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Fro's System Upgrades


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A few audio tweaks this weekend.

 

Upgraded my main dedicated power line with a new 30amp circuit breaker.

 

Cleaned all contacts and added Silver Conductive Grease to contacts.

 

Gigafoil filter and custom silver ethernet cable to the EMM Labs NS1.
Powering Gigafoil with my Uptone JS-2 Linear Power Supply.

 

Added upgraded Morrow REL subwoofer cable and Purist Audio Design DOMINUS power cord to REL 212SE subwoofer.

 

Installed AddPower Sorcer 2 to adjacent power conditioner outlet, added upgraded Audioquest Hurricane HC power cord.

 

 

 

RELcable2.jpg

Gigafoil1.jpg

System2021.jpg

Sorcer2.jpg

Silver CAT8-EthernetCable.jpg

CircuitBreaker.jpg

Edited by Fro
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  • 2 months later...
Update on dialing in my MBL101E speakers.
 
Instead of using the factory supplied spikes or trying expensive aftermarket footers, I completely remove the entire factory footer assemble (spikes and brass coupling), and place speakers directly to my Symposium Ultra platforms.
I also pulled the speakers out further from front wall to 52" (center tweeter), no toe-in.
Results were firmer bass and great vocal center imaging.
Minor adjustments will also be a lot easier since the Symposium platforms slide easily on the carpet.

 

Biggest improvement of course was adding the REL 212SE subwoofer!

 

 
 

SpeakerSpikes1.jpg

System2021RevisedA.jpg

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  • 2 weeks later...

Ok, this is kind of fun!
I'm currently selling a couple sets of Transparent Reference MM2 and XL speaker cables I acquired recently.
While I await for a lucky buyer to come along, I decided to swap out my Audioquest Thunderbird cables for these 2 sets.
My MBL 101E speakers require 2 sets of cables biwired, to power the Tweeter/Midrange and the Bass.
Perfectly happy with the performance I am getting from the AQ Thunderbird cables.
Then I swapped them out for these monsters.
Holy Crap!!
Wasn't expecting much improvement, but these 2 sets used in a biwire configuration is the best my system has ever sounded!
Incredible imaging of not just the vocals, but all the instruments too.
Pity, because I have too much invested in these cables to keep them long term.
But man what music!!

Biwire1.jpg

Biwire2.jpg

Edited by Fro
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  • 5 months later...

The tweaking and dialing in of the MBL101E speakers and System continues.....

 

-  Added some Evolution Acoustics Triple Run speaker cables, in place of the Transparent Audio Reference XL (for sale).

- Installed Marigo Audio Mystery Feet between the speakers and the Symposium Reference platforms for the MBL's and the REL subwoofer.

- Pulled the speakers further into the room which opened up the amazing imaging even more!

- Installed an Audioquest Dragon power cord to the EMM Labs DV2 DA/Preamp

- Added a Shunyata Everest power conditioner powered by a Shunyata Omerga XC power cord

 

EAspeakercables.jpg

Marigo1.jpg

Marigo2.jpg

Dragon.jpg

ShunyataEverest2.jpg

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  • 4 months later...
  • 2 weeks later...

My A/V  Room is in the top left of our house (see photo).

I have lugged many extremely heavy speakers and amps to that 3rd floor room over the years.

It does help to have an elevator from the garage to the 3rd floor for those tasks!

Just got our exterior repainted this week.

Best money I have spent in a while - investing in our home.
 

 

IMG_1184.jpg

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  • 7 months later...

With the some of the newest tweaks involving ground wires, I thought I would share how I am utilizing the GP-NR system on my Shunyata Everest power conditioner.
8 gauge cooper leads from the Everest CGS terminals to all my components, including the Jeff Rowland 925 amps - EMM Labs DV2 - Aurender N30SA - EtherRegen - Dark Matter LPS and Emperor Clock.
Both chassis and input grounding leads are being implemented.
System never sounded better with spooky imaging and extremely quiet background!

 

 

Edited by Gregg Froman
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  • 7 months later...

2023 Audio Updates -

 

  • Stealth USB-T Select cable
  • Network Acoustics Ethernet Filter
  • Paul Pang Quad Switch/Reclocker
  • Shunyata Omega QRs power cord to EMM Labs DV2 da/preamp
  • Ansuz DTC2 interconnects + Power Box
  • Everest power conditioner + AddPower Sorcer 2
  • Aurender N30SA music server/streamer

 

 

System2023acopy.thumb.jpg.050324b331ede6682ed3188157ad3a75.jpg

 

 

StealthUSB2 copy.jpg

 

 

network-acoustics-muon-pro-filter-5150-p.png

 

 

Pang2.jpg

 

 

Omega.jpg

 

 

4358595-d527907a-ansuz-dtc2-xlr-2meter-interconnects-with-dtc-powerbox.jpg

 

 

4358607-1bae1584-ansuz-dtc2-xlr-2meter-interconnects-with-dtc-powerbox.jpg

 

Everest.jpg

N30SA-front-black.jpg

Edited by Gregg Froman
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  • 1 month later...

I just got in (2) Stealth Dream 20-20 power cables to power my Rowland 925 mono amps.
Incredibly fast and dynamic, with that famous Stealth imaging.

Also upgraded my USB cable to the Stealth Select-T, and the interconnects to the Stealth Indra V10

***Disclaimer - I am now a Stealth dealer!

Stealth2020a.jpg

 

 

Edited by Gregg Froman
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Looking at all those rj45 free slots perhaps as a final touch install these from AQ. As for the spare rca and xlr try telos caps. Did try the AQ ones but telos are arguably better in construction and sound. 
Neo

IMG_7652.jpeg

Edited by Neo
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  • 3 weeks later...


  • 1 month later...
  • 4 months later...

Hi Gregg, very interesting cables, let us know of your appraisal of the new stuff, - daren't ask the cost.

Just one thing though, the USB cable looks to be very heavy for the relatively flimsy connection / socket. Maybe some sort of support under the first foot of cable wouldn't go amiss.

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On 9/4/2024 at 3:15 AM, Gregg Froman said:

Just got in a Taiko Extreme music server!

Will be trying out these Stealth Audio cables in the chain...

 

 

Stealth5.jpg

 

 

 

Stealth6.thumb.jpg.9eca4cb762948e5b5665768fd5055f6a.jpg

 

 

 

Stealth7.thumb.jpg.25d490dad6b5c72f3cd077803f70ec01.jpg

 

They look way too good looking to be at the back of a component!

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  • 3 months later...

Moving streamers from the top model Aurender N30SA to investing in the uber Taiko Extreme must be an interesting experience.

Care to elaborate on the differences, ie both good at their respective prices - setting up being easy or very technical - sound quality a bit better, close or in a totally different league etc etc.

 

Thank you.

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Thanks!

Yes, the sound quality is best I have ever heard in my system.

Even though getting the Extreme properly set up took the help of Taiko remotely helping me out, I am so pleased with what I am hearing.

Taiko sends out newer XDMS software updates almost on a quarterly basis. I believe in their technology and will stick with the Extreme as it improves with newer updates.

They now have an even higher model, Olympus, but way out of my price range!

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