Upgraded power cord for those that care.

Smartplug said:
If you truly want sound upgrades, I would look at replacing your speakers. Streamer, dac and amp can give great flat response and state of the art snr plus noise but all that would mean nothing if speaker is a bottleneck. They give minimalist in return. Whatever brand is your favorite, get to the next level up or if you can afford their flagship. I have combined many different gear but every time I choose higher quality speaker is just gives you higher level quality sound.
Click to expand...
Hear hear!
 
Smartplug said:
If you truly want sound upgrades, I would look at replacing your speakers. Streamer, dac and amp can give great flat response and state of the art snr plus noise but all that would mean nothing if speaker is a bottleneck. They give minimalist in return. Whatever brand is your favorite, get to the next level up or if you can afford their flagship. I have combined many different gear but every time I choose higher quality speaker is just gives you higher level quality sound.
Click to expand...
Totally agree. Speakers make the biggest difference by some margin.
 
d6jg said:
Totally agree. Speakers make the biggest difference by some margin.
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Having said that I am quite surprised by how much difference an amplifier can make. I have had to send my Mission 778x off to repair a fault (Infra Red / Remote) and have temporarily replaced it with an Onkyo CD/DAB Receiver. The Onkyo was probably £300-£400 when new. It performs OK with my speakers - Kef Q550s - but there is “something missing” compared to the Mission. I can’t say what exactly but it’s not got the same je ne sais quoi.
 
d6jg said:
Having said that I am quite surprised by how much difference an amplifier can make. I have had to send my Mission 778x off to repair a fault (Infra Red / Remote) and have temporarily replaced it with an Onkyo CD/DAB Receiver. The Onkyo was probably £300-£400 when new. It performs OK with my speakers - Kef Q550s - but there is “something missing” compared to the Mission. I can’t say what exactly but it’s not got the same je ne sais quoi.
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When it comes to amp, make sure it can handle low impedance lower than 4 ohms because some frequency may dip down lower than that. Amp that can’t supply the necessary power to speaker would result compressed and poor sound.
 
Smartplug said:
When it comes to amp, make sure it can handle low impedance lower than 4 ohms because some frequency may dip down lower than that. Amp that can’t supply the necessary power to speaker would result compressed and poor sound.
Click to expand...
The Onkyo doesn’t have any real issue it’s just not as good as the Mission somehow - which I have to say is a very impressive amplifier. It’s onboard DAC is very close to the one in the Ultra and the build quality (despite the fault) is superb.
 
d6jg said:
“something missing”
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Receivers are designed to work with a subwoofer, which has its own amplifier. There is not enough current that the amplifier can give to the speakers, because of this, instead of a powerful punchy bass, we get a cottony hum, of course, this affects the entire range. I think this is the reason.
 
taube Taube said:
Receivers are designed to work with a subwoofer, which has its own amplifier. There is not enough current that the amplifier can give to the speakers, because of this, instead of a powerful punchy bass, we get a cottony hum, of course, this affects the entire range. I think this is the reason.
Click to expand...
This isn’t an AVR it’s a mini sized CD DAB Receiver which does have a Sub out but it’s designed primarily as a 2:0 device. To be precise it’s an Onkyo CR-715 DAB
 
AVR power rating are all misleading. When they say 100x5 but in reality you only get 75x5. AVR has tiny power supply to power all that up. Using preout on AVR (if there’s one) and connect to separate amp would yield greater dynamic range and improved music definition.
 
Smartplug said:
If you truly want sound upgrades, I would look at replacing your speakers. Streamer, dac and amp can give great flat response and state of the art snr plus noise but all that would mean nothing if speaker is a bottleneck. They give minimalist in return. Whatever brand is your favorite, get to the next level up or if you can afford their flagship. I have combined many different gear but every time I choose higher quality speaker is just gives you higher level quality sound.
Click to expand...
So after you've installed those Wilson's, Sound Lab, or Infinity IRS then, AND ONLY THEN should you spend $160 on a power cable.
Got it 👍
😉
 
guy48065 said:
So after you've installed those Wilson's, Sound Lab, or Infinity IRS then, AND ONLY THEN should you spend $160 on a power cable.
Got it 👍
Click to expand...
I will use stock power cable that came on the device. That 160 can be spent on lap dance instead. 😂
 
Of course a product called "Ultra" could include a socket for an external PS.
It might add $2 to the build cost.
It would end the debate of whether a cheap internal SMPS is hindering this fine product.

It would also open up new debates. Lol
 
guy48065 said:
Of course a product called "Ultra" could include a socket for an external PS.
It might add $2 to the build cost.
It would end the debate of whether a cheap internal SMPS is hindering this fine product.

It would also open up new debates. Lol
Click to expand...
I am sure that if you use this PS it will sound much better. All the bits will be cleaned.

Naim 555 PS NR Power Supply
 
guy48065 said:
Of course a product called "Ultra" could include a socket for an external PS.
It might add $2 to the build cost.
It would end the debate of whether a cheap internal SMPS is hindering this fine product.

It would also open up new debates. Lol
Click to expand...
Switch mode power supplies have come a long way. Way less copper way less interference. Also Class D amplification has come a long way I have a Nad C399 in my family room sounds awesome. The Peachtree Nova150 I had a 13 years ago not so much. A linear power supply won’t do ANYTHING 😂😂😂except shrink your wallet. And I’m not jabbing at you guy 48066. I have a friend who brought a Lumin M-1 at 1600.00 over. Did not sound better than my Ultra with line out or with my Schiit Bifrost 2 and he agreed as well. Then we took it upstairs on my big rig and I have an Ultra up there with a Chord Qutest 2 sounded better than the Lumin for sure. But it should it’s more expensive. The Ultra is a very good transport and dac PERIOD. I haven’t heard a mega buck streamer but for that kind of money I would rather buy more records and CD’s
 
Last edited:
I've had a very bad history with switch mode supplies.
I prefer when they can be replaced or upgraded.
 
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