gustav_errata
pfm Member
I do have a question at the bottom, so if you're feeling "tl;dr" just skip ahead to the "---". But first, some things I've been thinking about from my perspective as a newbie here, especially during these strange times of lockdowns and social distancing. So apologies if this is a bit longer than usual posts.
I bought my first stereo this past year, upgrading from a Cambridge Audio TV base to a Naim NAC112/NAP150 pair, a Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 100, a SOtM sMS-500 streamer, and some Dali Oberon 5 speakers. The itch began about a year earlier upon listening to a friend's active monitors (no idea what the were) and realising just how much I was missing out on listening to music on a souped-up sound bar. But beyond that, I didn't really know what to expect, sound-wise. This was in the middle of the national lockdown, so listening sessions were out of the question. I have never had the opportunity to hear a high-end system, something truly out of my reach. I've never heard a valve amp, or a class A amp, etc. etc.
Working from home this past year, I arguably spent much more time listening on headphones than I did on my system. I have a pro audio ADC/DAC with a headphone amp that I've been using (Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1) and I had some AKG K240 headphones. I've had those headphones for more than 10 years and I was pretty familiar with their sound. Other than those, the only other headphones I was familiar with were some AKG Y50's that I use on the go. Reading about (and looking at the price of) higher end headphones, I just couldn't imagine what something better would sound like. I was used to the K240s, so they sounded fine. Later in the year I bit the bullet and bought some Sennheiser / Drop HD6XX (basically HD650's). Cheap by high-end standards, but significantly more expensive than my venerable K240s. At first they were a bit harsh, but either they mellowed out or I got used to them. Nothing really seemed too different to me. There was no "revelation". But then I plugged my K240's back in and...wow. They sounded muffled and dead in comparison. I was left wondering how I could have gone all that time feeling like the K240's were sufficient. And the thing was, I probably could have, but then I upgraded and it all became clear...
Back to my main system. I know that, upgrading from here, the largest gains would be achieved via new speakers or room treatment / correction. However, for a variety of reasons, from space issues to not wanting to get in a habit of serially upgrading (I mean, it's only been less than a year), I'm not open to the idea of upgrading the speakers yet. Likewise for the amps. Room treatment is out of the question. So that leaves either the smaller things, being the DAC or the streamer, or ancillary upgrades like power supplies and cables.
The streamer I'm happy with, the DAC could presumably use an upgrade at some point. But to the best of my understanding, the Dac Magic 100 is no slouch, and any differences with other DACs in my budget would be subtle at best. Cables likewise seem to me like they will be subtle at best and, for the cost, my money would be better spent elsewhere. For power supplies, on the other hand, it's difficult to gauge. From people's descriptions, they can make a big difference.
But, in all cases, they all circle back to the original problem: I really can't imagine what "better" would sound like in my system. You might say "well, if you're happy, don't worry about it" and, yes, you're probably right. But given the experience with the headphones, I feel like if I can afford a genuine, unambiguous improvement, I would be happy to save towards it. But if any "small" upgrades would be subtle or outright hokum, then I would rather just sit back and be content until I can afford/accommodate a major upgrade.
I still cannot go to a shop to listen to better systems to figure out with my ears whether an upgrade would be worthwhile. I would think that an ancillary upgrade would have to be tested at home anyway however I feel like I should be "in the market" for an upgrade before I commit to in-home trials. But I won't be in the market unless I'm sure that I really want some particular type of upgrade. I don't have the money for an upgrade now, but I would save for something if I want it. It all feels a bit circular.
So all of that to say that it's a bit of a weird time to get into building a stereo. But also, that I understand why it's simply not a common thing to do anymore. We get used to our audio sources and we can't imagine how it could really be better. If you're used to listening on some Google/Amazon/Sonos smart speakers, then the value of a "proper" stereo setup is more intangible, more unimaginable than, say, the upgrade from a TV soundbar to a 5.1 surround system for movies. It has to be experienced to be understood, but it's relatively rare, so it's likewise relatively difficult to experience without actively seeking it out.
---
Anyway. All of this musing did revolve around a question. Looking at those ancillary upgrades, I was mostly considering getting a power supply at some point this year. However, I have no idea which one to look into. What gear would benefit the most, in a completely unambiguous way, from a power supply upgrade (budget say 400-500)?
- Naim NAC112 via used Hicap, Flatcap, or new TeddyCap (and then, which one..?)
- Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 100 via linear power supply (but maybe money better spent on upgrading the DAC itself?)
- SOtM sMS-500 via either a linear power supply or SOtM's switching power supply if a used one pops up
I cannot imagine how any of these upgrades would sound, with greater difficulty imagining it as you go down the list. So if they're all subtle, then "none of the above" is also a suitable answer. Likewise, "it's not worth upgrading the power supply on such middling gear, so just enjoy it as it is" is also a suitable (if marginally disappointing) answer.
Speaking of not being able to imagine how something better sounds, there's also the possibility of having the 20 year-old Naim gear serviced within a similar budget, since I don't know its service history (seller said it was serviced in 2012, but no record at Naim or Class A for the S/N's in question). But I have no idea if they're even sounding "off", since I've never heard any Naim amps before! *sigh*
Anyway. Thanks for your patience through these bloggy thoughts. Any advice or further musing is welcome.
