The reason I sold the DAC3B was to check out the Halo May KTE DAC and also the AudioByte VOX | ZAP | HUB. Both of these DACs are supposed to be better than the DAC3. I am hoping to try both and see for myself. However, they cost 3x more but do measure better.
Showing 43 responses by yyzsantabarbara
On New Years eve here in California I am hunkered down and listening to a new headphone and new headphone amp that sounds so much like my Thiel CS3.7. Today, I managed to score demo units of the RAAL SR1a ribbon headphone and the RAAL HSA-1b headphone preamp/headphone amp. This headphone can be driven either by 2 channel amps, a special Schitt headphone amp ($800), or likely the very best combo, the RAAL HSA-1b (what I have now for demo). Why am I writing about this on the Thiel thread? I am posting this here because these beauties sound like my Thiel CS3.7. These headphones are supposed to be the most speaker like headphones in the world. I have to agree. they give a very nice forward sound and not the inside your head headphone sound. There is a rave review on AudiophileStyle.com on this headphone. Where the guy is saying is it good as his $60K Wilson speakers. I can actually see that. This is very much like my Thiel CS3.7. I have the Thiel's running great and these phones sound like it. Compared to my $3K Meze Empy headphones these RAAL SR1a blow them out of the water. I tried these headphones with my Matrix DAC, Benchmark preamp, and the Benchmark AHB2 amp and it was a little too strong on top. It was also a little underpowered. I am going to get a Halo May KTE R2R DAC for the Thiel system in the future and that will lower the high temperature from my Delta Sigma Matrix DAC I am using today. I also tested the AHB2 with my warm sounding Sony SCD-1 SACD player connect to my preamp which was connect to an AHB2. This sounded a bit like the HSA-1b but it was a little underpowered compared to the dedicated headphone amp (damn it cost $4k). This was a single AHB2 in stereo. These headphones slurp up all the current from the single AHB2. I have a second AHB2 coming next week (I hope) and I will try to test it out with close to 600 watts at 6 ohm. The dealer I got this from loves the HSA-1b headphone amp but he also says a pair of Bryson 4B-SST in mono putting up 600+ watts is better than a single AHB2. So these are very power hungry if you use a 2 channel amp. I am definitely getting the SR1a headphones but will think my AHB2's will also work with a warmer DAC. If I had the cash I would just get the HSA-1b to drive them. Happy New Year. |
@thieliste You need to hear the RAAL SR1a with the new RAAL HSA-1b headphone amp. The bass is great and the highs are tamed. It is a warmer headphone amp than my Benchmark HPA4. I tried the SR1a with my Benchmark AHB2 using the AMP INTERFACE (amp RAAL uses in shows and designed with) and it was too harsh. I was reading that people were saying the SR1a is bass shy and with the HSA-1b I don't feel that it is. I will say again that the SR1a sounds so much like my Thiel CS3.7, with a little bit more detail and a bit less bass. When I have to shut off the CS3.7, so my son can sleep, putting on the SR1a does not seem like a step down. The only issue is that I cannot work with these headphones. I stop and keep listening to the music, maybe this is because it is so new for me. |
I now have 2 very good options to power the Thiel CS3.7. Both do not publish specs for 2 Ohm operation but I spoke with the designer of each amp and they said they both have a lot of power at 2 Ohms. I was using a single Benchmark AHB2 with a ROON convolution file that dropped my output my 10dB. So I was using close to 80% of the volume to get around 65-70db. A strain on the amp. I now have 2 AHB2 in mono that are capable to 2 Ohm with an unpublished spec. The sound is great, a lot bigger, harder hitting, and engaging than with the single AHB2. the volume control is also set to about to about 50% for 65-70dB via the convolution. This is a home run. Cost is $6K for both brand new. I also got the CODA CSiB integrated the other day mainly for my RAAL SR1a headphones but I wanted to see how extra power translates with the Thiel CS3.7. In terms of the comparing it to a single AHB2 it is also was harder hitting, bigger, and engaging. I was getting totally into the music. The CODA however was not as crystal clear as the AHB2. Some may prefer that. I like the AHB2's presentation a little more because of the clarity. I guess that clarity is expressed by some softness to the sound on top. The details are there but it is not as sharply defined as the AHB2. The CODA was in 10/10 condition, was a used unit, built in 2018, and cost $3.4K. So these are 2 really great options to power the Thiel CS3.7. Do not let the low price dissuade you from checking them out. |
Listening to Santana Abraxas on the CS3.7 with 2 AHB2 and it is a night and day difference compared to a singe AHB2. Why didn’t I do this earlier? Well other than no money. What a great upgrade today. This is truly a great speaker, even after all these years. I am so happy I bought the CS3.7 and spent all that time and money to get it to this new like level. |
For the CS3.7 I have tried the following the past month. 1) CODA CSiB v1 with 150 | 300 at 8 | 4 Ohm. First 18 watt Class A 2) Benchmark AHB2 x 2 3) Currently the Krell K-300i 150 | 300 at 8 | 4 Ohm. First 90 watt Class A The CODA and Krell are integrateds. They all sound great. The Krell especially nice with AudioMirror Tubadour III SE tube DAC. I have not heard the CODA with the tube DAC yet. I may this weekend unless I sell the CODA by then. The Krell is super smooth sounding with a lot of bass power, more than the other 2. The Benchmark AHB2 is super clean sounding and I like it a lot and likely how I will listen the most, occasionally switching to the Krell. These 3 units are not extremely expensive and make the CS3.7 sing. |
