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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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jmarini2's avatar
jmarini2
52 posts
 

Audio Musikraft Lithium/Aluminum headshell w/Jatoba wood inserts, stuffed with the guts of a Denon DL-103R.  Breathed a whole new life into my vintage Pioneer SX-1250/Denon DP-59L system with Ohm T1000 speakers.

riccitone
219 posts
 

This year,

Got some Quad S2‘’s at great price. Even on cheap sand filled stands, they sound really glorious. Then upgraded to a Topping D70s. What an outstanding and rather overlooked dac! Hits way above its price point.

Listening space is small, but hoping to get a Rel t5/x after I control some of the room modes.

Curious about those Nobsound springs. Have had them in my Amazon shopping cue for a while. Great to see that many here have gotten improvements with them, so now I’ll need to try them too!

Cheap and cheerful! 👍🏼

brskie
67 posts
 

Upgraded from a pair of 21yr. old Thiel CS2.3 to Vandersteen Quatro CT yesterday. With less than 24hrs. on them, I am grinning from ear to ear with  how much more musical they sound. The active bass really does demonstrate how fundamental those low frequencies are to the music.

vladtheimpala
99 posts
 

NAD Master Series M32 integrated amplifier with Bluos expansion module. Purchased at clearance price of 45% discount due to end of product life as it has been recently replaced by the newly released M33. Happiness is.

bmontani
192 posts
 

Upgraded my preamp to a Pass XP-32.  Nice upgrade.  This is a wonderfully detailed and natural sounding SS pre.  Very, Very quiet.  Great sound stage and wonderful imaging both right and left and front and back.  My previous pre was a Cary SPL 05 with the SE upgrade, which was great but all in all not at the level of the Pass.  The Pass lets me hear deeper into the music and makes my speakers and room totally disappear.  Also, nice not having to drop $$$$ on vintage NOS 6SN7 tubes.  Also, upgraded to Nordost Tyr II speaker cables from Frey II.  More expansive sound stage and more micro detail.  Very happy with the new additions.  

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