Advice Needed: 2025 System Upgrade - Digital Server vs Power Conditioning

exupgh12

exupgh12

Active member
Joined
Jul 30, 2019
Messages
223
Location
Israel
Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some guidance on the next upgrade path for my system. Here's my current setup:

Source Components:
  • Analog Front End: Brinkman Balance turntable with Brinkmann 10.5 tonearm, Miyajima Madeka cartridge, and Brinkmann Edison MKII phono stage
  • Digital Front End: Melco HA-N1Z-2EX-H50S server, MSB Premier DAC, and Luxman D10 CD/SACD player
Amplification:
  • Preamp: Luxman C900u
  • Power Amps: Dual Luxman M900u
Speakers:
  • Magico S5 (2024 version)
System Infrastructure:
  • All Cardas Clear cabling (power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables)
  • Nordost QB8 MKII power distribution

I'm planning my next upgrade for 2025 and I've narrowed it down to two options:
  1. Upgrading the digital server (considering the newer Melco N1, Antipodes K50, or Oladra)
  2. Upgrading the power distribution (considering the Shunyata Everest power conditioner)
Given my current system configuration, which upgrade path would you recommend? I'd appreciate any insights or experiences with either of these options.
 
exupgh12 said:
Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some guidance on the next upgrade path for my system. Here's my current setup:

Source Components:
  • Analog Front End: Brinkman Balance turntable with Brinkmann 10.5 tonearm, Miyajima Madeka cartridge, and Brinkmann Edison MKII phono stage
  • Digital Front End: Melco HA-N1Z-2EX-H50S server, MSB Premier DAC, and Luxman D10 CD/SACD player
Amplification:
  • Preamp: Luxman C900u
  • Power Amps: Dual Luxman M900u
Speakers:
  • Magico S5 (2024 version)
System Infrastructure:
  • All Cardas Clear cabling (power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables)
  • Nordost QB8 MKII power distribution

I'm planning my next upgrade for 2025 and I've narrowed it down to two options:
  1. Upgrading the digital server (considering the newer Melco N1, Antipodes K50, or Oladra)
  2. Upgrading the power distribution (considering the Shunyata Everest power conditioner)
Given my current system configuration, which upgrade path would you recommend? I'd appreciate any insights or experiences with either of these options.
Click to expand...
Easy. Power distribution. After being in this hobby for over 15 years now, the priorities and requirements that I’ve learned that function as the true keys for a high-end audio music reproduction system are:
1) Room Acoustics
2) Power distribution
3) Ground-plane noise reduction

Start with that foundation first, and build from there with the source, amplification, and signal transduction components (speakers, headphones) that best suit one’s personal preferences. For example, Esoteric and Luxman both make excellent amplification components, but choosing one or the other will not fix foundational problems of room acoustics or power distribution.

As an owner of an Everest, I can attest that it is a superb power distributor, so I’d start with that. It also has 4 ground-plane noise reduction terminals, which I’d strongly recommend you use as well. Getting your power distribution sussed will play a more significant role in the experience of listening to your system than the specific model digital music server you decide upon. If you want to add upon your power distribution foundation, I’d really recommend also getting a Shunyata Altaira ground-plane noise reduction hub, which will work with your Everest.

Here’s two very informative and educational videos I’d recommend watching that Mike B. and team made about the importance of these key points:




Cheers and best wishes for the New Year.
 
Last edited:
Puma Cat said:
Puma Cat said:
Easy. Power distribution. After being in this hobby for over 15 years now, the priorities and requirements that I’ve learned that function as the true keys for a high-end audio music reproduction system are:

1) Room Acoustics

2) Power distribution

3) Ground-plane noise reduction



Start with that foundation first, and build from there with the source, amplification, and signal transduction components (speakers, headphones) that best suit one’s personal preferences. For example, Esoteric and Luxman both make excellent amplification components, but choosing one or the other will not fix foundational problems of room acoustics or power distribution.



As an owner of an Everest, I can attest that it is a superb power distributor, so I’d start with that. It also has 4 ground-plane noise reduction terminals, which I’d strongly recommend you use as well. Getting your power distribution sussed will play a more significant role in the experience of listening to your system than the specific model digital music server you decide upon. If you want to add upon your power distribution foundation, I’d really recommend also getting a Shunyata Altaira ground-plane noise reduction hub, which will work with your Everest.



Here’s two very informative and educational videos I’d recommend watching that Mike B. and team made about the importance of these key points:









Cheers and best wishes for the New Year.
Click to expand...

Thank you for your information and takeaways Puma Cat,

You are right that acoustics and electricity are foundations.

