2. misc-audio
  3. 1037561496

Hierarchy of upgrade path

Dear members. Recently I have upgrated my system and I am happily rediscovering my music collection. A new search is beginning as I am planing to optimize this system over the next 1-2 years and here is where your input and experiance is requested. I have placed dedicated ac lines, PS Audio ac outlets, PS Audio Lab Cable II to the amp and mini Lab Cable to the CDP straight from the wall. Audio Physics Virgo II are driven by Vac 30/30 MK II with golden dragon tubes, Wadia 860x is the source and JPS Ultraconductor interconnects and speaker cables complete this system. Based on reading past forums I have put together a list of improvements and would like your input on qualitative and quantitative gains one might expect in this system from one or all of them. I enjoy all kinds of music but listen most often to single female and male vocalists, jazz and classical. Any suggestions are welcome however I prefer to keep it simple and not get into vinyl at this time.
1. Nirvana s-x or Audience Au-24 interconnects
2. Audience Au-24 speaker cable
3. Vac factory upgrade to MK III SE level.
4. Great Nothern Sound top upgrade for the Wadia
5. W.E. 300B/other tubes (generaly not recomendet by vac)
6. PS Audio 600 series ac regeneration for the amp
7. REL Storm or Stadium
Thanks in advance for your input and taking the time on this forum
endoit
endoit OP
21 posts
 
Dennis the menace, in my system the 860x does not seem overly dry but that could be a function of speakers or cables. When I spoke with Great Northern Sound the recomendation was to run it direct into the amp and I was advised that the upgrades will take this unit close to the 20k seperates. I guess I could send my Manley Stingray integrated back to the factory for a preamp out conversion and a triode operation and use it with the 860x to compare. I plan to continue to use the Stingray in the future in a second system. Have you considered se upgrade to the vac in the future and have you tried different tubes ? My plan is to upgrade mine to se status and in the future potentialy get a second 30/30 and convert them into a monoblock setup. This sure is a fun neurosis.
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace
467 posts
 
honestly, I was surprised that I didn't like the Wadia direct. you're right, it must be a function of my speakers or cabling, because the VAC is awesome. I have tried Western Electric, Golden Dragon and JJ 300bs, and I like the JJs the best. Seriously, for this amp, the Western Electric weren't any better than the JJs. I'm sorry I spent the money...

For 6SN7s, I've tried Sylvania VT231, Sylvania 6SN7W (black base), TungSol black glass, round plates, GE 6SN7B, RCA 6SN7A, and KenRad black glass VT231. The KenRads easily won... awesome BIG BIG sound, rich and deep, warm, yet not dark or subdued. The KenRads are awesome...

I have thought about an upgrade to Sig status, but I'm outta cash. Maybe in a year or so. The VAC sounds great as is... I'm going to try and get my turntable working. I'm a total idiot with analog stuff, and this is a good place for me to devote neurotic audio energy, without blowing a hole through my checking account..
endoit OP
21 posts
 
Dennis thanks for the tube run down. It will help me narrow down choices when I am ready to roll. The vac is great from the first impression and it was a big improvement over the Manley Stingray which I also enjoyed for 2 years. I will let you know if the 860x mods are worth it once I get them done in the spring. Are you using power conditioning with the vac?
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace
467 posts
 
just an Ultimate Outlet by PS Audio... honestly, not that big of a sound difference for me. I got some aftermarket powercords also, and couldn't hear much with them either. I'm still pretty new, so I may not be very sensitive. Definitely would be interested in hearing your view of the GNS mods on your Wadia. That's definitely more doable then the signature mod at VAC.

I'm also about to try some RCA grey glass VT 231s. I'll post my impression of these when I get them...
endoit OP
21 posts
 
I found that using dedicated lines helped a lot. I had an electrician run 3 lines of 10 g romex to 3 ps audio wall outlets. When I switched between the standard vs dedicated the noise was reduced significantly, soundstage got biger and there was an improvement with base deeper and tighter. I found similar improvement when I upgrated to ps audio lab cables but not to the same degree. When I used the new power cords back in non dedicated outlets there was a significant drop in performance. I think in my setup power cords do make the music experiance smoother and just relaxed and more musical. There is no fatigue. I used Tice solo av power conditioner in my set up and it did not do much; if anything there was some loss in dynamics and resolution. That is why I like to hear what others experiance with power conditioners before I consider 1-2k investment.
More to discover