LSA Voyager GAN Amplifier

The Voyager still holds the gold in time elapsed between initial announcement and eventual ship.  This last year there have definitely been some supply-side delays and shortages, which I seem to remember Atmas mentioning.

Gman74, 24 hours is when the LSA Voyager really opened up and started sounded like an all star amp.  Hints of this before 24 hours.  I am sure though it's break in is not complete. 

Tweak 1, your advice is on target.  I will continue the burn in to get to a couple of hundred hours before modding.  Much of my equipment across 4 two channel systems has been modded so I have no fear of entrusting a high caliber modder with improving my equipment.

ricevs,
Be sure to tell us how your mod to the Mivera sounds different than the stock Mivera.  If you say "better" please describe objectively in what ways.  Same for Legacy.  My Rouge Studio N-10DM has 135 hours on it, and it is still quite variable from one day to the next.  I plan to follow the advice of Francesco from Rouge and listen at 400 hours before judging it.  Is there any change from your mods after break in?  How much break in is needed to judge your mods?

Better, as in every way.  Name a quality.....its better.  mostly it is more transparent, faster, more extended on top, more dynamic, better imaging, more air, better bass and more real.  Legacy is not done as well as the best Mivera....so more will come from modding that.  The mods have practically no burn in.  I am not replacing coupling caps or electrolytics and the modified Wima's I use sound great right away.......yes, there will be a slight improvement with time.....but not much.  Modding the Rouge would give about the same improvement as modding the Legacy.  I have not modded a Legacy.....doubt I will.  It costs too much for most to want to mod it......too bad....they have no idea how good those modules can sound with proper massaging.

Ricevs,

Ever tried/tested upgrading class D board caps with better electrolytic caps like Audio Note Kaisei or Mundorf? I use both to good effect. Not sure if the Ice and other class D boards would benefit sonically?

I may try on the Ice boards.

What about key resistors? Any opportunity here? I have not tried on class D boards. 

ricevs,,
Thanks.  I bought the Rouge on your recommendation.  Have you actually found your modded Rouge to have even greater improvements than your modded Mivera?  How is the stock Rouge inferior to the Mivera even though the Mivera uses the stereo 1200 AS2?

I have never modded a Rouge.  I base my statements on how the different amps are implemented stock.  The BEST Mivera uses way better jacks (AC, input and output) and better wire then any other IceEdge amp.  The mods to any IceEdge amp MODULE are equal value.  Mono amps make less difference than using all great wire and jacks. The best of the best would use mono modded modules and the worlds best jacks and wires and fuses.

Ricevs - I spoke with Ralph a few weeks ago, there is already folks ordering his new GAN Class D amps. I believe he said they were $5200 and he’s working up the supply chain and production details.

Given Ralph’s track record, I’m sure he’s going to have a great piece.

There were people almost two years ago that ordered the LSA amp......just now being delivered.  Basically, when it ships....it's real.

Supply chain? production details?  that can take an eternity.....or less.....let's hope less.  The sooner he brings it out the sooner I can do mods on it......he he.  

I’m sure that the LSA amp is good. Underwood Wally is a straight shooter, he knows what music sounds like and works with some of the best designers. He also is clearly focused on high value.
I imagine that the Voyager is super good for the money. But certainly not best regardless of price. AGD Audion approaches this rarified territory and can be compared to the super pricey. I can’t really comment on the Voyager not having heard it.
But it seems the GaN Class D is taking hold as the beautiful evolution of CD.

Although I haven’t had the pleasure of listening to them, Wally’s LSA 20 Statement
speaker has also received 
very positive reviews. Again, 
$3,000 for the pair.

I was not able to ship directly to Ric for the mods so I get the amp delivered to my home tomorrow. I will send it to Ric next week.

I will put it on my Thiel CS3.7 and also the RAAL SR1a amp interface box. I should be able to play this 24 x 7 with the amp interface box. I do not want to hook up the headphones to the box overnight but think the amp will still be outputting current without the headphone connected. 

This interface box allows my Thiel CS3.7 and headphones to be connected to the box with a swatch to select output. I normally do not use the box this way but will do so to burn-in the amp quickly.

