It's all about Synergy baby

Experienced this first hand recently :

1) Vacuumstate SVP2 + Transcendent Sound T8 OTL = good
2) Audio Research LS17 + Transcendent Sound T8 OTL = no good
3) Audio Research LS17 + Bel Canto EVO ICE 1000 amp = good
4) Bel Canto Pre3 + Bel Canto EVO ICE 1000 amp = no good

Stereophile product of the year in my system = no soul (or I'm not moved by it )


(1) is so very smooth & intimate. The T8 sucks about 600W of juice at the level that I listen at. Nearly no fluctuation of power consumption whether it's a loud or soft passage. Maybe operating in class A.

(3) has more bass slam & surprising low power comsumption. Only 140W. That's the forte of ICE. I nearly gave up of these after listening to them on my DIY FVP which has similar signature to the SVP2. Pestered my Local dealer to get the Pre3, the matching linestage to the ICE monoblocks. No good lah. Very shrill & maybe I got put off by the plain vanilla LM317 regulators...

(2) sounded very unnatural in the vocals. Dunno why...Luckily good match for the Bel Cantos.

The Ayre QB9 USB DAC (stereophile darling) sounded good but somehow I felt something missing when compared to my USB offramp + AN 1.1. Weird . Next - Weiss Minerva + Amarra mini !


What's you story ?

Regards,
Joe Ling

what speaker r u using?

It's a pair of DIY Mitsubishi Diatone full range + Seas helper tweeter + 1 REL storm sub. Vocals are to die for. Been trying for the last 5 years to get rid of them but nothing cannot so far. Audio Note, Raven Ribbon MTM, Coral Beta 6, Coral Beta 8, Orgue Audio etc.

However, I have been auditioning a pair of ProAc D28 at the dealer's & they sound really nice with Naim gear doing the driving. The D38 also very nice but my room is way too small now but soon...Bigger speakers need bigger room...

In fact (3) is preparation for less efficient speakers that will eventually be part of the collection.

Regards,
Joe Ling

It's all about Preference too baby

Vocals are to die for.

room is way too small now

try LS3/5A + Leek before ?

I do have a pair of LS3/5a lying around. I think they are from the 80's with XLR terminals. Bought a pair of Sterling Audio cabs & swapped the cabs. I really like the sound of the 3/5as but they have no bottom. I can't live with that. Also bought a second hand pair of AB1s but did not have a chance to try out together yet.

My friend is a LS3/5a freak who is madly in love with them. He uses a pair of Quad II to drive them. Quite nice I might say but the last time I heard his system was more than a year ago.

Leek is a vintage tube amp yes ?

wabun wrote:

Vocals are to die for.

room is way too small now

try LS3/5A + Leek before ?

Regards,
Joe Ling

typo.. it should be Leak..yupe. old amp.
old sound.but got ppl die for. dunno why.
I listen many times, also geleng kepala