The One and Only Big D Thread

The dislikes just keep coming

Going to go play some CS:GO

 

I cut down your post to point out these specific lines because i think it might help you in some way figure out what you want:

You started off sounding like you liked the fact that your system was becoming more revealing..

Then said you didnt think getting a Gungnir Multibit will offer more than the cables will

And then said that a Gungnir Multibit might be too much of an improvement? Why are you buying those cables then?

Gungnir Multibit>Modi Multibit so isnt Modi Multibit the weak link that you really need to address?

I dont know about you but I'm totally confused with your post..

 

@msommerGrant Fidelity Power Cord.

This is where I don't have a clue......
Is there real benefits to these things?
I would think a nice thick cord to a powerful amp would do the job just fine. And the benefits of the esoteric would be a waste if you already have a good AVR with EMI/RFI filtering.

I think the Krell that I have coming in the mail this week is without a cable. I was just going to look for a nice big thick cable, not some over hundred dollars cable. I see at 6moons.com that these guys are hell bent on fancy power cables with their testing of amplifiers. Is there a real benefit for a Krell amp? I see most guys that have a Krell are using these fancy cables. But I am skeptical about how much benefit. Anyone please chime in......

I'm scared that I'm going to get so much detail that the sound will make my ears hurt. That I worry about the possibility of making things not as good as they are now. I'm very pleased with the sound now. That's all. Does this help?

@jayeshrc
I've seen what happens when someone goes too far before.....

 

Not really, but if you feel like you know what direction you want to head in I surely will not stop you.

I feel like you might look back maybe 6 months or a year from now at some of these posts and wonder what you were thinking - just like me with social media posts I made from 10+ years ago

 

I've been waking up lately thinking about these choices. Deep down I know that I'm making a choice that for 5 years I have been putting off. That is finishing my stereo system. I'm very close to having what I have wanted for 40 years. I just didn't think I was going to take things anywhere near the price point that I have. Many items I have gotten refurbished and some used.

Here is an example of what I would buy for an amplifier power cord. 12 guage
http://www.mercurymagnetics.com/pages/catalog/other/powercord/AC-cord-01.htm

$16.95 6 feet
$24.95 10 feet

Just to make things clear. I have in the end only spent under $7,000.00 for my system due to buying smart and refurbished or used equipment.

I have the ability to buy Yiggy or Gungnir Multibit..... but I prefer to wait for Schiit to continue their quest......

 

Here's a pretty good opinion on power cords from a well-known name in the cable business:

http://www.audioholics.com/audio-video-cables/power-cables

 

I believe Russian NOS 6N8S

 

The article is what makes sense to me with power cables. Money should be spent elsewhere, that's for sure. Thanks

My Krell just came. I'm eating lunch and then the unboxing.......

 

One of the problems I see come up again and again is equating cost to quality. If @Big D Design had bought a $10,000 DAC and spent $500-1000 on cables, would we care quite as much? If the $250 DAC easily outperforms a $10,000 DAC, could $500-1000 cables still improve his sound? Sure. Cables are so over priced that it's hard to think logically about when and how to purchase them.

The $500 I spent on a Furutech phono cable was still one of the best purchases I've made and significantly improved the sound of my system. I I think it'd improve a $300 and an $50,000 setup.

That said, cables are things to be bought very thoughtfully and carefully. There are more snakeoil vendors and about 98% of the vendors are overpriced. While they do make a difference, the amount tends to often be minor, which is why it's worth doing it as a finishing thing. Even better to get them on loan from the Cable Company so you can audibly hear it's worth more than $10.

It's good that we all caution each other on cables, but in general, it's a bad idea to say "you shouldn't spend more on X than Y" because there are too many exceptions to that rule.

I know all of us here have very different religious beliefs on cables, but as one who has gone from a strong atheist to a believer, I think it's a good idea to be tolerant of others differing beliefs.

 

All of those words aside, if you're just getting into this hobby and audio, figure out everything else before you focus on cables.

Unless it's a phono cable, the signal is so low the cable matters much more.

