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. 

128x128audphile1

What a great thread!

1. Cube Audio Nenuphars 10’’ monitors + 12’’ sub. Widebanders at their best. 

2. SoundKaos Vox3A speakers, the best compact speaker I know of  

3. Enleum Amp23R amplifier … a worthy successor to the Bakooon Amp12R, in my book the best 20W SS around 

4. Icon 4SE passive pre-amplifier… the king the rules them all, have configured mine wirh >40hz / <40hz filters for enhanced sub integration

5. Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC… take the best DAC your know and add an analogue character.  My turntable has taken dust since its arrival. 

6. Grimm MU1 streamer, the best companion to the Tambaqui I have found

7. Puritan PCM156 ac/dc purifier, lowers noise, increases dynamics whilst not coloring the signal in any way 

 

Request Audio Beast Server. It replaced an MSB Signature V DAC with Signature Transport. 

The difference is unbelieveble

Townshend Audio Seismic Podiums (for 2020 it was Townshend Allegri Reference), my two greatest upgrades !!! (see my system pics).

Shunyata Cobra ztron power cable for the Triton to Audio Envy Mega 10th gen. power cable