Be careful what you ask for  ;). You have a very nice system and have made some excellent choices of upgrade changes. “Not much more to improve” are famous words that never seem to resonate.  My experience is clean power and the source are what made the biggest impact on getting the full sounding  tone that pulls you into the music.  In your case, I would look into doing optical isolation between your router and streamer.  I have a Sonore set up but an easy one to setup that is returnable.  https://www.amazon.com/dp/B0D7ZWLW2G?lv=shuf&channelId=500&plpRedirect=mhFallbac... I would also look into upgrading your DAC as Donnie suggested to a R2R.  I absolutely love my Mojo Mystique X NC. Gustard R30 I have as well can’t be beat for its price. Rectifier would be next.  I have a Dynagrid Jr. with an upgraded Shuguang Treasure series 845, a GEC U52 family rectifier and Stradi 5U4G.  All made a big improvements for me. I do like your idea of Snake River Speaker cables.  Everyone raves about them.   I have settled on the Decware ZSTYX speaker cables after trying Duelund 10ga tinned copper, Goertz ribbon and Veritas Aperta SE most recently.  Veritas just came out with a new flagship Ultima series with 30 day free trial and happy customers.  Ok that’s probably more than you wanted … These are just recommendations that worked for me, on my system, in my rooms with my ears.  Good luck in your journey!

Forget your strategy. Make your signal path as simple as possible and replace your amp’s
caps with Miflex KPCU, source from Sonicraft and go for level 3 matching.

I'd recommend a R2R DAC.

Yes, I am on the list now for a hopefully soon to manifest Dynagrid Jr. Glad to hear it adds tone ontop of the soundstage....

The power cable on the amp is the Decware v3 (for some reason now presently sold?). The amp is also running a graphene slugo on a swiss fuse box, and running through an Angela Gilbert young XF 300 conditioner, hooked up through a Shunyata CX Helic cord, through furutech rhodium outlets, on a dedicated curcuit. (writing out this sentence proves I've lost a few marbles...!)

The rectifier is a SOPHIA ELECTRIC 5U4XL Mesh Plate. Its a new version from them as my older Sophia Electric rectifiers arced...

What is the RS Audio CF-1 and MF-1?

thank you all for your brilliant insights!

Also, taking note of the +1 on Snake River Audio speaker cables.... do you think this is the right direction, and will be a big difference???

r.

What rectifier are you running? The Stradi 5u4g fits the texture and tone spot for me.

I don't have experience with the Dynagrid Jr. I do have a Space Tech Labs STR running 845s so competing options. I love what the STR brings and my guess from others reports in the Dynagrid Jr. will bring you great texture and tone while keeping the expansive sound stage.

What does your power situation look like? Adding a RS Audio CF-1 and MF-1 might also get you there. I was shocked at the difference they made in my system. They are addictive and I've added more, up to 4 CF-1 and 3 MF-1.

I'm a big fan of Snake River Audio Cables. Once and awhile I've tried other cables even ones 2x or more money and stayed with the SRA cables.

Hello dear musical mystics,

I have spent some time with my system over the past few years…. I am looking to make final tweaks in order to obtain what I perceive to be last little bit of tonal soul, texture, glow, while retaining the expansive soundstage and presence which seems present in my current setup…

How to get the last bit of tone, texture, glow, and instrumental essence?

System:
Nagra Streamer —> Cardas Clear Coaxial —> Soulnote D1 DAC —> Silversmith fidium —> ZBit 2—> Silversmith Fidium —> Zrock 3 w/ telefunkten tube —> Silversmith Fidum —> Decware 300B w/ Telefunkten 12au7, Mullard NOS Voltage, Amperex E88cc D-getter power tubes, WE 300B —> Anticables Flex 4.2 Speaker Cables —> Mundorf SGO Cap —> Anticables Flex 4.2 to 15” Woofer and Horn.

I feel I have really maximized the soundstage and speed and extension… in my pursuit of texture and tone I’ve tried the following:

1: Duelund 16ga between my crossover and horn: Promising, but the soundstage and presence collapsed a bit

2: Duelund Tinned Copper Foil Cap in parallel with my main cap in the crossover … effect TBD as it is burning in…

3: VCap in place of Mundorf SGO Cap: I enjoyed the VCap with the Duelund wire to my horn, and have been going back and forth… the Mundorf begins to feel too soft at times, even though its sensuous and glorious

I and considering the following, please tell me what you all think of these strategies:

-Snake River Audio speaker and crossover-driver Wires: From what I gather this may be a lovely solution to keep the best of both worlds: texture and tone with space and soundstage and speed… what do you think of this? I am beginning to suspect the anti cables throughout is too lean and dry for my tastes / system

-Tube rolling… I have other gain tubes available, which I will roll….  Radio technique, RCA, Bugle Boy, Mullard NOS…. Any suggestions?

Thank you all for your advice!
r.

We own a set of Klipsch HeresyII's. We've had them for many years and are stored inside their original boxes in our shop. I just never could sell them. Loved em! I have never listened to them through a tube amp like our Zen UFO though. We changed to a set of Klipsch Chorus II's in 1998 (in boxes too) or so have never had a desire to change them out. I do have a 12 inch 2003 HSU VTF3 , front firing sub hooked up too via the speaker binding posts on Zen into speaker level back of sub.. Yes it still works fine! We purchased it new in box as well. I like a bit more bass on certain recordings, but level is turned way down/even sounding. Very nice! Not changing anything!
Good job on the Heresy's! I had heard they are a great match too...   We still listen to our Zen amp almost every evening. And It is definitely among our best purchase in our lives. All the best.. a stormy evening in SW Montana~ strike on next property from us

My immediate thought was the LP box set from CBS France of the complete Duke Ellington and his Orchestra 1947-1952. Decades ago I had found the 5 cds that CBS France had put out after this set, but never thought I could afford the LP set. Then one day something made me look on discogs.com one more time and I found a ridiculously priced set that I just hoped was in as good a shape as advertised. . . and it was totally unplayed as far as I could tell. I love this music, and the LPs sound really good--as do the cds, and so I have options to rotate. I really was very happy to land this 6 LP box set! I have an emotional connection to Duke's music--one of my Dad's Ellington LPs really touched me deeply in my youth, and I've been collecting Ellington all my adult life.

Tell us your most recent emotional vinyl purchase.  I’d like this thread to serve as springboard for vinyl lovers to talk about what drove them to buy a specific vinyl album.  It would be great to hear your experience.  

Here’s my recent purchase.

It all started for the love of baseball. I grew up playing baseball and was an avid Yankee fan.  My daughter’s Acapella group from school was invited to sing the national anthem for this past Wednesday’s baseball game at Yankee Stadium.  Due to telecommunications and temporary power outage… I unfortunately decided to keep her home which broke me as a parent as I planned to attend the game.  Fast forward to the Netflix live streaming of the Phillies and Twins baseball game at the Field of Dreams Stadium in Iowa.  To watch one of my all-time favorite Yankee players Don Mattingly manage this game with his son sitting as the VP and GM was just fitting for the venue, especially if you know the theme behind the classic “ Field of Dreams” movie with the father son connection.  

Needless to say I just bought the Field Of Dreams original motion picture soundtrack on Novus Records scored by the legendary James Horner.  The original was only released for a short time and is limited.  I had no interest in the official reissue, so I’ll give my impressions when it arrives.

Looking for a Z stage please PM me or email me if you have one you would like to part with thank you