Products you added to your system in 2021 that made most impact to your music enjoyment

As 2021 comes to an end, just thought it would be cool to share some of the most impactful audio upgrades in your system this year?
Here’s my top 5 list…

1. Pass Labs XP-12: Upgrade path was from Rogue RP-1 to Rogue RP-5 and then to Pass XP-12 that was the final touch. Huge improvements across the board. Mates well with my Rogue ST-100 tube amp.

2. Phono Cartridge: Goldring E3 MM to Hana EL MC. Clarity, presentation, dynamics in spades!

3. Phono Pre: From the built in phono pre in RP-1 and RP-5 to MoFi UltraPhono to Sutherland KC Vibe MkII. Lowered noise floor, increased resolution, dynamics. The KC Vibe MkII is almost double the cost of the MoFi and it’s the one of the few upgrades where an improvement was proportional to the cost difference. At least in my system. Records that seemed noisy become more listenable. A great little phono pre.

4. Audience AU24sx speaker cables. These speaker cables are a clear window into a recording. Nothing hidden, nothing exaggerated.

5. Power Cords: Acoustic Zen Gargantua for preamp and amp. Lower noise floor, increased resolution, natural sound, expanded soundstage

Honorable mentions:

1. Acoustic Zen Absolute Copper interconnects. In my opinion the AZ cables don’t get the respect they deserve on these forums anymore, overshadowed by some of the “flavor of the day” newcomers (without going into specifics on brands).

2. Puritan PSM156 power conditioner.
3. Supra Cat8 Ethernet cable.

4. Lumin U1 Mini

5. MoFi LP#9 Stylus Cleaner. Better than the Onzo ZeroDust although I still use the Onzo between the sides.

audphile112-04-2021 7:20am

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soma70 Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 153 posts 12-05-2021 at 04:40pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Puritan 156 power conditioner Silent Angel Bonn 8 network switch SVS SB1000 Pro Subwoofers (pair) Wilson Sasha 2's
sandthemall Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 544 posts 12-05-2021 at 04:58pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete My new Hagerman Trumpet MC phono stage. Best $2000 I never spent...because it costs about $1000 and sounds like $3000+.
dinov Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 831 posts 12-05-2021 at 06:13pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Custom made pure silver speaker wires for my Tannoy super tweeters on my Tannoy Churchill’s. Wow soundstage and clarity in spades.
jayctoy Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 4,014 posts 12-05-2021 at 06:25pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I forgot to include used KLH model 9 speakers.
wsrrsw Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 1,003 posts 12-05-2021 at 07:22pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Upped my streamer game..hint the ethernet tweaks are major improvements.. I had a T2 and I think if I had upgraded my signal path I may not have gone for the X1 (but who’s kidding who..found a used one on Agon).....Not shown are PSUs for the EtherRegen, AfterDark clock and the Roon Nucleus and other cables (as well as use of an optical cable from EtherRegen to streamer). Member @ozzy was very kind in helping sort out these changes. Info can be mined here (PS Direct Stream Vs. Lumin X 1 Sound quality difference?) EtherREGEN...They will call you back if you have questions. A very comfortable listening chair. Lumin X1 Yeah baby! Signature <Lumin X1> Silver DC Cable Seriously...yes! Power cord for X1 These folks are a relative bargain and do great work! Improved clock for the EtherREHGN AFTERDARK. PROJECT CLAYX GIESEMANN OCXO 10MHZ REFERENCE MASTER CLOCK Roon Nuckeus... Far better SQ than from Computer And this changed my listing expertise more than words can say. To me Roon is Pandora’s box on steroids times ten espressos, making love like teenagers or the superlative of your choosing.