Leery about upgrading

A

AVphile

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For years, one of my great joys from "Audiophilia" has been following a constant path of upgrading enroute to audio nirvana. These days, my system has gotten good enough that listening while reading is impossible; I seem always to be putting down a book or magazine in order to just listen to the music -- and not just the music but also how great it sounds to me.

However, recently I had an experience which unnerved me. I purchased a power cord designed to work specifically with all-digital devices such as an Ethernet switch.
As soon as I inserted this cord into my switch (which is designed for AV usage and employs its own internal switching power supply) and powered up my system, anticipating a yet better than ever sonic result, I heard . . . harshness, exaggerated sibilance, a seeming boost to the high end, and a diminution of the deep bass and clear lushness that typified my system heretofore. At least some of you know, from your own experiences, how horrifying that is!
​

Now systems that handle well streaming, HDD, CD, and vinyl are complex. Somehow all those components, cables, and -- in my case -- power conditioning have to work together flawlessly to create a soundstage that sounds not just good, but "great". Frankly, I think some of a system's success, given such overall complexity, is due to luck, and I have been downright lucky in building mine.

And so, I have a dilemma which I wonder whether others have faced and, if so, how they have dealt with it. Is there a time when upgrading is more likely to degrade than enhance further -- when "enough is enough" and the audiophile should just stop searching for that incremental improvement and, instead, simply sit down, and listen?
 
We should but we usually don't. We've all made those purchasing mistakes and hope that we can get rid of them without taking a bath.
 
I appreciate your story and have to be honest. In almost every case, “upgrading” (specifically a new improved version of a piece of gear) has resulted in worse musical enjoyment. In very few cases an improvement was heard but changes had to be made somewhere else to compensate.

I loved your description about reading and not being able to concentrate. I’ve experienced that but it was many systems ago.

I joke with friends that I would have made a terrible mechanic. I’d probably tighten bolts until they snapped, making things worse.

Stop while ahead. But also remember that maybe the new cord needs to settle down and break in a little. I’d like to believe that it can change for the better.
 
Bud,

Let me try to explain further. My AV-oriented Ethernet switch came with its own designated power cord. I thought that I could upgrade the performance of the switch specifically and my system overall generally by replacing that original cord for a high performance digitally filtered power cord. As soon as I swapped cords, my system's sound quality deteriorated markedly. When I put back the original power cord that came with the switch, voila -- my system again sounded like its old self.

Let me also mention "burn in". I summarized the description of my experience in my original post. In fact, I ran the system for 100 hours using Roon Radio with the digital power cord installed; the problems I previously listed never lessened, even after those 100 hours. By the way, I am not trying to disparage the manufacturer. Their specialized cord, most likely, works wonderfully with most systems. In mine, however, it clearly did not.
 
Don't buy it. If you already have, don't use it, sell it. If no one wants to buy it, silly you!
 
I think it's hard for us to accept there's no perfect system so no matter how close we get ours we always want that little bit more, which always comes with some trade off.
 
AVphile said:
For years, one of my great joys from "Audiophilia" has been following a constant path of upgrading enroute to audio nirvana. These days, my system has gotten good enough that listening while reading is impossible; I seem always to be putting down a book or magazine in order to just listen to the music -- and not just the music but also how great it sounds to me.

However, recently I had an experience which unnerved me. I purchased a power cord designed to work specifically with all-digital devices such as an Ethernet switch.
As soon as I inserted this cord into my switch (which is designed for AV usage and employs its own internal switching power supply) and powered up my system, anticipating a yet better than ever sonic result, I heard . . . harshness, exaggerated sibilance, a seeming boost to the high end, and a diminution of the deep bass and clear lushness that typified my system heretofore. At least some of you know, from your own experiences, how horrifying that is!
​

Now systems that handle well streaming, HDD, CD, and vinyl are complex. Somehow all those components, cables, and -- in my case -- power conditioning have to work together flawlessly to create a soundstage that sounds not just good, but "great". Frankly, I think some of a system's success, given such overall complexity, is due to luck, and I have been downright lucky in building mine.

