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Getting my digital back to close to where I was when I had the Select II at home with the Avantgarde’s has been a daunting task with my MBL 101e mk2’s.
With top cabling, Everest 8000/Omega XC, the 9008 monos/6010d pre, an Aurender W20SE/ACS10, I was well on my way to getting my MBL system to perform to its ultimate level. But finding the right sources has remained my biggest challenge.
I brought home a number of different DAC’s, some that were the absolute best with every speaker in the store, were not quite the right fit for the MBL’s. The MBL’s are different birds. They need sources which are super dynamic and detailed, but retain a smooth naturalness to the midrange with tight bass. The one thing MBL’s do is reveal any flaws or weaknesses upstream.
The MBL Reference DAC and N31 were excellent. I could have lived happily with either of those, but I kept looking. I brought home a variety of different DAC’s and CD/DAC combo’s, including the MSB, EMM, Luxman, Chord, etc. And like Goldilocks and the three bears, some where a little too smooth, others a little too bright, others a little too flat, but when I stumbled upon the K-03XD in my system, it was “just right”. I knew right there and then that the new XD sound was perfect for my MBL system.
When I jumped to the Grandioso K1X, I was a little apprehensive. I was concerned that the excellent combo I had with the K-03XD was going to somehow disappear if I moved up the chain and lead me back to going in circles. That concern was quickly dissipated from the first note from the K1X. From this point, I waited patiently for the K1X to break in before making my next move: the Cybershaft Clock and external PSU. When the clock arrived and was connected with a Shunyata Sigma 75ohm clock cable, this is when things got really interesting. I heard an even greater smoothness, but with no loss of detail. Digital immediately became a lot less digital sounding. There was no downside to this addition, only more positive attributes.
Next up, I added the Esoteric PS1. The addition of the power supply helped tighten up the bass region and provide more dynamic punch, but it’s impact wasn’t quite at the level of the Cybershaft clock. If the clock was the icing on the cake, the PS1 was sprinkles with a cherry on top.
My next move was to replace existing USB cables with Omega USB. I will soon be replacing all existing cables with Omega clock cables, Omega Ethernet from the wall to the ACS 10 and Omega Ethernet from the ACS10 to the W20SE (that’s how they connect). I’m also going to add an 50ohm Omega Ethernet between the W20SE and Cybershaft Clock.
At this stage, I am beyond delighted with the sound of my digital. YES, this is a hell of a lot of money and a hell of a lot of boxes, but I really feel it’s now up to snuff with what I had with the DAC I still consider the best in the world, the MSB Select II on my AG’s.
So what’s left? You know...the mind keeps thinking. Esoteric is reportedly coming out with a new ultimate reference clock (G1X). The details are sketchy at this point, but I am excited to see what the new year brings. I’m thinking of getting this new clock and possibly integrating it with the Cybershaft clock (which remains as the Master Reference Clock). This is definitely “out there” in the world of clocks, but the results could be even more incredible. Stay tuned.
https://www.esoteric.jp/images/products/_tmp/main_img/esoteric/p1x_main.jpg
With top cabling, Everest 8000/Omega XC, the 9008 monos/6010d pre, an Aurender W20SE/ACS10, I was well on my way to getting my MBL system to perform to its ultimate level. But finding the right sources has remained my biggest challenge.
I brought home a number of different DAC’s, some that were the absolute best with every speaker in the store, were not quite the right fit for the MBL’s. The MBL’s are different birds. They need sources which are super dynamic and detailed, but retain a smooth naturalness to the midrange with tight bass. The one thing MBL’s do is reveal any flaws or weaknesses upstream.
The MBL Reference DAC and N31 were excellent. I could have lived happily with either of those, but I kept looking. I brought home a variety of different DAC’s and CD/DAC combo’s, including the MSB, EMM, Luxman, Chord, etc. And like Goldilocks and the three bears, some where a little too smooth, others a little too bright, others a little too flat, but when I stumbled upon the K-03XD in my system, it was “just right”. I knew right there and then that the new XD sound was perfect for my MBL system.
When I jumped to the Grandioso K1X, I was a little apprehensive. I was concerned that the excellent combo I had with the K-03XD was going to somehow disappear if I moved up the chain and lead me back to going in circles. That concern was quickly dissipated from the first note from the K1X. From this point, I waited patiently for the K1X to break in before making my next move: the Cybershaft Clock and external PSU. When the clock arrived and was connected with a Shunyata Sigma 75ohm clock cable, this is when things got really interesting. I heard an even greater smoothness, but with no loss of detail. Digital immediately became a lot less digital sounding. There was no downside to this addition, only more positive attributes.
Next up, I added the Esoteric PS1. The addition of the power supply helped tighten up the bass region and provide more dynamic punch, but it’s impact wasn’t quite at the level of the Cybershaft clock. If the clock was the icing on the cake, the PS1 was sprinkles with a cherry on top.
My next move was to replace existing USB cables with Omega USB. I will soon be replacing all existing cables with Omega clock cables, Omega Ethernet from the wall to the ACS 10 and Omega Ethernet from the ACS10 to the W20SE (that’s how they connect). I’m also going to add an 50ohm Omega Ethernet between the W20SE and Cybershaft Clock.
At this stage, I am beyond delighted with the sound of my digital. YES, this is a hell of a lot of money and a hell of a lot of boxes, but I really feel it’s now up to snuff with what I had with the DAC I still consider the best in the world, the MSB Select II on my AG’s.
So what’s left? You know...the mind keeps thinking. Esoteric is reportedly coming out with a new ultimate reference clock (G1X). The details are sketchy at this point, but I am excited to see what the new year brings. I’m thinking of getting this new clock and possibly integrating it with the Cybershaft clock (which remains as the Master Reference Clock). This is definitely “out there” in the world of clocks, but the results could be even more incredible. Stay tuned.
https://www.esoteric.jp/images/products/_tmp/main_img/esoteric/p1x_main.jpg
