The highs seem muddy (II)

Dear Dr. Jon Wong,

My system consist of CEC T1X CD Transport, Audio Note Dac 2, BAT VK3i Pre-amplifer, Cary Audio SLM 100 mkV Power Amplifier (100 watts 4/8ohms), Apogee Stage loudspeakers, Kimber KCAG Interconnects, 4TC Speaker Cables, Audioquest AC Power Cords and two home-made Oil based power cords by Gabriel of Zen Audio. I have a VAL 100 watts RMS valve mono push pull power amplifier powering a Current generator to provide a exact 220V of current to my audio note DAC.

My new queries: Do you think I can improve the sound further by replacing the Audio Note DAC with the Mark Levinson DAC 36 or 36S and all interconnects/speakers cables with Kimber select series. I want to use XLR inputs/outputs all the way. Please advice me if there are competent audio technician able to convert the SE inputs my Cary SLM 100 MK 5/Audio Note DAC to true XLR. There is also a poping sound when light are switch on in my house. I have earth all three mono power amps.

Naga

Hello Naga!

In high end audio, it is more on taste than absolute terms on which is better than which. It is your taste that matters! If I say Audio Note is better than Mark or Mark is better than Audio Note, then I will have problems answering many objections from many gentlemen. It is all a matter of taste!

Why not you request the dealers to allow you to audition the units in your home setting? Surely, for an investment like this, they will fully support you!

You mentioned that you have a dedicated power supply for your DAC. Unfortunately, you have overlooked that other equipment also draws power from the mains. If you clean up the supply on one peice of equipment, the unwanted spike can contaminate the signal from either the transport, the pre amp or the power amp. Also, I am reserved about the way you clean your power supply! It is best to have a complete, properly designed power system. But again, using power filters or power conditioners is a complex issue not widely understood. In your case, grounding alone cannot solve the popping problem. It is also known that many inductor based filters are trade offs, you suppress the popings but might sacrifce certain degree of sound quality. I am currently writing an article on ‘Domestic Power Supply for High End Audio’. Do watch out for that.

As to whether you should modify the amplifier, I have already answered on ‘Conversion of valve amp to accept balanced inputbalanced. Thank you so much for writing in!

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