Jordan/Germanboxers,
Need clarification...did you replace your Concert Fidelity CF-080LSX2 Preamp with the Coincident Audio Statement Linestage? If so, could you please let me know the difference in sound, and why you preferred one over the other? 4orreal - yes, I had both in my system at the same time for several months. I owned the CSL and then purchased the CF with the eye toward a remote control linestage without taking a step backward in sound quality from the CSL. I intended to replace my remote volume controlled DAC with one that did not have remote volume. For the curious, with the remote volume DAC, the CSL positively impacted the sound quality compared to running the DAC directly into my Audion amps (that is long separate story in itself). The CF reveals a great many details, is transparent, very dynamic, and also appears fast (focus on transients). It does not leach tone, nor does it romanticize the midrange. I sold the CF when it became apparent that I was going to stay with my remote volume DAC, making the CF a costly luxury. I don't think the CSL gives up anything to the CF. The CF tended to better resolve the initial transient at minor expense to the note and decay. For this reason it was sometimes more *startling*. Still, for balance and naturalness across the spectrum, the CSL is hard to beat anywhere near its price. The CF did have a very fine pervasive grain that I began to associate (possibly incorrectly?) with the coupling capacitor the CF uses. In an ironic twist, I have now ended up with a DAC without volume control, the Luxman DA-06. I've worked around the issue by using the excellent volume control in JRiver running on my CAPSv3 server. Movies and concert videos, on the other hand, require me to raise my butt off the chair, walk across the room, bend over, and adjust the volume on the CSL. How do you CSL'ers and other non remote VC'ers deal with this burden??? ;-) My wife sure has made me soft!! I used to be a Spartan before I met her! ;-) |
"... mad with pure desire" Charles, personal acknowledgment is the first step.
Public admission is larger bigger step. You are with friends:) HA Charles...this^. ;-) |
Jwm - I have always been interested in the VAC IIa Sig linestage. I'm surprised the Absolare was so convincingly better. The Absolare is certainly at the pinnacle of linestages, but I assumed the VAC IIa Sig would be relatively close, if not just of a different taste?
Do you still maintain the WE845 tubes to be well worth the extra $$
Thanks,
Jordan |
Anyone find a source for the WE 1:1 101D replica yet? I can't find it anywhere, including psvane's site. Heck, they don't even list the WE 845 replica on that site, but Grant Fidelity carries it. Anyone understand why that is?
Thanks,
Jordan |
Hey Charles - shortly after you tipped me off about the Psvane HiFi 101D's, I placed an order with Grant Fidelity. Unfortunately, it took 18 days to get them and when I opened the box, the internals of one were bent 30 degrees and touching the inside of the glass and the other had something loose inside. Frustrating! I have sent them back and hopefully it doesn't happen again. I look forward to trying them in my system, but I honestly have a hard time imagining it getting much better.
I did ask Rachel at Grant Fidelity if they planned to carry them. She gave me a short response along the lines of "only if the demand is there and it's not there now" (paraphrased of course). I'm not entirely sure she was aware of them, but that is just a hunch. Everyone...let's get that demand up for the WE 101D replicas!!! |
pinnacle level of rarefied realism Charles - now that is a turn of phrase!! I'm really looking forward to hearing them. Jordan |
Charles - I know you were speculating/extrapolating...I just enjoyed the phrase. The only way I can see improving on it is to add some alliteration. Perhaps "well, then we're talking the Ridge of Rarefied Realism"? If Pap's assessment is accurate, then they must be sublime! |
Charles - no, I sold the CF. I have just not updated my profile on Audigon. |
Brownsfan - those are quite long for daily hikes, but hardly compares to standing up from a chair and bending over several times an evening? ;-)
I'm a cyclist and one of my "vacations" each year is to ride the length of the state of Indiana from north to south in 3 consecutive days for a charity event I set up 11 years ago. I'm the only one of the original 4 of us to still be doing the ride (and I was the "old man" of the group in 2003 when we started. The other 3 were in there mid 20's). I was just making fun of myself for being willing to spend so much money for the basic goal of: remote control without a drop in sonic performance.
Stay fit!!
Jordan |
Good for you, Brownsfan! The Smokies are beautiful and I envy your impending relocation there!
You won't see us on I-65...that's not legal and crazy dangerous. We ride back roads almost the entire way, including through Brown County and it's many steep hills. You should take it up again and don't worry about riding in the mountains...it's all in the gearing!! |
Charles...the 400m? I hated that length, vomit-inducing, really. I was forced to run it in HS. More power to you, sir!
