Sorry, I am late to this conversation.
I have Nakamichi Dragon CT, ZYX Uni II, IO Sign dual power setup (running 68 dB), into Laufer MP64 16 core (as preamp) (ordered waiting on MP64-32, to Canary M500’s toQuintessence Summit speakers.
My thoughts:
- my last pre-upgrade was a Laufer Memory Player (2011 edition, as preamp) that I was trying to improve LP to be better than. I had a Jolida Envoy preamp (JD9 type phono section), with Underwood full mods and cryo Millard CV4004. It bettered my Whest PS.30RDT Special Edition. Interesting there are not reviews of JD9 fully mod compared to more expensive phono's (probably people with different funding capabilities (JD9 $1-2k vs $4-6k)). If I had to go to single unit, I would recommend JD9 with mods, cryo CV4004’s, and great (silver) power cord. IO dual power with stock tubes (same power cords) not much better (don’t jump on me, I record LP to Memory Player 32 bit 192 hz wav files, then can A/B very quickly between files, very easy to identify small differences between items. You test A/B in your room / system before commenting/criticizing..)
- 2015 I upgraded to IO.
* Used cheap silver Chinese cables that gave me same tone as SR PC’s (had full PowerCell and SR PC’s, then BMI Oceanic Statement Special Silver Edition (good upgrade, but decided too much $$ for difference)).
* Rolled lots of tubes, settled on Millard 10M 6922 (beat pinched Valvo CCa (bright), pinched Amp PQ or USN (very nice, as someone else stated on this thread)...), cryo Millard CV4004 in all slots (beat (TF ECC803C=) Tesla ECC83, 10M, Amp/Pope..), TungSol GTB 6NS7 (beat RCA 5692 Red, Ray WGT, RCA 6NS7M...) (cheap tube, surprised synergy, RCA 6NS7M best in Canary’s). In power units, Millard EL34 EF2a (beat TF AEG), GE 7025 (very strong tube, better then expensive PC; or use RCA 7025). Difference rooms/systems... different synergy.
- 2017 upgrade to Laufer MP64 16-core, HUGE improvement, Redbook up’ed to 32-bit 192-hz meeting/beating IO... what to do ??? LOL. Upgraded:
* added WA chips... nice
* Stillpoints LPI with original mat (same performance as Audio Technica AT665BX Disc Stabilizer Mat)
* went from SR Tricon tonearm cable to Silent Source Music Reference Cable (no difference, now thinking Dragon tonearm wire limiting, I go) to (eBay) Aural Harmony DeepSpace Cryo Gold Alloy Wire with Graphene tonearm wire... full run from cartridge pins to RCA’s at IO. Good upgrade. On Aural, I tired ByBee and HF plugs, more detailed, but shifted tone brighter (we tweak to a certain personally preferred tone... system was there, and tweaks moved it.... AAAUUGGHH!!!
* tired Mad Scientists Graphene Contact Enhancer on all connections and tube pins. While it was good on the rest of the system, IO sounded distorted/ too much gain (but may be due to using RCA)... cleaned it all off... AAAUUGGHH!!!
* grounding wires to IO (no difference).... AAAUUGGHH!!!
* different cable from IO to MP64. I have SR Tesla Apex (XLR better... RCA sounded distorted). But on RCA, I tried ByBee and HF plugs (same conclusion) on SR Apex. Then verse Apex, Cerious Graphene Matrix (slightly smaller stage depth), and Nordost Odin (collapsed stage depth(as others online have committed)). Looks like I am staying with SR XLR.
- still in progress:
* I use my SR cables without the MPC’s as I like the darker background. However, I just had my MPC’s upgrade (supposedly better than the Galileo MPC’s), and need to attach and run/burn 10 days.
* I use Isoclean PT-3030 MK II (isolated and balanced transformer) (tried Liebert true sin wave UPS, PS Audio Power Plant 5, SR PowerCell... none of these affected sound at all) and it made big improvement in sound. I recently added some Isoclean Super Focus Power cords on the amps... while it did not change tone (good!) it definitely improved focus of instruments on stage. Going to try on IO next, and expecting good results.
* try Odin power cord that I have access to
- waiting on MP64 32-core. I expect to push digital further... bettering IO again.... what to do? LOL
* get out of analog... not likely... not yet
* change phono... after I when the lotto... was thinking about CH, Abosulare and Tenor... glad to hear IO holding up
* Change Dragon tonearm to SME V. Definitely on my upgrade list.
* try Shun Mook Mpingo disc (definitely), Mook or Dalby LP weight (probably), Mook footer (probably not... later?)
* do Ecilpse upgrade... may have my tech just upgrade to Stealth caps... (probably not)
Side note: sometimes reading what you guys have, spent, makes me think you guys are really well off (and I appreciate all the info you guys share). But writing this, I can say God has blessed me to play with audio toys too.
Anyway, thanks for reading my IO saga. Any thoughts or comments appreciated.
Regards, Vernon.