My Long List of Amplifiers and My Personal Review of Each!
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I guess I really have a hard time listening to computer ( or headphones) speakers and making any kind of judgement when it comes to audio systems. YT videos are a data point to me, but nothing else. I have heard what seems like a good sound on YT videos and then listened live and come away with a totally different impression. |
Didn’t you have a SR grounding system about 8 months ago also? You didn’t seem to think that one was all that great as I recall. Sounds like this one works much better.... You definitely have better speakers now that maybe makes it easier to hear the improvement, I suppose that could be a factor also .... (I don’t think the Alexandria XLF’s are ever leaving, haha) Edit: well of course they'll eventually be sold, but you seem happier now with the system than ever before, and not by a small margin - by a landslide!! |
@zprr with all due respect you don’t know what you’re talking about. I’m not being pejorative and as Jay knows, am just as crazy an amp guy as him. In fact, my own amps (Ampzillas) are going his way as discussed previously on this thread that you ignored. And if you have a problem with my wbf thread, stop stalking it and post about it there. |
Jay, Can you describe what you mean by "sanitizing" the high freq? You previously described the Nordost grounding system as warmer and more musical. This warmth is what tubes and euphonic SS do, but they do it by subtracting HF content. Rough edges need to be preserved, but there is a difference between HF distortion which is bad, and clean HF which are fully revealed and reveal the NATURAL rough edges. Walking yesterday, I heard the hard clanging sound of workmen hammering pipes across the street 30 feet away. It was still hard 150 feet away. There was no warmth whatsoever, and it was the kind of reaction you get when a great amp makes the music "pop" or "sparkle" on a speaker with clarity. So does the Nordost system preserve or even enhance the pop/sparkle, or does it warm or soften it? So far, you LIKE what the Nordost does, which parallels your love of tube sound. One of your top priorities is long listening sessions without fatigue, but this suggests that the sound is warmer and softened. The last video is soft and pleasant, but I prefer the original XLF sound you presented months ago. I never found it abrasive, but found it exhilarating, especially with the 725 preamp and SS amp. You seem to have a marked sensitivity to any rough edges, and even with the live singer I presented on a video months ago, I was surprised that you found his voice "shouty." Well, that's how such voices sound in real life at close range. You're still entitled to not like it, and you would run away from the singer's 100+ dB raw peaks. The real question is whether the Nordost system is best for people who like softer sound, and whether people who value "warts and all" clarity should stay away. |
@keithr I believe zprr does know what he's talking about. Your statement about Jay in your WBF post did not paint you in the same light as Jay (just a couple of crazy amp guys). Your statement was derogatory towards him. You were complaining about Jay calling Pass Lab amps "mid fi" and the way the hi end has gotten so expensive. Like I said in my previous post to you. 'keithr, don't you think it would be more accurate to say the crazy amp dude placed Pass Labs in his middle tier group based on amps he has personally owned?' You made a mistake and it's time to move on instead of trying to wiggle out of it. And for everyone's pleasure, here it is again. From a post keithr made on WBF "When I hear folks say $15k amplifiers are budget oriented, I feel the hobby has lost its way (see the crazy amp dude's YouTube channel that considers Pass Labs "mid fi"). The average Stereophile reader's system is $19k, but this is WBF after all so I guess it's expected. The reason this hobby has shrunk so much is the focus in the audiophile media and community on high priced bling of the month - I chuckled two years ago when TAS declared the $50k speaker category as "highly competitive." Dagostino is famously designed on form over function. Have you seen the internals of a Constellation compared with the expensive case? Why does carbon fibre and installation lights *on the back(!)* of a Chronosonic impress people?" |
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@daveyf That post didn't get Jay banned. We still don't know why Jay was banned from WBF. I asked Ron Resnick (WBF's Site Co-Owner, Administrator) in a post on this thread why Jay was banned but Ron chose not to respond to my question. Our issue with keithr is he bad mouthed Jay on WBF then comes on Jays thread posting like all is good. When he was called out on it he gets defensive and tells zprr he doesn't know what he's talking about. |
meet my new preamplifier: https://youtu.be/gR_MsRTD1YU as i type this, i have begun to fire it up and whoa... dead cold..omg.. |
I upgraded to a VAC Master this spring, from the ARC Ref 6 I bought from you a few years ago. It’s significantly more natural sounding than the Ref 6. That said, sometimes the combination of VAC Master with VAC 200iQ monos (and VAC phono) was a little too laid back for my taste. Perhaps the VAC 400 Statement monos might liven things up just right. The Ref 6 was actually a fantastic match to 200iQ monos - very balanced sound. Though perhaps this is an artifact of using ONLY vinyl as my source, with warm MC cartridges - Benz Micro and Koetsu. No digital source in sight here lol. System context matters! But the combination of VAC Master with the "right" amp is by far the best sound I’ve had yet - currently running a pair of Phison A2.120 SE amps, horizontally biwired (they don’t sound as good when bridged to mono). Sublime! I’m happy with my Master purchase, and am keeping it for the long haul. Its internal phono stage option is also amazing, but I already had VAC’s Renaissance SE phono stage, which is basically the same thing. Don't forget to try some sweet Amperex tubes in it! Holland-made 7308, USA-made 7308, and USA 8416 (switch to 12V heater for this) are all fantastic. |
