[Quiet Earth]

Quality of the sound is my most important concern.

Are you sure about that? Re-read your original post.

Check this out when you have some time to kill : http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/viewpoint/0601/audiohell.htm

[Quiet Earth]

Good post Buddy.

    With DAC, since you coming from analog before I would recommend you try NOS (non oversampling) DAC first. Well, as long as you don't play high-res files of course.

Just to add to that, some NOS dacs will play 24/96 just fine. For example, mine will truncate the 24 bits down to 18, and lock on to the 96kHz. But it's true that it was meant to enjoy redbook CDs, and enjoy them I do.

[kingdeezie]

Are you sure about that? Re-read your original post.

Check this out when you have some time to kill : http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/viewpoint/0601/audiohell.htm

Perhaps I mis-worded my original post, but I thought I made it clear that I wanted to be happier with my sound, while at the same time possible cutting down on complexity.

If something could be changed in my current system clear cut to make me happier; I would do it in a second.

I was perhaps under the misconception that a tube integrated could offer these things if purposefully and educatedly chosen.

[kingdeezie]

Hey!

    If you ask me. I have to say that the first mistake is that you got rid of you analog. I do understand that with analog vinyl is take more time but than that is about quality vs quantity. Anyway, hope that you still kept all you vinyls.

    Back the the system. Looking at your system list. I do have one recommendation and that is get rid of the PS Audio DAC. I've heard PS Audio DAC before in one of the member of now gone NAYR Circle here and I have to say that it didn't sound right. It dose sound very precise and detailed but overall it sound very mechanical. And of course that member no longer using the PS Audio DAC now.

    With DAC, since you coming from analog before I would recommend you try NOS (non oversampling) DAC first. Well, as long as you don't play high-res files of course.

    I don't know about your speaker. But having a good tube amp is not a bad thing. Some people like to tube and some like SS. So, if possible audition them in your system first before making decision.

   Good luck.

Take care,
Buddy

Analog is great if you have the time for it, I will openly admit. However, most days I hardly have any time to critically listen at all, let alone cleaning, vaccuming, polishing, dusting, adjusting, etc, etc, etc with vinyl.

Also, for as much of the mechanicalness that I don't appreciate in my digital, analog has its fair share of issues as well. The noise, the static, the harshness my MC cartridge could take on if the slightest bit misaligned, the bloatedness that came with poor VTF, VTA, and SRA; the list could be endless.

While I loved it; I just don't have the time anymore. Will I in 10 years? Maybe; but digital gets better and better every year; and in 10 years who knows what we will have.

Also, buying multiple copies of everything was getting ridiculously expensive; and most modern recordings were really a wash between the formats.

I do some mild hi-rez, but not enough to let it deter me from another better sounding DAC. I do love the PS Audio's ease of use though, and its giving me some great detail in my music. Classic cliche; songs I have listened to a million times sounding new again.

It just need a little bit more smoothness.   

[JakeJ]

kingdeezie, could this all be related to the DAC?  I've no experience with any of your gear BUT over the years I have noticed a lot of people mention the "sterility" of their PS Audio gear.  Anyway, can you roll some other DAC into the system?  Another thought would be to try a tube power amp in place of the Pass 250.5.

The big question is do you have access to other gear on a par with your already high caliber equipment list that you can try some gear swapping?  I won't drag cables into it.

Are you looking for more tone?  If that's the case then you can explore the possibilities of a vintage tube preamp (or a modern one based on a vintage circuit).  MapleTree Audio Design have tone, so do most of the VAC preamps.

However if it were me I'd start with the DAC, just my .02.

Jake

[AudioSoul]

  I own the Rogue Cronus and it is the perfect match for my equipment and the sound I was looking for. A little back ground....I have many amps in my house. Both tube and SS and I was never satisfied with any of them. Then I purchased the Cronus, it has the perfect sound between tube and SS that I was looking for. Of course with any amp, it depends on the speakers and other equipment used..........

[HAITIMAN]

  I own the Rogue Cronus and it is the perfect match for my equipment and the sound I was looking for. A little back ground....I have many amps in my house. Both tube and SS and I was never satisfied with any of them. Then I purchased the Cronus, it has the perfect sound between tube and SS that I was looking for. Of course with any amp, it depends on the speakers and other equipment used..........

+3 Rogue Cronus Magnum - Well built and big sound.

Hey, anybody here know anything about the Anedio DAC, (Sabre Chip)?

[kingdeezie]

kingdeezie, could this all be related to the DAC?  I've no experience with any of your gear BUT over the years I have noticed a lot of people mention the "sterility" of their PS Audio gear.  Anyway, can you roll some other DAC into the system?  Another thought would be to try a tube power amp in place of the Pass 250.5.

The big question is do you have access to other gear on a par with your already high caliber equipment list that you can try some gear swapping?  I won't drag cables into it.

Are you looking for more tone?  If that's the case then you can explore the possibilities of a vintage tube preamp (or a modern one based on a vintage circuit).  MapleTree Audio Design have tone, so do most of the VAC preamps.

However if it were me I'd start with the DAC, just my .02.

Jake

Its not so much tone as it is just a little bit smoother sound. Things are too..."jagged, hard, sharp.." at the moment.

[Ericus Rex]

I have noted the Tempest III. I was at one point looking at Rogue monoblocks. Do you use the Cronus?

I went up the Rogue line a bit:  Stereo 90 Super Magnum amp and 99 Magnum pre.  The Tempest III integrated is based on the Stereo 90.

