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Yes, another audiophile at a crossroads story and request for advice

I find as I’m rapidly approaching retirement that 2 competing thoughts about enjoying music after i retire. First, Im really looking forward to having the time to relax and listen to music any day of the week (not just the weekend now). Second, I don’t expect to be continue any significant investment in equipment upgrades post bringing home a paycheck. 
My current system consists of a 30+ year old Linn LP12 with Linn cartridge and Vincent PHO-701 tube phono pre-amp. I only listen to analog when i want to enjoy an album i bought in the 60’s - 80’s. 
90+% of my listening is streaming Tidal using Roon via Roon Nucleus, Lumin D2 as a streamer only, feeding a RME ADI-2-FS DAC. 
i still enjoy my CD collection (9% of my listening) and still purchase CDs) on a Primaluna tube CD player. 
All these are connected to a Primaluna Dialogue Premium HP integrated amp with original primaluna tubes from Upscale Audio.  My speakers are the original Joseph Audio Perspectives (not the graphene version). 
Power and interconnect cables are mid-level grade and power management via Niagara 1200. 
i listen mostly to instrumental jazz. 
This system is enjoyable, but I’m missing the last elements of sound details that reproduce an accurate organic sense of hearing guitar strings being plucked or picked, drum sticks hitting/tapping membranes or brass cymbals, the sound of a string base wood cavity vibrate. Hopefully that describes what im looking for. I do not like hyper/etched detail especially in the upper frequencies. 
I will add that the Primaluna CD player is the most enjoyable source of the 3 I currently.  Oh, and i also want to simplify my system. 
So, if you come with me this far to the intersection, heres what im debating. Should i chunk the integrated and Perspectives and invest in a top notch set of headphones (like the Focal Clear MG) and dedicated headphone amp?  In other words go to a headphone system. Or should i go the route of chucking all but the Perspectives and the Nucleus and invest in a high quality Roon approved integrated amp with built in DAC/Streamer?

ezstreams
inna
7,296 posts
 

ezstreams, I can't advise on the equipment, I only try to follow more expensive pieces and mostly tube equipment.

I personally don't enjoy headphones because I don't like music in my head as opposed to the space in front of and around me, but I know that some really prefer headphones actually for similar reason ! Yeah, in any case, headphones must be comfortable. 

 

noromance's avatar
noromance
9,769 posts
 

I have that exact sound you are looking for. Jazz (and everything!) sounds amazing. Inner detail, perfect timbre, instant attack, black backgrounds, explicit detail without fatigue, sweet as a nut.

Original recordings on vinyl. Idler drive. Decca cartridges, tubes, Quad ESL.

mahler123
3,318 posts
 

Having just flunked my audiology test, one advantage of headphones is that 

some of the newer ones offer DSP in that an App runs a hearing test and then sculpts the sound according to one’s needs.  I am not a big lover of cans but this might make some sense for me to investigate 

chayro
2,984 posts
 

As you seem to like what you have, I would recommend trying some “better” cables from the cable company.  In my experience, the difference between cables can range anywhere from no difference to “holy sh%t” and the only way to tell is to try. I would try speaker cables first, although many say power cords. Looking for that last 10% can be time consuming and expensive. 

zlone
657 posts
 

Nice system. I think I know what you are looking for sound-wise, I am a jazz listener and it is my goal as well. I don't have any hard answers, but a few things come to mind.

- Your DAC reviews well, but have you tried anything else? Maybe an R2R? How does it sound if you use the embedded DAC in the Lumin?

- Since you like your CD player best, are you using the internal DAC there or sending the signal to the RME DAC?

- Are you running ethernet or are you using wireless for streaming? 

- The one cable that might be a big upgrade and get you closer to your desired sound is the SPDIF cable between streamer and DAC. What are you currently using?

 

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