Do the tube maintenance and consider a Loki Max EQ as it can pull some life out of older recordings...or any recordings you think need it. Like you I'm a jazz freak, and the Max can bring cymbals up in a mix, balance bass and mids, restore hair growth, and generally make you a better person.
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?
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It sounds like you have done your homework on the DAC and it is to your liking. I will disagree with your technical support person regarding the digital cable. While not a solution to all of your problems, I highly recommend you do some research and try going up the chain a bit there. My system improved when I upgraded this cable. One follow up question, when you listen to jazz on your vinyl setup, do you hear more of the sound you are looking for? |
I am going to throw this out there, it seems like your system is solid for what you are using it for. Have you thought about replacing your current speakers and opting for a NOS set of tubes in your Integrated and dac? I have been back and forth with SET systems and regular push/pull tube systems and I loved the texture I was getting with my Klipsch Forte IV’s with my 45,2a3 & 300b amps but I ended up missing that extra headroom from higher powered amplifiers. I used a Audiomat 30w integrated with my Forte IV’s and loved the extra oomph and used that as a place keeper until my what I call my Super Quad ESL 57’s were being created by Kent at Electrostatic Solutions in KC(Robin Wyatt YouTube video for reference). I only mention the Quads as my other pair of ESL 57’s sound exceptional with the Audiomat EL34 tube amp. I used my Audiomat with Holland metal based EL34’s and 62’ Mullard 12ax7’s and it was everything you are looking for in sound. I am done with my search with the exception of a DAC as I miss my Wavelength Cosecant N2 dac. My current setup: Herron Audio 360 ESP Reference McIntosh MC75 original issue with GEC KT88 NOS and Telefunken driver tubes. 432EVO Aeon Streamer/Roon Core Rockna Wavelight Dac Herron VTSP-2a phono preamp STS Thorens TD-124 with Jelco 850L and Ortofon TA-110 Tonearms Koestsu Urishi Black and Haniwa HCTR-01 Mki MC cartridges Solid tech rack and Still Points ESS rack cables are Western Electric speaker wire and Herron Audio Interconnects
Good Luck!!! |
@wolf_garcia I’ve read good reviews and your positive comments regarding use of the Loki to sculpt the sound to taste is an interesting idea. My RME DAC has a graphic equalizer feature that I’ve not yet used or explored. I’ve been reticent to try it, but I should check it out before changing out any hardware. |
@ezstreams that's the hard part to suggest, I think, since there are so many possible combinations of gear, tubes, peoples listening perceptions, etc. For me, I just kept a notebook and marked down how each combination sounded so I could refer back to it. This is especially handy when swapping out speakers to help get the right combination. You could just try ordering some different sets to see what works. Another thing I ran into was that just because a tube is more expensive, doesn't make it a better performer in a given application. Sometimes, a cheap tube can sound great, just as an expensive tube. |
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