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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 zlone

zlone
418 posts
 

Nice system. I think I know what you are looking for sound-wise, I am a jazz listener and it is my goal as well. I don't have any hard answers, but a few things come to mind.

- Your DAC reviews well, but have you tried anything else? Maybe an R2R? How does it sound if you use the embedded DAC in the Lumin?

- Since you like your CD player best, are you using the internal DAC there or sending the signal to the RME DAC?

- Are you running ethernet or are you using wireless for streaming? 

- The one cable that might be a big upgrade and get you closer to your desired sound is the SPDIF cable between streamer and DAC. What are you currently using?

 

zlone
418 posts
 

SPDIF cable is not high or mid end based on recommendation of the customer technical support person i purchased from. He said it was a waste of money to spend more  there. 

It sounds like you have done your homework on the DAC and it is to your liking. I will disagree with your technical support person regarding the digital cable. While not a solution to all of your problems, I highly recommend you do some research and try going up the chain a bit there. My system improved when I upgraded this cable.

One follow up question, when you listen to jazz on your vinyl setup, do you hear more of the sound you are looking for?

zlone
418 posts
 

Do you have one you would recommend for my current system and sound goals?

I am deeply ashamed (not really) admit that the best one I have heard to date was a Neardost from AliExpress. I had used two or three other cables before that, but when I put this one in the mix, the clouds parted and the sun shined. I understand if you don't want to go that route, but if so I can give you specifics. Alternatively I was recently given a recommendation to try the Acoustic Zen MC2, there are some good deals on the used market for this cable. 

I got into jazz about 15 years ago, all my records were bought ~ 10 to 15 years before that so all my jazz physical media is on CD. 

I started listening to jazz seriously about five years ago and have been improving my system to get more of the same instrumental information that you are seeking, and have been fairly successful. Maybe try something acoustic on vinyl to see if it has more of the feel you are looking for. Sorry to belabor the point, but your situation is somewhat confounding given the quality of your equipment. It reminds me of the sound of my early, jitter-rich digital system compared to where it is now. So, trying to eliminate the digital entirely and see if you hear more of the instrumental details you are looking for in the analog world, which would narrow the focus of where the problems live.

 

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