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?

tomaswv

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. 

I just switched to wired streaming.  The WiFi worked well with only an occasional drip out, but was surprised to find that hard wire connections made an improvement in sound quality.   I’m looking for a better Ethernet cable.

@tomaswv 

Certainly plenty of options trialled with cables. I have nothing to add to that, as you have found solutions that work with your system.

I found the Black Ravioli pads excellent under equipment. Noticeable improvement.

I went from wifi to ethernet cables. Found some second hand Meicord Opal to begin with.

A few months later purchased two Triode Wire Labs 'Freedom' cables. It was between them and Sablon 2020. Liked that they were Cat6, copper, neutral, and flexible. Pete from TWL was a good guy to talk to regarding my needs.

Have kept the Meicord cables on the modem and router to the first switch.