I have a Benchmark AHB2 (for the RAAL) and CODA #8 (for the Thiel) in the same room, so I will compare against those 2. Only problem for my comparison is that the CODA and AHB2 have SpeakON connectors and my best speaker wire, Audience FrontRow, require SpeakON. I will instead be using my Audience Conductor SE speaker wire for the testing. One of the 2 sets of wires needed has not been used for a while.

This is perfect......this way we will all know what you think of the unit stock......and then later....with the mods.  People are going to trust your direct experience with the mods more than mine.  

It’s likely too early but has anyone experienced hearing a comparison of the Voyager and NAD’s M33. 
Anyone have any thoughts?

Many thanks!

I have about 45 hours on the LSA Voyager now.  As time passes it is developing more layering, spatiality and finesse.  Just beautiful sonics.  I am still in awe of what I am hearing out of this modest sized little box.

@wgs57
No but as a technology guy and  owner of more than one very good older Class D amps for many years now I predict they are both superlative.

yyzsantabarbara,
I suggest you put in 400 hours of amp time before sending it to Ric.  I am doing this with my Rouge Audio Studio N-10DM, a dual mono IceEdge 1200 AS1.  Francesco of Rouge advised 400 hours.  At this moment, I have 157 hours on it.  I let it play with my typical music, Mozart violin concertos with small orchestra.  Loudest sections are about 75 dB, although transients are higher, but probably under 85 dB for milliseconds.  I live in an apartment building and let it play for 16 waking hours a day, so I don't disturb neighbors by keeping the volumes modest.  Ideal break in procedures are speculative.  I wonder what the relevance of harsh break in at 90-100 dB would be.  Perhaps the most relevant procedure would be to use your typical music at the playback levels you would listen to.

The sound is quite variable at this point.  It has little to do with whether the amp is warm or cold.  My power quality is very variable, which I found with other amps.  At this point, I don't know whether my variability is due to the power quality or the break in of the Rouge amp.  At 400 hours, I will do the final assessment, go back to my reference amps after they are briefly re-broken in after 1 month of no use.  Then I will do Ric's mods.

Years ago, I almost bought the Benchmark AHB2.  It had excellent clarity and neutrality, although after break in it was very slightly warmer than my Bryston 2.5B SST2.  So I want to hear how your AHB2 compares to the new amp.

Unless an amp has Teflon coupling caps or such, I find 200 hours of PLAY time to be plenty of time to know what an amp sounds like. When I sold my EVS 1200 amps I included cheap 100 watt 8 ohm power resistors so someone can burn in the amp continuously. You listen for a couple of hours then take off the speaker wires and install the resistors and turn it back on at the same volume level.....then check to see how hot the resistors are......if they are nice and toasty but you can at least touch them then just leave it playing on repeat or streaming till you listen again.

These are $1,51 each plus shipping for the 8 ohm 100 watters:
https://www.ebay.ca/itm/152815608794?hash=item23948523da:g:mA8AAOSwdW9aCk-K
They can only do about 10 watts free air (not mounted to a heatsink) but are plenty big enough. Just solder a nice big wire to each end and you can even put cheap bananas on to make them super easy to install.

I usually put a new amp in the bathroom and burn it in straight using resistors for one week (160 hours) and then start modding. Same with DACs and players (I use a 1K resistor for low level components). However, the mods make way more difference than burn in. The mods will always make the same difference and most mods do not require much burn in. Even 24 hours of play is plenty of time to get an idea of the sound of something. After that, each mod makes a serious difference Many times I have taken a barely burned in piece and started mods and I could always hear the mods improvement.

Having something idle is not play time. You really want play time. You want current running through all the parts. Class A amps run a lot of current through the power supply and output stages but none through the wiring and jacks and coupling caps, etc. Only play time does it all. Class D amps idle really low in current and have an inductor and caps to ground on the output......you want current running through these parts.

