Hi Dinyaar,
If you kindly forgive me, can I offer some opinion on your contemplated CDP-upgrade. A few weeks ago, while exchanging PMs with Ali (magma) I found out about your new speakers. Ali liked your old speakers (B&W 805, not sure he heard your Thiels), but he was really ecstatic about the new speakers.
Well, now that I have heard your old set-up for at least an hour and a half, I can say something about it (although it would be completely from my perspectives, and from my kind of music that I mostly heard your system with).
Before saying anything, let me apologize profusely, because you guys have heard a lot more equipments than I ever heard, and even if I did hear a few, my attention always goes towards the music and I tend to ignore everything else. This I have said many times, however, it does not hurt to repeat it. But whatever I will say it will be an honest statement and you may or may not like it.
Here we go then.
Your system was very fluid and full sounding. One could listen to it not just for hours, but for days on without getting fatigued. It had reasonable amount most good stuff, like details, tonality etc etc. Compared with some systems I have heard, however, I felt some things could be improved, for example the resolution and focus (and perhaps also dynamics, but I did not have proper music with me to test that part properly). Please remember whatever I found a little lacking is all relative, yours is a very very very good and musical system with excellent tonality.
Given the reputation of your 450 amp, I doubt anything about the amp. Now you have upgraded your speakers, and Ali likes them (I think I'd like them too, because on most occasions I have liked Ali's views, albeit on speakers on a much lower level). Hence the obvious spot is the CDP.
Now, here is what I really want to say: I do not think an expensive ultra-smooth extremely full-sounding CDP is always the best solution from the point of view of synergy. If I understood your amp correctly, I think you need an accurate true sounding CDP, not necessarily a very expensive one. That coupled with your very fluid, full-sounding and dynamic speaker-amp combo will give you the best possible sound. A bit of isolation for your CDP and a good IC, that will complete the solution. I know you tried pure silver ICs before and have abandoned them, but you perhaps did not try them when you had the right electronics. In addition, did you wait till they were fully burnt in ?(pure silver ICs sound absolutely awful to start with, very bright harsh and edgy, although they will carry an enormous amount of detail from the very beginning. I have recently kept a few such cables between the STB and TV for extended periods before putting them into the system). This will give you incredible amount of details, a tremendous focus of the sound, and improved dynamic range (basically an improved signal-to-noise ratio). Do not worry about musicality, your amp and speakers will provide that. (But I agree: pure silver cables are not for every system). These ICs may even tame little lack of bass control in smaller rooms.
I hope I do not sound patronizing. I am just elder to you, but in all other aspects you guys are far ahead. If I said something wrong or obnoxious, just ignore it. Whatever I have written above is from my own experience, and my interpretations of a given situation may be wrong.
Regards.
.
