What audio system do you have, or plan on getting?

[Harry]

Great that 1) you got your hands on them, and that you 2) get to audition them at home for a month, @Harry. Have fun!

Believe me, I have enormous fun.
The speakers haven't been played for quite some time, so I have to pseudo break them in again, but boy they sound fantastic.

[Kalevala]

Believe me, I have enormous fun.
The speakers haven't been played for quite some time, so I have to pseudo break them in again, but boy they sound fantastic.

Oh, good!  How bad (from your perspective) do you think that the cosmetic damage to them is?

K

[Valentino]

Meanwhile, since I'm a heretic anyway, a purchase of this blasphemous contraption is under consideration: MiniDSP ADept.
Nice phono amp measurements and gain and loading choices, great ADC, direct TOS or coax to my (digital) streamer-preamp, and USB to computer for recording/needle drops. What's not to like?

[Harry]

Oh, good!  How bad (from your perspective) do you think that the cosmetic damage to them is?

K

You have to look very hard to see the so called damage, so all is well in that respect.

[Harry]

Today these Audio modules (2) will be installed, and thus improved the sound quality.

[Elgarian Redux]

I fear that if we continue our discussion of the technical details, we may incur the wrath of our esteemed forum colleagues, who firmly believe that all audio components sound identical and that high-end equipment is nothing more than a ruse designed to part wealthy fools from their money... 

Many years ago in the Age of Vinyl I spent a lot of time trying to put together the best-sounding equipment I could. I found a lot of differences, but eventually settled on a decent turntable, a NAD amplifier and a pair of LS3/5A speakers. At that point I discovered that a lot of the problems that still troubled me were due to variations in the pressings of vinyl LPs, so the advent of CD came as something of a relief - although I was surprised to discover there were clearly audible differences between CD players!

But then, having ditched all my vinyl and my turntable, I settled down with what I had, and I haven't thought about changing anything for decades. Not because it isn't interesting, or because I don't think I could improve (or change) things, but because what I'd arrived at was good enough for me to listen to music without having to think about the equipment any more.

These days the biggest hifi limitation is the ageing of my ears.

[AnotherSpin]

Many years ago in the Age of Vinyl I spent a lot of time trying to put together the best-sounding equipment I could. I found a lot of differences, but eventually settled on a decent turntable, a NAD amplifier and a pair of LS3/5A speakers. At that point I discovered that a lot of the problems that still troubled me were due to variations in the pressings of vinyl LPs, so the advent of CD came as something of a relief - although I was surprised to discover there were clearly audible differences between CD players!

But then, having ditched all my vinyl and my turntable, I settled down with what I had, and I haven't thought about changing anything for decades. Not because it isn't interesting, or because I don't think I could improve (or change) things, but because what I'd arrived at was good enough for me to listen to music without having to think about the equipment any more.

These days the biggest hifi limitation is the ageing of my ears.

I've heard many fine things about the LS3/5A speakers, and I've little doubt that a system built around them will offer splendid sound for many years to come.

I, too, have wandered through my fair share of trials and tinkering, and in the end, I believe I've arrived at a rather pleasing balance — a system that's admirably simple, yet sonically satisfying. It's brought me a quiet sort of contentment, really — the kind that frees one from the ceaseless urge to upgrade or chase some elusive perfection.

And truth be told, that sense of ease has found its way into other corners of my life as well.

[Harry]

I've heard many fine things about the LS3/5A speakers, and I've little doubt that a system built around them will offer splendid sound for many years to come.

I, too, have wandered through my fair share of trials and tinkering, and in the end, I believe I've arrived at a rather pleasing balance — a system that's admirably simple, yet sonically satisfying. It's brought me a quiet sort of contentment, really — the kind that frees one from the ceaseless urge to upgrade or chase some elusive perfection.

And truth be told, that sense of ease has found its way into other corners of my life as well.

Well then, the Eidolons are my last inexpensive update as are the Audio modules. I will probably change an USB cable in the system, but after these modifications I will stop. The Eidolons were on my bucket list for many years. It is not done in a quest for unlimited upgrading, but to increase my listening pleasure.

[Harry]

I've heard many fine things about the LS3/5A speakers, and I've little doubt that a system built around them will offer splendid sound for many years to come.

I, too, have wandered through my fair share of trials and tinkering, and in the end, I believe I've arrived at a rather pleasing balance — a system that's admirably simple, yet sonically satisfying. It's brought me a quiet sort of contentment, really — the kind that frees one from the ceaseless urge to upgrade or chase some elusive perfection.

And truth be told, that sense of ease has found its way into other corners of my life as well.

I had the LS3/5A speakers for many years and can confirm that they were splendid indeed. If you can lay your hands on a second pair of those beauties, it's always worth the money. I used them in combination with the Quad 33-303, and a modified Philips CD player 100, the first player Philips constructed.