Viber 6,
157 hours is plenty of time to know what the basic stock amp sounds like.  It is not going to magically change at exactly 400 hours.  I personally have never heard an IceEdge amp that had 400 hours of play time.  Even my own amp never had that many play hours before I sold it (it did have hundreds of hours at idle as I never shut it off).  I am not saying you need to send me your amp right now......in fact, I am busy for a couple more weeks so you have more time to burn in.  Just sayin'  

I am on my second CD playing through my modded Sony SCD-1 and I am impressed. My Sony is not ideal in this room because I do not use DSP with the Sony. I won't get into details, but my ROON server is down. I am trying to move that to my MacMini. Once I have that sorted out today I will have my best source ready to go.

Saying all of that this amp sounds great on with my Sony. The sound was actually awful the first couple of songs but now we are rolling. I wont get into audiophile terms (still early yet). All I will say is that my head has been bobbing, my toes have been tapping like a madman. This amp seems fast, maybe that is why I am having this great time with the music.  

No fatigue so far.

It also seems good with my 2 Ohm speaker. I felt some things were just not there with the 2 Ohm speaker and the Benchmark AHB2. Not so with the CODA #8 and Voyager.

BTW - I forgot I am getting my KRELL K-300i back from KRELL tomorrow. That integrated sounds great on the Thiel CS3.7 (smooth and great bass). It will be a shootout with 3 amps. 

Sounds like a contender. 

Sounds like it’s a contender. 

yyz,
When I tried the single stereo Benchmark AHB2 with my LOW impedance of parallel electrostatics and Enigmacoustics stat tweeters, it shut down at even moderate power.  Using mono AHB2's gives more power into 8 ohms, but not 2 ohms.  I know it is early, but later please report on the relative tonality (clarity, neutrality) of the AHB2 and Voyager at sensible SPL's.  The Voyager has greater power, but quality is what counts.

ricevs,
Thanks.  Now my 170 hours have been probably using 0.1 to only rarely 10 watts.  I can try playing more dynamic orchestral music using up to maybe 500 watt peaks for short periods of time.  Would that provide a better break in?  For weight lifting, it is better to do short, intense workouts with heavy weight than long workouts with baby weights, a waste of time.  Is the same thing true with amp break in?

Cutting hairs.  Your amp is mostly burned in.....it doubt its going to change much from now on.  Sure, blast it as much as possible....certainly no harm....except for your ears and your neighbors.

If your speakers hit 2 Ohms and they need power to shine (like my Thiel CS3.7) do not use the AHB2 in stereo or mono. I have tried both and while it sounded very good there something missing. Listening to something with some power, such as Led Zep, left me thinking that something was missing. With the CODA #8 (and likely Voyager) there is more grunt with music like Zep.

The AHB2 is still my fav sounding amp because of the best clarity, quietness, detail, and neutrality. I would not take a FREE mega bucks amp over this beauty. I am going to build a living room system around it (well already did, just need better speakers). CODA preamp + AHB2 = amazing.

I got my MacMini installed with ROON. Could not get the ROON Core to work on it so slumming with regular ROON. I really hate MAC’s. I do have better ROON sound now because I am directly on my network instead of the PowerLine (subnet?) network I was using before. That setup almost tricked me into thinking me speaker drivers were damaged on George Harrisons 50th anniversary ATMP.

One observation so far when no music is playing with regards to speaker hiss:

- Benchmark HPA4 + AHB2 = no hiss, nothing

- CODA 07x + AHB2 = a bit of hiss could not hear from my sitting position

- CODA 07x + CODA #8 = a bit of hiss that I can hear from sitting position if I focus on listening for it

- CODA 07x + Voyager 350 (not modded) = same as CODA 07x + CODA #8

I am in a small room about 8 feet from the tweeters. 

My previous post got me curious so I put in a stereo AHB2 with the Thiel CS3.7 and the CODA 07x preamp. As I said before the 07x has a bit of hiss (I am using the low gain setting on the AHB2). However, it is not noticeable from the seating position and even close up it is faint.

I tried the Voyager and then the AHB2 playing the BEE GEES - Main Course album. At low volume the Voyager kind of sucks. The hiss dominates the sound. With the AHB2 it is beautiful. However, no one really listens at this low volume. My son went to sleep so I turned everything down. 

Disappointed in the Voyager in this regard, but I have headphones for situations like this. The CODA #8 is also not that great at low volumes due to the hiss. Maybe a bit better than the Voyager (going off memory). 

