 861 amplifier, huge difference from my SIM audio w8 even as good as it is.
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PS Audio Stellar Gold preamp, Cambridge EXN100 streamer.
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Parasound JC5 power amplifier and McIntosh C46 preamp. Now, I have lots of back-up power for low volume listening and then have the ability to tweak sound with that equalizer on the C46. Significant difference from my old amps & preamps!
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I made 2 significant changes. One was my analog setup. I added an EAR MC-4 SUT and Phonobox phono preamp. I never had a SUT before, and maybe the sound is colored, but I enjoy listening to LP's much more with the addition. The bigger change was speakers. A year or two ago I got Devore O96 speakers that I've been very happy with. But I was always curious about single driver speakers, so I took advantage of an opportunity to buy a new pair of discontinued Cube Bliss C speakers at a great price. I haven't gone back to the Devores since and added a REL T9/X subwoofer. It's a more neutral sound and I love the pureness and detail of the sound with single driver speakers. None of the drawbacks I've heard about. Now I'm debating whether to try a lower powered DHT amp like 45 or 2A3 or 300b. Not sure whether they will have enough power to drive these speakers which are 92 db.
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That would be the only gear I bought this year, Modhouse Tungsten DS headphones along with the Enleum HPA23 RMH headphone amp that went with it....
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A bought, on Audiogon, an empire 698 turntable in mint condition. I love everything about it.!
steve Girko
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Playback Designs MPD-8 with USB-X4.
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Hifi rose RS130, almost got the Aurender N200 but I’m one of those that enjoy the esthetics as much as the sound. I’m very happy with my choice
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Just bought a Wiim Ultra and set it up. Very easy setup. Great app.
I bought it to replace an old MacBook Pro circa 1012 that was just in the way of my setup set on my LP rack.
Nice looking, seems well built. Using this as a streamer only as I love my MHDT DAC. Via Coax, havent tried the USB yet.
Sound is better than the MacBook which went USB to a Schitt Eitr to the DAC. And i attached a small HD via the USB port on the Ultra and it is a dream to use
The EQ app made the sound a bit richer.
Very impressed with the unit and the price
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Upgraded mc901 mac mono small tubes to nos telefunken from brent jesse. Otherwise quiet year.
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Van Den Hul - The Grail phono. Absolutely wonderful.
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Got the MSB Digital Director for my Premeir DAC. Great unit. Really glad I got it.
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The main two were: Antipodes K21 streamer/server and Innuos Phoenix USB.
Then ASUS RT-AX86U Pro router and Stack Audio SmoothLan
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KORG DSD 10R for FINALLY completing my LP, Cassette, and Reel to Reel archiving project...
(I hope)
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Started the year with
Benchmark AHB2 amp, DAC3 and HPA4 Pre.
ATC SCM11 Speakers and Blue Jeans Cables using my MacBook as a streamer.
Ended the year with
Accuphase P4600 amp, MSB Discrete DAC (using it as a Pre as well), Aurender N20 Streamer and Harbeth C7ES-XD speakers and all DH Lab cables. Also a Shunyata Gemini 8 Power Conditioner.
So complete turnover. Results wonderful. Enjoying it every day with no inclination to change anything.
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Triangle Magellan 40th Anniversary Duetto speakers. Fabulous speakers!
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Spent this past year focusing on the lower frequency range with the purchase of a REL Classic 98 and Decware ZRock3 (ZR3). The Decware is a simple two slope tube equalizer that I’ve simply fell in love with over the past few months due to the weight (expected) and liquidity (unexpected) it’s brought to my system. The wait was long for the ZR3, but worth it.
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Several things for me.
Two iFi Active Power Stations - did a great job at cleaning up power issues and really opened up the sound of my system.
Rolling tubes in my LTA microZOTL pre - took a wonderful preamp to a whole new level. Telefunken ECC801s and CBS/Hytron VT231s.
HumminGuru record cleaner (the latest model) - so easy to use and has me listening to vinyl nonstop. Just love it.
ZenWave DSR 4.2 interconnects - remarkable in so many ways. Imaging, their ability to let my other equipment shine, openness, dynamics. Demoing Dave’s PSR power cable now as well.
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Antipodes Audio Oladra music server and the Trinnov Altitude 16 AV preamp.
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Some nice gear in this thread. ... i should add a great accessory, Sofabaton X1S Remote.
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Coda S5.5 class A stereo amp.