I'm not really interested in the remote version primarily because I think the TVC is likely better sounding. No desire to go backward, even if just a little.
Jordan |
Vetterone - I'm interested too. Thanks! |
Vette - Is your source amenable to a small group buy from those of us on this thread? |
Good news...Rachel from Grant Fidelity said they will stock the WE 101D's after the Chinese New Year. Can we get 20 buyers?? Let's get this going!!! Grant Fidelity will stock WE101D after Chinese New Year once Psvane factory is back to work from holidays. Listing price for the Psvane WE101D will be $600 USD including shipping. For introductory, we will offer $540 with free shipping for first 90 days. If a group buy of 20 buyers can be formed, the group buy price can be $500 per pair. This price includes free shipping worldwide to each individual buyer's address. We only need to the group buy organizer to gather every buyer's email address for invoicing purpose. Thank you for everyone thinking of us when considering new tubes. |
Charles, yes indeed. Brownsfan, are you interested? Anyone else? |
Charles - how many hours did you run the Psvanes before serious listening? What were your very initial thoughts? I'm hearing some brightness and a little less lower mid warmth at 24 hours.
Thanks,
Jordan |
Thanks Brownsfan and Charles! I'm questioning my read more than usual since I'm in the middle of a great many changes (and frustrations) in the system.
I'm burning in the Druid V's in my main system. I also received KeithR's Valvets and they promptly exposed the hum and buzz in my system. They are dead silent if I run the DAC direct to the Valvets, but if it is run through the CSL, I get a buzz/hum that is annoying from the listening seat. It is there with the Audions also, but I deliberately have lowered the gain of Audions so this hum/buzz drops in level relative to the signal. When I systematically follow the Jensen troubleshooting guide, I end up with "inductively coupled noise" as the source. Very frustrating as I've tried different cabling and adjusted cable routing away from transformers and 120 lines, but no real impact. I use a PS Audio Premier as my line source...doesn't do a thing for "inductively coupled noise", however.
So...many changes back and forth have discombobulated my aural senses. I'd like to be able to directly compare the Valvets with the Audions, but the noise issue makes it nearly impossible. Hopefully, I'll be able to resolve this noise issue soon?!!! |
Hey Brownsfan...yes, I encountered the same issue with the mute switch, but only if I was running balanced (I think...been awhile since I talked to IB). I elected to do nothing and not use the mute at the time. I should talk to him and find out if he has any ideas.
With the Audion's gain turned down so that I'm using much of the gain of CSL (i.e. vol knobs 1 - 3 clicks from max), the hum/buzz is completely inaudible from the listening seat. With the higher, non-adjustable gain of the Valvets, I have no option to reduce the noise/hum.
When I ran all balanced systems, I rarely was aware of any noise/hum in my system. The frustrating thing is right now, even running all balanced from Luxman DAC to CSL to Valvets, I get this hum/buzz. If I run balanced or SE from Luxman to Valvets directly (bypassing the CSL), no noise at all, yet the Jensen trouble-shooting guide suggests it is due "inductively coupled noise". |
Charles - it is/was present with the Franks, Atma's, and Audions, though amplifier gain affected the ratio of signal to noise and hence how obtrustive it was. With the Audions I can eliminate it with low gain. I am not certain that the CSL is the cause or contributor. It does not increase or decrease with CSL volume pot position, only power amp gain. Following the Jensen trouble-shooting guide, I'm left with: the noise is coupling into to the cable by induction. This is most often caused by a
strong magnetic field near the cable. Such magnetic fields are produced by power wiring,
power transformers, and TV or computer CRT displays. Electrostatic coupling is also
possible, but rare in a cable which has a grounded outer shield. Route all signal cables to
avoid such strong fields. In response to this discovery last year, I first tried a different cable (no difference), then I tried routing the cables completely away from any power cords or transformers...still no improvement. The only power line close to the cable is the PS cable for the CSL and that's DC. I eventually just lowered the gain on the Audions. |
Did this occur with the CF preamp in your system? Yes it did, Charles. So this leaves me with these facts which don't make much sense: 1.) DAC to amps direct via balanced or SE -> no noise. 2.) DAC to Linestage to amp via balanced or SE -> noise. Since I've tried a few different wiring schemes and isolation transformers between Linestage and amps, I'm not really sure what else to try? |
