Gregg Froman Posted April 7, 2021 Posted April 7, 2021 (edited) 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. Edited April 7, 2021 by Fro 8
TDX Posted April 8, 2021 Posted April 8, 2021 Very impressive! Would like to try PAD Dominus one day.
Gregg Froman Posted June 14, 2021 Author Posted June 14, 2021 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! 8
Gregg Froman Posted June 22, 2021 Author Posted June 22, 2021 (edited) 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!! Edited June 22, 2021 by Fro 5
Galactic Soap Posted June 23, 2021 Posted June 23, 2021 Clearly they aren't kidding when they say: "don't mess with Texas" 1
Gregg Froman Posted December 7, 2021 Author Posted December 7, 2021 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 5 1
Gregg Froman Posted April 15, 2022 Author Posted April 15, 2022 Changed footers under the MBL's to Arya RevoPods. Really like the improvement and imaging and snappy bass! 4
Gregg Froman Posted April 27, 2022 Author Posted April 27, 2022 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. 15 1 1
Gregg Froman Posted December 19, 2022 Author Posted December 19, 2022 (edited) 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 December 19, 2022 by Gregg Froman
Gregg Froman Posted December 19, 2022 Author Posted December 19, 2022 Also added some new speaker cables - German made Inakustik LS4004 cables. 6 1
Gregg Froman Posted July 22, 2023 Author Posted July 22, 2023 (edited) 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 Edited July 22, 2023 by Gregg Froman 3 2
Gregg Froman Posted September 17, 2023 Author Posted September 17, 2023 (edited) 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! Edited September 18, 2023 by Gregg Froman
Neo Posted September 18, 2023 Posted September 18, 2023 (edited) 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 Edited September 18, 2023 by Neo 1
Gregg Froman Posted October 7, 2023 Author Posted October 7, 2023 Currently burning in these gems! Stealth Audio - Sakra XLR interconnects. 1
Gregg Froman Posted December 4, 2023 Author Posted December 4, 2023 (edited) More Stealth Audio cables to try out in system! Edited December 4, 2023 by Gregg Froman
Gregg Froman Posted April 8, 2024 Author Posted April 8, 2024 (edited) Just got in a Taiko Extreme music server! Will be trying out these Stealth Audio cables in the chain... Edited April 8, 2024 by Gregg Froman
Grimmie Posted April 10, 2024 Posted April 10, 2024 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. 1
Grimmie Posted April 10, 2024 Posted April 10, 2024 looking again, maybe true of the power cable too. Just to de-stress the connections / pins? 1
Hi-Fi Whipped Posted April 11, 2024 Posted April 11, 2024 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... They look way too good looking to be at the back of a component! 1
Anthony1 Posted August 4, 2024 Posted August 4, 2024 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.
Gregg Froman Posted August 4, 2024 Author Posted August 4, 2024 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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