2. cables
  3. 1179323114

What is my weakest link?

My gear: All Ayre CX7e, K5Xe and V5Xe. Speakers are Maggie 1.6 and Cables are VD master series balanced ICs, AQ bedrock biwire, Cardas golden PCs. Front end is plugged into a 10-12 year old powerwedge 112 and it actually has it's stock powercord still. The speaker cables and powerwedge are carry overs from an old system.

The master's are new, replaced Cardas golden presence and really brought things to a whole new level.

I'm trying to figure out what to replace next. I eventually want to upgrade speaker cables, power cords and power conditioner but I don't know which would give me the biggest improvement in sound.

AQ bedrocks ----> VD Master series or Revelation biwire
powerwedge 112 ----> RSA Haley or Ayre LX5e
Golden PCs ----> not 100% sure yet but most likely more VD stuff.

what are your thoughts?
adhaney
adhaney OP
50 posts
 
Ok people. Let me set something straight. I absolutely love my 1.6s and have no desire to replace them anytime soon. I'm asking about the PLC, SCs or PCs, most of which (not the PCs) are carryovers from an old mid-fi system.

thanks
mechans
3,048 posts
 
I know an audiophile who was absolutely, resolute that he would always use maggies. His addiction lasted over 20 years. Then after some intervention by his Guru he was put into rehab. He now owns Kharmas and couldn't be happier.
Otherwise get rid of the Bedrocks.
digsmithd
913 posts
 
Get rid of the power wedge and the bedrocks,s.forget the speaker suggesters...trust me youll see a big difference.I owned both those items,bedrocks are lifeless,powerwedge limiting,imho
shadorne's avatar
Ag insider logo xs@2x
shadorne
7,477 posts
 
which would give me the biggest improvement in sound.

I'm with Gregm...your speakers are fantastic but when it comes to upgrades you can get more value from a speaker upgrade than the same money spent on cables.

I would add room acoustics to your upgrade list too.

If you want to ignore widsom and stick to spending ever more $1000's on wires/cords then by all means go ahead but this is not, IMHO, "the biggest improvement in sound".
9rw's avatar
9rw
318 posts
 
Of course Shadorne and Gregm are right. Magneplanars are among the worst measuring speakers on the planet and they boast limited dynamics. They're also very difficult to place. It just takes some Maggie fans taken in by the "wall of sound" a long time to realize this. Been there, done that.
More to discover