And so, I have a dilemma which I wonder whether others have faced and, if so, how they have dealt with it. Is there a time when upgrading is more likely to degrade than enhance further -- when "enough is enough" and the audiophile should just stop searching for that incremental improvement and, instead, simply sit down, and listen?
Click to expand...

Interested in reading exactly what was done using what with what. Not saying it’s not, cause I get too much can be just that, just curious.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk Pro
 
AVphile said:
Bud,

Let me try to explain further. My AV-oriented Ethernet switch came with its own designated power cord. I thought that I could upgrade the performance of the switch specifically and my system overall generally by replacing that original cord for a high performance digitally filtered power cord. As soon as I swapped cords, my system's sound quality deteriorated markedly. When I put back the original power cord that came with the switch, voila -- my system again sounded like its old self.

Let me also mention "burn in". I summarized the description of my experience in my original post. In fact, I ran the system for 100 hours using Roon Radio with the digital power cord installed; the problems I previously listed never lessened, even after those 100 hours. By the way, I am not trying to disparage the manufacturer. Their specialized cord, most likely, works wonderfully with most systems. In mine, however, it clearly did not.
Click to expand...

Don’t put an audio power cord on an Ethernet switch. Put it on the power conditioner, or a piece of gear.
 
We have to accept that not all "upgrades" will be an actual upgrade and some thing might work for one but not another. I think this is part of the reason that all can't agree on whether cables improve or not, or other similar upgrades.

I remember trying an Audience piece that plugged into the AC outlet and supposed to do wonders, one reviewer said he wouldn't be without it. A friend brought one over for me to try. It did make a change but not one I fully wliked/enjoyed, it seemed to soften the overall attack. Maybe some like that, I was using Pass at the time and it made the sound too soft for my taste. Just keeping description brief.

That's why it's so important to try first when we can, or buy with return policy.

Joe sure hit the nail on the head when upgrading one piece and that causing a chain reaction, LOL. Often times when we are satisfied, we need to just quit. I think I'll have that tattooed, LOL
 
BlueFox said:
Don’t put an audio power cord on an Ethernet switch. Put it on the power conditioner, or a piece of gear.
Click to expand...

Not sure why you wouldn't at least try an audio power cord on a switch.
I see that others have put their modems, routers, switches etc on their own dedicated circuit.
Others have tried upgraded power supplies on such devices
As has been stated, everything in this hobby matters and anything is worth trying.
The results are not always what we would expect or hope for and will vary from system to system.But IMO still worth a try.
 
I would send it back to the manufacturer with a clear explanation of the symptoms. If the cord has a built in filter it could have an issue.

Also, what else have you used it with. Your DAC, Server, preamp. Does it do the same thing with those components. If it did the same with all your gear I would return it and state you require a refund. If you bought it used I would still send it to be tested. If they say its fine then sorry. Its yours. Part of the beauty of buying new is ability to return.
 
I wonder if everything matters in audio than when do you know everything is optimized and nothing matters anymore? I think finding satisfaction with what you have is what matters most. Too many times in this hobby I have found “upgrading” brought little to no satisfaction.

i will admit my modest system could benefit by upgrading but my budget limits my options. I’m satisfied with my current system and that required a mindset change. I also know what is satisfactory for me would be unacceptable to others. I’m OK with that.
 
When I changed from a $10,000 amps to my $4500 mono amps, I was way more happy. Simply a preference. Every upgrade on my preamp has been great. Same maker, higher model. Took 4 dac to find the right one. Upgraded my server 4 times. Same make, higher model. Every time a big improvement. Its going in for another upgrade in 2 weeks. Upgraded my power and grounding 6 or 7 times. Its damb fine now. Thats not power cords. Just panel work and feeder wire. I messed with my speakers multiple times. They are better than I expected. Very nice. Did a lot of rack and footer experimentation to get where it performs best. All home made tweeks. Damb close to pro footers costing $300 each. Mine cost $1 each.
 
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