 

I guess the general disdain for high priced cables is that the money could be spent on better gear. For example, $250 Modi Multibit with $500 cables would make more sense to save a little longer and just get Gungnir Multibit with BJC or even monoprice cables. Not saying you have to, but it really is that last little tweak to eek out the last few drops of performance.

 

I agree with this. I'm not sure if my other thoughts were particularly helpful above or not.

 

I think part of the reason so many of us jumped on the cable comments is that Big D specifically mentioned how much more revealing they made his system sound, which cable certainly can do, but then were puzzled by his choice to bottleneck that system with a DAC that isn't the final world in resolution, microdynamics, or texture when a DAC that would reveal more of the source music was available for almost the same price as the cables.

I think for me personally I'm also seeing a lot of people here trying to turn the Modi Multibit into some kind of Yggdrasil killer, trying to build it up into something it isn't by upgrading everything around it, adding expensive DDCs and other components to decrapify USB, when in reality it's an awesome budget DAC that compares favorably to better options (keeping in mind that many more expensive DACs aren't always better options) but doesn't best them and those people are better off spending their money on a DAC upgrade first.

 

^Yeah I have to agree and I can see how it happens: it's easier to spend a $100 here, $300 there and not really blink. But to drop $2,000 is a bit of a leap even if at the end of the day you've already spent that much on other shit.

 

I thought your posts were very helpful.

 

Even the most ham-fisted amongst us can DIY a cable. $100.00 spent on a soldering station and supplies will open up a whole world of RCA connectors and wire for a fraction of the expensive stuff. There are limitless copper choices, and even pure silver wire cables are, if not dirt cheap, within the purview of virtually everyone. As a bonus, inhaling solder smoke has been scientifically proven to increase aural acuity.

 

I see that I have created quite a stir. This is good. There is no fun in "know it alls" ruling the world.

Look here my little friends..... I have in the end a $11,000.00 system. If you think that I'm going to not try this guy that Legacy Audio swears by cables...... well you have got something coming other than my result.

These cables have made a difference. When I was in business in the 80's I used to have stuff delivered to these rich peoples homes. Show up with 15 set of cables (RCAs) and tune the systems with cables and make suggestions how to dampen. Dampening is key as well. I cannot overstress how to setup a room for sound that will satisfy the parameters needed to get proper timbre and soundstage. Been doing dis sheet forever. Haters are gonna hate. Please understand that my DAC is going to be replaced with one that is worth the money. Right now Modi Multibit is my King. Until I test Gungnir Multibit...... I don't know what will happen. But I am building a system that sounds good to me. Screw everyone else. I know what the hell I'm doing, and anyone who knows me wouldn't question it. I like that I got you guys engaged. This is what makes us human.

I am moving to Krell. My speaker cables need to be cut into spades. Krell connections don't allow me to unscrew their connection completely. So I have to cut my connectors and make them into spades. Looks like my 2 pairs of cutters are not very sharp. Off to Ace Hardware I go for a new pair of Cutters. The Krell amp KST-100 was $3,000.00 new back in 1993. If it was sold now in 2017 it would be much more. What kind of cables should I run with it...... Monoprice...... yea right......

Get real guys. I'm trying to put a state of the art system together. If the Krell works (and I won't know till tomorrow), I will have a very exclusive system with Schiit and Krell with Martin Logan and 2 REL S3 subs. There is no one that has this setup. I am alone in this design. Will this bring the "Absolute Sound"? That remains to be seen....

Here is a pic of the Krell..... used a Swiffer to get dust out of fins tonight. That's as far as I could get. Now I'm going to listen to some music........


PS: been listening to Flo Rida ........ so you may notice some changes in my English...........

 

If you already have the budget and plans for your system, the order in which you buy things/what you prioritize/other people's opinion probably doesn't matter to you anymore. As long as you're good with it, who are we to judge?
But please buy a Gungnir Multibit or Yggdrasil asap...consider the Modi Multibit your first taste of Multibit and sell it back for cheap to someone who doesn't have a 4-number budget. Don't know why you'd NOT want a Gungnir Multibit or above in an $11k system. At least get a DAC that looks like it's meant for speakers if you're gonna do a high end speaker rig...

EDIT: Fine, $7k. Point still holds

 

I want to spend on what I know will not change. DAC tech may change........