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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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.
sfgak Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 113 posts 12-05-2021 at 08:20pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete The Denafrips Pontus II DAC + IRIS DDC combo yielded a quantum leap in SQ over my previous DAC, the Schiit Modi Multibit.
whipsaw Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 758 posts 12-05-2021 at 08:54pm Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete Circle Labs A200 hybrid integrated amp. Best I've owned over ~40 years of developing systems.
travelinjack Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 178 posts 12-06-2021 at 01:38am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete I switched from a Schiit Modi Multibit ver 1 DAC to an old SMSL M8 DAC that I had from a previous headphone desk top set up. The Schiit gave things a muddy boomy bass. The SMSL M8 cleaned up the bass without taking anything away from the mids and highs. The channel separation and imaging seems to be better also.
oddiofyl Details Discussions Posts This discussion Message User 3,797 posts 12-06-2021 at 02:14am Copy Comment URL Report Comment Edit Delete So many cool toys!!! I am having a 300b amp built but it won’t be here til sometime early next year . I look at my other hobbies and those of my friends and I’m pretty sure my money spent on audio has given the most satisfaction per dollar of anything. I listen a few hours a day , sometimes many hours..... every day. Not impacted by the weather and seasons