Sounds like it’s one major jump up in sound quality for your system, congratulations Phil! BTW, really love the looks of those speakers!
Clifton, you have to try them in your system.
They are unbelievable.
Maybe some day Phil, but right now I really have my hands full with these Wilson Alexia 2’s.
Here’s a picture of what my system looks like right now.
Here I thought you were using all of that expensive kit to run those Polks next to the TV in the previous photo…
Sorry about that, I should of shown this picture sooner, but I didn’t have everything hooked up yet. No, those Polk subwoofers are part of the TV speaker system, they’re self powered.
Whew! You had me going there…
I plug the Ansuz Sortz RCA back and forth. I also have Xangsane grounding boxes with RCA. The difference is small on the mono power amplifiers, and I’ve currently connected the Xangsane again. I’m now trying out the Sortz RCA signature on the analog and digital inputs and outputs of the Marantz Link 10n. I already have a Sortz USB for digital input which has given me a big improvement. The Sortz for LAN also seem to offer me a benefit. At the moment I’m tending to plug the Sortz RCA into the digital RCA inputs and outputs in addition to the Sortz USB. I am of the opinion that it is the digital part of the system that benefits from this and has the greater impact on the sound. More calm and precision with more realism seem to be the advantages. More depth and layers in the soundstage.
There are subtleties on the way to the perfect music experience. I think a sortz in the digital part is enough and there is no need to overdo it.
Good to know Sortz make more impact on digital since that is all I have now. The question remains whether RCA is as effective as USB for your n10. If you replace the Sortz USB with RCA, is there any change in SQ?
The Sortz in the digital area seem to give the stage image more depth than in the analog area, which just sounds a little cleaner. Donald, I don’t think there’s much difference whether it’s connected to digital RCA or USB. It also depends on which connections are still unused. With the RCA connections it is possible to use them on digital and analogue inputs and outputs.
Luca also has his digital director who is supposed to clean up the digital part. Maybe the Sortz will do something similar and help reduce the noise level in the digital realm. The Sortz-Lan also have an influence. With Sortz it sounds cleaner and the depth effect is increased. The effect is similar to that of muon Pro.
Thanks! Good to know there’s not much a difference between USB and RCA input. I will look for a used Sortz RCA should it ever shows up.
The Sortz Basic costs half the price of the Sortz Signature. I think that the Basic already delivers good results. The Signature offers a certain softness in addition to the basic. It is questionable whether this is necessary and whether you need or can hear the difference. It’s really just a small difference that may not be necessary in the system. Even the Basic ensures peace and a clearer, defined, natural sound. The Signature has slightly softer edges in the transients. You just have to compare one to one and pay attention to it. I just connected a Furutech DPS 4.1 to my Marantz Link 10n instead of the Audioquest Dragon Source. No difference like day and night. The Dragon has a clear, sharply defined tone and a very open, wide sound image. The Furutech DPS-4.1 offers more depth in the image, the lower bass range is slightly stronger. It is more raw than the finely playing Dragon. I don’t feel any differences in terms of dynamics. The Dragon is more hi-fi and the Dps-4.1 sounds more coherent, not quite as sharp, more like music and less technical than the Dragon. The Dps-4.1 seems to handle the timbre better. The audience in live recordings is more realistic. It’s not immediately obvious, it’s subtleties. That’s pretty much how it is with the sortz Basic and Signature. Like the DPS 4.1, the Signature has slightly softer edges and the Basic, like the Dragon, is technically at the highest level. Maybe this description will help. Both are fun and the differences are a matter of taste.
Greetings Andreas
The morning in the Bay Area can get cold around this time of the year, and this morning walk I was surprised to see more walkers in the trail (38F). Everyone wants to get out before the rain starts again. I hope my golf tomorrow will not be too wet.
Still, I read your email, so I need to get out of audio hibernation to reply (it is impossible to stop reading here ). The Basic is selling for around $800 in the US, and Signature is around $1,600. But occasionally they showed up in the resale market. This tweak does not excite me like others. Maybe I have tried too many of them and know their limits. So, I will not be buying one is a hurry. Thanks for the info.
I thought I’d provide an update, for anyone who may have been wondering. For me, the Gold Note PH-10 and its power supply was not able to displace my XP-17. I will say it is an amazing phono preamp for its capabilities - two inputs, XLR and RCA outs, multiple EQ curves, all at a price that is quite nice. But, in my system it just didn’t bring the same level of musical enjoyment as the Pass. I even tried different ICs and power cords. Too bad, as it otherwise brings a lot to the table. The search will continue, I guess.
I listened again with and without Ansuz Sortz. The digital sector benefits most clearly. The Sortz in the digital part of my Marantz Link 10n ensure blackness and a clean, controlled, clear playing style. The Sortz LANs primarily increase the soundstage image and provide a deeper soundstage.
I saw one German dealer has a few demo Sortz for sale, and I sent him an email asking if they ship to US. If they do I may get one to try.
If it’s the dealer who sold the Sortz at half price, then he doesn’t have many of them left. A silent member here and I bought up almost all of his remaining shares. You’re looking for RCA Signature strains; A private seller offers some in Kleinanzeigen ads in Germany. I’ve been thinking about whether I need more. Wait, I think the six Sortz I have should be enough for now.
Gerade bei #Kleinanzeigen gefunden. Wie findest du das?
ABS male input will work for digital input on MU2 too, so let’s see if he responds.
I also want to mention that I replaced Puritan PSM156 with a cheap old conditioner for upstairs router/modem. I first thought my system sounded a bit grey, bu fuller. There’s like .1% difference. My wife and daughter (without knowing what I did) said the SQ is exactly the same. Mind you I use a Orbi satellite downstairs so it’s WiFi between router and the sat. So, maybe there’s no difference on noise isolation in my case. That’s a very good news actually.
I send you a PM.
Please check.
The last status he told me was that he still has them. I still have the following sortz: 1x XLR Female classic 2x XLR Female Supreme 1x XLR Female Signature 1x XLR Male Classic 1x XLR Male Supreme 1x USB A Classic 1x USB A Signature
I was curious, so I looked them up. I’m not sure I saw the right Sortz thing but they seem to range between $800 to $1600 each. Is that correct?