I think the thing for me that's not been quite there, compared with the Belles, is stonkingly potent authority. Not saying it doesn't exist in class D, just saying I haven't heard it yet.

I have another bastard week coming before the end of term, when things will become much quieter.

If you still have them, I'll pop over the following week.

Belles v's TAD Power amps

TAD already plugged in so first.
Nice sound
Belles Monos were cold so didn't expect a lot.
Detail dropped and sound was flatter. Not such a good sound for sure, but they were cold so not fair on the Belles. Base line established

2 hours later Belles Monos nice and hot.
Definite improvement in sound from when they were cold.
Swap to TAD
More detail, width in the sound, more bass. The surprise was the volume which seemed higher, certainly in places....
Increased dynamic range is my guess.
Very nice sound.

Worth that much more than the Belles ?
Need to work my little old brain.

Come next week I have the TAD CD player to play with the TAD amp so assume there will be a door or two extra opened with a tad or two improvements

The difference this time to around a year ago was greater. Due to the other improvements in the system I'm sure

A very valid point Martin

Belies gain 29db M2500 gain 29.5db so a small increase in favour of the TAD

Visit from The Doctor on Wednesday (Tony), or should that be 'The Dealer' ?

Been gathering my thoughts and listening

Tony brought lots as agreed in advance.
First base line established with
Top BD mains cable into Audio Magic conditioner
Rega Isis CD player. One of the very best value for money CD players on the planet.
Belles VT-01 Pre Amp
TAD Power Amp
RTZ grounding box
TAD E1 Speakers

A good sound for sure from a good mix working together very well

First up the very new BD mains cable. Made from Unobtainium and also close to impossible to build. Not sure if available yet.
Nice little step up from the previous top of the range BD which was already a keeper.

Second. Swap out a 6D cable in the RTZ for a BD.
Another step up. Mad. I'm still only getting to grips with the concept of a grounding box.
Cables used to the RTZ also make a difference. Bell wire it is not.
Can't see the logic unless it grounds closer to zero with a better cable ....... (?!)

Next TAD CD player from cold
*No* grounding leads connected.
Step up from Isis *with* grounding leads.
One ground lead added at a time to TAD CD and a step up for each one.
Another thing I struggle to grasp. One is good, two is better with seemingly no limit except the sockets in the kit to be grounded.

The TAD CD player has a rather good DAC and Pre Amp in the same box.
Next was to connect TAD CD direct to TAD power amp.
You guessed it - another step up.

Slight problem for other inputs. The TAD Pre is digital only. Need an Analog / Digital converter. Tony on the case and a couple of alternatives.

TADs were connected via Coherent RCA interconnects.
They both also take XLR.
XLRs duly plugged in and another step up in sound quality

System now
Latest top BD mains cable into Audio Magic conditioner
TAD CD player with integral Pre Amp
TAD Power Amp
RTZ grounding box
TAD E1 Speakers
much shuffling of RTZ cables

All these changes add up to a big improvement.
Overall there is more detail, firmer and solid bass, increase in dynamic range with an increased very low noise floor and of course no distortion.
The overriding change is the increased reality of sound. Each change stripped away another layer that was in the way of the sound. Wonderful on some albums. Most albums have been made raw, but not rough. Much greater separation of voices and instruments
A few favourite albums have been played. They are like different versions sounding so stripped back and naked.
A more Coherent sound. Pun intended.

The bill for all this will be substantial and here I am luxuriating in the sound but being horrified at the dough/ Little old cheapskate me.

Happy to regale visitors with the sound. Let me know when you want to be gob smacked.

Most welcome John
Many changes.

The total is greater than the sum of the parts due to the RTZ being such a great enabler for the rest of the system to shine.

When I last listened to the TAD CD it was better but not by enough to justify the price differential.
Feeding the conditioner with a new super BD cable is part.
The RTZ has to be the biggest influencer with the 7 connections.

Tony says there is more to come from the new BD and the not used that much TAD CD as they run in.
I have already been amazed at the improvements coming from the RTZ settling or whatever grounding boxes do. That will likely continue.
Sounding like this is wonderful.
I can live with better

The burn in continues
Rainer - The Farm* is exquisite.

Love the volume control on the TAD.
Didn't like it to start with but now I'm used to it I like it a lot.

You must have all guessed the TAD CD and Power Amp are all glorious black - and sounding all the better for it

Never thought I would own a system that sounds this good.

AllMusic Review by Bob Gottlieb
This is Rainer's most accessible work, and it was recorded in the stretch of a few weeks during October of 1997, during which Rainer had stopped all treatment on a brain tumor that was to take his life in November. He knew he was dying and he was both ready and accepting of that inevitability, which he faced with the same love and acceptance that he showed whenever he played. He knew this was the work he must finish before he left the world for the next adventure he was to face, and he played with an inspired abandonment. It took five years to bring this disc to fruition. Rainer is playing at times solo and on most of the disc with his longtime former rhythm section of Ralph Gilmore on drums and Nick Augustine on bass. His resonating guitar playing is as sharp and furious as it has ever been, as if he is possessed by all the memories of things he has stored away that he has little time to get out. His modal explorations in and on blues themes take listeners to celestial areas. His slide on his guitars seems guided by an outside hand that adds an additional fury to his playing and takes his playing to new places outside of himself. His gift to those he would leave behind would display his emotions and wit so that everyone could share it. This disc stands as a loving tribute to a man who gave so much, and in turn is given to listeners by Harvey Moltz and Howe Gelb with a sensitivity rarely found in the music business. That piled with his inviolable playing makes this a piece you don't want to miss.

Great you finding out how good the pi can be
Need to try Spotify again Mike

Having the RTZ working magic opened doors for improved sound quality from the whole system and made me look at upgrading.

Old system
Rega Isis CD
Belles Pre
Belles Mono blocks
Coherent 6D mains cables

New system
TAD CD / DAC / Pre
TAD Power Amp
Coherent BD mains cables
The TADs connect either with Coherent RCA or XLR
XLR won that

Sound quality - more than I could have hoped for
Detail and everything else improved.

Caravan, always wonderful never sounded so good