[Valentino]

Do you have a link to those circuit breakers, @Harry?

[Harry]

Do you have a link to those circuit breakers, @Harry?

https://www.jouwhifi.com/a-49975020/zekeringen/gigawatt-audio-grade-switch-16-ampere/#description.

In the Netherlands the double one is the rule.

[Harry]

Today these Audio modules (2) will be installed, and thus improved the sound quality.

In one word, fantastic. The sound is near perfect now

[Kalevala]

In one word, fantastic. The sound is near perfect now

So, are those for a dedicated circuit just for your audio equipment?

K

[Harry]

So, are those for a dedicated circuit just for your audio equipment?

K

Yes absolutely

[Elgarian Redux]

I, too, have wandered through my fair share of trials and tinkering, and in the end, I believe I've arrived at a rather pleasing balance — a system that's admirably simple, yet sonically satisfying. It's brought me a quiet sort of contentment, really — the kind that frees one from the ceaseless urge to upgrade or chase some elusive perfection.

I should add that I very much enjoyed the hunt, back in whenever it was: trying different cartridges in the turntable days (well worthwhile); trying to hear differences made by various headshells and record clamps (not at all worthwhile). So I had a lot of fun along the way, but once I arrived at a system that suited me well (and which would have cost an arm and a leg to improve on), I more or less lost interest in the quest for the 'best sound' - much as it seems you did. The great thing is to be able to put on a CD from The Ring and not have to think, even for a moment, about the equipment that's playing it.

[AnotherSpin]

I should add that I very much enjoyed the hunt, back in whenever it was: trying different cartridges in the turntable days (well worthwhile); trying to hear differences made by various headshells and record clamps (not at all worthwhile). So I had a lot of fun along the way, but once I arrived at a system that suited me well (and which would have cost an arm and a leg to improve on), I more or less lost interest in the quest for the 'best sound' - much as it seems you did. The great thing is to be able to put on a CD from The Ring and not have to think, even for a moment, about the equipment that's playing it.

Quite so — once you reach a certain level of quality, the sort you can at last deem perfectly adequate, you simply stop fretting over whether the sound might somehow be improved. One just settles into the music.

Also, I had a moment when I first stumbled into the world of archival recordings. On ordinary gear they didn't just sound flat — they could be downright irritating, all scratch and glare, with none of the depth or charm one hopes for. But with a more sophisticated setup, they quite transformed, came alive — vivid, immediate, almost startling in their presence. Utterly marvellous, really.

[Harry]

I am going to tweak a little in my cables, I will replace my Audioquest USB cable (coffee) for the  Ansuz Acoustics Digitalz D2 USB, High End USB Cable, and a switch for the noise canceling of this cable. That will lift up the overall image of the music. More rest less digital glare, and a even better soundstage. As for the Avalon Opus Eidolons Diamond speakers, well, they are a miracle in creating a sound bubble that makes one happy, at least for me it does. But that means I have to put all the cables on the same level, and the AudioQuest simply is not good enough

[Spotted Horses]

I am going to tweak a little in my cables, I will replace my Audioquest USB cable (coffee) for the  Ansuz Acoustics Digitalz D2 USB, High End USB Cable, and a switch for the noise canceling of this cable. That will lift up the overall image of the music. More rest less digital glare, and a even better soundstage. As for the Avalon Opus Eidolons Diamond speakers, well, they are a miracle in creating a sound bubble that makes one happy, at least for me it does. But that means I have to put all the cables on the same level, and the AudioQuest simply is not good enough

A USB connection transmits blocks of numbers, and employed Cyclic Redundancy Check to confirm that the data received is identical to the data sent. If the data received is not identical the block is retransmitted. Either the data is transmitted or it isn't.

[Harry]

A USB connection transmits blocks of numbers, and employed Cyclic Redundancy Check to confirm that the data received is identical to the data sent. If the data received is not identical the block is retransmitted. Either the data is transmitted or it isn't.

It's not that simple. But we may differ in opinion.

[AnotherSpin]

I am going to tweak a little in my cables, I will replace my Audioquest USB cable (coffee) for the  Ansuz Acoustics Digitalz D2 USB, High End USB Cable, and a switch for the noise canceling of this cable. That will lift up the overall image of the music. More rest less digital glare, and a even better soundstage. As for the Avalon Opus Eidolons Diamond speakers, well, they are a miracle in creating a sound bubble that makes one happy, at least for me it does. But that means I have to put all the cables on the same level, and the AudioQuest simply is not good enough

I've tried AudioQuest cables, including USB ones, multiple times, and not a single one stayed with me for long — or beyond the trial period.