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Post by antonio on Jan 19, 2022 6:07:23 GMT
After writing my post I looked up your speakers, efficiency was in the low 80's, but by all accounts that is not everything. They did get a couple of good reviews that I read, my t amp wouldn't really work with JBL Control 1's.
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 19, 2022 6:29:23 GMT
I was surprised to see your wanted ad for an EL84 amp Hmm, yes. My new Ayre integrated amp has proved to be strangely problematic for me. It sounds too damn good. And that's a problem. I had expected (and hoped) that I would, as a viable alternative, use it in HT Bypass mode as a pure power amp with my lovely valve preamps. (I recall your query, Dave, about me ditching the Conrad Johnson PV7 which I had been raving about.) But that didn't work out, it simply sounded inferior. Cloudy and drab and coloured compared to the Ayre on its own. I hadn't wanted an integrated, but I did want to move on from my Primaluna monoblocks. I put up a px/swap wanted ad for a power amp, but all I got offered was the Ayre integrated as a px, so I went for it. Sell it on, no problem. Then I plumbed the Ayre into my system... Hot Damn! Bye bye lovely cj.  Except, I didn't want that to happen. So I hoped an acceptable way ahead was to get another valve power amp, and see if that could be a viable alternative to the Ayre. And despite my wandering away from the fold with Primaluna amps, my fave power valves have always been el84. Hence the most recent wanted ad. And.... very very pleased so far. Just loving the sound of the cj PV7 and Leak Stereo 20. It really is great to have the cj doing its stuff again - it's one musical son of a bitch. It's a different musical perspective from the Ayre. Wetter, would be the One Word Review, I think. Tonality is richer, soundstage more immersive, a touch more more dynamic vibrancy, too. Only a few hours on the clock so far, so still very much in the Honeymoon Period. I feel sure the Ayre has more transparency and rez, but that doesn't seem to matter so far. The Plan is that the Ayre is a valid alternative, and that I happily switch back and forth on a timescale of a month or two. I do seem to get restless with any presentation after a while. And then, after a year or so I expect I'll inevitably move onto something completely different! Phew, that ended up as a long post! |
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Post by brian2957 on Jan 19, 2022 10:46:55 GMT
You must be losing your powers Jerry. I mean, buying gear that sounds good even before you can muck around with it, adding this ,that, and the next thing. Unheard of  |
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Post by antonio on Jan 19, 2022 12:38:12 GMT
Having two flavours of sound was what you wanted 2 or 3 months back so you would be able to change when you felt like it, that was when you still had the Prima Luna, I was a little surprised you selling them, but I suppose it's time had come.  I hadn't realised EL84's were your fav valves, sort of got the impression maybe 6L6's and I had read read something uncomplimentary about EL84's not so long back. If the Leak's 10w are doing their stuff you should be good for another 3 months, enjoy it while it lasts. |
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 19, 2022 13:01:30 GMT
I always enjoy it while it lasts. If I stop enjoying something, or it crosses an arbitrary and personal threshold of over-familiarity, I change it.
Yup, el84 are a long standing fave. That doesn't mean I don't try other valves. But hearing el84 again now, I do find myself wondering why I bother with others!
I guess they wouldn't work that well for power hungry speakers. You can get el84 amps with loads of the little buggers wired up to give more power but I've not been convinced by that approach. There seems to be a magic of natural musicality with just 2 per channel.
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Post by optical on Jan 19, 2022 13:06:27 GMT
I always enjoy it while it lasts. If I stop enjoying something, or it crosses an arbitrary and personal threshold of over-familiarity, I change it. Yup, el84 are a long standing fave. That doesn't mean I don't try other valves. But hearing el84 again now, I do find myself wondering why I bother with others! I guess they wouldn't work that well for power hungry speakers. You can get el84 amps with loads of the little buggers wired up to give more power but I've not been convinced by that approach. There seems to be a magic of natural musicality with just 2 per channel. Sweetest sound I've ever heard (although not much grunt or slam admittedly) was a CR Developments 'Calypso' amplifier running 12au7/12ax7's and 4 EL84's. Only worked properly with high efficiency speakers with paper drivers I found, namely my Loth X BS1's and some Ruark Rhapsody's (massively underrated imo). The immediacy and intimacy was simply astonishing. Your speakers seem to buck most trends Jerry so it's no surprise you are liking them with something that 'shouldn't' necessarily work. |
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Post by jandl100 on Jan 19, 2022 13:30:24 GMT
Immediacy and intimacy, that's a very apt description.
Yes, looking at the big black boogars in front of me, 4 way 6 driver. It shouldn't work. But it does. If it didn't, I wouldn't use it!
Switched the system on this morning with a bit of trepidation - would it still sound good? Yup, the magic is still there!
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Post by southall1998 on Feb 6, 2022 1:26:20 GMT
Hello Jerry,
Hope you are well. Was it 2010 or 2011, the time you bought those MBL Speakers?
S.
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Post by rexton on Feb 6, 2022 9:28:27 GMT
Welcome Shane!
