For those looking for a stand alone streamer, I wholeheartly recomment the Esoteric N-03t. Best sounding streamer in my experience! Here’s a really good deal on one.
https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lisbg446-esoteric-n-03t-network-audio-transport-mint-transports
I get it, now!
I hate falling prey to my own weapon, sarcasm! But that’s what happens when one deploys the smug filter. My apologies sir.
It’s a beauty! Might you have the same or perhaps an Innuos?
I have the same. I also had an Esoteric N-01XD, Grandioso N1X, Aurender N10, N20, temporary in my place and guess what, the N-03T beat them all as far as sound quality goes. The Grandioso,we had to play the files off it internal memory storage because that’s how it works. When you play a file, it downloads it automatically and plays through it’s internal drive. The Aurenders also played music through it’s internal drives. My N-03T does not have an internal drive. I play music from a NAS through a SR UEF Switch and Muon Pro filter and SR Galileo Discovery ethernet cable. Maybe that is why the N-03T can beat all the other streamers. That’s my guess.
Here’s a picture of my N-03T.
I’d say you’ve had several holy grails fit for a Pharaoh’s lifetime. Good work. Your 2023 system looks incredible.
Not a problem.
I’ve decided to give stealth a try after hearing so many good things about it here in this forum, especially from my good buddy Mr.@aangen. It’s a Stealth Dream V.18 UNI 2m power cord 15A. Now I get to compare it to my SR Galileo SX power cords and see what the differences are. I actually brought it for my new Playback Designs Dream SACD transport shipping by the end of this week, Mike just told me.
Looking forward to your comparison! I really like their dream 2020 for power zone/amp and CGLE for sources. Dream V18 was on my radar at one point so I’m interested in your review.
Here’s something interesting. Dream 2020 took over 1000 hours to reach its peak, but CGLE took way less time around 300 hours (don’t remember). My guess is V18 fits in between so gives it 500 hours before final evaluation ![]()
The Dream 18 is a dealer demo, so I don’t think break-in is needed, but settle in time will be necessary. The Playback Designs SACD tranport is brand new, so that will require a lengthly break-in. I will compare it to my SR Galileo SX that is powering my Playback Designs Dac at the moment first. I am really eager to find out what this Stealth sounds like.
My Dream 18 UNI (which Al says isn’t as good as the “regular” Dream 18) is no better or worse than my Audience Front Row (not Reserve). They’re just different, but comparable. Each has taken a unique place in my system, with swaps between the two indicating neither will replace the other in its selected location. YMMV.
With so many tweaks already implemented in my system, the difference between two premium power cords will probably be minuscule. But I like to be surprised.
Does your Dream 18 have the needed 6 month break-in time?
I stopped counting after 8,000 hours. It was at that point that my hemorrhoids were cured and I discovered the cure for male pattern baldness, so I figured I finally got there.
Yup, 8,000 should do it. Did you hear a brief whizzing sound signifying the break-in?
I think that might have been one of my hemorrhoids.
I just made a slight upgrade by switching out the courtesy power cable on my P20 with an Iconoclast BAV 19105 10AWG power cable with the C19 connector (Yes, the circuit is a 20A circuit)—first impression: everything sounds less edgy, or, as they say, butterier. ![]()
I am pleased with the results and should have done this a long time ago (I bought the P20 in 2019).
Based on this result, there will most certainly be more power cable upgrades coming.
That faint sound you hear is the helium escaping from the cable dialectric.
Stop it!
![]()
As a college friend used to say, “I’ve gone mad dog on a budget.”


