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Yes, another audiophile at a crossroads story and request for advice

I find as I’m rapidly approaching retirement that 2 competing thoughts about enjoying music after i retire. First, Im really looking forward to having the time to relax and listen to music any day of the week (not just the weekend now). Second, I don’t expect to be continue any significant investment in equipment upgrades post bringing home a paycheck. 
My current system consists of a 30+ year old Linn LP12 with Linn cartridge and Vincent PHO-701 tube phono pre-amp. I only listen to analog when i want to enjoy an album i bought in the 60’s - 80’s. 
90+% of my listening is streaming Tidal using Roon via Roon Nucleus, Lumin D2 as a streamer only, feeding a RME ADI-2-FS DAC. 
i still enjoy my CD collection (9% of my listening) and still purchase CDs) on a Primaluna tube CD player. 
All these are connected to a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amp with original primaluna tubes from Upscale Audio.  My speakers are the original Joseph Audio Perspectives (not the graphene version). 
Power and interconnect cables are mid-level grade and power management via Niagara 1200. 
i listen mostly to instrumental jazz. 
This system is enjoyable, but I’m missing the last elements of sound details that reproduce an accurate organic sense of hearing guitar strings being plucked or picked, drum sticks hitting/tapping membranes or brass cymbals, the sound of a string base wood cavity vibrate. Hopefully that describes what im looking for. I do not like hyper/etched detail especially in the upper frequencies. 
I will add that the Primaluna CD player is the most enjoyable source of the 3 I currently.  Oh, and i also want to simplify my system. 
So, if you come with me this far to the intersection, heres what im debating. Should i chunk the integrated and Perspectives and invest in a top notch set of headphones (like the Focal Clear MG) and dedicated headphone amp?  In other words go to a headphone system. Or should i go the route of chucking all but the Perspectives and the Nucleus and invest in a high quality Roon approved integrated amp with built in DAC/Streamer?

ezstreams
bander's avatar
bander
504 posts
 

I too own the Perspectives and had them upgraded. Don't do it. Needless to say I had expected a significant improvement in SQ.Not even close. It wouldn't have been worth it at half the price, notto mention shipping costs. I am big on cables, all of them, not the least of, power cables. Ignore the power cable naysayers.Over the years I have upgraded all cables and at varying price points.I have never not been happy with the results.There are too many to mention and I haven’t heard as many as a lot of other memembers. I now have a full loom of the highest end Townshend cables. These are my forever cables. So many great products out there.Cerious Technologies was a favorite. Audition, return policies abound. Silversmith. Cables, cables, cables. I also recommend 'tweaks' from VeraFi audio. Great results at relatively inexpensive prices. 

 

 

ezstreams OP
48 posts
 

@bander Thanks for the graphene upgrade warning. I needed to hear that so i could cross that option off my list. 

bander's avatar
bander
504 posts
 

I misspoke re cables. Amp, pre amp use Zafvino.  Anyway.

 

 

panerai557's avatar
panerai557
73 posts
 

I have both headphones and speakers setups and each gives me different musical enjoyment. Really good headphone setup delivers very intimate, involving, and incisive listening. My tube preamp LTA Microzotl has an excellent headphone out, but I prefer using a dedicated headphone tube amp like McIntosh mha200. Open back headphones like Hifiman Susvara sounds out of head or speaker like presentation with a good headphone amp. It is f**king ridiculous how good it can sound, but you need a very best amp to drive susvara. I sold mine because I could not power it with my amp. I got Abyss Diana Phi which is not hard to drive, but it also has some what open speaker like presentation. I like it’s tunning and low frequency handling. When it rumbles it’s super fun in the ears. You mentioned focal. I listened to buch of them including clear mg. I found it had a bit bright signature which was fatiguing to listen. However, I think Stellia is a fantastic cans. Very elegant and sophisticated sounds, Imo. I might get nice used one in the future.

I am surprised that you are thinking about ditching JA perspectives. Those are fine speakers and I am thinking about getting the graphene version. JA speakers sound best with a good tube amp or class a ss amp, Imo. You have a good streamer, but I think you can use a more musical dac, I use holo may KTE DAC. Fantastic r2r dac which sounds very smooth, quite, and detailed. I can listen to it for hours.

I cannot listen to my systems without my Puritan psm156 power conditioner and various power cables with them. Stupid money but worth it for the top result.

mahgister's avatar
mahgister
13,047 posts
 

I concur with this post ... I am happy with my speakers system ( low cost but not low fi) and with my TOP headphone akg K340 for the same reason ...

I have both headphones and speakers setups and each gives me different musical enjoyment. Really good headphone setup delivers very intimate, involving, and incisive listening. My tube preamp LTA Microzotl has an excellent headphone out, but I prefer using a dedicated headphone tube amp like McIntosh mha200. Open back headphones like Hifiman Susvara sounds out of head or speaker like presentation with a good headphone amp. It is f**king ridiculous how good it can sound, but you need a very best amp to drive susvara. I sold mine because I could not power it with my amp. I got Abyss Diana Phi which is not hard to drive, but it also has some what open speaker like presentation. I like it’s tunning and low frequency handling. When it rumbles it’s super fun in the ears. You mentioned focal. I listened to buch of them including clear mg. I found it had a bit bright signature which was fatiguing to listen. However, I think Stellia is a fantastic cans. Very elegant and sophisticated sounds, Imo. I might get nice used one in the future.

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