Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

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CN211276
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by CN211276 »

At the price the amps do seem to be a bargain and if I did not have the A20 they would certainly come into consideration for the second system. A big issue Richard had with Class D, apart from the sound, was the prices being charged in relation to the low component costs. It would seem that prices are more realistic now. Running in aside, from a snobbish audiophile perspective, a true evaluation can only be made after extended listening through a revealing system.
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Fretless (Thu Dec 15, 2022 12:46 pm) • Grumpytim (Thu Dec 15, 2022 2:34 pm)
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NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Lindsayt »

Fretless wrote: Thu Dec 15, 2022 11:25 am Complex passages just lack a tiny bit of control and there is an overall 'artificial' sheen to the character that makes the music come across as a touch 'stiff'.
Highly selective quoting from me. It's the artificial sheen from the Class D amps that I've heard that put me right off them.
With this being most apparent on well recorded solo piano music. They made pianos sound all wrong.
What I don't know is how much better 2022 Class D amps are for the artificial sheen than the class of 2012?
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

This 'artificial sheen' is also a factor that I will be concentrating on to see if burn-in alleviates it.
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Lindsayt (Thu Dec 15, 2022 5:44 pm) • CN211276 (Thu Dec 15, 2022 6:01 pm)

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

A thought struck me, in the signal chain from DAC to P50sa preamp there is an NVA SSC interconnect - a cable I know to have an energetic and forward sonic signature.

Just swapped this over to an Accuphase Blue i/c, a low-capacitance cable with a rounded, softer character.

Definitely taken the bright, hard edge off the Class D amps. More listening required.

:music-listen:

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by karatestu »

What ? Cable based tone controls ? That will never catch on.
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Fretless (Fri Dec 16, 2022 9:55 am) • CycleCoach (Fri Dec 16, 2022 10:18 am) • Grumpytim (Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:09 am) • CN211276 (Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:44 am) • slinger (Fri Dec 16, 2022 2:37 pm)
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by CycleCoach »

Fretless wrote: Fri Dec 16, 2022 8:12 am A thought struck me, in the signal chain from DAC to P50sa preamp there is an NVA SSC interconnect - a cable I know to have an energetic and forward sonic signature.

Just swapped this over to an Accuphase Blue i/c, a low-capacitance cable with a rounded, softer character.

Definitely taken the bright, hard edge off the Class D amps. More listening required.

:music-listen:
Do you actually mean "forward and energetic?" Or do you mean "clear and revealing?"
My experience of SSC cable is that it resolves pretty well, but I have never felt it had a "sonic signature" that would impart a character to what I'm listening to. That's just my experience, (and of course, you could say I have a vested interest these days.)
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Lindsayt (Fri Dec 16, 2022 10:55 am) • CN211276 (Fri Dec 16, 2022 11:45 am)
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

For me the SSC does have this signature and SSP is smoother, more open and revealing. Certainly SSC gives plenty of energy and detail to the sound.

The more relaxed Accuphase cable is a better match in the system with the Class D amps, which are proving themselves to be particularly finicky about component matching. Now there is still a very slight 'metallic' veil to the music - but an improvement over the bright edge they had with SSC.

If I had an extra set of SSP it would probably give a result in-between the SSC and Accuphase interconnects, with good energy and detail combined with a revealing smoothness.

Upstairs:
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by CN211276 »

To these ears NVA cables do not have a sonic signature. I use both SSC and SSP in the second system along with LS3. The only adjustment I have made on the Mojo 2 is a 1DB lift at 20kHz and the reason for this is the far from ideal positioning of the speakers. It is a similar situation with the main system in the opposite direction with TIS and LS7. There is a subtle adjustment on the Qutest rolling off above 20kHz to compensate for the room.
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CycleCoach (Fri Dec 16, 2022 7:44 pm)
Main System
NVA BMU, P90SA/A80s (latest spec), Cube 1s, TIS, TISC(LS7)
Sonore OpticalRendu, Chord Mscaler & Qutest, Sbooster PSs
Network Acoustics Eno, ifi iPurifier3, AQ JB FMJ, Cisco 2940 & 2960
DH Labs ethernet, BNC & USB cables, Farnells cat 8 ethernet cable

Second System
NVA P20/ A20, Cubettes, LS3, SSP, SC
Sonore MicroRendu, Chord Mojo 2 MCRU PSs, AQ Carbon USB cable & JB FMJ

Headphones
Grado SR325e/Chord Mojo, Beyerdynamic Avetho/AQ DF Colbat

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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by Fretless »

Yes, I suppose I could use some form of equalisation or DSP to tweak the sound. Easier than swapping cables.

Upstairs:
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Pro-Ject 1.2 + Grado Sig Jr + Cambridge Alva Duo
DigiVolumio PC + Kiss DP-500 + Sabaj A20d
NVA: P50sa - Cube2 - SSP - LS6+ Sabaj A10a (x2)
Downstairs:
Vinyl
Logic DM101 + Syrinx LE1 + Grado Sig MCX
DigiDenafrips Ares II + Volumio PC + Cambridge CXC
NVA: P50 - BMU+ Aiyima A07 MAX (x2) + Arcam One
HP: HifiBerry Digi+ PRO + Sabaj A10d
Office:
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Re: Curiosity gets the better of me (again)

Unread post by savvypaul »

karatestu wrote: Fri Dec 16, 2022 9:48 am What ? Cable based tone controls ? That will never catch on.
In the (distant) past, at different times, I've used DNM cables (lean bass) and Van Den Hul cables (rolled off high frequencies) as tone controls (my descriptions will be not be controversial to anyone who knows those cables). What I actually needed was a better pair of speakers.
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CycleCoach (Fri Dec 16, 2022 7:45 pm)
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