I'm beside myself.... ..with audio joy

Big Red Machine · « **on:** 9 Apr 2008, 11:16 pm »

I'm still in shock how musical my system is now. I'm still tweaking some cables but adding the MW 36.5 and the Cullen Circuits Level 4 Mod to the DLIII DAC has skyrocketed my system to a level I never even knew existed.

Anyone who was here 2 weeks ago; that sound suckarinoed compared to today. I'm listening to Jack Johnson and the piano is off the right wall, the cymbals are real (as a drummer I know), the 3 dimensionality to the music is scary. Most of all it is REAL. Not sounds, just reproduction of real life.

I always hoped mt HT3's could do this and they do it in spades. Scary good. Now I can't wait to share this with the AKFest folks in May. I have those Ibis SC's coming tomorrow but today I put in Morrow SC's and Audio Metallurgy GA-O balanced IC's between DAC and pre. Lots of midrange so we'll see what the Ibis silver does to the gold IC sound.

zybar · « **Reply #1 on:** 9 Apr 2008, 11:43 pm »

Pete,

Glad to hear that you are enjoying your system.

I know that when I owned the HT3's, each time I threw better gear around them, they rewarded me with improved sound.

Since you have been trying so many new pieces of gear, it might help to list out explicitly all the great gear that is bringing you such joy.

George

TomS · « **Reply #2 on:** 9 Apr 2008, 11:51 pm »

Glad to hear it Pete. You've assembled a terrific system (again). Each time I've heard the 36.5 it impressed me even more. I'm also very happy with the sound of my (Pass) F4 clone. At this point I don't have a reason to have a preamp in my configuration but if I did the MW would be at the top of the list. Some kind of magic there for sure.

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #3 on:** 10 Apr 2008, 12:59 am »

rydenfan · « **Reply #4 on:** 10 Apr 2008, 02:03 am »

Pete, I am thrilled to see you are so happy with the 36.5! I knew it would be a wonderful fit for your system.

spudco · « **Reply #5 on:** 10 Apr 2008, 12:15 pm »

The Modwright/Pass Labs is a match made in heaven!

doug s. · « **Reply #6 on:** 10 Apr 2008, 06:06 pm »

Quote from: TomS on 9 Apr 2008, 11:51 pm

...At this point I don't have a reason to have a preamp in my configuration but if I did the MW would be at the top of the list...

isn't wanting your system to sound better, a good enough reason to have a preamp in your configuration?

doug s.

zybar · « **Reply #7 on:** 10 Apr 2008, 06:25 pm »

Quote from: doug s. on 10 Apr 2008, 06:06 pm

Quote from: TomS on 9 Apr 2008, 11:51 pm
...At this point I don't have a reason to have a preamp in my configuration but if I did the MW would be at the top of the list...
isn't wanting your system to sound better, a good enough reason to have a preamp in your configuration?

doug s.

Tom already has a "custom" combination preamp/dac in his system. Adding a traditional preamp to his setup is questionable under those circumstances.

George

doug s. · « **Reply #8 on:** 10 Apr 2008, 06:34 pm »

Quote from: zybar on 10 Apr 2008, 06:25 pm

Quote from: doug s. on 10 Apr 2008, 06:06 pm
Quote from: TomS on 9 Apr 2008, 11:51 pm
...At this point I don't have a reason to have a preamp in my configuration but if I did the MW would be at the top of the list...
isn't wanting your system to sound better, a good enough reason to have a preamp in your configuration?

doug s.

Tom already has a "custom" combination preamp/dac in his system. Adding a traditional preamp to his setup is questionable under those circumstances.

George

hi george,

thanks for the clarification; from tom's post, it appears he is running source-direct, w/no preamp.

doug s.

TomS · « **Reply #9 on:** 10 Apr 2008, 06:53 pm »

It is SB2 SPDIF direct into the DCX digital input. I choose not to use the analog inputs due to the effects of an extra A/D conversion. The "preamp" I use to adjust levels is actually the 4-ch (biamp) Didden analog stage at the back side of the DCX XO. It would take 4 preamp channels to make that work. While Dan would probably like that, my wallet would be smashed if I needed two 36.5's

Big Red Machine · « **Reply #10 on:** 11 Apr 2008, 10:28 pm »

Okay. I tried the Morrow SCs and liked them at first. Then the Ibises showed up and I didn't like them as much. So now I have the Morrows back in and am not sure. I've never had SCs make this much of difference before.

So here's what I get:

Morrows: tons of bass, and a sexiness and realism to the midrange
Ibis: rather neutral but the highs are clearer with less bass

I will have to keep trying here to see (hear) if the Morrow bass is muddy and the Ibis bass is tight. I'll also try the Morrows on the bass and the Ibis on the top end. That should be interesting.

Makes me wonder if ONE cable can do it all. Kinda cool and kinda painful to have a system so revealing now.