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That’s easy, KEF Reference 3 Meta speakers…
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Klipsch Cornwalls. a party in a box (or two).
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Without a doubt the Raven preamplifier from Spatial Audio. The brainchild of talented designers Don Sachs and Lynn Olson, the Raven is end game for me. I hope my kids enjoy it as much as I do. Also, new interconnects- Paul Speltz level 5.3 balanced XLR AntiCables. These are amazing cables and very reasonably priced. Next up new tube amps to pair with the Raven.
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Zesto Audio Andros II Deluxe phono stage…
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Wow, what a diverse amount of gear changes! Thanks all for your contributions.
2024 saw a major front end upgrade at my house.
1. Nagaoka MP-500 cartridge
2. Teddy Pardo power supply for my Bluesound N130 streamer - really made a noticeable improvement.
3. Chord Qutest DAC
Also added a Shunyata Alpha HC Ztron power cable from wall to my power conditioner/distributor which made the biggest, most mysterious and most wonderful change in the sound of my system of any cable I have built or bought.
kn
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Aurender N200 is an amazing improvement over Oppo 105. Adding the Triode Wire Labs "Passion" USB cable gives the most realistic digital I've ever had.
Thanks,
aldnorab
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1) Full system grounding with SR AG Block SE and loom of HD cables
2) SoundSmith Hyperion MR
3) SME 3012r tonearm (waiting on my custom mount to arrive to add as arm #3)
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1. Aurender n150
2. Mcintosh c2700 tube preamp.
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Linear Tube Audio MicroZOTL level 2 preamp and Gustard X30 dac.
Also a clock, ddc, and various cables, but the preamp and dac were the biggest improvements.
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1 Dynaudio Confidence 20 stand mount speakers which replaced Elac Adante AF-61 towers.
2 Luxman L-509Z Integrated Amplifier which replaced a McIntosh MA6500 Integrated Amplifier.
3 Jay’s Audio CDT2-MK3 CD transport which replaced an Audiolab CDT6000 transport.
4 Shunyata Hydra Triton power conditioner which replaced a Fuhrman Elite 15PFI.
5 Solidsteel HF5 audio rack which replaced a Salamander Archetype rack.
6 GIK Acoustics corner bass traps.
I did a major overhaul of my system in 2024 and finally arrived at my “End Game” system, at least for now 😁.
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I couldn’t find a used Linear Tube Audio Z40+ but did find an audio research i50, now looking to replace the tubes. 2025 >I’m thinking of Pure Audio Project Trio Classic Speakers and maybe my two year wait on a Decware amplifier will appear.
Houston I have a problem.
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New gear 2024
I have 2 systems.
System 1
Laiv Harmony DAC
Nordost speaker cables
Trident Ribbon Cable Elevators
System 2 - reference
Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC
Silversmith Fidelium biwire speaker cables (connected to Treo CTs)
Trident Ribbon Cable Elevators
Nordost cable loom
Nordost QBASE Mark III AC Distribution Unit
Furutech Ultimate Nano-Crystal Rhodium-Plated AC Duplex Receptacle
Furutech wall plate and outlet cover
Speakers Isolation system
speaker sliders
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Wow, lots of nice new gear - congrats!
Much to my chagrin, I've had nearly no time for audiophilia this year. But, recently managed to pick up a mint Sutherland 20/20 phono pre to replace my Phonomena II. So far, with limited listening time not a huge difference but an upgrade IMO. Slightly smoother presentation and dead quiet. I think I'd like a little more oomph though. Maybe try a MC cart on my Rega p6? Or perhaps a tube pre?
Some nice vinyl finds also.
Looking forward to scrounging some more listening time in '25.
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A PS Audio Airlens and DirectStream DAC Mk 1. I finally started streaming and this combo sounds great and made it easy.
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Linear Tube Audio MZ2. I bought it used for a great price and got lucky to boot. It's one of the last ones built and the circuitry is closer to the MZ3. Just a beautiful sounding piece.
Bryston 3B Cubed. An upgrade to my Parasound A23+.
SVS PB2000 PRO Sub.
PD Creative LPS for my Node 2i.
Marchand Electronics Balanced HPF. Part of my experiment with low end control. No longer using it in favor of a another unit.
White Instruments Model 4856 Active Equalizer. This replaced the HPF. It has a HPF built in.
I also built new crossovers for my Vintage JBL 4311s.
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