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Yes, another audiophile at a crossroads story and request for advice

I find as I’m rapidly approaching retirement that 2 competing thoughts about enjoying music after i retire. First, Im really looking forward to having the time to relax and listen to music any day of the week (not just the weekend now). Second, I don’t expect to be continue any significant investment in equipment upgrades post bringing home a paycheck. 
My current system consists of a 30+ year old Linn LP12 with Linn cartridge and Vincent PHO-701 tube phono pre-amp. I only listen to analog when i want to enjoy an album i bought in the 60’s - 80’s. 
90+% of my listening is streaming Tidal using Roon via Roon Nucleus, Lumin D2 as a streamer only, feeding a RME ADI-2-FS DAC. 
i still enjoy my CD collection (9% of my listening) and still purchase CDs) on a Primaluna tube CD player. 
All these are connected to a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amp with original primaluna tubes from Upscale Audio.  My speakers are the original Joseph Audio Perspectives (not the graphene version). 
Power and interconnect cables are mid-level grade and power management via Niagara 1200. 
i listen mostly to instrumental jazz. 
This system is enjoyable, but I’m missing the last elements of sound details that reproduce an accurate organic sense of hearing guitar strings being plucked or picked, drum sticks hitting/tapping membranes or brass cymbals, the sound of a string base wood cavity vibrate. Hopefully that describes what im looking for. I do not like hyper/etched detail especially in the upper frequencies. 
I will add that the Primaluna CD player is the most enjoyable source of the 3 I currently.  Oh, and i also want to simplify my system. 
So, if you come with me this far to the intersection, heres what im debating. Should i chunk the integrated and Perspectives and invest in a top notch set of headphones (like the Focal Clear MG) and dedicated headphone amp?  In other words go to a headphone system. Or should i go the route of chucking all but the Perspectives and the Nucleus and invest in a high quality Roon approved integrated amp with built in DAC/Streamer?

ezstreams

Showing 3 responses by williewonka

williewonka
3,071 posts
 

@ezstreams - You said your Power and Interconncet cables are "mid Level"

What are you speaker cables?

My own system has been elevated to amazing levels of details with the introduction of highly detailed cables that consist of...

  • Advanced cable geometry
    • this improves clarity and lowers the noise floor of the system
  • OCC solid copper and OCC solid silver (for IC’s only) wires
    • this improved details and dynamics pf the sistem
  • Advanced insulation materials and application techniques
    • this reduced noise introduced bat lesser insulations and improves the the clarity of the system

For more details on cables take a look at 

The cables are the arteries of the system, if they are not performing to the highest levels then the whole system is not sounding as good as it could.

I have improved the sound of systems ranging from a $300 mini system to systems over $70k, just by introducing excellent cables

If you are into DIY take a look at my cables...

Otherwise take a look a Zavfino cables or Hijiri cables

  • both have excelllent threads in this forum where you can read the opinions of others

Hope you find your way - Steve

 

williewonka
3,071 posts
 

@ezstreams - cable science has advanced considerably in the last few years and it is very difficult without knowing the science, to determine which cables may be affective.

You are probably due for an upgrade, so it might be good to familiarize yourself with the design approach of the brands mentioned.

For a more budget oriented approach take a look at Audio Envy cables, they may be a very good to start to your quest

 

Regards, Steve

williewonka
3,071 posts
 

@ezstreams - your Morrow cables are actually quite good from a design perspective, but they are still using OFC, which is little dated compared to OCC copper, but you should be able to sell them quite easily because they have a good reputation for quality/effectiveness.

I just took a look at Audio Envy products and it seems they have some very nice products and I think their speaker cables would make a noticeable improvement compared to the Morrow cables.

There are of course many other fine cables out there, but you do have to know a bit more about cable materials/insulation/geometries in order to discern good from bad designs.

I would start by upgrading your speaker cables and then introduce interconncts and finally power cables because "we humans" tend to attribute an improvements to the last "component" (I view cables as a component) introduced into a system. Having good speaker cables allows you to hear just how much improvement was achieved by introducing other cables like interconnects and power cables.

Power cables would be the last thing I would upgrade because the improvements tend to be more subtle and less noticeable, especially when applied to main power amps. This is because the power supplies tend to be designed to match the power requirements, whereas source components tend to have a less "robust" power supply, so attaching a good power cable would make a noticeable improvement

Hope that helps - Steve

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