Audioquest Firebird Zero

Actually many of us do have a full understanding of break in Bo.  It's not just you.  Many of us also have great ears and can hear all the differences in time.

As for the grounding devices, I was speaking with Richard Vandersteen about this and he shared that if the electronics are designing their grounding properly, that the devices won't be needed as they won't add anything positive.  

I now have his M5-HPA mono blocks (setting them up as I type this) and my server/DAC/analog volume control is also designed properly, so the CAD won't be in my future.

I'm using my WEL XLR interconnect with my William Tell Zero and WT Bass.  Amps will be running directly into the wall on a dedicated 20amp circuit.  I'm going to start off with Richard's power cords, but may upgrade to the Hurricane cords.  I am using Hurricane on the Server/DAC.  That goes into the Niagara/Hurricane power cord into another dedicated 15amp circuit.  My router and cable box are powered by a dedicated LPS unit that goes into the Niagara.  Router uses Wireworld ethernet cables (2) with a bespoke hospital grade filter before going into the server/DAC.  That has an isolation unit built into it.

All of this still powers my Vandersteen Quatro CT's.  Still need my buddy to come and put the 3" granite plinths under them.  The plinth spreads out the vibrations and holds the speakers in place so they don't' move at all.  It does make a positive difference in the sound.  Richard walked me through this (I'll be adding washers to the rear to keep the rake in proper perspective as the tweeter will be 3" higher.  Wow, I can't even believe where my system is at.  Just blessed and I know it.  Thanks all for letting me play.

@ctsooner 
If I were you I would try to borrow a CAD and see what it will do in your system. The CAD is eating ultrasonic noise which is not even supposed to be audible. Therefore it should not make any difference and its a safe bet most designers don't attempt to manage/suppress such noise. And yet, in my system and every system I've heard them added to, the sound improved. Sometimes by a lot.

I first heard these devices at Axpona in a demo by CAD where they had 5-6 ground controls on one system using their DAC and streamer. It was some of the most relaxing yet highly resolved digital sound I've ever heard. 

And now I have cable envy reading this thread....

@ctsooner I’m using the M5-HPA’s with 5A Carbons. The preamp is the mighty new ARC Ref 6SE. But at the time I was evaluating the WTs, I was borrowing Johnny’s Ref 6. I had been so satisfied with the PS Audio BHK Signature preamp. It’s checks off so many of the boxes - no added feedback, simple tube input stage, great value for the money. But whether it’s the mosfet output stage or the capacitors that are holding it back, it just sounds flat and saccharine compared to the ARC. It took the better cables to highlight the problem. The new ARC is sublime. I told RV how much I love it and he said he’s heard great things about it. The $64K question now is, is he going to roll out that rumored preamp he’s supposedly been working on? He set the bar incredibly high with the M5-HPAs.

earthtone and Pete - how fun and congrats on the M5 amplifiers:-) i have ref6se envy for sure. have fun and enjoy the music 

Jim, thanks.  We need to talk on phone and catch up soon!!!  I can't afford a preamp right now, lol.  I'm hoping and praying that the volume control they install in my server/DAC is of the highest quality.  The designer built the Melos gear back in the day.  It was OUTSTANDING sound wise, but broke down constantly.  He's fixed all of that now and his designs are sublimed.  We will see.  I also need to get an electrician into my listening room to run conduits for the two dedicated circuits in the room that are on an adjoining wall.  I moved the system 10 years ago and just never moved the circuits.  I now have no choice as I don't have enough outlets on that wall to plug in the speakers, mono's AND the Niagara.  Can't plug one mono into the Niagara and the other directly into the wall, lol...  I'll have him put one circuit behind each speaker for the mono blocks and speakers and then a four pack behind the TV/server area for the Niagara and router/LPS unit that run that and the cable box, lol.  I also just realized that I can't use my Hurricane cords on the Mono blocks due to them being 15amp and the amps being 20amp. DARN IT TO HECK!!!