Just Put Together

[garyw77]

Hi all

1st posting so thought i would share my updated system i just put together...

PC >

M2Tech HiFace USB > RCA >

Audioquest VDM-5 > CA Dac Magic >

Audioquest King Cobra > Marantz PM6003 >

Audioquest Rocket 44 Bi-Wire > Mission MX1

A big improvement over my old Yamaha AV amp and JBL ES10's with Chord Co. cables

Such an open and rhythmic sound now and the baby Missions which i thought maybe a bit of a weak link are flying along performing way above their price... The Audioquest gear...say no more...as always top quality open sound...

I'm enjoying my music all over again!! [H]

 

[steve_1979]

Have you got any pics?

 

[garyw77]

No time for pics! I was so disappointed after longer listening with the Marantz... the demo flattered to deceive im afraid

so was able to do a swap back for something a bit better for me ... managed to just double my expenditure on the amp and picked up a Cyrus 7 with PSXR that was available - what value and step up in all departments - obviously the Missions werent good enough then so theyve been swapped in for the MA BX5 floorstanders.... thats more like it... now im cooking!! ...no more changes for quite a while i think

 

[garyw77]

Got some pictures at last, only from mobile, sorry for the quality, but just an idea of my set up now. The DacMagic has been replaced by the Arcam rDac making a huge improvement....

 

[ear]

what happened to the mx1?

 

[garyw77]

As i said in my post i got rid of them when i upgraded to the Cyrus with PSXR and replaced them with the MA BX5 floorstanders.

 

[garyw77]

Just an update after a couple of months nearly and the system is bedding in nicely

The Speakers in particular have opened up incredibly and the rdac is really making the difference. I would highly recommend both the Arcam dac and MABX5's for anyone not looking to shell out too much for a superb sound

 

[vinod_david]

Very nice setup. Those BX5 looks good.
☺

 

[garyw77]

Latest update to the system, changes have moved the sound to a different level!!

Decided to move up from the Arcam rDac to the M2Tech Young Dac and it's chalk and cheese!! What a Dac for the money! , Asynchronous USB connection allowing for 384khz upsampling through Pure Music at up to 32bit resolution! It's brought detail that the Arcam never even scraped the surface with.

I wanted to do justice to the upgrade in DAC so the MA BX5's have been replaced by the superb PMC DB1i's in walnut.

Fantastic little speakers that fit my relatively small room a lot better and the build quality is superb!!

As for the sound.... WOW! with this DAC i had no idea i could get this kind of quality, and with the Hi-Res files, 96,192 etc it's sublime!

May i also say that i've found the Aurora 6 Stands filled with the coloured Atabites very solid and get the best out of these little beauties!

The PMC's...

And the filler for the stands, look cool

May i also add that these additions have also shown me just what the Audioquest cabling can do

Very Happy and enjoying the beautiful sound......

 

[Olli1324]

The system is really developing quickly! Looks really nice.

 

[CnoEvil]

Great looking system and IMO PMC is a much better match with the Cyrus.

Hope you get lots of enjoyment before upgradeitus rears its ugly (expensive) head again. 😉

Cno

 

[garyw77]

Thanks for the kind comments. I agree the Cyrus/PMC combo really work a treat

I am trying to hold off on the upgrade front

....thinking i only need to improve the amp??

Any suggestions?

 

[CnoEvil]

If its one thing that I've always got.... it's plenty of suggestions (opinions). 🙂

My taste always leads me to Sugden/Class A, but if that's too far removed from Cyrus then give Musical Fidelity M6i a listen or even some Bel Canto / Electrocompaniet stuff.

If you haven't heard Sugden, its always worth a demo.....even if its only to rule it out. Its a sound, that if you like, nothing else (that isn't Class A) will do.

Cno

 

[garyw77]

Thanks for the suggestions (opinions)

... But i think that's going a bit too far for my system with these amps around the £2400 - £2500 mark.

I was thinking of something up to around £1500 to be more balanced with the other components.

