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  3. 153380-128706

How good can it get, really? - my stereo sounds amazing!

I really love my stereo currently. I keep thinking I should be looking for the next piece to upgrade - phono stage, stereo subs, etc., but honestly not sure what to change or why I’d potentially spend more money to achieve a result that’s lesser or equal to my current sound quality. I sorta feel clueless as to how to proceed without screwing up what I have. I know it can get better but honestly I’m at a place when I just don’t know how it can. Hmmmmm.... not a bad problem I guess. Open to suggestions for sure. Thx.
paulgardner
artnoxon
7 posts
 

Hello Paul. 

The room acoustics overlays and imprints your audio experience.  Some "upgrades" that a person can hear are merely an effect that penetrates the acoustic noise floor.  Some upgrades are real and you'd love them if only you could hear them, but they lie buried below the room acoustic noise floor. As I read your list of equipment I didn't see the acoustic compliment you are running.  

A good system performance experience is to download and listen to the ASC MATT test (musical articulation test tones).  https://www.acousticsciences.com/matt

Listen first over headphones, kinda boring, then listen to your system play the test track. 

The test will speak for itself.

Sincerely,  Art Noxon

ASC

paulgardner OP
183 posts
 
Just upgraded to the Herron VTPH2-A Phono stage. I was wrong. It does get better! All I can say is WOW just wow! This thing is stunning! Good god! Everything is better. Beautiful midrange and fast bass without any loss of detail. Gorgeous tight transients too. I’ve only had it in my system for an hour now but already I love love love it! 

Prior to adding the Herron I’d been having what seems to be RF interference. Fast intermittent clicks and pops. It’s much louder with the Herron. I’ve ordered some clip on ferrite magnets for my power, speaker cables and interconnects to see if that helps. Any other suggestions I might try?
kingharold
304 posts
 
I have enjoyed this thread and agree with much that has been written, but I can not believe that expensive power cords make an audible difference.  At my rural home the current runs about 750 feet through aluminum cable from the last transformer to my service panel then another fifty or sixty feet through copper Romex cable from the service panel to the wall outlets for the stereo.  A six foot power cord is at most .75 per cent of the total cable supplying power to the stereo.  How can six feet of expensive power cord correct problems created the other 99.25 per cent of wire.  I just don't buy it.  That being said I am careful to use good quality power cords , usually the cords supplied by the manufacturer of the equipment.
sgordon1
439 posts
 
You get points for being "careful!"

Thanks for sharing, and demonstrating
that "limiting beliefs" are indeed very powerful.

Why not spend some time reading other
threads on this very subject? 

Suggestion: Don't ever listen to music through
anything other than stock power cords.

Then you will never hear what you are missing.
jerrybj
867 posts
 
True.
"Then you never know what you are missing."
And isn't that a contradiction? Not using just 'any old cord.'
I'm very careful to use the cord supplied

Some additions are illogical.
The 0.75% should not make a noticeable difference. But it does.

They don’t need to be overly expensive either. Mine were $230.
I’m sure there are very reasonably priced used power cords around.
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