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Has anyone else ever reached an audio impasse?

Perhaps I should explain -

A friend of mine has a VERY high resolution system which would retail close to the $100K mark. Each component upgrade he has made over the years has been based upon comparison between components. He has built a fantastic system.

Now here is the problem -
Recently he and I compared his source CD player which is the top model currently available under 15K, against a Sony 9000 ES SACD/DVD player. We A/B compared them.

After extended listening, we found the differences to be so minor that it was difficult to detect which was better. We did the comparisons with Redbook CD vs SACD, RedBook vs. Redbook and still the 15K CD player was only marginally (.05%) better.

The 15K CD player had better more expensive interconnects and power cords than the Sony which was using a stock power cord an old Audioquest Topaz (cheap) interconnects.

In previous listening sessions over the past year we had compared the same Sony 9000 CD/DVD/SACD player against MANY other CD players ranging in price from 2000 all the way up to 7000 and on redbook CD's the Sony always got it's butt kicked! It sounded hollow - with a recessed midrange - electronic - over emphasized highs, etc.

Then - I took a 100 Toshiba DVD player to his house and tried it against his 15K CD player. It sounded the same as the Sony. In fact, the 100 Toshiba sounded as good if not better in some ways than the Sony DVD player but...still was .05% out classed by the 15K CD player.

With each source component in these auditions, the soundstage remained VERY large, images were perfect and tonal balance couldn't be better. The subtlety of the changes between the various source components would be best described as perceived rather than actual.

I am curious to know if anyone else has experienced this type of an impasse. I know the $100 DVD player should not sound like the 15K CD player (at least it never did before)
but it does now. Why??

Could there be a bottle-neck somewhere? Could the character of an pre or amplifier be so strong it restricts performance of a source component? What could cause this to happen?

Help please...
bwhite
bwhite OP
807 posts
 
I spent the better part of the afternoon at my friends house and I can say that with the new dedicated power supplies (one for analog another for digital)... his system has transformed.

Earlier this week we were disappointed by the poor bass performance from tube preamps vs. a Krell HTS home theater processor. Today - I take those gripes back. The Supratek Syrah preamp has better bass (and more realistic) than any of the other preamps I have tried thus far. While it is still liquid and involving, with adequate power, it was ultimately better detailed (GOBS of inner-detail) and portrayed the music in a way I have never heard before. This really makes me want to upgrade to the Cortese since it must be the only preamp out there which can beat the Syrah. The ART is a good preamp but seemed so...dull and lifeless by comparison.

Once again the differences between sources are now VERY easy to detect. I feel almost ashamed of myself for questioning the equipment or the validity of my past decisions.

The problem in this case was not my ears, it was however the simple lack of power.
cornfedboy
1,645 posts
 
bwhite: thanks for all your followups. it is often amazin', isn't it, that one, seemingly simple thing can affect the sound of a whole bunch of components. your's is an experience that can teach any number of lessons. it's been interesting for me to be following the saga. -cfb
detlof
1,899 posts
 
bwhite, I must underwrite everything cfb has said and wish to thank you myself for all your followups. I've learnt a lot from the unfolding story and am personally glad than all is now well
bwhite OP
807 posts
 
Cornfedboy and Detlof - you both are quite welcome. I appreciate all the help I received from you and others during this difficult time. I swear, I was on the verge of giving up audio all together. This endeavor really tested my faith. And to think... as a result of my friends experience, I seriously debated selling my system, in favor of a 5.1 channel receiver based home theater system. Yikes!! :)

So... let me thank you all for saving my faith, system, and friend!!!
asa
662 posts
 
You see, Bryan, I told you to be patient. In the best systems, both the ears (the mind, actually) and the system have to become accustomed to one another; to gel, so to speak. Until then, the mind has a tendancy to return to its prior state of preferring a more grossly detailed system, as opposed to the harmonic nuance that is much more subtle and requires you to deepen into the music to appreciate - and is what you should be paying for at your level. It are these deep qualities in the experience of listening that I attempted to amplify in you stereo (specifically, for those interested, NBS Pro IC's, Electraglide FatBoy I on [original] amp, CJ Premier 8's to drive the Dynaudios, Supratek with NOS tube complement, AudioNote KSL speaker wire). I can't remember if you got the KSL, but, if not, you should. Also, a Bybee Pro purifier, maybe, might help. Yes, the NBS Statement PC is excellent on digital sources...

I'm glad the Supratek worked out; no one ever likes to recommend something and have it turn out badly. So, how do you like getting the best sounding preamp in the world at $2400? You know, for another $600 you get a phono section that is even better than the line stage. It shames the hiend... BTW, how did the black glass KenRad 6SN7's change things? Or the GZ32 rectifier? I think the Supra is a good 20% better with them in my system, but would be interested in you take since last time we spoke.

Good luck. Glad you've backed away from the cliff.
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