Your Next Upgrade? (Part 3)

I’m presently dealing with a similar mindset. The hobby has kept me engaged for years now. Seems like there was always something new around the corner. It’s been nice. Lately I’ve come to realize that I’m satisfied with where I’m at with my system. I don’t see big changes in my audio journey. Closest thing I can see is adding the Maestro app eventually. Seems like I haven’t even uncovered any new music lately that’s really engaged me much. Other interests I’ve enjoyed in the past seem to have played out as well- photography, cars. As far as politics goes- don’t even want to go there. Hopefully when sports ramps up in a couple of months things will change. Just presently in a funk I guess.

That is the end goal we all want to achieve, but to stay there once it is achieved will be harder for some. I hope I will stay there for a long time. :grin:

Maybe throw away your system and start over from scratch, lol.

Or if you really want to go off the wall, try some FRR power cables and see how different they are from Stealth

Nice try! But didn’t you compare them already?

Wait! I went with Stealth Dream instead of FRR because of your comments before (one of the factors anyway). :grin:

Now I have all FRR XLR interconnects so I know how good they are, so it is probably a lateral movement at best from Stealth.

I had a CJ tube preamp connected in the system when I borrowed a FRR power cable from @RonP

I now have Levinson pre and power amps and I do not know how music would sound with an FRR power cable in place of a dream 20-20. I do know that Dream 20-20 elevated my system (quite a bit) from Cardas Clear Beyond with all FRR interconnect in the system. Two Dream 20-20 power cables were the missing pieces for me.

If I understand correctly and summarize, it’s that you tweaked your system to perfection and after you did, Roon and Maestro sound the same (to you).
That’s a pleasant outcome in many ways!

Based on the comment of others that there’s aSQ difference between both SW’s, I’d have expected perhaps a type of SW setting, or EQ setting ‘magic’ to make one sound perfectly alike the other.

I hope my setup is closer to perfection so Roon, Maestro, PMG, and MU2 all sound great and similar from streaming. Think about it, streaming is all about eliminating all sorts of noises. When there is ample implementation of noise isolation, the SQ should be as close to streaming source as possible.

But it is equally possible that my ears are getting too old to tell the difference. Well, in that case I consider it is a good thing so there is no need to spend more anymore. :laughing:

I got the Labahua Grounding Box earlier:

It has been charged for two hours but it is still on the 2nd blinking light. So it will probably take the whole night to fully charge (5 lights total I think). But once it is fully charged the effect will last for three months. The instruction says the power cord should be removed before connecting all grounding cables to components. This means the only function of the power cord was to charge battery, so no need for cord upgrade.:wine_glass:

The grounding cables come with the box look thin and cheap, so I plan to use the same silver-plated cables for Xangsane boxes I am using now.

I remember it took some time for my last grounding boxes to settle in. Yup, they need time to break in too. No golf tomorrow so I can test this one. Hopefully it improves SQ more than the four Xangsane metal grounding boxes in the system now.

I decided to shop hyper-local to me and pick up something that might better match my Devore Fidelity speakers. I’m less than an hour in with it, but its sweet as honey so far. Can’t wait for proper break-in

Oooh, pretty! A friend has one driving Volti speakers. Sounds great!

After putting Labahua grounding box in the system for one week, I have boxed it and ready to send it back to China.

The returning process is surprisingly easy for purchasing through Aliexpress, and it is greatly improved from a couple of years ago. I filled out a simple questionnaire stating the reason of returning, and it was approved withing a minute. I can scan the code or print out a return label then drop it off at USPS. They make it simple like Amazon now.

This grounding box can take up to 8 components, but I found adding more than two the SQ had degraded. Even with two I am not sure my system sounded better than with Xangsane boxes (one per component). So, no reason to keep it. I may try something else later.

Like relax, play golf, drink wine and listen to music :slight_smile:

Exactly what I have been doing lately instead of trolling this forum. :laughing: That has happened on other threads.

My appetite of Next Upgrade on audio has greatly reduced too, isn’t that a great thing? I maybe following @luca.pelliccioli and @vkennedy61 footsteps soon.

My daughter is taking tennis lessons so I regripped the rackets and will restrings them later. It is time to pickup this game again (has not played for 20 years!). It may be a healthy, cheap, and time consuming thing to do. :man_dancing:

And, best of all, you got @luca.pelliccioli out of hibernation!!! Now if you can also get @vkennedy61 out of hibernation.

Tennis has stayed with me alongside the audio obsession for decades. There is room for all good hobbies, in moderation. Nice to see you are around, Luca. I trust your new house has air conditioning.

I just installed a pair of Synergistic XOT Carbon crossover filters on my Fyne F703SPs and, as they settle in, I’m hearing better defined bass, reduced sibilance and enhanced low level detail.

Next up: SR Holographic Fuses for the AGD Gran Vivaces (to replace the Pink Fuses in them).

And finally, a Holgraphic Fuse for my BACCH-SP adio to replace the Master Fuse as recommended.

I’m not sure where the Master (or the Pinks) will end up. I might try it in the PhoenixNET Switch or the Uptone JS-4 powering the Nucleus+…

Please report back on how this fuse sounds in your adio. I’m still using whatever Edgar shipped but have had good luck with fuse upgrades in other components.

@ViperRGD I have an SR Master in the adio currently. I’m loving the Holographic Fuses in my AGD Gran Vivaces and I’m going to let them cook for a few more days before I swap out the Master in the adio for my third Holographic Fuse so an audio buddy has a chance to hear them in just my amps…

I had a group of friend analogophiles over today. They all know my system well. The winning remark regarding this new arm was “I can’t tell what this arm sounds like!”

Everyone was duly pleased with the music. Mission accomplished. :smiley:

Tony, is it now commercially available from VPI, or is it still in development stage?