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Digital Drive Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it. |
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Digital Drive Upsamplers, DACs, jitter, shakes and analogue withdrawals, this is it. |
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In Reply to: Cary 303/300 - Telefunken ECC802S posted by amdan on June 15, 2006 at 23:21:01:
Here are my system components:Quicksilver V4 monoblocks (using Penta KT88SC tubes)
Vandersteen 2Ce Signature with Sound Anchor stands
AESTHETIX Calypso Preamp with Teslovak E83CCS and Early Russian 6H23 Type 3
Cary 303/300 with Telefunken ECC802S (using 192KHz upsampling exclusively)
Mogami XLR cables between Cary and Calypso preamp (cost $24)
Vh Audio Spectrum Cu interconnects between Calypso and V4 monoblocks
Hydra 4 line conditioner with Vh Audio AirSine powercord (with Furutech Rhodium connectors)I will say before adding the Tele ECC802S to my system, I was using solid-state output exclusively on the Cary 303/300.
My system sound is 1cm to the lush side of neutral. By no means bright, or on the other hand, warm/lush.
I do not like warm-sounding systems. So I have my all-tube system geared to the neutral side of the fence as much as possible.
After inserting the Tele ECC802S into the Cary 303/300 and waiting about 30-minutes on a repeat track, I began some serious listening.
I immediately noticed the volume I typically use on the Calyspo preamp needed to be raised from 32 to 38. Anything less than 38, and I felt the sound was less detailed/transparent/crisp using the Tele ECC802S.
I was shocked to notice the sound from the Tele ECC802S was not as tube-like as I thought it would be. I noticed as much detail and crispness as when using solid-state output on the Cary.
I feel, if the recording is well engineered, like Chris Isaak's 'Baja Sessions' or Mary Chapin Carpenter's 'Come On Come On', then the Tele ECC802S will shine with its more focused sound. I could risk losing a bit of frequency extension on these recordings, because they're engineering was so good it didn't matter.
The best way I can describe the Tele ECC802S is 'intimate'.
Gone was the high frequency extension the solid-state produced from my Cary 303/300. The great imaging which my Vandersteen 2Ce Signature are known for, sounded a bit closed-in and truncated using the Tele ECC802S.
This does not mean the treble was rolled-off. I put in my treble acid test CD, Alison Krauss' Forget About It. Anyone who's heard Alison Krauss knows her high-pitched tone can be grating at times. In my system, before adding the Tele ECC802S, I could easily listen to her without fatigue. Using the Tele ECC802S, I still found her high-pitched tone the same as with solid-state output on the Cary. So I did not notice treble roll-off. Again, the imaging was more focused. I would call it intimate, others might call it closed-in.
I feel for the money I paid ($215 on Ebay) the Tele ECC802S was not my cup of tea. In fact, I have determined, based on my experience with my system, the Cary 303/300 will sound its best in solid-state output. I do feel using the Tele ECC802S on vocal music like Chris Isaak's 'Baja Sessions' was amazing. But defintely not on recordings like jazz and rock music.
If you have an all solid-state system I firmly believe they will work fine. However, if you own a fairly neutral, tube-based system, the Tele ECC802S ultimately may not be your cup of tea.
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Follow Ups
- I just received my pair of Tele ECC802S for my Cary 303/300 - audiophile121 06:25:32 06/16/06 (1)
- Re: I just received my pair of Tele ECC802S for my Cary 303/300 - amdan 00:56:54 06/17/06 (0)
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