Home Amp/Preamp Asylum

Looking for a new Amp or Preamp? If you're after tubes, post over here.

RE: People who come round to hear my system have *never* said "it's not cohesive"! :-)) ...

I know EXACTLY what you mean.

"Wow", "Spectacular", etc, were the common reactions.

And the systems deserved those comments from a technical aspect.

But playing master tapes I knew, it was only after a period of time when the special effects wore off that finally I had to find similar amps so that the music could hang together.

But the wow part is big fun for a while.

But then, maybe it was just my quirk.

Some speakers that I am referring to are Bozaks, Tannoys, Avantgardes, Tympani ICs, IDs, IIIAs, Infinity SS-1s, RS-1Bs, The original full range Apogees, Levinson HQDs, Goldmund Apologues, various custom jobs, etc.

So this observation didn't occur over a single instance. It was actually over dozens of systems, some of which I assembled and some of which various dealers & manufacturers assembled. All had that WOW factor. They were amazing really.

It wan only when the different capabilities and characteristics of the various amplifiers finally manifested themselves as a source of ultimate dissactisfaction with the gestalt of the music, that it became noticeable to musicians and audiophiles whose sensitivities ran in that direction.

For others, for whom the amazing audiophile sound is the ultimate goal, the wow factor lives on to this day, and they don't value that last vestige of compellingly involving music reproduction.

Just different strokes, I guess.

I will say that I don't know a single knowledgeable industry veteran who'd prefer to mix 'n match amps.

They probably exist - I just don't them.

For that matter, while we're opening cans of worms, I've never heard a digitally eq'd system that resembled live music either. In this case, I suspect they can.

But the people I've worked with used the digital eq as a sort of panacea, instead of working fully on the acoustic wave-launch and reception of it at the seat BEFORE the eq is applied.

Please note that I am not against it at all. I AM against it becoming a short cut, bypassing the"organic' foundational things that should be accomplished first. Such systems always fall far short of what their potential could have been.



Best regards,

Jim Smith


This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors:
  Western Glow Tube Service  


Follow Ups Full Thread
Follow Ups

FAQ

Post a Message!

Forgot Password?
Moniker (Username):
Password (Optional):
  Remember my Moniker & Password  (What's this?)    Eat Me
E-Mail (Optional):
Subject:
Message:   (Posts are subject to Content Rules)
Optional Link URL:
Optional Link Title:
Optional Image URL:
Upload Image:
E-mail Replies:  Automagically notify you when someone responds.