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Deleted
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Post by Deleted on Feb 6, 2022 9:55:38 GMT
He joined over a year ago  |
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Post by rexton on Feb 6, 2022 10:27:41 GMT
He joined over a year ago  Oh dear! He's only posted twice so I thought Shane was a newbie on this forum. |
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 6, 2022 18:49:23 GMT
Hello Jerry, Hope you are well. Was it 2010 or 2011, the time you bought those MBL Speakers? S. Hi Shane 2010, I think. Why do you ask? |
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Post by southall1998 on Feb 7, 2022 9:12:57 GMT
Hello Jerry, Hope you are well. Was it 2010 or 2011, the time you bought those MBL Speakers? S. Hi Shane 2010, I think. Why do you ask? Was just curious, Jerry. I know you have those MBL's for many years now. S. |
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Post by jandl100 on Feb 7, 2022 12:34:09 GMT
Hi Shane 2010, I think. Why do you ask? Was just curious, Jerry. I know you have those MBL's for many years now. S. Yes, it's a long time for a box swapper like me. But I suspect they are here until they break down or I do. Whichever is the sooner. Come to think of it, if they do break down I'll probably just get another pair. I don't think I've heard speakers that suit me better. |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2022 9:29:45 GMT
Current electronics stack.  Densen DM20 preamp XiangSheng DAC05Aii with Western Electric 396a valve. Ayre AX-7e integrated used in pass through power amp mode. Good though the Ayre's preamp section is, it's a little too transparent and stark for my present mood. So the rather lovely touch of lushness from the Densen is just what is needed. |
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Post by macca on Apr 8, 2022 9:50:04 GMT
funny you should mention that Jerry I was going to write something similar about Philips 22AH280 vs DCB1. Using the Philips while the DCB1 is in the shop.
It's 'not as good' but on the other hand it's a more relaxing listen precisely because it's 'not as good'.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 8, 2022 10:06:35 GMT
Yup, I have fond memories of my Philips Black Tulip preamp for just that sort of reason - it certainly came up a bit short on the Hifi Scale, but it made lovely music. The Densen is somewhere in between, I think.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 11, 2022 14:00:26 GMT
As is often the way, something comes along on ebay and seems to be ending at a rather low price. Quick bid, et voila. Whoops, another amp. And STILL not a Neurochrome. Simaudio Moon i3.3 integrated amp. It's got a bit more functional convenience than the Ayre AX-7e integrated. Which is why I was curious. - preamp output, onboard DAC. But of course it has to compete sonically with the very impressive Ayre. Well, quite astonishing. It was dropped off at a DPD supporting shop Saturday afternoon, and it's here already, Monday 2pm. And in A1 condition, thankfully.  I'm not totally attuned to the looks. The silver squiggly badge is a bit naff. The red LED display is quite a lot naff. Although it can be turned off. The sound is..... not naff at all. Woof! Quite a forceful and explicit presentation. This could be entertaining. |
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Post by brian2957 on Apr 11, 2022 16:01:58 GMT
Now that looks like a serious bit of kit Jerry |
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 11, 2022 16:28:57 GMT
Now that looks like a serious bit of kit Jerry Yes, it sounds serious as well! Most impressed so far. |
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Post by Bigman80 on Apr 11, 2022 16:32:22 GMT
Now that looks like a serious bit of kit Jerry Yes, it sounds serious as well! Most impressed so far. Looks a good purchase. Always liked the sound of moon gear. |
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Post by macca on Apr 11, 2022 17:03:28 GMT
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 11, 2022 17:24:44 GMT
I could live with the looks but they aren't great are they? It looks like it was designed by a committee. |
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Post by antonio on Apr 11, 2022 17:32:41 GMT
I've seen worse Jerry and at least it has an headphone socket.
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Post by jandl100 on Apr 11, 2022 17:32:50 GMT
The comments about the digital board being good rather than great are interesting. Must admit I'm impressed by it so far. Very fast and detailed. I do plan to try my standalone DACs with it and see how they compare. |
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Post by macca on Apr 11, 2022 17:51:18 GMT
yes in the review he says pretty much what you already said.
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Post by jandl100 on Jul 27, 2022 14:26:35 GMT
Arrived today.  Focal Elegia headphones. A used pair off ebay. They came with a newish pair of fancy Dekoni earpads. I also have the original Focal pads that look in decent condition, I haven't tried them yet. Also supplied was an additional cable, a bit longer and more flexible than the Focal one, which I also have. Definitely cumfy. Well made. The L R markings could usefully be more obvious; I have to peer closely at the small black on black lettering. A warmish tonal balance, a bit of eq to boost treble up a few dB is needed for my tastes. Lots of detail, but not overhyped. Very open sounding for closed back headphones. Quite a powerful and strong presentation, but with a nicely natural flow. Yup, pleased with these at first blush. |
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Post by antonio on Jul 27, 2022 15:00:12 GMT
Nice buy Jerry, surprising they need a little treble boost since I don't think most of their speakers do.
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Post by jandl100 on Jul 27, 2022 16:26:44 GMT
Nice buy Jerry, surprising they need a little treble boost since I don't think most of their speakers do. Haha, no, quite the opposite with most of their speakers I have heard. A pair of early and large Beryllium tweetered Utopias being an honourable exception. |
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Post by jandl100 on Jul 27, 2022 17:30:06 GMT
And another new arrival today, sitting under my old Wyred 4 Sound DAC 1.  Hee Hee, my DACs get more and more ancient. Theta DSPro Prime from the early 1990s. Doing the level matched (to within 0.5db) switch back and forth thing, comparing the two... No difference at all. None. To start with. After a while subtle nuanced differences started to appear. Now it's bleeding obvious. The Theta is clearly more vibrant and focused. It's not at all obvious, until it is. A rather exuberant review in a 1991 Stereophile. www.stereophile.com/content/theta-ds-pro-prime-da-processor3 decades on, does it need some TLC? It doesn't sound like it. Maybe it's received some already? I might pop the lid and take some pics, see what the knowledgeable folks here think. |
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Except, I didn't want that to happen.
I hadn't realised EL84's were your fav valves, sort of got the impression maybe 6L6's and I had read read something uncomplimentary about EL84's not so long back. If the Leak's 10w are doing their stuff you should be good for another 3 months, enjoy it while it lasts.