My electrical connection is a three-phase power supply, with one phase dedicated to your system's power line. The socket for this line is a Furutech FP-SWS (G) Schuko wall socket. except for the socket, I can't change anything at this time. the QB8 is connected to this line using Cardas Clear PC.

Luxman (Series 900 and 10) uses a loopless chassis that does not have a ground loop.

I should mention that my analog and digital source are exceptionally silent—no humming or buzzing sounds at all.
Click to expand...
 
exupgh12 said:
Hi everyone,

I'm looking for some guidance on the next upgrade path for my system. Here's my current setup:

Source Components:
  • Analog Front End: Brinkman Balance turntable with Brinkmann 10.5 tonearm, Miyajima Madeka cartridge, and Brinkmann Edison MKII phono stage
  • Digital Front End: Melco HA-N1Z-2EX-H50S server, MSB Premier DAC, and Luxman D10 CD/SACD player
Amplification:
  • Preamp: Luxman C900u
  • Power Amps: Dual Luxman M900u
Speakers:
  • Magico S5 (2024 version)
System Infrastructure:
  • All Cardas Clear cabling (power cords, interconnects, and speaker cables)
  • Nordost QB8 MKII power distribution

I'm planning my next upgrade for 2025 and I've narrowed it down to two options:
  1. Upgrading the digital server (considering the newer Melco N1, Antipodes K50, or Oladra)
  2. Upgrading the power distribution (considering the Shunyata Everest power conditioner)
Given my current system configuration, which upgrade path would you recommend? I'd appreciate any insights or experiences with either of these options.
Click to expand...
You mention your equipment but do not say anything about your room and/or any sound conditioning you have done. IME, the interaction between your speakers and your room will make the biggest real difference in sound.
 
nicoff said:
You mention your equipment but do not say anything about your room and/or any sound conditioning you have done. IME, the interaction between your speakers and your room will make the biggest real difference in sound.
Click to expand...
Thank you for your query.

Room Dimensions:
  • Width: 4.10 meters
  • Length: 9.5 meters
  • Height: 2.80 meters

The room was measured.

The Acoustic Characteristics Were:
  • Reverberation time: approximately 0.3 seconds
  • Frequency response: A dip in the 85-120 Hz range
Acoustic Treatments Applied After:
  1. 20 cm deep Wide band absorbers in the back wall corners (behind curtains)
  2. Six Diffusers (Vicoustic Wavewood Diffuser Ultra) on the center of the back wall (behind curtains)
  3. Two diffusers on the side walls (Vicoustic Wavewood Diffuser Ultra)
  4. Two Vicoustic Vari Bass Ultra
Room Contents:
  • Sofa
  • Wooden chest of drawers
  • Carpet
  • Paintings on the walls
  • Wooden Coffee Table
  • Large Carpet

As this is a living room, I'm limited to the acoustics treatment I want to introduce to the room.
 
exupgh12 said:
Thank you for your query.

Room Dimensions:
  • Width: 4.10 meters
  • Length: 9.5 meters
  • Height: 2.80 meters

The room was measured.

The Acoustic Characteristics Were:
  • Reverberation time: approximately 0.3 seconds
  • Frequency response: A dip in the 85-120 Hz range
Acoustic Treatments Applied After:
  1. 20 cm deep Wide band absorbers in the back wall corners (behind curtains)
  2. Six Diffusers (Vicoustic Wavewood Diffuser Ultra) on the center of the back wall (behind curtains)
  3. Two diffusers on the side walls (Vicoustic Wavewood Diffuser Ultra)
  4. Two Vicoustic Vari Bass Ultra
Room Contents:
  • Sofa
  • Wooden chest of drawers
  • Carpet
  • Paintings on the walls
  • Wooden Coffee Table
  • Large Carpet

As this is a living room, I'm limited to the acoustics treatment I want to introduce to the room.
Click to expand...
No mention of subs that I could see. Have you considered adding a sub or two to assist in shaping the room frequency response? Room-speaker (including subs) interaction is where you are going to get the most bang for your buck. Also, DSP (particularly if you are streaming).
 
nicoff said:
No mention of subs that I could see. Have you considered adding a sub or two to assist in shaping the room frequency response? Room-speaker (including subs) interaction is where you are going to get the most bang for your buck. Also, DSP (particularly if you are streaming).
Click to expand...
Happy new year nicoff

I have good knowledge of how system with sub, and/or DSP sound, and what each and both contribute to audio systems
While subwoofers are something I consider positively, I don’t want my living room to start look like audio shop. But, never say never.

Regarding DSP, I have heard audio systems with trinnov, direc, ARC. All ought many of them were impressive in details and stage, all of them sounded manipulated and unnatural to my ears as a good two channel system. Also, I have analog source and would like to stay pure.
 
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