@pjw81563 ghosthouse if you don’t mind could you tell me what power conditioner and cables you use?
Happy to do so...
Just be aware, I didn’t start out with this stuff. The "journey" is essential for appreciating what the gear (in this case, cabling) is doing for the sound.
Very affordable power cords that made an immediate and unmistakable good difference to me:
Shunyata Venom HC v1 used on a Merrill Audio Taranis amp.
Analysis Plus Pro Power Cable used on a TEAC CD-3000.
The Analysis power cords are still on my CDP and Gungnir DAC.
I went to a Shunyata Alpha NR v1 power cord on my amps but that change brought far less improvement than the Venom HC v1 which replaced Cullen Crossover v1 and Pangea AC-9.
I just recently bought an Isotek Aquarius power conditioner. THAT made a huge difference for me. Like a component upgrade. AND, funny thing about it, switching out the stock Isotek Premier power cord to a Venom HC improved things further and yet again when I put a Shunyata Delta NR v1 on it.
I have Cardas Clear Reflection speaker wire and interconnects on my main sources. I like the Cardas sound. Others don’t. I will say the Clear line is different than the stereotypical Cardas house sound (kinda warm and wooly, some say; never heard it quite that way, myself). Didn’t start with the Clear line. Had or tried quite a few other cable brands before Cardas (including Morrow; did audition some Audioquest wire too). The initial Cardas wire was Parsec speaker and interconnect, plus their Microtwin 300B IC and a Golden Reference IC. All these before getting the Clear Reflection wire. The sole keeper out of the older stuff I had before Cardas Clear Refl. is a run of Clear Day Double Shot-gun speaker cable that I still use on occasion (depending on amp).
As much as possible I buy demos, used and B stock to save $ (hence my virtual system name; posted on A’gon but not fully updated).
You can rent to audition different wire brands at The CableCo.com. It will cost you 5% of retail (+ shpping) which will be applied against purchase price (less shipping $) if you do buy.
My choices might or might not be good for you. You could try the same stuff on your gear and hate the sound or, possibly, not hear any difference worth the $$$!
Good luck. Hope this helps.
Turning back to music and Lyle Mays. His first solo album from 1986 is a favorite for me.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Lyle_Mays_(album)I was fortunate enough to see The Pat Metheny Group at the McCarter Theatre in Princeton NJ when they were touring in support of the Wichita Falls album. Lyle was a big part of that. It was a magical show.
