Tír Na HiFi

Opinions please:
I run an Arcam CD 37 and Sonos 90 through an Arcam R Dac via Van Den Hul The First into a Cary CAD 300 sei 300B integrated.
Out via cobbled [butchered] Nordost super flatline [single wired] into System Audio Rangers.
I'm using Wyrewizard digital out from the Sonos into the Dac.

Powered via Magus' from Tacima multiblock.

I enjoy the sound and swapping the 300B's from western electric to JJ Tesla's really impacts on the brigh/dark tones.
The definition and soundstaging is really good but [!] the WE 300B's give more 3D stage [front to back is excellent] whilst the Teslas are crisper but more shallow.

Would cable changes impact enough to warrant a few hundred yo yos ?
If so, how does one demo these ?

Or is upgade to electricity in a better bet?

I know that ye may say it's all ears and system dependent. But from what I've read here there are some well meaning, opinionated geezers who know a thing or 2 about suchlike ...

For what it's worth, I'm finding the RDac really enjoyable. USB is OK, coax is great and optical from a macbook pro playing hi res downloads is sweetness.

Any constructive help would be most appreciated.

Enjoy the Bank Holiday Weekend.
Gerry

I'd expect as many opinions as you get responses on this one, it's a very tough call to make.

I didn't believe in cables for years, but then I started changing them and now I'm convinced they have a sound. The difference can be subtle or not, it can solve a perceived problem or exacerbate it, but (analogue) cables definitely make a difference to my ears. Truthfully, I've never heard the massive gains some claim from power cables, but YMMV.

In any case, I find the only surefire way to test cables is to live with them. ABing will just drive you insane. So see if you can borrow a few different potential bits and bobs and take your time. You generally learn as much taking them out after a week or so as you do putting them in.

FWIW, I never found a VdH cable I *really* liked, so I'd certainly consider replacing that. I'd also suggest not mixing and matching cables if you can avoid it. A "coherent cable loom" is recommended by a few commentators, and I'd be inclined to agree that staying in the same stable for interconnects and speaker cables is a good idea.

I have Van Den Hul First name and I tried a couple of their more expensive cables. I couldnt hear any difference so went for first as my first foray into a decent cable. Ended up with a secondhand nordost heimdall for my cdp which to my ear had a dramatic effect. I got the nanotec cable due to rave reviews but with my solid state I thought the heimdall was a nicer listen. Very much wanted the nanotec to be earth shattering but didnt find it to be the case. They are meant to work better with valves and Ivor swears by them. They are now used on my headphone amp and await my great adventure into valve amps sometime in the distant future. I also thought the cheapo tacima cs929 made a noticable difference. I have never experienced power cables. Most advice from people here suggests speaker cables have the least effect.

Heimdall works (for me) in my system.

I think mains cables have the greatest influence on the sound of a hi-fi system. Try some from Russ Andrews, you can always send it/them back for a refund if they do not work as hoped/claimed. I have found that the cable from the wall socket to the extension block is the most critical. YMMV.

How to test them?? I suggest that the best way is to use the cable(s) and note just how much music (listening hours) you are listening to and compare this to when the pre cable(s) situation. If you are listening to more music and more varied music, then the change is having an effect. Only YOU can say if this is a good thing.

Hi Gerry

Are you using the cd37 as a transport into the Rdac?
How do you find the Rdac improves the sound over the cd37 on its own?

I have a cd33 and will be looking at a dac in the near future.

Cheers
Matt

Hi Matt.
Hard to say whether or not the RDAC improves on the CD 37.
At the moment I have it playing through the dac because of quality cable shortage.
It's just as enjoyable. Detailed, musical, realistic, sparkly sound.
Can't discern a difference between coax and optical links from CD 37 to RDAC.

I can state that I find it a great addition to the Sonos ZP 90 that I've been playing stored music with.
Just adds life to the sound. I think that my CD's , at least the quality recordings, that I've ripped as ALAC's to a network hard drive are on a par with the CD played on the CD 37.

I'm finding my system as it is now to be very engaging. Toes tapping, relaxing, forget about the hardware, type of listening. Really.
But, and I hope I'm not imagining this, it lacks 3D sound staging that I've experienced before with this system. ?????

When I have time I will play around with speaker placement again. See can that help matters.
But I keep coming back to a nagging suspicion that cable [interconnects] are the answer.

Apparently the Wolfson DAC in the RDAC is similar to that in the CD 37 - so in theory sound should be of similar tone, quality ?

Sorry. Didn't answer your question yet !
So, really I can't say that it does improve on the CD 37's dac.

You know what's most annoying about my system now ?
Discovering how much badly produced music there is out there.

Hi Gerry

Thanks for the reply.
Ill have to look into a dac at some stage.

I know what you mean about discovering bad recordings. The use of compression really annoys me, when a track that sounds like it has bass on the radio actually has very little on my system.
But i guess it pays off when you get a good recording.

I think the speaker placement/seating position has a massive effect on the soundstage and is often difficult to get right with room/furnishing restrictions.