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What is my next step to a better sound ?

I am looking for educated opinions from audiophiles that have owned are listened to systems similar to mine.

I have a Mark Levinson no.380 preamp and a ML no.334 amp with Watt Puppy 5.1 speakers,serie 7 tweeters.Arcam Rdac with Teddy Pardo power supply.Transparent plus cables and MIT shotgun xlr interconnects.

I really am not sure what component i need to change to step up the ladder towards a better HIFI sound.

Preamp ? Ml 380 S ? 326 S ? or maybe another make ?

I was suggested to change my preamp for a SPECTRAL 15

My transport is a 250$ Sony bluray player ,i dont believe that buying anything more expensive will hep with the sound ,its going through DAC anyway,correct me if you think im wrong.

I listen to Bluaudio and SACD SHM.
128x128nicsaudio
rumadian
152 posts
 
As an owner of a set of WP 5.1's (albeit with WP8 drivers and parts) and as a former owner of ML gear.... my suggestion would be to ditch your current digital (yes, that includes the transport) and buy yourself a great CDP. Though I rarely like to plug gear that I own on the forums, I'd strongly encourage you to get an AMR CD777 and be done with it.
inna
7,296 posts
 
"It's like putting a VW GTI engine in a Porsche 911 Turbo".
Right. But if on the other hand you put Porsche Turbo engine in VW you will be dead in no time.
On the subject. Yes, of course this digital front end begs to be upgraded. Possibly cables too but I can't be sure.
Thansport is very important, sometimes probably just as important as DAC or even more. And the connection between them.
How much are you prepared to spend? How about older CEC belt drive transport(get the new belt) and Dodson DAC or something like that? Or older Sony top of the line SACD? Many to choose from, in fact.
I wouldn't touch Levinson/Wilson for now if ever.
mapman's avatar
mapman
22,311 posts
 
The thing that bothers me about the Rdac is the name. It seems to be designed to capitalize on Arcam's use of the highly acclaimed DCS ring dac technology in one or two of their legacy devices, but that is not what is used in the rDac. Their web site references the relationship with DCS and the use of other DCS technology in the rdac, but not the ring dac itself which I believe is DCS's crowning achievement.

I do not think it is good business strategy for DCS to license their bread and butter technologies to companies offering products at a fraction of the cost. That's probably why the Ring DAC is not available in any Arcam gear anymore.
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