 

[CnoEvil]

Check out Kronos AV sale:

M6i (ex-dem)..................................£1499

Electrocompaniet ECI-3 (used in good nick)....£850

Not that I'm trying to tempt you or anything. 😉

 

[garyw77]

Nope... not for me

.. Thanks anyway

 

[CnoEvil]

No probs.....though it shows that it can be done.

 

[garyw77]

If its one thing that I've always got.... it's plenty of suggestions (opinions). 🙂 My taste always leads me to Sugden/Class A, but if that's too far removed from Cyrus then give Musical Fidelity M6i a listen or even some Bel Canto / Electrocompaniet stuff. If you haven't heard Sugden, its always worth a demo.....even if its only to rule it out. Its a sound, that if you like, nothing else (that isn't Class A) will do. Cno

Looking more to within budget, what do you think of the Sugden Mystro around the £1255 mark? I'm getting quite tempted with this one

Or the Audio Zone Amp-1?, can't seem to find any details on prices or dealers on this one, but understand it's around the £1500 price tag.

 

[Anonymous]

naim xs worked well with my db1i's, i picked mine up second hand for £800

 

[garyw77]

Latest update - upgraded the cabling, staying with the Audioquest sound i really like.

Replaced the King Cobra interconnect with the Columbia with 72v DBS

and replaced the Rocket 44 with the Rocket 88 with 72v DBS.

Definitely need to look at the amp upgrade in future now

Probably be a few months after ive enjoyed what i have

 

[CnoEvil]

If its one thing that I've always got.... it's plenty of suggestions (opinions). 🙂 My taste always leads me to Sugden/Class A, but if that's too far removed from Cyrus then give Musical Fidelity M6i a listen or even some Bel Canto / Electrocompaniet stuff. If you haven't heard Sugden, its always worth a demo.....even if its only to rule it out. Its a sound, that if you like, nothing else (that isn't Class A) will do. Cno

Looking more to within budget, what do you think of the Sugden Mystro around the £1255 mark? I'm getting quite tempted with this one

Or the Audio Zone Amp-1?, can't seem to find any details on prices or dealers on this one, but understand it's around the £1500 price tag.

Sorry Gary, I never spotted this as it was the day I went on a two week break.

The Mystro is definately worth a listen. As for your other suggestion, I know nothing about it so can't comment.

Cno

 

[garyw77]

Just upgraded the DB1i's to the Twenty23's, brilliant! 🙂

Keeping the M2Tech Young DAC as i think it's hard to beat for not silly money, and the cabling is superb.

Now i'm definitely looking at an amp though, think the Marantz Pearl Lite is the weak link and the speakers can give much more.

Need 2 pairs of speaker terminals on the amp so that's limited the choice down a bit, but i think i have the answer with the Exposure 30102S Integrated, good power and detail and will improve the system no end.

Just to find a buyer for my DB1i's and Pearl Lite amp, or a decent part-ex deal, and i'll be on the next level of upgraditis! 😉

 

[MoJoe]

What kind of money might one expect to pay for the amp just out of curiosity?

 

[garyw77]

Well the deal is done and an Exposure 3010S2 is on its way! Should be good with the 23's! 8)

 

[garyw77]

Just an update on everything.

First of all i should mention Fanthorpes who have been brilliant in providing my new amp and speakers. Customer service spot on and highly recommended. A big thanks, spot on.

Now to the upgrade...

The Exposure 3010S2 is in the system now, fantastic upgrade and is showing what the PMC Twenty23's can do.

Massive soundstage, smooth and detailed mids and highs and a real improvement on the bottom end. Tight and full, a great all rounder.

The PMC's are liking the extra power too, a lot more controlled and excelling in all departments.

Also i have moved from the Pure Music software to Audirvana Plus, a more balanced sound for me. Detailed and better with all kinds of music.

Didn't expect any improvement or it even to match Pure Music but was quite shocked when i tried it, and was a replacement straight away once i tried it with all genres of music.

So i think i have taken quite a step forward with the quality of the system and now doing justice to all parts of the system with the new Exposure amp and brilliant PMC Twenty23's.

Now to enjoy that Hi-Res music.... 🙂 :rockout: