I have 4 inch maple plinths under the monoblocks and preamp. These are in a salamander cabinet and have rubber feet (when they were in the carpet I used spikes). I use IsoAcoustic pucks under the Cambridge 851N. Under the speakers I use IsoAcoustic GAIA iii (these were a big improvement over the carpet spikes they replaced. I’ve wandered all over the place with cables—Acoustic Zen, Nordost, Kimber Select and now Morrow level 4 and 5. I use Morrow power cables on the streamer and preamp but just the stock cords on the monoblocks — I’ve experimented with Nordost Vishnus and Acoustic Zen (Krakatoa I believe) and never heard much differences. I’m a cable believer. The Morrows work very well at a much lower price point and I like them because they are so flexible. My SP5 Biwire speaker cables made a big difference. But as far as the monoblocks go, nothing I’ve tried has improved their killer sound.
Does an upgrade make sense?
I may be coming down with the upgrade bug, and I’m open to suggestions. I’m quite happy with what I have—excellent imaging, musicality, dynamics. Maybe I could use a little more depth (left right is fine and speakers truly disappear), and maybe a touch more dynamics.
Almost everything I listen to is Qobuz streaming or hi res and flac files from a NAS (hard drive). My system:
Cambridge 851 Streamer/DAC
Bel Canto Pre5
Bel Canto Ref 500 monoblocks
Dali Mentor 6 floorstanders
Everything sits on maple plinths, Gaia iiis, or pucks.
Cabling is mid range Morrows. I previously had Kimber KS1116s but sold them as the Morrows sounded just as good, on the current set up.
What do I need to get more of everything? Speakers? DAC, Streamer? Amp?
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- 55 posts total
- 55 posts total