PART TWO
Test set up: as above with the kronzilla DM monoblocks instead of the tenor 350mHP power amps (which was extensively used over the weekend)
Listening Volume/SPL level: 18 to 20 on tenor preamp dial ie 55 to 65 db spl level
Warmup time: about an hour for the kronzilla monoblocks
PHOTO BREAK!
Before you can see clearly!
Duration of test/listening: 7 to 8 hours
Source format : CD player
Cd collection played ( listed as above): Note all were normal ordinary recording. No high resolution recordings/HDCD/SACD or SHM SACD formats were used. some were mine, most were cor`s and one was a special request of my neighbour david…” jean micheal jarre .Live”!
Note: Small!! bias in played recorded music : Certain genres of music not tested i.e rock music ,reggae,punk, dance/club/rave music, large orchestral music and large classical pieces…..this would have been very helpful…….but lost track of time!! …while listening to music
I am going to enumerate the artist , the album and the songs played and give you a little synopsis of …..if the recorded music and the reproduced sound, sound like music to the three of us rather than give you a detailed hyperbolic expression of detail, resolution, tonality, orientation, treble, midrange and bass response.
I only wish I had the time to make electronic/digital links to all music played so you could have enjoyed the music too
First album played
Abdulla Ibrahim Trio “ African Blues”……I have been to many of his live indoor concerts
1.Blue bolero…..simple clean piano playing and sounding very real , smooth inviting you to a long evening of music listening….we were all nice and comfortable and relaxed after good food ,excellent wine and plenty of after diner single malt…..cor`s choice
2.Dristrict Six……..excellent bass player belden bullock….coming through as clean and fast with no hint of distortion and keepin a tight grip on the music, especially with the next tract “ joan-capetown flower”
4. Thaba Bhosigo. Rhythmic bass and piano playing .very heart warming…..hope you`ll are beginning to catch the mood
5 & 6. “ The Mountain “ and “ For Coltrane…..These two tracks serve as a mood cleaner……making you ready for any type of music to come…..did the setup make that happen….sure it did
Moving to the second album…..
Abdullah Ibrahim & ekaya. : “Sotho Blue”
This can be an assault on the midrange and the upper bass notes …in where the heart of music lies
Large assemble of saxophones ( cleave guyton on alto sax & flute, keith loftis on tenor sax, andrae Murchison on trombone, Jason marshall on baritone sax)
Tracks played
Sotho blue, the mountain, joan cape-town flower and wedding…..the last has the full assembly of saxophone and trombone and flute
The music comes through so strong and powerfully and atimes may sound harsh but no distortion…….as its meant to be…..cor did mention that!......very real and goose bumpy
Moving to the third album for orchestral and Brass Bands
Glen Miller Orchestra “ In the digital mood”
1. “In the Mood” . Very realistic presentation close to toe tapping……this song , I have heard live at the Edinburgh festival played by a military brass band…makes you want to get up and dance………its like a whirlpool slowly dragging you in to the finale which is stunning and will leave you happy and very satisfied!....".strangely that this did not happen"........probably needed a little more speed and bass slam from the kronzilla…......this was immediately picked up by my neighbour david!!!.
well it may not have happened if we had our listening volume much higher @ 70 or 75 db..but!!
2.Two other songs played were “ Chattanooga Choo-Choo “ and “ The American Patrol” …the combo handled the melodious variation in music very well
Moving the genre to fusion/classical jazz to one of my old favourites….seen them live once and this album is one of their newer release
Oregon “ In Stride”
Songs played
"As she sleeps".........Paul McCandles on the Horns and Ralph Towner on Classical Guitar
This is a really haunting and soul stirring piece of music and the setup captures the ambience sooo! beautifully
"In stride".......here the band come together so nicely.....excellent recording of classical fusion jazz.....does the setup/combo perform!......this will take you along the stairway to heaven.....to attain sonic nirvana.......right down to goosebump alley!!!!!
Moving the tone to simple female vocals
Artist : The Staves….Album “Dead & Born & Grown
The Two Sisters have gorgeous voices in very close harmonic perfection
Songs played
1.Wisely& Slowly …..beautiful harmonising female vocals bought out effortlessly by the setup/combo…….will give you goosebumps for realism…..will want you to sing along!
This is true even with the other songs played ie.”Gone Tomorrow” and “Facing West”
PHOTO BREAK!
“How much of resolution do you need to see the magic”
Moving onto Acoustic Blues artist KeB- “MO”
Songs played
Every morning,
Tell everybody I know
Angelina
Very simple and bluesy with clean and crisp guitar notes…..come through the combo with ease and the sound will keep you listening and listening......sad bit......you will be wanting more!