Jay, While you wait for the VAC Master preamp to break in, maybe you can address my questions above about the Nordost noise reduction system to close out that subject. About ARC, it's not about price. You found in the past that the ARC ref 6 (or SE version) has a more focused detailed sound than the ref 10. Each unit is unique, so this is just an evaluation of ARC ref 6SE vs VAC Master with VAC amp, and not a generalization about ARC tube vs VAC tube. |
Im probably going to bed at 3am... 3 hours of playing with it and I'm in disbelief... MASSIVE SOUNDSTAGE 3D SOUND DEEP MIDBASS The XLF are letting me hear everything that is happening. Why did i take so long to buy this preamp? Having owned many preamps, you should all know that the vac master is EASILY in the tier one group. It's also sooooo different than the REF6SE sonically speaking. Both have great things going for them and i plan to articulate these in the future. More thoughts to come soon on this VAC master. |
What do i mean by "sanitize" when it comes to the high frequencies after the Qkore is installed? What i meant was that they are cleansed of all the dirt and artifacts that are found but most of us don’t even realize it’s there because we are used to it. I remember cranking up the volume and at times there was a slight bite but after this Qkore it appears that this has completely left and yet the resolution is still there. Think of the noise as "sand" in your eyes - we begin to blink faster to clear it and keep washing our eyes in order to see better, we don’t really see well until a day or two later. I’m impressed with the Qkore but of course one has to try it to see if the same effect is found in your own system. Some systems are simply "pigs" and no matter how much lipstick you put on a pig, it’s still a pig..you can’t turn it into a Paso Fino... |
Interesting... YouTube just sent me an email telling me that for this month of October, i have 30,000 users watching me but only 7k are subscribed and that there is a huge opportunity for me to bump it up if i can provide videos such as yesterday's video where i unveiled the new preamp. Such videos are exactly what my audience is interested in the most. Maybe i should go buy a ton of power amps from crutch field and unveile them one at a time and then return them after 30 days lol 😂 |
Too bad the 30 day trials are from internet retailers that sell only cheap amps. The audiophile willing to spend serious money needs ultra high end dealers willing to loan out expensive products for a reasonable fee. This would dissuade people who are not serious. But for $200, or $500+ for a $50K component, you would take a minimal loss if you didn't buy, much less than the loss and heartache selling on the used market. First, you go to the dealer who plays his well broken in unit, you bring your own reference, and compare. If the A/B is promising, you negotiate, because it is not possible to judge anything unless you live with it at home for at least a week. |
Jay, It seems like the XLF with neutral, revealing ancillaries is ultimately too irritating for you, so you seem happiest by warming it up with several layers of warm ancillaries. The financial guru Teeka mentioned that a very complex rock piece was superb on your system. Was it with the VAC + ARC ref 6 SE? It would be informative to do a shootout using this piece with the VAC preamp/amp vs mystery preamp/class A amp. VAC might be great for relaxation, but how about for revealing the complexities of certain music? One type of "engagement" is the emotional relaxation type; the other type of "engagement" is being able to follow more of the complexities in the music. The second is for me. BTW, the other day I got one of many financial promotions I regularly get from various services. It was from Teeka! This man is on the move. Rags to riches, then losing big in 1998, and picking himself up again to reach success again. An inspiration. |
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First video of the master tube preamp with solid state monos: https://youtu.be/7_0juodCqY0 24 hours of break-in |
ricevs, The more you post "what a crock" and so forth, I realize I don't want to do any business with you. I guarantee you don't have my level of musical/natural sound understanding or experience, although I have learned about the effects of wires from you. Let your technical expertise speak, which I respect, but don't challenge my expertise in other areas. You don't redeem yourself by professing, "love" and so forth. |
viber6 I'm sure ricevs is crestfallen that you don't want to do any business with him. Further, if the culmination of your level of musical/natural sound understanding or experience results in the use of zip cord and an equalizer and a lack of warmth or bass, your self-proclaimed expertise is suspect. |
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Where do you buy your mushrooms? (or are they left over from your Haight/Ashbury days)" Mushrooms are the best at playing music - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=C2t-xGAg7-w |
