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Hierarchy of upgrade path

Dear members. Recently I have upgrated my system and I am happily rediscovering my music collection. A new search is beginning as I am planing to optimize this system over the next 1-2 years and here is where your input and experiance is requested. I have placed dedicated ac lines, PS Audio ac outlets, PS Audio Lab Cable II to the amp and mini Lab Cable to the CDP straight from the wall. Audio Physics Virgo II are driven by Vac 30/30 MK II with golden dragon tubes, Wadia 860x is the source and JPS Ultraconductor interconnects and speaker cables complete this system. Based on reading past forums I have put together a list of improvements and would like your input on qualitative and quantitative gains one might expect in this system from one or all of them. I enjoy all kinds of music but listen most often to single female and male vocalists, jazz and classical. Any suggestions are welcome however I prefer to keep it simple and not get into vinyl at this time.
1. Nirvana s-x or Audience Au-24 interconnects
2. Audience Au-24 speaker cable
3. Vac factory upgrade to MK III SE level.
4. Great Nothern Sound top upgrade for the Wadia
5. W.E. 300B/other tubes (generaly not recomendet by vac)
6. PS Audio 600 series ac regeneration for the amp
7. REL Storm or Stadium
Thanks in advance for your input and taking the time on this forum
endoit
zaikesman
3,017 posts
 
I have no personal experience with the Wadia volume control. It is reputed to be excellent, and is supposedly engineered to encourage just the type of use you are giving it, as is the Wadia output stage. In my own experience, my preamp does not improve on the fidelity of my Theta DAC's direct output, but it's not a totally fair comparision, since the Theta lacks an attenuator. To my mind, if you are happy with your setup and the improvements you plan on making, there would be no reason to invest in a preamp and associated cables if you are not moving to multiple sources in the future. (I wouldn't assume, though, that your AC is automatically 'OK' just because of the dedicated lines and such. Most systems the calibre of yours these days employ some sort of PLC, and though I can't vouch for the Wadia's sensitivity to AC conditions, my experience has been similar to others I've heard about, in that cleaned and balanced AC can make the biggest difference in digital and SS front end components.)
endoit OP
21 posts
 
I will discuss the PLC issue with both Great Northern Sound and Vac during future upgrades. I did note a great deal of improvement when I went from standard outlet to the dedicated lines and did not think that much more improvement would be gained with PLC. The Wadia manual discourages the use of PLC and advises going direct and leaving the unit on all the time. They note internal surge protection. I was considering PS Audio 600 PLC for the amp for potential improvement and also surge protection. Would you have any other product advice in this area? Thanks.
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace
467 posts
 
Endoit, I have a Wadia 860x, and in the manual it says that it has it's own power conditioner built in; Wadia recommends plugging directly into the wall.

In my system, I didn't like the Wadia direct into my VAC 70/70 mk3. too dry. i'm using my VTL IT85 as a preamp, with 7316 amperex bugle boy tubes, and it sounds just as expansive, yet deeper. Speakers are ML Aerius, which may be part of the reason I don't like my player direct into the VAC.
endoit OP
21 posts
 
Dennis the menace, in my system the 860x does not seem overly dry but that could be a function of speakers or cables. When I spoke with Great Northern Sound the recomendation was to run it direct into the amp and I was advised that the upgrades will take this unit close to the 20k seperates. I guess I could send my Manley Stingray integrated back to the factory for a preamp out conversion and a triode operation and use it with the 860x to compare. I plan to continue to use the Stingray in the future in a second system. Have you considered se upgrade to the vac in the future and have you tried different tubes ? My plan is to upgrade mine to se status and in the future potentialy get a second 30/30 and convert them into a monoblock setup. This sure is a fun neurosis.
dennis_the_menace's avatar
dennis_the_menace
467 posts
 
honestly, I was surprised that I didn't like the Wadia direct. you're right, it must be a function of my speakers or cabling, because the VAC is awesome. I have tried Western Electric, Golden Dragon and JJ 300bs, and I like the JJs the best. Seriously, for this amp, the Western Electric weren't any better than the JJs. I'm sorry I spent the money...

For 6SN7s, I've tried Sylvania VT231, Sylvania 6SN7W (black base), TungSol black glass, round plates, GE 6SN7B, RCA 6SN7A, and KenRad black glass VT231. The KenRads easily won... awesome BIG BIG sound, rich and deep, warm, yet not dark or subdued. The KenRads are awesome...

I have thought about an upgrade to Sig status, but I'm outta cash. Maybe in a year or so. The VAC sounds great as is... I'm going to try and get my turntable working. I'm a total idiot with analog stuff, and this is a good place for me to devote neurotic audio energy, without blowing a hole through my checking account..
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