Thanks for the kind comments, all!
Quote:
JCD wrote:
 For crying out loud, you're doing this just to make me feel small! That's an amazing looking system -- and in a couple of months since your first post, you've gone from a denon received to a tube ?preamp? and a Parasound amp (A21?).
I.....just.....hate.....you!!    
But in all seriousness, that is a fine bunch of equipment you've got there. And I love the simplicity of it. |
If it makes you feel better - I sold the Denon AVR almost 2 years ago and then began the gradual upgrade progression up to today. At the time of registration here, I had a PS Audio HCA2 and soon switched to an A21 - and extremely glad I did so!
Quote:
- Can you tell me what kind of preamp is that?
- How would you rate the incremental changes to your system? I.e., after the speakers, what changes do you think the biggest improvement?
- How did you come up with plan for the various accoustical treatments?
- What are you using for your movie watching now?
Anyway, I'm gonna go away and sulk now.. but again, great looking system.
JCD
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That preamp is a Singlepower SDS headphone amp...and one of the best ever made. Typically an excellent headamp makes an excellent preamp - unfortunately the 6sn7 tubes that amp likes (Tung-Sol 6sn7 roundplate) tend to be a tad microphonic, which is a disadvantage in a fullrange speaker rig (which tends to vibrate things a bit). Not to worry, I've recently acquired a Rudistor RP7b headamp/preamp that is a superb hybrid of tubes/SS, sounds sweet, and has no microphonics.
Of course, you are correct that speakers makes the biggest difference. After that, so far, the biggest differences came from:
* Speaker placement and careful selection of listening position
* Treating first reflection points, especially sidewalls. I'm going to see what I can do about the ceiling next. Disappointingly, bass trappnig hasn't made as much difference as I'd hoped. I guess it takes a lot before it's really noticeable.
* Upgrading to the A21. Seriously, this was bigger than going from the Denon to any other 2ch power amp I'd tried. I guess the Legacy speaks need a lot of something...something that the big Halo amps provide in spades. I've also heard the JC1's with 'em and the add in that extra bit of refinement over the A21.
Cables, digital sources, and preamp swapping have made substantially less difference than the above thus far (though I can still appreciate the difference a sweet pre makes).
The HDTV is now in the bedroom and I'm just using its built-in speaks for movies and cable. Heh, sacrifices had to be made...
Oh, btw I also got some Parasound JC1 monoblocks and a vintage SOTA Sapphire Star table (Koa wood, Fidelity Research FR64fx arm, Benz Ace cart) on the way within the next couple weeks...
Well, it
was my birthday recently. I'll post pics