2. amps-preamps
  3. 125266-6042

Thoughts on my current system

Good evening all,

I am in the process of moving in the next couple of months and might be making some changes to my current system.  Any thoughts and or recommendations would be greatly appreciated.  

System is as follows:

Amp: Aragon 8008 mk 2.....I do have an Parasound Halo A21 that is sitting in a closet.  Basically brand new
Pre amp: Audio Research LS17 se 
Source: Cary CDP 1 cd player
Speakers: Sonus Faber Venere 3.0
Wattgate 381 outlet
Speaker cables: Acoustic Zen Satori Shotgun
Interconnects: Acoustic Zen Matrix Ref mk.ii XLR 
Shunyata PS8/Defender with Zitron Alpha HC 20amp
Shunyata Zitron Viper for source
JPS Labs Pac Black for Amp & Pre amp

Everything is plugged into the PS8 including the Amp. 

Thank you in advance. 
  


adiorio
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

Yes, another vote.  At least connect the amp directly to the wall outlet.  The amps need a LOT of current and that is restricted by the power conditioner.  Also, amplifiers are less sensitive to conditioning, when compared to preamps and sources.  They have an enormous transformer and capacitor bank to help with filtering.

I looked over your equipment list and I see that every single piece has Class A circuits (CD, preamp and amp).  That's a LOT of Class A in the signal chain, in my opinion.  Do you feel that you want more clarity in the sound?  Generally, in my experience, too much Class A in the signal chain will start to remove clarity and crispness in the sound.  Sure, the music will become fuller with more bass/midbass, but it can start to get muddy and "separation of instruments" will begin to suffer. 

I like to have just one/two Class A devices in my audio chain, usually just a Class A preamp.  Then the amp and source should be standard circuits (not Class A).  The Parasound is biased high into Class A (I don't know how much) like the 8008.  I believe the 8008 had a bias of 26 watts into Class A.

auxinput
2,920 posts
 
Oh, just figured out that the JPS Labs Pac Black  power cords are using the Wattgate brass A/C and IEC connectors as well.  You will probably want to replace these connectors with something like the Furutech connectors.  Use unplated copper for the AC male and gold-plated for the IEC.
adiorio OP
33 posts
 
Yes that is true.  The Aragon 8008bb is class A to 26 watts and a larger power supply than the A21.  You might be right about the class A theory.  
adiorio OP
33 posts
 
I never heard this about the Wattgate connectors but I will look into it and check out some other options.  Thank you.  
auxinput
2,920 posts
 

I don’t know if you would find anything on the net about brass connectors. I just happened to discover it after some different combinations. I actually had Hubbell brass plugs and Hubbell brass outlets on my main home theater system for the longest time. On a completely different system, I had just happen to put in a power cord with the Wattgate brass plugs and all of a sudden I said "hey, this is the same type of sound I’m getting in my home theater" -- it was not a good sound. That’s how I discovered the effects of brass components.

Here’s a link to some of my impressions on Furutech/Neotech connectors:


https://forum.audiogon.com/discussions/furutech-vs-neotech-gold-plated-schuko-sound-quality

More to discover