Do system upgrades make a difference?

I know the answer is in most cases is "absolutely", but I thought I would try a little experiment with some needledrops I made last night.
In the last several months I have upgraded the following parts of my analogue system:
Rogue Audio Ares-tube set upgrade
Preamp-from ARC LS2BMkII to ARC LS27
Phono cables-went from VPI phono cable to Voodoo Copper Litz
Preamp to amp cables-went from Morrow MA2 XLR to Synergistic Research Core UEF Level 2 XLR
I had a recording of Van Morrison Into the Mystic from the remastered Moondance album that I made back in May of this year about 2 weeks before the first upgrade. I made another recording last night just to see if I could tell a difference. I think I can easily tell a difference, but I thought I would let you guys tell me if I am insane or not. I've normalized both on Audacity and the first few seconds of silence have had noise reduction, but the rest of the track is untouched. I've included about 45 seconds of each.
Jon
Into the Mystic before upgrades
Into the Mystic after upgrades

 

Hmmmm...there may be a "difference"...but is there an "improvement"?

 

I have gotten to the point after 50 decades... if I like how my stereos sound....I leave them as is.

 

Takes a very, very long time for some to get there.

 

Ditto.

I like the sound of my main HT - and the separate stereo system within it.

I like the sound of my family room HT.

I like the sound of both stereo systems that are in my living room.

I like the sound of my back yard stereo system.

I like the sound of my garage stereo system.

I like the sound of my front porch stereo system.

I even like the sound of my late-'70s stereo system that's currently in storage.

I think I'm at the point where I'm content to leave them as is. At least I think I think so. Pretty much. For now.

 

It only took me two decades!

 

After 500 years I'll probably stop fussing as well.

Actually, I think it's a great point. If it sounds great then trying to make changes has more of a chance of not working out than it does of making things sound better. Tough lesson to learn.

 

That’s quite a commitment lol! How long before it seemed like the harpsichord was in the room?
Just kidding of course, but it did make me chuckle. I do envy you reaching the point where you can just enjoy it without thinking about what could be improved.
Cheers!

 

Yes they do make a difference. Not to get off subject here but when I saw the title of this thread I automatically thought of Bill Engvall and I don't know why?

 

Depends on whether the change was a:

1. Upgrade
2. Side move
3. Downgrade

 

Yep, and I wish many times I would've never f'd with it.

 

Man, you're old.

 

"Upgrades" often do make a difference. But my experience has been that these are not always for the better.

If I have learned only one thing in my >35 years in this hobby, it would be this: Finding a synergistic combination of equipment is the single biggest key to achieving great sound. Once you have achieved this, "upgrades" become much more challenging because changing one piece of the puzzle can often upset that synergy which you had previously achieved, leading to either a sideway move, or even a move backwards in terms of musical satisfaction.

So my advice on upgrading is: If it is at all possible, always keep your existing equipment until you have finished evaluating your new gear. Once you are certain that it represents a move in the correct direction for you, then sell the old piece. Otherwise, you may find yourself getting pulled into a never-ending upgrades, until you finally achieve a similar level of synergy once again.

 

I haven't had a chance to listen to the clips yet, but just looking at your list of changes, you didn't make any substantial changes. The big change was the preamp and you went from one hybrid preamp from the same manufacture to another. I'm not sure that enormous differences would be something I'd expect from that set of changes.

 

Funny thing is, I went back to a 1974 Marantz Receiver and have never been happier....

 

Retired, working on expired. LOL.

 

I do love the 3D imaging from my 'big' stereo. The 'little' stereo in my office....I listen with my back to it, so no imaging. LOL

 

2nd sample seems 'brighter'
I enjoyed sample 1

 

I can definitely hear a noticeable difference between the before and after.

Now I'm wondering how much of that change is the new tubes in the Ares and how much is the new preamp and how much is the other changes.

The after sample has wider soundstage, more midrange clarity, and the midrange also got more forward. All noticeable differences. I'm listening on headphones. Perceptions of soundstage width and depth and forwardness can be different on headphones than speakers. I'm not sure how those impressions will translate to speakers.

 

There is a noticeable imbalance between channels, and they are pretty bright to my taste. Other than that the second sample is a little more forward. but the dynamics are good. Can´t say I prefer one over the other. Took a listen to my original record, much less bright and no channel imbalance.

 

Cartridge, pre-amp or speakers (from my experience,) result in the biggest "difference", as far as upgrading.

 

Ya, sometimes it's not "better", just "different"...

 

Confucius once said: “If you like the sound of your system, change it.”

 

Sometimes we audio nerds cannot help but to tinker.

 

Yes, I've noticed that imbalance as well and I assume it is cartridge alignment. I wish I was better at TT setup.
Jon