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Seeking help finding the weak link(s) in my system and offering suggestions please.

Hi! I recently paid a visit to a local audio salon and listened to a system that was so good I was "moved". However, I could never afford the price of entry to realize this kind of sound reproduction. I have spent the last couple of years assembling a system I could afford, focusing on components I felt were the best bang for the buck. I'm not trying to make a silk purse out of a sow's ear, however with your help I am hoping to find where I may have a weak link or two. My budget makes this a challenge as I have only about 1K to invest. Thank you to all those in advance for your suggestions, my system is listed below. One more item, about 90% of my listening is Qobuz streaming.

System:
Dedicated/Isolated 20Amp AC source with PS Audio outlet.
Furman AC power conditioning.
Nordost Magus Power cords for source equipment and Kimber PK10 for Amp.
Ethernet cables all CAT7.
Kimber Silver Streak both balanced and SE throughout.
Speaker cables are Blue-Jeans 10AWG White - two 15' pair.
USB cable from PC to streamer is Audio Adviser Pangea SE 2 meter.
Canare/Have digital 1.5M coax from transport to Streamer.
Krell Vanguard Integrated Amp.
Cambridge Audio AZURE 851N Streamer/DAC.
Sonus Faber Electa monitors.
Sunfire HRS series subwoofer.
Sony SCD2000ES Transport/SACD player.
Luxman T117 Tuner (Best sounding component)?

Again, I appreciate your kind assistance, I am really looking forward to responses!

GRM

grm
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
A 15 foot pair of Rocket 44 Premium No Frills at audio advisor is $515.  The premium version uses better Pangea spades/bananas than the regular no frills:

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQPGRO44N&opt=3926|3933|3940|3944

Or you could move up to Rocket 88 no frills for $1049.  It uses better copper and would have better resolution, but doesn't have the Pangea banana/spades:

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQRO88NF&opt=4736|4745|4749|4752

I would NOT bi-wire these because it splits apart the conductors and you end up with smaller amount of overall bass/mid conductor.  Just get a normal pair and connect it to the upper binding posts on the Electa.  Then use a really good jumper to connect upper/lower binding posts.

However, if you wanted much better resolution, I would get the rocket 44/88 and chop the ends and re-terminate with Furutech Rhodium FP-201 R spades available for $17 each from Sonic Craft or Parts Connexion.   The gold-plated terminations are nice but warmer in sound and don't have as much high frequency resolution.  You could start out with the gold and then chop/upgrade to rhodium later if you felt you needed more resolution.  The rhodium will also have tighter deep bass as well.
auxinput
2,920 posts
 
It seems that you are doing a double-run of the Blue Jean 10awg.  If you wanted to do something like that with AQ, you could get Rocket 33 no frills for $279:

https://www.audioadvisor.com/prodinfo.asp?number=AQRO33NF&opt=579|584|592|596

Then use the Rocket 44 for low-end binding posts and Rocket 33 for upper binding posts.  This brings you to $794.

Then buy 12 Furutech rhodium FP-201 R spades for $207.  You can combine the 33/44 together on the amp side spades and terminate each one separately on the speaker end so that you have a true bi-wire configuration.  This puts you just over the $1k mark (barely).
almarg's avatar
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almarg
9,670 posts
 
I’m very interested in learning more about DSP Room Correction. Does anyone have experience with this and where do you start?
A good way to start may be with the following page at MiniDSP.com, and then proceeding to look into the specific products referred to near the bottom of that page:

https://www.minidsp.com/applications/digital-room-correction/drc-basics

I have no experience with and no particular knowledge of MiniDSP products, but I’ve seen them mentioned favorably here by knowledgeable members. Personally I use a DEQX HDP-5 in my system, which performs room correction as well as numerous other functions, but that and other DEQX products would not be consistent with your stated budget as well as being complex products requiring substantial learning curves.

Best regards,
-- Al
andera's avatar
andera
37 posts
 
I was thinking also the speaker cable. In the used market you should be able to find a $2k set for $1k, or $1,500 set for $800... as examples. I am very happy with my Harmonic Technology 6N single crystal copper, PRO-9 speaker cables. Purchased used... saved big $$.
I would leave enough room in the budget for an inexpensive tweak like the Synergistic fuse. I used the blue fuse in my CDP outboard power supply and couldn't believe the results for under $200. Another even less expensive increase for me was to pull the lid from my CDP... and add dampening material... very easy and only around $25. The results were similar to the fuse upgrade. Good luck, and enjoy the journey : )
tablejockey
3,795 posts
 
No one is mentioning the room and speaker setup in the room?

The basic gear without fancy outlets, cables in a proper room  setup probably would have more impact.
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