[twitch54]

I don't know if its the source

sometimes, but  by now I trust you know the 'good from the bad'

 

the amplifier

I doubt it very much

 

the speakers

Could be, have you listened to others....??
 

or what, but something needs to change.

How about your room acoustics ?? have you addressed that issue ?

[Bill Baker]

Hello kingdeezie,
 Sorry to hear that you are no longer enjoying your system. I cannot tell you where the problem is coming from as I obviously only know one component in your system. I can tell you that with all the Purity One preamp out there, we have yet to receive any feedback such as what you mention here in this thread. The Purity One is designed to be clean, fast and articulate but never sterile. Especially the way your unit is built and capacitors used for output coupling. The Basis, in comparison, has a bit more warmth due to the circuit and 6SN7 tubes.

By the way, how would you compare your current amp vs the amp you use to have when you purchased the pre.

 If you get a chance to come up to our place, you can audition the Basis Integrated Hybrid amp (which also has HT bypass, pre out and main in). If you cannot make it up anytime soon, I may be able to send one out for you to audition but it would not be till after February at the earliest before I could do so as I have a big gathering planned for the end of February.

 Another option as others have mentioned is to look into a tube amplifier which would really change things considerably. I am not familiar with your amp but I do have two other customer that run his amps (don't remember which models) and said they are a bit dry sounding.

 If you find an amp of your liking, I would have no problem installing HT bypass into your current Purity.

 Hope you find your way with your system soon.

 Bill
 Purity Audio Design

[werd]

Its not so much tone as it is just a little bit smoother sound. Things are too..."jagged, hard, sharp.." at the moment.

This sounds more like a source/dac complaint than a pre issue. I can get my Bryston bda1 to sound like that. You should try underpinning your dac or use a platform. Send me 15 bucks and i will send you a pair of my Data certified mouse pads that i sit my bda on. It helps take the complaint out of it. Dacs  like PS and BDA  are what i like. Since they have great Prat. You can get rid of the harshness by tweaking. Dacs are the most tweakable component imo.

[Wind Chaser]

    I don't know about your speaker. But having a good tube amp is not a bad thing. Some people like to tube and some like SS. So, if possible audition them in your system first before making decision.

Danny's speakers tend to be quite analytical / detailed sounding.  The Pass amps share the same qualities.  My guess is this is where the problem lies.  Synergy is much like chemistry, finding the magical mix.

If you're going to approach this problem with a different amplifier, than Buddy's / SET Man's advice is on the mark.  Try before you buy.  It's too haphazard to go about this any other way.  Given the size and weight of your speakers, this is probably your best option.

[Quiet Earth]

There's a lot to be said for a personal audition vs. purchase via internet recommendations. The internet is a wonderful place to gather information, discuss and study, but a personal audition will help sort it all out.

One thing that I've noticed about getting the most out of digital, and this obviously applies to me and my limited experience, is that the more you try to enhance it the worse it gets. Up sampling, over sampling, format changing, buffering, bit adding, dithering, ripping, error correcting, etc., is usually devastating to the original mojo. This irreversible damage is usually the main cause of fatigue and boredom.

You'd be surprised how good those digits can sound if you just extracted them as they are.

[kingdeezie]

Hello kingdeezie,
 Sorry to hear that you are no longer enjoying your system. I cannot tell you where the problem is coming from as I obviously only know one component in your system. I can tell you that with all the Purity One preamp out there, we have yet to receive any feedback such as what you mention here in this thread. The Purity One is designed to be clean, fast and articulate but never sterile. Especially the way your unit is built and capacitors used for output coupling. The Basis, in comparison, has a bit more warmth due to the circuit and 6SN7 tubes.

By the way, how would you compare your current amp vs the amp you use to have when you purchased the pre.

 If you get a chance to come up to our place, you can audition the Basis Integrated Hybrid amp (which also has HT bypass, pre out and main in). If you cannot make it up anytime soon, I may be able to send one out for you to audition but it would not be till after February at the earliest before I could do so as I have a big gathering planned for the end of February.

 Another option as others have mentioned is to look into a tube amplifier which would really change things considerably. I am not familiar with your amp but I do have two other customer that run his amps (don't remember which models) and said they are a bit dry sounding.

 If you find an amp of your liking, I would have no problem installing HT bypass into your current Purity.

 Hope you find your way with your system soon.

 Bill
 Purity Audio Design

Bill,

Thank you for the genorous offer to audition the Basis Integrated.

I don't think its the preamp that is causing my problem.

I would love to get HT bypass installed into this preamp now, I just can't be without it for too long, I'd miss it to much. 

[kingdeezie]

As an update to this thread I have purchased a pair of Manley Neo Classic 250s off Audiogon...

Hopefully they get to me in good shape, and in working order so that I can compare them to the Pass.

Then I can sell whichever one I like the least, and probably come out close to even.

Little intimidated by my first foray into tube amplifiers...

Should be good, hopefully.

[Hugh]

Good for you KD.

Long time no talk.

[kingdeezie]

Good for you KD.

Long time no talk.

Thanks Hugh.

Hope everything is going well for you.     

[eclein]

KD--I'd be willing to bet you'll really like tubes. I just recently got my first tube amp and can't stop tappin my toes. Enjoy and I think now you will-finally for you...Good Luck with it!!!

[davidrs]

As an update to this thread I have purchased a pair of Manley Neo Classic 250s off Audiogon...

Should be good, hopefully.

Congratulations. Keep us posted on your impressions.