Moving onto Eva Cassidy- Live @ Blues Alley
This didgreido recording is not the best….the combo/setup did make the song very musical to listen to………Did the setup smoothen the flaws and bring out the best of the recording…..well it was good to listen to, not because of just the songs……it did sound musical at most times
Moving on to the serious listening “ All of Cor Dekkers recording”
CD`s marked Vol 1 to 3 : mixed musical recording......in three CDs
I think it's his show test CDs ......this set will bring out any flaws in any setup and room........
Surprise Surprise..........no nasties......did shock cor and us for the faithful reproduction of sound .....producing bucketloads of effortless MUSIC.
The synergy of the setup and the room makes the act of listening to music so relaxing!!
Followed by two CD's of Classical Recording( Cor has had youtube links for the same)
1.Helinanthus Piano Trio-
Classical playing : Joseph Haydn- piano trio in C and Sergei Rachmaninov- Trio elegiaque nr.1 in g
The Music is soul stirring eventhough its played by a very young Hungarian trio and the music transports you effortlessly into the concert hall.
I personally would have preferred a little more scale and aggression with Rachmaninov….well might have been the trio`s representation
Johanes Piirto playing Beethoven- Pianosonate nr .31 in As, opus 110 ……..
and Chopin – Ballade nr.1 in g, opus 23
The tonality and realism recreated by the setup was simply haunting and magical
PHOTOBREAK!
Realism and orientation
PHOTO BREAK!
“Perception of Depth “
Finally coming to the end of this long narrative... a memory recall comparison of "tube and tube like amps".
I have demo or lived with in past at home in my set up ( variables were the use of my previous speakers .i.e….Von Schweikert Audio Vr 7se Mark 2)
The Comparison
The Lamm Combo of M1.1 and preamp- 4 month extended home demo
An excellent combo with plenty of PRAT and fabulous resolution…….did find it a little aggressive at times and can cause fatigue with prolonged listening and do need to dial the spl level up to make it sound magical!.....note cabling and my living room was not optimised at that time
The Dartzeel Combo 108/18n combo…this was an demo at home for a few weeks…..did have the best midrange I have ever heard at home……did nearly buy the combo……...but It could not drive the vr7se to its full potential especially in certain genre of music.
The Lamm ML1.2 and match preamp……Demo at home for a day ….again with the vr7semark two
The dealer sold a pair of vr7se with that demo at home!....must say beautiful synergy with that combo and voice and midrange to die for……but a little lacking in the lower registers at times
Now for the Kronzilla DX mono blocks…….does it draw you into the zone!!.....sure it does in duck loads....note this group of amps are not the standard broad gauge or meter gauge ......but a very special group special gauge
PHOTOBREAK!
with the kronzilla's the thing that strikes you at first is the ease at which it plays music with loads of headroom and realism to hang onto…..most of all makes you to keep on listening to music and more music……....
Here there is a little resemblance to the sound of the Dartzeel combo
.The only negative ......I am sure its a minuscule handicap which I presume you should have inferred buy now….....could be overcome by using 4 kronzilla DM monoblocks….ie two for each side.
Now coming to cor`s test setup at home do not forgot part of that magic is the simply superb gatekeeper the “tenor preamp1” which has allowed the Kronzilla`s mono blocks to breathe and the “Von Schweikert Audio Speakers vr 9se mark2 with the ci-amps “ which make the magic happen in a room which seems to propagates wonderfully sound all over the room...…must say you donot have to be IN THE ZONE SWEET SPOT any more…....that's one special magical speaker system albert! which helps fill the room with pure simple music.
Finally for the tenor 350mHP monoblocks( special issue 400plus watts) and its matched Tenor Preamp combo….Jim fairhead , I must say one sterling pre power combo!..its the very best I have ever owned .
I have no bias just because I own them.They are in a very special superleague of their own…(Here I must mention the tenor preamps which is the real magic piece )…very powerful ,very natural and real with magical speed and realism for all genre of music and one that keeps you” listening for hours and hours without the strain of listening to music “ and suddenly you have lost track of time!!!....especially at my late evening listening volume of 18/55 to 60 spl level.
At the end of the first night listening session.....we forgot the passage of time....ie was 3.00 am well into the next day morning.......Strange none of us were tired or drunk......consumed 2 bottles of single malt!!....and
there was no concept of time .
"MUSIC"....we were happy to keep on going and on on the stairway to musical heaven
I must confess that I am a little lazy and a major automation freak…….I like things to work with a touch of button and with the current set up I have at home …..one power sequence button brings music at all its glory
Hope I did not bore you`ll with this altered narrative!......thanks to all the kind words of appreciation
Finally for your question gavin ……The tenor combo are here to stay for me!!
PHOTOENDING
Wonderful Bolivian Sun……..I can see a new sun rising !
