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RE: Setting up a new 2 channel system based on available equipment

Posted by finnman500@hotmail.com (S) on March 25, 2010 at 10:05:33

In Reply to: RE: Setting up a new 2 channel system based on available equipment posted by Audiophonix on March 25, 2010 at 01:04:09:

Hi Latif,

I re-read your initial posting again and your second and now this latest one.
I sense you are yearning for the warm, lush sound of analog of yesteryear
with an accurate and focused sound-stage of more modern gear. Ah, to have it all in one system: that would be heaven within our listening space.

Life is a constant compromise for sure and since it sounds like digital will be your main source of music I would definitely lean toward the JADIS tube amplifier paired with the Proac 140 MKIIs. It has been my experience that digital sources can always use a little 'tube action'to give a little warmth to the sound by bringing out more of the golden mid-range and de-accentuating the highest octaves. Of course solid-sate people will say that tubes do not have the extended highs of transistors but I believe this to be fallacy.
What I have experienced is a much more relaxed presentation with natural harmonics in a sound-stage envelop of 3D quality.
I have only heard the JADIS gear once and while I did not like the loudspeaker they were paired with, I did like the power with delicacy that the JADIS presented. It is a very 'musical' amplifier and while it doesn't have the power on paper of the GRYPHON, I believe you will find tube watts are very different from solid-state watts and the JADIS amp you are looking at will drive the 91 db/watt/meter Proacs to levels well beyond the comfort zone. (unless your listening space exceeds 800 sq. feet) A 88 db loudspeaker requires twice the power of a 91 db loudspeaker to attain the same SPL. This is important!

I cannot really comment on the SACD player to choose. I would have to hear them side by side in an A-B playoff with the same disc loaded in each. I don't believe the flexibility of future upgrades is a deal maker or breaker. I have found CD players within the same price range sound very similar as they all use the same Burr-Brown chips so perhaps I would
focus on the transport mechanisms and try to determine which is a better build and will prove to be more reliable down the road. Cosmetics is always in play here but try not to let that influence your choice. If it comes down to two players being roughly the same price and they sound near identical to you then I would go with the heavier unit. I like heavy components and loudspeakers for that matter. Just my humble opinion.

A final note on loudspeaker choice: A low efficiency loudspeaker is 'usually' an indication of a more complex and power robbing cross-over which is there to flatten out an uneven response of one or more drivers. I have found that loudspeaker designs with simple or minimal cross-overs in the signal path 'ring' with a more natural resonance and hence, sound more musical. The best loudspeakers I have heard in the past few years had
very simple cross-over designs and some had drivers which were allowed the entire signal from the amplifier and rolled-off their response in a natural, mechanical way.

You mentioned you already had in your possession a choice of cabling so I would go with what's on hand before investing in cabling. You may just find you have arrived at a very pleasing result. You can always 'tweak' your system later with more expensive or just different sounding cables.

I hope this all reads as more common sense than personal preference.
I am human and as such, I do have preferences but they are based on personal experience from a lot of deep listening and attending many audio shows. Over twenty years in pro-audio, both live and in the studio has trained me to be a good listener and a very picky fellow when it comes to sound reproduction.

If I have helped you; I am pleased. I believe this is what these forums are or should be all about.
Cheers,
Jon

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