@risevs Why in the world did you remove your last 2 posts? While viber6 may not have appreciated them, they were the most accurate description of what viber6 prefers and his persistence in conveying it to us. I didn't think they were mean spirited. I do believe they were meant to educate him rather than ridicule him. Live music has a warmth to it while being very detailed. The hyper detailed, thin on the bottom end and boosted top end sound that viber6 prefers is not the norm, it is what most audiophiles strive to avoid. Your explanation and description was spot on. Except for the flying part, I think you should re-post them. |
In a private email I had told Viber6 a few weeks ago that I would not hold up the mirror to him any more and that he now had to grow on his own. I forgot that I said that and got caught up in the moment. We are all.....always a mirror for each other.......we would not grow otherwise. There is only so much one's ego can handle.....even though the ego is a made up thing.....not real. When we heavily identify with it and someone calls us on it....it can be devastating to our false sense of worth......The ego has no eternal worth....it is always changing and taking on a new shape depending on the desires of the soul. It is always best to love everyone and acknowledge everyone.......and, at the same time, you hold the mirror up and show them where they are not loving or truthful. We are not our ego.......we are infinite love and joy. The ego is a structure we need here in order to not walk in front of a bus.....a survival mechanism. It is not meant to be worshiped and adored.......Of course, we need to love it.......for that is when it lets go......and becomes something way bigger......yes, the soul learns to fly. The earth is a giant school for the soul.......we learn our lessons eventually. What we learn......is love....for love is all that exists. Every incarnation has a set of curriculum. Every encounter, every relationship, every moment is on purpose for everyone and everything forever......incredibly cosmic and mind blowing this eternal miracle of life is. We are all learning to be better humans......more loving, more kind, more joyful, more accepting, less judgmental, more creative, more trusting.......more in tune with all the forces and energies of the universe. Earth, air, fire, water, ether, light........and love....this is who we are.....forever.....it never ends.....there is no death.....just a change of form.......we are beyond form.....we are essence. I have to go take some more mushrooms now (medicinal, unfortunately...he he). Enjoy the world.......all you light filled beings! |
@ron17+1; I have been trying my best not to verbally attack Viber6 since I was quite harsh against him several years ago. Buttressed by what was clearly revealed in the Rouge shootout where his choice sided with the clear minority, his preferences are not in concert with the vast majority of followers of this thread. To his credit, this was conscious, reasoned choice. Analogizing, it is as if the orchestra is playing Beethoven's Symphony # 9 in D-, as written and he unilaterally decides to transcribe it to B-... and then complains that everyone else is playing it incorrectly. WC is the conductor of this symphonic masterpiece! lol I encourage @ricevs to "sanitize" his post i.e. eliminate the "attacking" sentence(s) and then repost the rest as it does represent a fair criticism and critique that many, including myself have levied against Viber6 and generally agree with. |
I commend all of you who are trying to educate Viber and help him better understand audio intricacies. And doing so in a pleasant manner. You guys have more patience than me!! But it’s good to stay positive. Well not as positive and mushroomy as ricevs but positive nonetheless lol The Beethoven analogy above is pretty damn good - well done sir |
Most people don’t care to be preached at. Those doing the preaching seem to feel they have all the answers and are attempting to enlighten the rest who are not so gifted with proper knowledge and understanding. In the case of the audio hobby, facts are very subjective. No one listens with your ears, but you. We each have our own preferences. The problem comes in when we feel everyone else should agree with and share those preferences. Give others the room to have their own vision of where they want to be. It’s a lot easier to get people to listen to,your thoughts when it’s not being shoved in their face. Give them room to express why their version works for them. Neither is wrong, and both are right, for them. Look at how many times Jay has adjusted his own thinking about certain subjects over the years. His opinions have changes, his tastes have grown and expanded to places he did not see himself in, in the past. We have seen that happen on this forum and in his videos. Personally it would be a sad day when that stops, when there is one set given sets of truths, and we have nothing further to share, as we would have arrived at some perceived final truth. I’ve been busy with other hobbies and work for a number of months and see that it’s exactly the same with this issue. Some people get stuck in one path and are not able to deviate or make allowances for others who are on different paths. It’s hard to communicate in those cases and both parties end up frustrated. |
I'm guilty of having tunnel vision in the past with regards to this hobby:
I will be going to Capital Audio Fest this week and I'm happy because i am prepared - I've done my homework over the past 2 years. Keeping an open mind is something that ALL OF US should do in this hobby. |
