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One Small Step ... That Transforms Your System

I just had an interesting thing happen to my system that I wanted to share.

I use PCs, SCs and ICs in series. I have talked about this in other threads and will not restate this here. Some of the patch wiring I use is Supra LoRad that I attach to other wires using a burn-in adapter. I use mostly Oyaide plugs and IECs for the DIY LoRad cables.

I am near the end of a long audio journey. After 6 years of upgrades and changes my system is finally sounding great. But, being an inveterate tinkerer, I wanted to hear the difference between an Oyaide M1 and an Oyaide P-079 upstream. The other day I substituted an F1 IEC for a C-004 IEC and the former was a big improvement. What would switching the M1 and the P-079 do to the sound? Which one would sound better upstream? I was curious. Before making the switch the P-079 was upstream. I figured there was an even chance the M1 would improve the sound. After all, it is the top of the Oyaide line, and deservedly so. I have three M1s and 3 F1s in my system.

How important is location with these little Oyaide miracle makers? Well, if you think you know about your audio system you should try a similar experiment. The M1 upstream killed the sound. Even with all the high end cables in my system humming the sound became lifeless and thin. The synergy was awful. My system needed the warmth and fullness of the P-079 upstream of the M1 to give it the beautiful sound I had been enjoying before making the change.

The fact that a single plug can change the sound so profoundly -- completely transforming it for the better or the worst in the face of high end components and cables -- is both surprising and humbling. The moral of the story is that you can never do too much tinkering to find the very best sound that your system is capable of producing.

Needless to say, back the M1 and P-79 went to their original places. Have you had an experience with your system where one small step completely made -- or ruined -- the sound?

Disclosure: I have no connection with any audio company except as a customer.
sabai
onhwy61's avatar
onhwy61
5,225 posts
 
That's many many words to back out of a hole you dug for yourself.

Why don't you list your system. It might serve as a guide, or a warning, for people about resolving systems with many many tweaks that sounds potentially great, but can sound awful.

Have you ever thought of becoming a professional audio equipment reviewer?
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Sebrof,
With all due respect, my system did not sound "at the same time" both great and lifeless. How can a system sound like two opposites "at the same time"? This is impossible. Changing the plugs transformed the sound. And this happened at two distinct times.

With all due respect, if you had experience with using cables in series and Oyaide plugs and IECs you would understand exactly what I am talking about. Your confusion comes from not having experience with my kind of system.
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Mechans,
Thanks for this observation. I will be rolling tubes soon and look forward to listening to the difference between various 6DJ8 tubes.
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
When I stated that the sound was awful -- thin and lifeless -- with the switch in Oyaide plugs, I should have clarified my statement. I did not say that the sound stage collapsed. It did not. I did not say that the holography disappeared. It did not. I did not say that the detail was no longer there. It still is there. I did not say that the dynamics disappeared. They did not. I did not say that the transparency was no longer there. It still is there. What I was referring was that ineffable thing we call musicality -- the fullness and the realness and the sense of being there. When my system was less developed I would not have perceived this change in sound with the change in plugs. But I do now, thanks to the evolution of my system over the past 6 years.
sabai OP
2,027 posts
 
Onhwy61,
With all due respect, there is no hole anywhere -- except the hole that is perceived by those who wish to see one where there is none.

There is just a lack of understanding by those who do not know what having a system based on using cables and other elements in series is all about. I will be glad to list my components but listing my whole system would be of absolutely no use because the sound depends on the synergy provided by cables and tweaks and other elements and unless you have a system like this you can only speculate -- which has little value. It's like talking about vanilla when you have never tasted it. Everyone has the right to his or her opinion -- but some opinions are more valid than others -- especially those based on direct experience.

MY SYSTEM

1. Marantz PM 15 integrated amplifier (original 1993 version).
2. Joseph Audio Pulsar monitor speakers.
3. AMR DP-777 DAC.
4. PS Audio PerfectWave transport.

I have upwards of 20 Bybee products in my system and upwards of 20 Oyaide products in my system -- plus many other tweaks including Shakti Hallographs and many so-called quantum tweaks.

By the way, I also run an isolation transformer (non-balanced) from a Tesla Plex SE wall receptacle into another Tesla Plex wall receptacle into a Monarchy power regenerator into a Synergistic Research PowerCell Mark II power conditioner into a Bybee Stealth power conditioner.

Would anyone like to comment? All opinions are welcome.
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