The Voyager has 26db of gain and the Coda amp probably the same. The Benchmark amp has 9db of gain in the low setting.  The lower the gain of the amp the less it will amplify the noise before it.  With 9db of gain you could never use the Benchmark driven from a DAC (unless you had 100db speakers).  26 db is the industry standard.  The Benchmark has a high of 23db gain....still on the low side. 

Besides hiss levels.....how does the Voyager sound?.....compared with the Benchmark and Coda?  I know its only been a day......but curious.

I can’t find the website for LSA.  Please add the link...

@yyzsantabarbara just want to understand - you like the AHB2 more than the Coda 8?

" I can’t find the website for LSA.  Please add the link..."

https://www.underwoodhifi.com/products/lsa-electronics

My CODA 07x / CODA 8 combo have absolutely zero noise or hiss. I have to put my ear 1 inch away from the speaker to hear anything that even resembles noise! Speaker sensitivity is 90db...

As I listen more it has become clear to me that the midrange is much more tubelike than solid state.  Great detail, air and presence factor with nicely defined but not edgy or harsh leading edges.  This is after about 70 hours on these LSA Voyagers.

yyz,
Like you, I go for quality over quantity. 95% of my favorite music is small scale, so quality wins out. Even for large dynamic music like symphonies, much of the time things are quiet and low level detail is most important. If the detail is submerged, I am not interested in banging dynamics. It’s like if a mumbling, foolish person yells at you, you shut him out. But perhaps his foolish thoughts make some sense if he speaks clearly in a low voice. An amp with grunt is often accompanied by loss of clarity for subtle sounds. So far, it appears that the AHB2 is still king. There is no rush--give the Voyager much more time to see if things change. Once you do Ric’s mods, there are no returns. This doesn’t matter because spending under $4K is worthwhile if the sound is great. I have almost zero tolerance for expensive anything.  Further, you couldn't PAY me $100K to be forced to live with the $100K amp if I am ho-hum about the sound.  I pay reasonable sums to obtain enjoyment.

With regards to hiss. This morning, I just switched to my Benchmark DAC3B from my Gustard X26 Pro. My streaming is duplicated using Sonore OpticalRendu (2 of them) from a single Ubiquiti Networks switch with 2 Fibre outputs. So an apples-to-apples switch from the Gustard to the DAC3B.

With the DAC3B the hiss levels have gone down maybe by 50% compared to the Gustard on the Voyager.

@aolmrd1241 I do not understand this hiss with the CODA. My dealer says that I should not have any. Other CODA users on A’gon have said the same thing. However, with my Thiel CS3.7 I have hiss. I am going to bring up my KEF LS50’s from downstairs today along with my super quiet Topping pre90 preamp and retest the hiss comments I made. This will replace the CODA 07x preamp and the Thiel CS3.7. The Topping pre90 replaced my Benchmark HPA4 preamp because it sounded the same and I only need a simpler and smaller preamp downstairs.

@ricevs Last night I listened for 5 hours, until 2:30AM, with my RAAL SR1a headphones. I turned off the Mitch Barnet Convolution RAAL SR1a filter to make the sound the most fatiguing and ’naked’.

Taking the RAAL-requisite SR1a Headphones To Another Level - Reviews - Audiophile Style

I was very happy with the results. The sound was huge, non-fatiguing, with room for improvement with detail but this amp is a winner already on my RAAL SR1a just for being non-fatiguing and powerful with the RAAL.

For comparison sake, on the RAAL SR1a without the Convolution filter, my Benchmark AHB2 is too bright and fatiguing with the HPA4 preamp, Topping pre90, and close to good with the CODA 07x. However, with Mitch’s filter the AHB2 was my favorite amp with the RAAL and CODA 07x. The fact that the Voyager already sounds so good without the filter makes me think this is going to be the best amp for the RAAL. Which is great because that is why it was purchased. Today, I will get the KRELL K-300i integrated back from service (replaced faceplate) and I will compare with the Voayger. The KRELL was also great without any DSP filter. BTW - I am likely going to sell this integrated (if I am smart).

