I’m gob smacked. What were you’re aha moments?


Had a productive couple of weeks on the used gear market and today has been digital demo day (Analog arrives next week). Added a Bryston BCD-3 and original Tara Labs Prime I/C’s to my system at very good prices. 

I don’t have “golden ears” by any stretch but I’m gob smacked at the results.

The BCD-3 is replacing an Oppo UDP-205 w/ DHL BL-1 I/C’s. Rest of gear is an Anthem STR integrated and ML Monti’s. My bass has easily doubled, maybe tripled. I can feel the pressurization in my room and it’s tight not bloated. 

I think this has been the biggest jump up in SQ I’ve experienced. What were your biggest surprises/improvements regardless of budget?



lmnop
Biggest improvement in SQ came from meticulous setup and room treatments. Nothing sexy (no new flashy gear to show off). Bigger change than any gear swap ever. Remember, the setup and room will give you at least 50% of the sound you will hear. Most audiophiles never fully address the room issues because the listening room is also the living room. I'm fortunate to have a dedicated listening room (with treatment).
Inakustik Reference AC-3500P power filter installed upstream of core AC-powered gear (Transport, DAC and active ATC SCM20-2 monitors; Teo Audio preamp doesn’t require power). Best improvement in my system in quite awhile.

SM integrated IC assemblies a close second. 

[NDM discs still in testing mode<—for Geoff’s benefit.]
So, I'm not at all sure, but this is likely my first post here...

I was 'gobsmacked' all over again earlier this week when my Sonic Frontiers SFD-1 DAC arrived back home from having a transformer replaced by Parts Connexion.  Having been without CD playback capability for three weeks or so, putting it all back together and then putting on "Straighten up and Fly Right" by Diana Krall just blew me away.  My system is now getting pretty old, but, to my tired old ears, it's still got some magic.  A lot of that magic probably comes from my heavily modified 1972 Klipschorns (mids from TAD 2001 drivers into tractrix horns, uppers from JBL 2404s, and ALK 120db/octave networks).
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