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System assembled; only a final decision about speakers remains

Thanks to many posters on this forum, I have nearly completed assembling an audio system.

Because I started off my questions on this forum regarding speakers, I’m posting my outcomes here. I’ve not finalized speaker choice. While I took "Speakers first" to heart and attempted to do things that way,  slow production times and the virus prompted me to research and purchase in multiple areas. I wound up getting everything but speakers first.

I am enjoying my system with some loaners at the moment (review to come), and then (if the cosmos allows) I will seek synergy between this system and speakers. My hope is that the speakers ordered (Salk SS6M) turn out to be keepers, but they'll have a 30 day trial period. No idea when I will receive them. Oh, and I need to do some additional thinking about power and wiring, etc. And furniture.

So, to the various posters who chimed in with suggestions and information (I took extensive notes and you are now part of my informal library), here’s what I assembled:

SPEAKERS
  • SALK SS 6M — these are being built (well, after the shutdown is lifted) and then I’ll TRY them for 30 days to see if they work. Others are being considered. Opinions are welcome.
  • Sub: REL 328
AMPLIFICATION
  • QS Linestage
  • QS 60 Monos amp
SOURCES
  • CD transport: Cambridge CXC
  • Streamer: Bluesound Node 2i
  • DAC IT (peachtree) — older; just to tide me over
  • DAC ORCHID — this is my keeper

CABLES

  • Toslink: for CD player
  • Coaxial digital: Analysis Plus Digital Crystal & Audioquest Forest
  • Interconnects RCA: Analysis Plus Copper Oval
  • Power for sources and amps: Pangea Audio AC 14 & 9 SE MKII
  • Speaker cables: Analysis Plus Oval 12

POWER

  • Conditioner: Panamax 1500

128x128hilde45
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,283 posts
 
Hilde45, 
I had great results on a previous setup just using a PS Audio Quintet.  I used a Pangea AC9 on the Quintet.  I used Pangea AC14se’s for my dac, cd player, and streamer whichI plugged into the Quintet.  I then used a Pangea AC9 for my Amplifier which I plugged directly into the wall.  My wall outlet was / is a Porter Port (search Albert Porter here on Audiogon!)

You can achieve a nice tidy layout of your power cords with a set-up like this.

Another nice thing about this set-up is that when we get one of those nasty afternoon Colorado thunderstorms, I could unplug two powercords from the wall and my entire system was then disconnected from the power.

Lightning striking anything electrical in your home will blow through most (if not all) powerstrips / surge protectors.

And lastly, even if you have zero hiss coming from your tweeters with the volume levels high, you can still lower the musical noise floor.  Having a black background / low noise floor really is apparent with how images appear out of nowhere and allow you to pick up more easily on micro details and ambient cues.  

hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,034 posts
 
Thanks @b_limo   
so, you’re comfortable running your amps into the wall without protection?
b_limo's avatar
b_limo
2,283 posts
 
From all the info and advice I gathered here on Audiogon years ago, most all members suggested plugging amplifiers directly into the wall.  
Things may have changed but that was the advice that I was given here on Audiogon years ago!
hilde45's avatar
hilde45 OP
5,034 posts
 
I have seen that advice and I’ve also seen many people say that they would never take that risk with their equipment especially given the crap that’s on our electrical lines or the possibility of an electrical storm. I would be worried that I would forget to unplug it or that the storm would happen in the middle of the night.
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