Upgrade Interconnects/Cables or…?


At 71 years of age, I have two possible upgrades I’d like to perform. After that I’m done, except for the usual tweaks (i.e., tubes, isolation, etc.). I’m very happy with the system I’ve built over the years, and it fits my room (medium), and the sound I’ve been after has been realized. I am guilty of concentrating on the main components of my system, and not paying much attention to what connects them. And, I’m in the hunt to upgrade my line stage…Maybe? So, what to do first, and perhaps I can hold off on the second option entirely? My budget is under $6,000 for either one.

I’m still an analog guy, even though I do have a DAC, Streamer, and NAS. My concentration here is for my phono playback. My interconnects and cables are old, but even so, each time I’ve upgraded a main component I have heard definite and sometimes significant improvement. Whenever I purchased interconnects/cables in the past, they were always decent ones at the time.

Option 1 - I’m looking at replacing the following interconnects/cables for my phono playback…

Turntable, Arm, Cartridge: Upgraded TW Acustic Raven, Ortofon RS 309D, Ortofon Verismo

               Current Phono Cable: Cardas Cross

Phono Stage: Tron Seven with the Reference caps

               Current Interconnect to Line Stage: Cardas Cross Reference

Line Stage: Boulder L3AE and recently upgraded the caps by Boulder

               Current Interconnect to Amps: Crystal Piccolo

Amps: TW Acustic 300B Monoblocks

               Current Speaker Cable: WireWorld Silver (original)

Option 2 - My system is fully unbalanced, so when considering a line stage, I don’t want to pay extra for designs that benefit from using the balanced side when I won’t be using that. One consideration for replacing my Boulder, is the Audible Illusions L3B.

So, which option might you choose if you could only choose one? And, what might you go with?

Thanks,

Kenny

kennythekey

That’s a lot of great information, but what’s really needed is what specific type of improvements you’re looking for.  I’ll just say off the top that Cardas makes some really fine cables, but I tried the Cross in my system years ago and from what I remember they don’t belong in your system no matter what else you decide to change.  Just one initial thought. 

Your system resembles mine in the fact that I also have 4 different interconnects wink Have you played around with their placement in your system? 

You don’t mention power cables, and in my experience these can have a greater effect than interconnects. For others with more experience than I to comment what are they?

soix,

You make a great point about the improvements I’m looking for!

To summarize my sound, it’s relaxed, laid back, very detailed, and open. Authentic to the recording as it is revealing, is the best way for me to describe it in my space. So, what am I missing, or what am I looking for? Obviously, I don’t want to lose anything I already have. For my medium size room, I have a huge left and right soundstage with decent depth. Of course, I would wish to improve what I first summarized. However, to be more specific, there’s a significant amount of air within the soundstage as described. I would like to open that up more towards me. For example, when playing a live small venue recording (e.g., Bill Evans at Town Hall), I want to fill my room more, so around me. My problem, is I don’t know if the recording has it, or is the limitation on my side? Maybe, a recommendation of a recording that provides what I’m looking for from someone who has achieved this, would benefit me and answer this question. Otherwise, my primary objective is to open my front to back soundstage and possibly improve upon what I’ve already have.

Thank you

Kenny

mclinnguy,

Yes, I’ve played around somewhat with my interconnects and have settled where they stand today. Not much changes doing so, anyway. It seems the sum equals the whole.

I’m actually happy with power cords, and wonder if I should have spent more of that money on the interconnects? I targeted these cords specifically to the components. For example, and the most dramatic power cord upgrade was when I upgraded my 300B monoblocks to the Shun Mook ones that use original Western Electric wire. A leap of faith that actually worked big time. I have a killer cord for my Tron Seven phono, that was recommended to me by Jeff at High Water Sound, but right now I can’t remember it. My Boulder line stage uses a hard wired cord, so not replaceable.

Kenny

@kennythekey I have over the past few year carried out my own investigations in Cables produced using PC Triple C Wire and D.U.C.C Wire as the Signal Path.

What did I learn immediately through the trials and increasing the Cables using these Wire Types, to be extended through the System.

Digital is going to show a increased noticeability that a Signal Path has undergone a change of Wire Type. Analogue is less noticeable and requires a little extra attention to the listening, or even a little extra for the Cable to Burn In, before the changes that are occurring are perceived in a way a reasonable assessment can be made.

The same also goes for Power Cables produced using these same Wires, I myself strongly suggest that Power Cables are not overlooked.

I have wrote on the Gon on a few occasions about my usage of these Wires and how my loaning them into other Systems impacted on those who were receiving demo's. The use of PC Triple C Wire spread quite fast through a Forum Hifi Community in the UK, especially to the point, other ideas for the usage of it evolved and it become a Signal Path Wire throughout the system, as Umbilical and Internal Hook Up.

As a Wire impacting on a System, in a nutshell, it will remove veiled sound, opening up a more Voluminous Soundstage, deeper and wider is usually detectable after a short period of Burn In.

In use for myself and others who have adopted the wire, the general discussion makes it known how the perception of a increased lucidity through the sound produced, improves the Envelope, Attack, Dynamics, Micro Details. Once these traits are discovered to have manifested, when returning to previously used Cables, even allowing for  a period of settlement, in all cases I know, the old cables used are Superseded with Triple C Wire used.

I have shown through the Links the most budget entry to being able to experience the Wire.

I started my investigation with the Cart' Tag Wires.

SAEC also use this Wire in their most recent produced $13K Tonearm

PC Triple C / EX is also an option, especially if Silver is seen to have an importance.  

 

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