About a month ago, I received my U70 (a Super 70i that Frank upgraded), and I find myself listening to the U70 increasingly more than the Insight 440. The Insight 440 reproduces complex tracks better, IMO, but there is just something about the U70 that keeps me going back, regardless of the music's genre. On Led Zeppelin's The Rain Song, the Insight 440 is a little tighter and punchier when the drums come in about two-thirds into the track, but the guitar, strings, and vocals sound better with the U70. The U70 doesn't lack bass, however. A few minutes ago, I listened to Erykah Badu's Rim Shot with the U70, and I think the bass extends as low with the U70 as with the Insight 440. I have been using the T8 DAC with the U70 rather than the Insight DAC. I think that the Insight DAC has such deep low end extension that the U70 actually seems somewhat bass-heavy with the Insight DAC. (Other than increased low end and high end extension with the Insight DAC, both DACs seem to be voiced the same.) With female vocals and piano, the U70 shines. I am listening to Kelly Sweets' rendition of Aerosmith's Dream On with the U70, and her voice and the piano are airy and smooth. Although the Insight 440 has substantially more power, the U70 really puts out a lot for 32 watts per channel.
I had a pair of ST-70s and a PAS 3 preamp that I gave to a friend over 20 years ago when I moved to New England, and I haven't listened to much, if any, tube equipment before I listened to Zybar's incredible system, with his high-powered Atma-sphere amplifiers, a couple of months ago. The combination of listening to Zybar's system and reading the terrific reviews of the U70 prompted me to send my Super 70i to Frank, where the amplifier was reborn into the excellent U70. (Good decision on my part.)
Thank you, Frank.
