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Products you added to your system in 2021 that made most impact to your music enjoyment

As 2021 comes to an end, just thought it would be cool to share some of the most impactful audio upgrades in your system this year?
Here’s my top 5 list…

1. Pass Labs XP-12: Upgrade path was from Rogue RP-1 to Rogue RP-5 and then to Pass XP-12 that was the final touch. Huge improvements across the board. Mates well with my Rogue ST-100 tube amp.

2. Phono Cartridge: Goldring E3 MM to Hana EL MC. Clarity, presentation, dynamics in spades!

3. Phono Pre: From the built in phono pre in RP-1 and RP-5 to MoFi UltraPhono to Sutherland KC Vibe MkII. Lowered noise floor, increased resolution, dynamics. The KC Vibe MkII is almost double the cost of the MoFi and it’s the one of the few upgrades where an improvement was proportional to the cost difference. At least in my system. Records that seemed noisy become more listenable. A great little phono pre. 

4. Audience AU24sx speaker cables. These speaker cables are a clear window into a recording. Nothing hidden, nothing exaggerated. 

5. Power Cords: Acoustic Zen Gargantua for preamp and amp. Lower noise floor, increased resolution, natural sound, expanded soundstage

Honorable mentions:

1. Acoustic Zen Absolute Copper interconnects. In my opinion the AZ cables don’t get the respect they deserve on these forums anymore, overshadowed by some of the “flavor of the day” newcomers (without going into specifics on brands).

2. Puritan PSM156 power conditioner. 
3. Supra Cat8 Ethernet cable.

4. Lumin U1 Mini

5. MoFi LP#9 Stylus Cleaner. Better than the Onzo ZeroDust although I still use the Onzo between the sides. 

128x128audphile1
tweak1
3,671 posts
 

Additions:

 

*Nobsound springs under everything, including my speakers

* I reinstalled my Marantz HDCD-1 to replace using my Oppo 105 as a transport for red book CDs

 

Subtractions: (these 2 paid HUGE sonic dividends)

* Removing Harbor Freight dollys from under my speakers

* 2 SVS powered subs: 10+ years old, never designed to compliment a hi-end system

ejr1953
916 posts
 

Just before the end of 2021, my new PS Audio PerfectWave SACD Transport (PST) arrived to replace the previous generation DirectStream Memory Player (DMP) and I must say, the improvement is more than I ever expected, especially for "regular" CDs.  The musical "tonality" is improved for both CDs and SACDs, and I've heard new sounds I'd never heard before on disks I've listened to many times.

I'm glad I made the upgrade.

catr's avatar
catr
7 posts
 

over 2020-2021 been experimenting with the DIY tweak called 'battery ground tweak' (attributed to 'uncle stu' over at audio asylum), adding it to nearly every thing - computer, dac, pre, power, speakers

transforms the system, totally. 

modding the super-cheap 6p1/6aq5 chinese amp's caps and resistors was a revelation.

one does not need to actually spend a lot on both the amp nor the caps or resistors to sound high end it seems. i wasted alot of money buying from online boutique capacitor sellers like hificollective uk (which i will post about soon, a different topic, once a great wonderful shop to deal with that morphed into a bunch of truly terrible people I want nothing to do with now)

 

power cords.

2021 definitely convinced me of their importance. i was skeptical before, but now consider them a critical part of any good system.

 

fiesta75
1,378 posts
 

A modified Sony CDP-XE500.

nismo
12 posts
 

- Upgraded from Node 2i to Lumin T2:  Holy moly! the increase in resolution is just astounding.  Makes everything more realistic.  However, I do miss the Node's app which is superior.

- Removed preamp: Lumin's own Leedh volume processing really is a seamless transition for a streaming-only system.  Removes one more veil without noticeable loss of dynamics.  One less remote control too.  

- Furutech GTX-D NCF outlet: more detail, more presence, more 3D.  And this is AFTER upgrading power cords and conditioners.

 

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