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Products you added to your system in 2021 that made most impact to your music enjoyment

As 2021 comes to an end, just thought it would be cool to share some of the most impactful audio upgrades in your system this year?
Here’s my top 5 list…

1. Pass Labs XP-12: Upgrade path was from Rogue RP-1 to Rogue RP-5 and then to Pass XP-12 that was the final touch. Huge improvements across the board. Mates well with my Rogue ST-100 tube amp.

2. Phono Cartridge: Goldring E3 MM to Hana EL MC. Clarity, presentation, dynamics in spades!

3. Phono Pre: From the built in phono pre in RP-1 and RP-5 to MoFi UltraPhono to Sutherland KC Vibe MkII. Lowered noise floor, increased resolution, dynamics. The KC Vibe MkII is almost double the cost of the MoFi and it’s the one of the few upgrades where an improvement was proportional to the cost difference. At least in my system. Records that seemed noisy become more listenable. A great little phono pre. 

4. Audience AU24sx speaker cables. These speaker cables are a clear window into a recording. Nothing hidden, nothing exaggerated. 

5. Power Cords: Acoustic Zen Gargantua for preamp and amp. Lower noise floor, increased resolution, natural sound, expanded soundstage

Honorable mentions:

1. Acoustic Zen Absolute Copper interconnects. In my opinion the AZ cables don’t get the respect they deserve on these forums anymore, overshadowed by some of the “flavor of the day” newcomers (without going into specifics on brands).

2. Puritan PSM156 power conditioner. 
3. Supra Cat8 Ethernet cable.

4. Lumin U1 Mini

5. MoFi LP#9 Stylus Cleaner. Better than the Onzo ZeroDust although I still use the Onzo between the sides. 

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zyphryx
128 posts
 

I made a huge leap from a Musical Fidelity V90 phono stage to Manley Chinook. A few months later upgraded from a Project Debut Carbon TT with an Ortofon Red to a VPI Super Prime Scout with an Ortofon Black. I should not be surprised by the difference in outcomes given the leap but I still can't get over the difference.

elliottbnewcombjr
5,176 posts
 

I’m DONE! (for 2021)

It all added up in immeasurable increments, never sounded better

99.9999 copper speaker wires and interconnects, locking rca connectors, McIntosh mx110z tube tuner/preamp overhaul by Audio Classics; Cayin a88t bias by VAS; 16 ohm L-Pads replacing 8 ohm pots; and finally I bought a sound meter to balance/refine the speaker’s L-Pads (it ain’t easy) for the best sound ever.

Then, I finally succeeded in finding a ’new to me’ CD Player that is the best sounding one I ever had. That makes your whole CD collection new, what a treat. Integra CDC-3.4 mark II, combo of dual wolfson dacs and integra additives does it for me.

Finally, my friend is a grammy winning music producer, I got the fun of his company and the gift of his ears (and years of experience) to refine the speaker’s L-Pad adjustments.

djones51
4,947 posts
 

Got rid of everything but the speakers and Limin U1 mini, looking to get rid of that by end of the year and going direct streaming to speakers over ethernet. 

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