0 Members and 1 Guest are viewing this topic. Read 183211 times.
Proving once again that there are many paths to audio nirvana and some that aren't so $$ intensive. I have a pair of monitors Albert built for me driven by an Emotiva preamp and my old trusty DH200. It's my pc based system and I listen to FLAC files with FUBAR--USB to Cambridge DAC Magic 100. It sounds WAY better than it has any right to. I won't mention how little I have invested but this diminutive system produces sonics that are way up there
Oh boy there goes the savings! VRs are chameleons. We already know that. They really do allow small changes made upstream to be easily heard. So what happens when you put another chameleon in front of it? The CH amps are the closest to tube amps I have ever tried. Hold it. I don't mean the sound or what we expect tube amps to sound like. More in terms of being able to tailor sound by allowing you to manipulate amp and speaker interactions. In this case it has a feature set that I find akin to most tube amps ability to be tube rolled. When we roll we, to a certain extent, manipulate distortion spectra and gain. This is exactly what the CH's allow with some added side effects if we can call them that. The twin features are selectable feedback ratios for the AB output section (input and driver section are Class A ZNFB) and selectable gain. If I'm understanding this right, increase in feedback lowers distortion and lowers gain along with it. That's what I'm hearing anyhow. The damping factor goes up but I'm not entirely sure if rise time and slew rate are affected. In any case, the sound gets clearer but also drier. The decrease in gain, as one would expect from simply lowering the volume knob, makes the stage smaller, more recessed and basically neater, more orderly and less bloomy in terms of projection. With the VR-9 SE MK2s (important proviso as it will likely differ from speaker to speaker) Dialling back NFB to 0 does the opposite and sound is closer to let's say my Lamms and KRs which have an intrinsic warmth to them. From 40 to 50 I get a good balance between precision and forgivingness of sub par recordings. At 50% reference tracks are stunning but I need to pass on music I really like that aren't recorded well or start recontouring the FR response using the speaker controls. Ratcheting up past 50% and well, not my cup of tea for long term listening. We get into Halcro type sound. Presentation favors transients over the rest of the envelope making them feel a bit lacking in weight. A lot of people like the "PRAT-y" sound just not me personally. Moving along, I guess what I'm saying is that these amps afford a flexibility I've never encountered in pure solid state before. Did I mention that they can be configured in Bi-Amp, Monaural and Bridged Monaural? FB and Gain can be adjusted for both Hi and Low outputs in Bi-Amp mode. Doing so allows you to tailor a softer warmer top end and whatever degree of control or grip you like in the bottom end. You get to boost or trim bass too depending on room imposed requirements.A bad back from crouching at the front panel controls an unhappy byproduct of my adventures. Just two weeks later, they release new firmware and an Android App that allows you to do this fiddling from the sweetspot from a smart phone or tablet. Aaaaaaaarghhhhhhh! I want a refund for my chiropractor expenses In the end it is about getting sound that fits your aesthetic sensibilities. Long term enjoyment is after all, our common goal. So what does one get when one mates a chameleon with a chameleon? A chameleon that allows the color of the artists to be displayed the way you want it. Get over here Albert!
Sure buddywww.chprecision.com
Sure buddywww.chprecision.comThere are a number of reviews of the smaller amp the A1. A number of reviews of the Transport/Player (D1) and the Converter (C1) too. The M1 I mentioned has no published reviews as of today.I had a breakthrough earlier this evening. I was dealing with a residual hardness. It would show in peaks. I still wasn't getting that naturalness I've become accustomed too. Impressive definitely but there was still a hint of artifice. It has been perplexing to say the least. A few steps down on the rear ambience tweeter and TA DA!!!!!
Dear Von Schweikert enthusiasts,I’m curious which amplifiers are currently being used in combination with the big(ger) von Schweikert Systems or according to you are an ideal match as I plan to replace/upgrade my current Parasound JC-1’s (driving the main towers of my Von Schweikert VR10-MK2 system) within the (near) future.Currently planning to assess the following brands/types Goldmund (Telos 1000), CH-precision (A1/M1), Soulution (501/701) and Constellation (Hercules). Are there any other brand(s)/types according to you (which are preferably available in Europe via retail) that I should take into consideration in combination with these great speakers?I’m looking for a neutral sounding amplifier that combines effortless control in combination with a very dynamic and highly detailed performance (but in the end getting close to a live performance is the ultimate goal) Thanks in advance!Best regards,Jan
Wow - one heck-of-a-step up from the JC1's to the items you mentioned. Not sure I canreally be of help, 'cuz I'm at a step in between. I've heard - at length - the following with the VR55's: Constellation; Bricasti M1; Audionet Max; Pass Labs XA160.8. I can only say,each in their own way, was great. But they were sonically different. Nothing like trying / listening for yourself obviously. So just consider this some fodder to add to your list.
