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Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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Tweakers' Asylum Tweaks for systems, rooms and Do It Yourself (DIY) help. FAQ. |
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In Reply to: Experiences with S&B102 TVC posted by analog_sa on March 4, 2003 at 10:37:39:
It is interesting to watch this space, and seeing that after waves of enthusiasm for a certain approach, some criticism starts to fill in. I would say that the critical voices will be in average rather people with a keen ear and highly resolving systems and good reference starting points.My comment:
A customer of mine eg. made the same experience you describe with his built into the amp Audio Synthesis Passion, a high quality 15 K series res. shunt attenuator with Vishay resistors.
Initially impressed by the musicality and extroverted dynamics of the Antique Sound Labs auto-trandformer passive, it turned out that resolution was considerably below the Passion, and a feeling of homogenization set in.
Later i lended him my EVS *1k* Ultimate shunt attenuators, setting the 15 k Passion to bypass. This was in *every* parameter – in his Naim CDS II based system – superior to the built in att. , actually an amazing feat. The Naim is / was proven to be able to drive that 1k load with applomb (as do NJM 2114-based opamp output stages eg. in a Sony DVD player – ouuch!).
And i do not believe that here a somewhat distorted sound was preferred. Would that be the case, i think neither would the 15 k Passion been the preferred line stage up to that point. It sounds like 'less is in the way'.In a similar situation, and with the Passion Ultimate (switchless) and standard Passion, *and* the 1 k EVS Ultimate as reference, i could not apply most any description you found with the S&B's sound to my Silver Rock TVC:
Apples & pears look similar, but we know they can taste totally different. The Silver Rock blew the top off of any passive or active line stage i've heard – in resolution, timbre, openness, delineation of upper tones & highs – and also in bass and general timing. I have to say that the Audio Synthesis DAX 2 is DC coupled, with a current-potent output stage. But in fact i think that this in fact would have given the resistive shunt attenuators a certain edge or at least optimal conditions.*If* you try *any* technology, keep an open eye & ear, that what you hear with *that* device is not for 100% caused by its most superficial design traits, like 'resistive', 'transformer, 'tube', 'solid core' or eg. 'silver'. It's in the details that technology works or breaks.
Almost nowhere in technology this is as obvious as in audio reproduction.
Let's keep understanding and thinking – but don't stop listening. And at least when listening, lets keep our minds free of mental 'knowledge'.
And this applies already when making decisions about selecting audio devices for a home trial!
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Follow Ups
- transformers, apples & pears - Arbelos 08:47:57 03/06/03 (0)
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