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Post by MartinT on May 14, 2020 14:56:21 GMT
I'll kick this off with the changes I've experienced.
Five years ago my primary source was CD/SACD with records next and a little streaming courtesy of a Logitech Touch (followed by a Pi) and Beresford DAC. My room then was too small for the Usher speakers and was easily loaded up. The sound was powerful but in your face with little depth and even less ambience and air. You could say it sounded very hi-fi, but two-dimensional and musical communication was somewhat lacking.
Now, the system is focussed solely around streaming using Qobuz. Much has changed to improve the digital chain. The power amp and speakers remain common but a lot of attention has been given to power, isolation, cables, EMI/RFI etc. The room is also larger and less limiting. The sound is far more developed in terms of soundstage, with great spatial depth. Ambience and the detail within really make for vivid performances. Dynamics are potent but natural and highlighted by the greater sense of space.
Has it changed a lot? Yes. Am I happy with it? Very.
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Post by Slinger on May 14, 2020 15:04:45 GMT
5 years ago my main system was exactly the same as it is to this day. As for my second, streaming, system, I didn't own one cable or component of its current incarnation 5 years ago.
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Post by MikeMusic on May 14, 2020 15:10:24 GMT
Think this was Pre Tony so hugely different to what I have now although still predominantly CD. Think I have 3 SACDs now  Was still working too ! Have to check via emails and construct what I had 5 years ago. |
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Post by MikeMusic on May 14, 2020 15:43:16 GMT
Very different
Rega Isis CD player
Technics SL-1200
VIDA Phono Pre
Pass Labs XP-20 Pre
Chord SPM-1200E Power Amp
Linn Isobarik speakers
MCRU Ultimate mains cables
Yannis Tome interconnects
Either teabag Black Ravioli, RDC cones or a mix of both
PS Audio P10 Regenerator
Mana racks Ref tops and soundbases
TAD CD/SACD player / DAC / Pre Amp
Technics SL-1200
VIDA Phono Pre
TAD M2500 Power Amp
TAD E1 speakers
Coherent BD cables
Coherent interconnects
Mk 3 Black Ravioli
Audio Magic conditioner
Creaktiv racks
Coherent RTZ grounding box and cables
Many mains filters and conditioners added to the Russ Andrews I had
PS Audio Harvesters, Tacima, Isotak
Sound is in a different place
What I thought was pretty good is now beyond what I thought possible
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Post by MartinT on May 14, 2020 16:13:26 GMT
I was hoping for a description of the sound then and now.
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Post by speedysteve on May 14, 2020 19:19:06 GMT
Only changes are room,
- beefier amps on the two bass channels.
-move away from Laptop Flac/WaveIO/I2S playing to Qobuz/RPi+Kali/I2S streaming.
-Linear power supplies everywhere.
Sound wise. The beefier amps restored lost bass due to room change / improved it.
The front end definitely improved the sound quality of digital playback. Better definition, detail and slam.
Analogue remains unchanged.
Also tried grounding / vibration draining boxes and found them to be of no benefit in my system, or my friends multiway horn system.
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Post by Deleted on May 14, 2020 19:26:56 GMT
Tad speakers, own designed and built amps, own designed and built streamer, cables and Creaktiv racks, oh wait not much change  |
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Post by John on May 14, 2020 19:52:02 GMT
5 years ago I either was using Jplay with 2 Laptops or a fanless PC using BugHead. Sorry, not sure which.
I would have had the Hawthornes with the Behringer Inuke and probably an Amtastic amplifier
I probably had Beresford DAC
I had quite a warm sound. The bass was quite good but no way close to the articulation I have now. I certainly did not have the scale or insight I have now. I guess the sense of speed and detail would also be lacking. However, I enjoyed the sound.
For a few years, I lost the warmth. It is only in the last 6 months I got it back again. This time with more resolution and insight.
The biggest issue was just how much a pain in the neck it was to get music playing from either Jplay or BugHead. After a few years of this, I just got to the point I could no longer use such a complex set up procedure to play an Album.
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Post by jandl100 on May 14, 2020 20:25:57 GMT
Same speakers, same equipment shelves, same room.
Everything else has changed, many times!
Back in 2015 I was still dabbling in vinyl replay and I think my main source was still CD. Streaming started a year or so later.
Since then, a slow and sinuous path mainly in pursuit of improvements in low level dynamic subtlety and 3D imaging; making the music come more and more to life for me.
Main source now is Qobuz streaming, with CD and minidisc home recordings getting a play now and then. Vinyl has gone for ever.
The sound quality now is, to be honest and immodest, a bit jaw dropping in terms of in-the-room you-are-thereness given a decent recording. -- it's all about getting more and more from my amazing MBL speakers, my best purchase ever.
Very very happy with the sound.
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Post by Tim on May 15, 2020 3:51:05 GMT
I bought some new speaker cable recently, but only through necessity as I had to move my speakers for the projector and screen placement. Oh and a headphone amplifier . . forgot about that  |
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Post by MikeMusic on May 15, 2020 9:23:27 GMT
I was hoping for a description of the sound then and now. Sound is in a different place What I thought was pretty good is now beyond what I thought possible Everything is better by many steps Much better detail, separation, huge wide sound stage, treble, bass, background brought forward, clarity Much lower noise floor Utterly natural and real Much more music |
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Post by John on May 15, 2020 10:36:46 GMT
Probably the most radical difference is moving to mostly streaming services. I would have seen streaming as a mostly flawed system at the time, now over 80% of my listening is via streaming.
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Post by MartinT on May 15, 2020 10:50:48 GMT
Yes, that's interesting for those of us who have moved to streaming. I had a pretty top spec SACD player, yet streaming now with attention paid to keeping the clock clean has given me so much more insight than I ever thought possible, with standard red book 16/44 never mind hi-res.
The data is the same so all the gain is through accurate clocking, lower noise and a better DAC.
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Post by julesd68 on May 15, 2020 12:34:27 GMT
Chalk and cheese for me.
As you know I was playing vinyl nearly exclusively 5 years ago and now I'm streaming exclusively!
My vinyl system was superb in its way with a huge soundstage and excellent dynamics from the Tannoys. It was very seductive. But I'm now getting what was missing - proper, deep tight bass, more neutrality, resolution, grip and slam.
The Sonus Fabers have helped massively with this and my most recent big purchase, the Audio Synthesis power amp has really brought the system together as a whole, to the point where I have not considered any component changes.
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Post by John on May 15, 2020 12:38:53 GMT
Out of everybody I see your recent changes as the biggest. Being a Vinyl and Tannoy guy to going streaming I was very surprised when you started to change routes
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Post by MartinT on May 15, 2020 13:25:44 GMT
Out of everybody I see your recent changes as the biggest. Agreed. |
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Post by julesd68 on May 15, 2020 13:36:07 GMT
It was Jerry's constant 'Tannoy-shaming' that did it of course ...  |
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Post by jandl100 on May 15, 2020 14:05:12 GMT
One of my major achievements.
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Post by John on May 15, 2020 17:40:36 GMT
I was just listening to a test track by Kate Bush (waking the witch) and testing how well I can hear the church bells ring. About 5 years ago perhaps 75% of full sounding bells ringing now I near about 95% plus
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Post by jandl100 on May 15, 2020 18:03:20 GMT
I like to think that I had a hand in getting you off your insane vinyl addiction/obsession as well. Setting the scene, as it were, leaving it to others to do the actual deed. |
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