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Most satisfying system change in 2017?

What was your most satisfying addition or subtraction for your audio system this year?  Looking for changes in gear, set-up, or listening environment.  What floated your audio boat in 2017?
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offnon57
72 posts
 
swapping out a Hafler dh100 pre for a Modwright 9.0 swl 
solid state rectified........this has been a tube revelation for me.
Very happy with it.
Also my wife got me Dragonfly Red for Christmas.
Originally to use through a Dell laptop but had some issues there
so tried on my wife's ipad to very good results.
Listen to youtube music mostly at night especially NPR tiny desk
studio which are often excellent and lets me hear many musicians
I would otherwise probably not find. Dragonfly good enough to
keep me coming back for more.

68pete
1,001 posts
 
Upgrading to all High Fidelity Ultimate Reference power cords for my system
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jtsnead
217 posts
 
PS Audio Directstream DAC and Player, sounded so close to my anolog rig I upgraded that next to a VPI Prime, did not like the 3D arm so got the Technics SL1200G awesome sound and ease of use, then tried 3 different phono stages and settled on the Parasound JC3 Jr has to be one of the best buys in phono stages
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mulveling
1,915 posts
 
I upgraded every single piece of my system in 2017, though it bled into this year. The most satisfying plays, in descending order of impact, were:

  1. Phono stage upgrade from Rogue Ares Magnum to VAC Renaissance SE. This was the last major change I made, and it was HUGE. There is a chance that all my other upgrades were somewhat bottlenecked previously, and then unleashed at once with this last piece.
  2. Speakers upgrade from Tannoy Canterbury SE to Canterbury GR. This was the 1st upgrade I did. Speakers are always critical!
  3. From a crappy Lovan rack and maple Platform to a Critical Mass Systems Maxxum! It holds my turntable, Phono, and preamp. No more worries about tipping over if leaned on or bumped against, and some significant feedback issues to the turntable have been completely mitigated. I think it’s also helped very much with noise floor and 3D soundstage. Turntable was upgraded at same time so maybe these are intertwined. It’s so satisfying to look at my rack, too, and know it’s taking great care of my gear.
  4. All the other upgrades together have combined for great effect. But I can’t say I noticed a huge leap forward as they each went in individually. Amp, preamp, power conditioner, cables, etc.
jsm71
141 posts
 

My upgrades were also extensive over the last half year, bleeding into this year.

1.  Replaced Cary tube preamp with Linear Tube Audio MZ2.  I already had the LTA ZOTL40 amp and the two LTA units together really is the way to go if the amp clicks with your speakers.

2.  After selling the Cary, I needed a new phono preamp.  Contracted Don Sachs to build me his PH16 phono stage.  Couldn't be happier, again a major upgrade in sound, maybe two.

3.  Upgraded a number of cables to Cerious Technologies.  Just recently upgraded just the speaker cables to the new Graphene Matrix line.  Wow, these were a big price jump but no regrets.  Worth every penny.  

4.  Gave my Lyra Delos cartridge a new bother, adding the Audio Technica ART 9 cartridge to the cart stable.  The ART 9 at half the Delos cost is eye opening.  I've put the Delos to the side for now.

5.  Six Vicousic DC2 diffusor panels between the speakers on the listening wall.  It was bare before.  Much better focus/imaging and they look really cool.

6.  Latest purchase, the Technics SL-1200G turntable.  This was another maybe two step upgrade over my prior Marantz table. 

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