@cd44123 The AHB2 is my all-time fav amp and with the CODA 07x preamp I thought it was the best sound I have ever had in my office. However, the AHB2 lacks that slam or grunt with my Thiel CS3.7, which was a real shame. Now this is not a night and day difference with anything else I have had. I think that most people on A’gon would prefer my CODA 07x + CODA #8 combo or the KRELL K-300i for a more relaxed of pleasing sound. Some may not like the starkness of the AHB2 vs the warmth of the CODA and KRELL. The CODA and KRELL were also a much better 2 Ohm match for the Thiel. Really easy to hear that extra slam and grunt.

***********************
I now have my Voyager setup again with my Thiel’s and will be listening all day while I work. This will be how I will keep it until I send the amp to Ric. I will use the KRELL as my headphone amp to see if I should not sell it and keep it in the future in my bedroom. The Voyager did not sound that great on one track this morning but I expected that from past experience with new gear. Only 12 hours so far.

Here is an old photo of my room for context. I also have a Convolution filter from Mitch for my Thiels (ROON only).
Office System - Virtual Systems (audiogon.com)

Just stating the obvious  hiss likely has nothing to do with the amplifier if it is present only with certain gear upstream. 

yyz, Just looked at your "old" system pics. Here are some tweaks that make any system better:

1. Get all cables off the floor. Way more open sound when all cables (power, interconnect, digital, speaker) are off the floor.

2. Never stack gear.....each piece should be isolated and on its own shelf.

3. Use great footers and shelving. This can be mind blowing. Every type of wood, shelving, footer will sound different. Stock equipment on thin wood or whatever......not good. My fav for each component is: inner tube with barely any air in it....then on top of that is a bamboo cutting board from Ikea and on top of that is 1.5 inches of solid maple (the two woods cancel each others vibration) and on top of that is the best footers from Mad Scientist and then the component on top of that. Sometimes it sounds best with the cover removed.....sometimes sounds best with damped weight on top of component. All the above is trial and error.

4. Use super fuses. The latest rage is Quantum Science fuses.

5. Use super contact enhancer.....the latest rage is High Fidelity cable goop.

@mapman That is not obvious given what I stated last night. Put in the AHB2 and no hiss with my CS3.7. Put the CODA #8 or Voyager in place and have hiss. All other upstream gear stayed the same. That is a pretty clear conclusion for me.

I have now put on the KEF LS50 and replaced the Thiel CS3.7. The same hiss with the right speaker a little worse. This is promising since this tells me my Thiel is fine. I tried unplugging the CODA 07x and retrying. Same thing.

I now put the super quiet Topping pre90 and took off the CODA 07x preamp, The Voyager stays along with the KEF LS50. The hiss level goes down a ton. Really need to put the ear to the speaker to hear anything. The RIGHT speaker is still a bit noisier (what the heck is that maybe the DAC).  

I replaced the 15 foot Benchmark XLR's between the preamp and amp with a second set of the same XLR. Same level of hiss.

I am going to talk with Doug Dale on the CODA 07x. I had a loose wire from shipping that I fixed to get rid of a lot of gremlins I had with this preamp. Maybe something still wrong or maybe not. It sounds great and maybe this bit of hiss is normal at the gain levels I have set (default).

************************* NEW Voyager observation ***************************
On my Thiel CS3.7, the Topping pre90 and Voyager sounds much better than the CODA #8 and Topping pre90. The Voyager sounds louder with the Topping, must be a gain thing. However, the impedance match must be better because it does not sound lifeless as with the CODA #8. So 2 different types of SS preamps sound good with the Voyager

I am not saying this sounds better than the CODA 07x and Voyager or CODA #8. It sounds more like the AHB2 with more grunt. However, the Voyager is not as super clear as the AHB2 which I think most people prefer (the Voyager).

Actually this $599 Topping preamp and Voyager sounds great. I am using the Benchmark DAC3B at the moment. Which is not a warm DAC. Wow, is my reaction to this combo. The Voyager seems to have the power needed by the Thiel CS3.7.  Non-fatiguing combo too.

