Down with 2018. What did you do for Audio?

UltraFast69

UltraFast69

New member
Joined
Sep 18, 2017
Messages
1,926
Location
Seattle
I honestly can’t explain where 2018 went but it was not without it’s emotional highs and some lows, perhaps they call that life...

Anyway, the biggest addition was my Brinkmann Nyquist MKII DAC, followed by a couple more HRS M3X platforms a set of Stillpoints Ultra 6’s under my Aurender N10.

Next year, maybe I’ll reconfigure my room pulling gear recessed into custom built cabinets between the speakers out to the rear side, if so, I’ll ease into Analog.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
For me personally:

VAC Master Preamp - completely transformed my system and took it to a whole new level.
Roon Nucleus +. Bye bye old MacBook Pro running Roon.
AudioQuest Niagra 5000 replaces my APC. Since it has surge protection, and Florida is the lightning strike capital of the world, it was really my best choice.


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
 
My only component change in 2018 was upgrade of the Laufer Teknik Memory Player from 16 to 32 core. Complete new player with multiple improvements. The rest of my 2018 journey focused on isolation and room improvements: adding three more Stillpoint Apertures (to five total), Isoacoustic Gaia IIs under my speakers, Stillpoint Ultra SS under the Memory Player.

A fun year of learning and exploring!
 
It was one of biggest change history in my audio life.

In - Kondo , Accuphase , Brinkmann Oasis and most importantly the Avantgarde Mezzo XD Speakers

Out - Kronos , Harbeth , Tannoy and Maggie , full stack of AirTight system.

Happy New Year everyone !!
 
2018 was a year of system updates:

Clearaudio Ovation to a AMG Viella with turbo arm
dCS Rossini to Vivaldi DAC, clock, upsampler
Pass XA100.5’s to Pass XA160.8’s
Grandprix Audio Silverstone and Monaco racks
 
I forgot, I built a custom dedicated desk top audio computer to replace my lap top. It transformed my system. Also bought a PS Audio and Cullen Cable power cords which made a nice improvement.
 
- AMG Viella with Benz SLR Gullwing
- Cardas Clear Beyond phono cable
- Harbeth 30.2 40th Anniversary for the summer house
- Brinkmann Nyquist upgrade to mk2
- Inakustik Reference 4004 AIR LS cables
- switch to Audioquest Niagara 5000 for power mgmt


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
 
My 2018 started off when I moved from my original Momentums to the M-400's. Next was upgrading from the dCS Rossini and clock to a Vivaldi stack consisting of DAC, Upsampler and clock. I think the last move was moving to Transparent Opus power cords on the amps.
 
Dizzie said:
There is no easing into analog. I know. Falling down the rabbit hole. Falling. Falling. :rofl: In the middle of a marathon vinyl cleaning session.

attachment.php
Click to expand...

Agreed. I love the analog in my friends' systems when it is optimally adjusted, and when not just the recording, but also the pressing is of high quality (and the vinyl is clean as you say). But for me personally it would be far too much of a hassle getting into it. There really is no easing into analog. Either a hardcore no-holds-barred embrace, or stay away from it.
 
Exciting year in that we moved into our new custom built home with a dedicated music room in Florida.

- Invested in acoustical panels
- Added an Artesania rack and amp stand
- Upgraded the tonearm to the new VPI Fatboy 12”
- Ordered a new music server
- Purchased lots of vinyl, high res files and new music
 
Great changes reported here. For me a year of total transformation of my system. Digital front end stayed the same, but:

Out:
-- Audio Innovations Second Audio parallel push-pull triode (2A3) monoblocks (served me well for 26 years, although over the years heavily modified from original, and supplemented with external Border Patrol power supplies)
-- Reference 3A MM De Capo BE monitors
-- REL Storm III subwoofer

In:
-- Octave RE 320 stereo amp (with KT 150 tubes) plus Super Black Box capacitor bank
-- Reference 3A Reflector monitors
-- two JL Audio Fathom 112v2 subwoofers

I feel like I hit the Jackpot with these system changes. Also a major advancement: a large basket-weave polypropylene rug in the middle of the room, under listening seat, for $ 167. Removal of hardness, harshness in the sound, allows for much more subtlety of timbral micro-detail, e.g., on string quartets, but also in lots of other music. Never underestimate the importance of room acoustics! They can make or break a system. Also, repositioning of my ASC Tri-Panels, aiding the effect of the new rug.

Later in the year: upgrade of speaker stands to Sound Anchors Signature, which constituted a major step forward as well.

Last week as icing on the cake for the year: installment of custom ceiling diffusers from ASC (the tube trap company). Great improvement, as hoped for. More clarity of sound, less distortion, especially at high volume.
 
For the main system, grinding through cable looms, a state of the art cartridge, digital clock and new tonearm/cartridge for Mono

In - Zensati Cables, Ortofon Century, CH Precision T1, Viv Rigid Float/Ortofon SPU Mono
Out - Argento Cables,, Trinnov Amethyst, Miyajima Zero, Ortofon A95

New speakers and integrated amp for the condo (second home) system

In - Martin Logan Renaissance ESL 15A, Technical Brain Integrated
Out - Avantgarde Zero
 
Installation of a set of Environmental Potentials surge, spike, waveform correction and ground devices at the incoming AC power panel.
Ripped out the drop ceiling in the audio room for a major improvement.
 
JimmyS said:
2018 was a year of system updates:

Clearaudio Ovation to a AMG Viella with turbo arm
dCS Rossini to Vivaldi DAC, clock, upsampler
Pass XA100.5’s to Pass XA160.8’s
Grandprix Audio Silverstone and Monaco racks
Click to expand...

Congrats, all sounds wonderful especially the Viella, love that table.
 
Audio related items purchased in 2018 were an APC Smart-UPS C battery backup for the music server and DAC in the living room system, a JA Michell turntable drive belt, 2 - Oppo UDP-203 4K Blue-ray players, a Revox B77 Mk2 pinch roller, a Wireworld .5 meter Gold Starlight AES/EBU digital cable, a Simaudio Moon Neo 260-DT transport, and a Sony XBR55X900E 4K TV for the studio.
 
Well mine was much smaller than others here , but i added
A Sony 55 inch OLED TV 55AF8
AudioQuest Vodka Erhernet , replaced an AudioQuest Cinnamon ( Which now feeds my Apple TV )
1 more NordOst Frey 2 Powercord ,..................... and did a big "mistake" in listening to a pair of NordOst Valhalla 2 LS-Cables waouu would love to get some. But guess i will have to settle for something like the TYR 2.
 
new speakers, dac and signal cables... the only thing left over from the beginning of 2018 is the integrated amp.

will finish the system remake in 2019 with a digital back end. after that, hmmm.... maybe, ease into analog :D
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top