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Seeking ideas about how to improve my system

Hi all.  I recently purchased a pair of Hifiman Susvara headphones, and the experience of listening to them is absolutely sublime.  I particularly enjoyed the clarity of detail and the very realistic timbre of the instruments.  Tone, timing, and spatial representation were wonderful.   I listen primarily to jazz, classical, bluegrass, and, though much less than in the past, rock.  Favorite musicians include Chris Thile, Edgar Meyer, Brad Mehldau, Mark Knopfler, Mark O’Connor, Joshua Bell, and many cellists.  
BUT, I would like my full system to produce that kind of experience too!  I’m looking for any and all feedback as to how to tweak or upgrade my system so that I can moved towards this type of experience.  I would expect to spend up to $20K, possibly more, over the long run (meaning years), so I am expecting a process and would also like feedback as to what to do first.  My room is about 20’ x 20’ x 9’ as a very rough estimate.

my components:
Sonus Faber Sonetto V’s
2 REL Ti7’s
Lyngdorf TDAI 2170
Manley Chinook phono amp
VPI Prime Scout with upgraded platter and tonearm, on a Townshend seismic platform
Ortofon Quintet black mc cart
Modwrighted Marantz SACD player and power source
Chord DAVE DAC/amp/preamp
Aurender N100C network streamer using Qobuz
Audioquest Rocket 88 speaker cables
Shunyata power cables (a mix)with Shunyata power distributor 
Shunyata, Nordost blue heaven, and Cardas clear interconnects

My analog end became downright unimpressive after I added the DAVE and the Aurender to my digital end, but the Susvara bests it all (in SQ, I realize it is just a headphone and not a full system).

Looking forward to responses.

  • — akajek






128x128Ag insider logo xs@2xjeankunin
eziggy
137 posts
 
Have you considered trying out any other speaker cables?  In my opinion it could be your weakest link.  I had the Rocket 88’s a while ago, then upgraded to AQ’s higher line (higher gauge copper) which produced a far larger range from treble to bass.  It made a huge difference.  I ended up upgrading to Mont Blancs, Oak, then Thunderbird before decided to go with a full loom of Ansuz cables.

Also, for your interconnects, where do you have the Nordost Blue Heaven connected?  Analog or digital?  I had Blue Heaven speaker cables in my system and while, to me, it sounded crisp on the highs, it lacked mid-bass and bass.  It may be different on interconnects, just something to consider.  You have very different types of interconnects, have you tried swapping them around?
jeankunin's avatar
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jeankunin OP
17 posts
 
The room is carpeted except under the speakers, the rack is off to the side, the 4 windows have large fabric shades, there is a fabric couch along the wide wall facing the speakers about 10’ in from the back wall behind it, the speakers at 5’ in from the side walls but only 1’ out from the rear wall., and there is a thick 5’ x 7’ Persian rug hanging on the wall between the speakers.
tablejockey
3,916 posts
 
This ISN'T a "one size fits all ears" guide. Just gives more perspective
http://www.cardas.com/speaker_placement.php

Don't forget-that undamped ceiling is a factor in attempting to tame a room. Look at any serious sound room-their are tiles on the ceiling.

1 foot from the wall isn't going helping with creating the illusion of depth and spaciousness. Works for dialing in bass, but then compromise on everything else. The balancing act can be challenging. That's where your subs kick in- to make for having the speakers way out in the room.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Manley Chinook phono amp
VPI Prime Scout with upgraded platter and tonearm, on a Townshend seismic platform
Ortofon Quintet black mc cart

And yet
My analog end became downright unimpressive after I added the DAVE and the Aurender to my digital end
Sorry, but either this is a troll or you are trying to put legs on a snake. I give even odds. Either way, no way to help a man in such a sad state of confusion.

Oh, and headphones put the sound inside your head. The system puts the sound stage before you. Legs on a snake! Again, no way to help a man so deeply conflicted.

russ69's avatar
russ69
3,520 posts
 
   "...I recently purchased a pair of Hifiman Susvara headphones, and the experience of listening to them is absolutely sublime..."

I think most of us have had this experience. A good headphone will drive you to upgrade your loudspeaker system. No other choice, the headphones have shown your system is lacking and you will need a big upgrade to reach or surpass your headphone system. So I'd start with a big loudspeaker upgrade and then start thinking about an amp/preamp.  
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