Damn, I knew this Topping pre90 was great. This Voyager is also on a path to greatness for me. So nice with the RAAL and now really starting to sound great with the Thiel. I am on a BEE GEES bender at the moment but once that subsides I will start listening to my RUSH albums that I normally use to evaluate gear.

BTW - I noticed the other day that one of the Stereophile reviewers is using the Topping pre90 with 2 Benchmark AHB2. Same as me in my living room. This guy, Kalman R., must know a ton more about audio gear than me. So do not let that $599 price fool you.

Only problem with the Topping and Voyager combo is that the gain between the 2 is too much. Do not care since this is going to get discounted and moved downstairs soon.

Listening to Moving Pictures by RUSH now with the Topping pre90 + Voyager + Thiel CS3.7 + DAC3B. The album I have heard more than anything else in my life. The Voyager sounds great with it. Maybe a little harshness over the CODA #8, which is also great on this album. The Voyager only has 20 hours on it.

I would like to know from other Voyager owners. Does this amp feel fast to you. Man, I am bobbing my head and tapping my toes like mad.

Keep it coming, YYZ - you have 2 amps that I've been interested in for a while (Benchmark and Coda), and possibly now a third with the LSA.   I'm considering to move to separates from my integrated.

I appreciate your feedback.  A very interesting comparison.

@veroguy If you are interested I will add one more comment. I was wrong to state that the Topping pre90 and Voyager play nice. In a narrow volume range it was great better than the CODA #8 and Topping pre90. However, there is an gain mismatch between the 2 and the volume is not that granular. There was an impedance mismatch between the CODA #8 and the Topping pre90. Looks like there is no free lunch with the Topping pre90. The Toppng pre90 does work nicely with the AHB2s.

The CODA 07x is now back on the system and the Topping pre90 is going downstairs.

I am also going to disconnect everything later today. Once I get my actual work done and see if this hiss issue, that is now bugging me, is related to the wires touching each other. I just realized that putting my KRELL K-300i with the Thiels should help me figure out this hiss issue. That should be delivered later today.

I am starting to think that the Voyager sonically is a bit of a mix between the AHB2 and CODA #8. The AHB2 and CODA #8 are not that similar. One is warmer and the other is clearer with more detail. The Voyager seems in-between the 2. Though there is a lot more hours to put into the Voyager to say for certain.

I love the AHB2 and the COIDA #8 Long term keepers. Do not want to say that yet about the Voyager but I cannot fault it for anything. It is sounding better quicker than most new gear I have recently bought.

With all this modding talk.....he he.....LSA now states on their website they will offer an input and output wire upgrade for another $175....starting 8-16. Don’t bother.....my wires are better and I will be eliminating the sound of the binding post by using my binding post bypass system......also way better AC wires, IEC input jack....elimination of one fuse, option for better input jack, etc......and this is just the beginning. Should be fun, cannot wait to listen and tweak. Yes, the modded amp will be way more detailed......and more musical (sounding more like real instruments).

I hope those that are evaluating the amp will listen to some serious 2 mic recordings of natural unamplified or moderately amplified instruments in natural space. This way you can hear depth, air, decay, the wood on an instrument, the breathiness in a voice....separation of instruments.......the sound of the room, etc. Most of my evaluations are done with Chesky, Clarity Recordings, and Mapleshade recordings because they are so natural and detailed. Rush is fun, but you are not going to get subtle details of real instruments or the sound of the room, etc. I want to hear what brand of string someone is playing. When they pick up a different guitar.....I want to go....wow....what just happened?  How does an amp handle mass strings?  Does the string quartet sound like its in the room.....do they make you cry?  Just was watching a Utube video of Stevie Ray and Albert King jamming together......man, that Stevie could play!  See, I like to rock out too!

@ricevs Educate me on some good music to hear this audiophile stuff. I listen for fun but I understand your point. I have Tidal and Qobuz so I should be able to grab whatever you suggest.

Viber6 can help you with string quartets and orchestral stuff.  One of my favorites is Clarity records "The Emissary" featuring Chico Freeman.  Another is Livingston Taylor's Chesky recording "Ink".  For real pretty dinner bossa nova jazz.....its the Chesky recording of Luiz Bonfa's "non stop to Brazil".  Just do a search for Audiophile recordings....tons of stuff out there.  