I bought my first stereo this past year, upgrading from a Cambridge Audio TV base to a Naim NAC112/NAP150 pair, a Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 100, a SOtM sMS-500 streamer, and some Dali Oberon 5 speakers. The itch began about a year earlier upon listening to a friend's active monitors (no idea what the were) and realising just how much I was missing out on listening to music on a souped-up sound bar. But beyond that, I didn't really know what to expect, sound-wise. This was in the middle of the national lockdown, so listening sessions were out of the question. I have never had the opportunity to hear a high-end system, something truly out of my reach. I've never heard a valve amp, or a class A amp, etc. etc.
Working from home this past year, I arguably spent much more time listening on headphones than I did on my system. I have a pro audio ADC/DAC with a headphone amp that I've been using (Native Instruments Audio Kontrol 1) and I had some AKG K240 headphones. I've had those headphones for more than 10 years and I was pretty familiar with their sound. Other than those, the only other headphones I was familiar with were some AKG Y50's that I use on the go. Reading about (and looking at the price of) higher end headphones, I just couldn't imagine what something better would sound like. I was used to the K240s, so they sounded fine. Later in the year I bit the bullet and bought some Sennheiser / Drop HD6XX (basically HD650's). Cheap by high-end standards, but significantly more expensive than my venerable K240s. At first they were a bit harsh, but either they mellowed out or I got used to them. Nothing really seemed too different to me. There was no "revelation". But then I plugged my K240's back in and...wow. They sounded muffled and dead in comparison. I was left wondering how I could have gone all that time feeling like the K240's were sufficient. And the thing was, I probably could have, but then I upgraded and it all became clear...
Back to my main system. I know that, upgrading from here, the largest gains would be achieved via new speakers or room treatment / correction. However, for a variety of reasons, from space issues to not wanting to get in a habit of serially upgrading (I mean, it's only been less than a year), I'm not open to the idea of upgrading the speakers yet. Likewise for the amps. Room treatment is out of the question. So that leaves either the smaller things, being the DAC or the streamer, or ancillary upgrades like power supplies and cables.
The streamer I'm happy with, the DAC could presumably use an upgrade at some point. But to the best of my understanding, the Dac Magic 100 is no slouch, and any differences with other DACs in my budget would be subtle at best. Cables likewise seem to me like they will be subtle at best and, for the cost, my money would be better spent elsewhere. For power supplies, on the other hand, it's difficult to gauge. From people's descriptions, they can make a big difference.
But, in all cases, they all circle back to the original problem: I really can't imagine what "better" would sound like in my system. You might say "well, if you're happy, don't worry about it" and, yes, you're probably right. But given the experience with the headphones, I feel like if I can afford a genuine, unambiguous improvement, I would be happy to save towards it. But if any "small" upgrades would be subtle or outright hokum, then I would rather just sit back and be content until I can afford/accommodate a major upgrade.
I still cannot go to a shop to listen to better systems to figure out with my ears whether an upgrade would be worthwhile. I would think that an ancillary upgrade would have to be tested at home anyway however I feel like I should be "in the market" for an upgrade before I commit to in-home trials. But I won't be in the market unless I'm sure that I really want some particular type of upgrade. I don't have the money for an upgrade now, but I would save for something if I want it. It all feels a bit circular.
So all of that to say that it's a bit of a weird time to get into building a stereo. But also, that I understand why it's simply not a common thing to do anymore. We get used to our audio sources and we can't imagine how it could really be better. If you're used to listening on some Google/Amazon/Sonos smart speakers, then the value of a "proper" stereo setup is more intangible, more unimaginable than, say, the upgrade from a TV soundbar to a 5.1 surround system for movies. It has to be experienced to be understood, but it's relatively rare, so it's likewise relatively difficult to experience without actively seeking it out.
---
Anyway. All of this musing did revolve around a question. Looking at those ancillary upgrades, I was mostly considering getting a power supply at some point this year. However, I have no idea which one to look into. What gear would benefit the most, in a completely unambiguous way, from a power supply upgrade (budget say 400-500)?
- Naim NAC112 via used Hicap, Flatcap, or new TeddyCap (and then, which one..?)
- Cambridge Audio Dac Magic 100 via linear power supply (but maybe money better spent on upgrading the DAC itself?)
- SOtM sMS-500 via either a linear power supply or SOtM's switching power supply if a used one pops up
I cannot imagine how any of these upgrades would sound, with greater difficulty imagining it as you go down the list. So if they're all subtle, then "none of the above" is also a suitable answer. Likewise, "it's not worth upgrading the power supply on such middling gear, so just enjoy it as it is" is also a suitable (if marginally disappointing) answer.
Speaking of not being able to imagine how something better sounds, there's also the possibility of having the 20 year-old Naim gear serviced within a similar budget, since I don't know its service history (seller said it was serviced in 2012, but no record at Naim or Class A for the S/N's in question). But I have no idea if they're even sounding "off", since I've never heard any Naim amps before! *sigh*
Anyway. Thanks for your patience through these bloggy thoughts. Any advice or further musing is welcome.
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