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vY16krRKzQI&list=PLKlGuF--sgHvu7uUo2A0xnIazqH8xAt5J

yyz,
As ricevs suggested, I'll chime in with a wonderful CD I just acquired, and have been using on repeat for my last 187 hours of break in listening.  It is a 2015 recording on a budget label, Naxos, of Mozart Violin Concertos 3,4,5 with soloist Henning Kraggerud and the Norwegian Chamber Orchestra.  It is a very clear recording which is upfront but also spacious.  What is especially interesting is that there is a YT video of the same performers in the same hall.  You can see the position of the musicians on stage in the YT video and compare to the CD on your audio system.  The violin soloist has exceptional precision of bow technique, and the small orchestra is very sensitive and also brilliant.  For proper audio reproduction of this music and recording, CLARITY is a must, and the most important criterion to use.  On a musical level, Mozart is the most difficult composer to play, not because it is so complex, but because supreme elegance and attention to detail are required.  The slightest flaw in technique is exposed, but this performance is close to 100% flawless.  It is also improvisatory, and I am surprised that I am still enjoying it as a fresh experience after all these 187 hours of repeats, lol.

Thanks for the audiophile stuff. I will check it out on the weekend when I get to 100+ hours.

Having 187 hours on a disk and still loving it is awesome. It is after all about the music.

I did listen to some acoustic Bruce Springsteen this afternoon and it was great.

@viber6 I have not been emotionally drawn into Classical music. However, I have listened to the performance you listed and I must say it was very entertaining. I listen all the way through until 2:30AM when I was planning to go to sleep at 1:30AM.

I listened with the CODA #8 and CODA 07x preamp. No hiss on this setup on the headphones unless I manually increase the GAIN on the preamp. So I set it to the default lowest level. I need to figure out why this low hiss is present with the Thiel.

I will listen to this same performance on headphones tomorrow with the AHB2 mono and the Voyager. Though not the whole performance.

@ricevs I will listen to your suggestions on the Thiel and Voyager tomorrow.

************************* DAC3B used tonight ************************
I was doing a lot of headphone listening tonight with the RAAL SR1a and both the CODA #8 and Voyager. The CODA #8 was a very rich and meaty sound on the RAAL. Listening to some Bobby Womack now on this setup and it is brilliant. This is the very best combo I have had with the RAAL and I have tried a lot of excellent gear with them.

The Voyager did not sound as good on the headphones as the CODA #8. It was a bit drier on the RAAL vs the CODA #8’s juicier steak. However, even now with limited hours, it is the second or third best sound on the RAAL SR1a. I think it is better than the KRELL K-300i on the RAAL. FedEx did not deliver the KRELL today but I am going on memory.

I think I am going to change up my plans with regards to amplification of my gear. I am going to use the CODA #8 on the RAAL and the Voyager on the Thiel CS3.7. Both driven by the CODA 07x preamp. The Voyager has more than enough power for the Thiel (and also RAAL) . I am already a fan of the Voyager and Thiel combo and it should get even better.

IMPE, classical rarely sounded good, but over the decades as my system improved, so did my classical appreciation

yyz,
Glad you like the Mozart CD I recommended.  It is great that you enjoy it even if classical music is not your first love.  Great performances can enable you to enjoy the music as you gain familiarity.  Musically, it is the best version of these pieces I have heard.  I have played and performed them as a solo violinist, and the soloist on this CD is a magical wizard.  There is a YT video of him coaching a talented 16 year old girl violinist.  She plays "correctly" but he has great imagination and artistry and offers inspiration to her.

Take this music in small doses.  Each movement (section) is only about 7 min.  From an audio point of view, early in the first track of Concerto 3, see if you can hear in the right channel several times when the soloist SNIFFS to give a cue to the orchestra.  This is different from hearing the breath of a wind player from the mouth.  The AHB2 is the amp most likely to best reveal the subtleties of the sniff.  HF detail is needed to appreciate this.  

I like the 40 lb dumbbells on the right side in one of your system pictures.  Stay in great shape!