I have recently tried for long periods 3 speaker cables with a Thiel CS3.7. From my Benchmark AHB2 amps I used the following: 1) Benchmark SpeakON terminated cables. (6 foot) 2) Audience Conductor SE (9 foot) 3) Audience FrontRow with SpeakON termination (1 meter) Both Audience were better sounding, though the Benchmark was also good. The FrontRow is a great sounding cable. I am still using all 3 cables with #1 and #2 for different purposes. |
@tomthiel I posted around October 2020 the name of the guy would did my mods. Audio Repairs & Modifications & Care (sublimelistening.com) He actually drove to my house to fix an issue with a mod he had done. A very honest and expert SCD-1 tech. |
If anyone is interested I will be selling a 1 month old KRELL K-300i integrated soon. It is currently playing in my Thiel CS3.7 and it is perfect match. I am going CODA separates. I had an all Benchmark stack on the CS3.7 but I think the KRELL is a little better and actually rated for 2 ohm. Whereas my AHB2 are not officially rated for 2 Ohm but does work great with the CS3.7. We are talking about tiny improvements with the KRELL, mostly in the bass region. I moved the Benchmark gear (my best gear) to the living room where I have more space and bigger plans. |
Rob G and I spent a month+ last October/November emailing and me calling to sort out the truly messed up CS3.7 that I had bought used. He helped with speaker design diagrams and hand held me on repairs and diagnostics remotely. Along with advice on the tools to buy. If he was not available and willing to help I would have been stuck with an an expensive damaged speaker with no way to fix. The CS3.7 shipping boxes I had were like paper and no way I wanted to use them to ship them to Rob from California home. He is difficult to get a hold off but I was doing all of this during the thanksgiving holiday time period. |
@unsound My meters observation is said in a relative sense. The CS3.7 seems to draw relative less current than the other 2 based on the movement of the meters. It is a rather stark observation because at about the same volume level the CS3.7 does not move the meters and the other 2 do. If I was using digital meters I may have exact number to state but the general pattern that I am describing would be the same.
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I have an interesting observation from using my CODA #8 amp on 3 sets of speakers including the Thiel CS3.7. Now my following observation are not based on perfectly matched volume levels, but I think I got a good approximation. My CODA #8 has power meters that tell how much current is being drawn. On my Thiel CS3.7 most of my office listening did not move the needle on the meters. I had to turn up the volume to a level that was inappropriate for the office to see the meters move. With my RAAL SR1a headphones connected to the CODA #8 via the amp interface box the needle dances at lower volume levels. I could accept that since the amp interface box is inefficient. I was surprised to see that my KEF LS50’s also cause similar movement of the needle as the RAAL SR1a. This was really surprising. I use the CODA #8 on this system. I would have expected the Thiel CS3.7 to make the needle dance the most. I do notice sonically when I use an underpowered amp with the CS3.7. The CODA #8 is a very good amp on the CS3.7. I now use a KRELL 175XD on the CS3.7. This amp is not ideally suited for the CS3.7 but my room is small, and the sound is excellent. The RAAL SR1a is now driven by a Benchmark AHB2 + Schitt Freya+ tube preamp. I love this combo. I found the AHB2 underpowered for the CS3.7 though I loved the sound on some music.
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@james633 I am a Thiel CS3.7 guy now and maybe I can offer some Benchmark feedback. The Benchmark HPA4 preamp is great. It will make any DAC sound better because it is quieter than all DACs connected to it and the volume control is of very high quality. I also have the Benchmark DAC3B it is pretty good, especially when paired with the HPA4 with balanced cables. However, I have a new DAC that I find a lot better than the DAC3B and I use it with the HPA4. It is also cheaper ($1500) and I believe it measure just as well as the DAC3B. It is the Gustard X26 Pro. The One to Beat: Gustard X26 PRO DAC Review (soundnews.net) I use the Gustard with 2 preamps using RCA and XLR to each one. The CODA 07x, a warm preamp, and the HPA4. Both going into a Class D amp for my Thiel CS3.7. I have 2 sets of long XLRs from each preamp. I have the DAC3B setup the same way with RCA and XLR and can easily do comparisons. The Gustard is the clear winner. It is a bit warmer than the DAC3B and really detailed with a very big sound. I should note that I had an issue with the first Gustard X26 Pro I bought. It was on rare occasions outputting increasing noise after many hours of playing. I would power down for 10 seconds and everything was good again. I have a contact in Texas who bought the Gustard X26 Pro after me. He did not have this issue. So I contacted the Chinese seller and they told me to send it back. I sent it back by USPS for $116 and they sent a new unit in 7 days. The new unit does not seem to have this issue. I also used it as a preamp but the 2 preamps I have are much better. |
I have heard other variants of the brands you have listed. The KRELL and ML are the 2 I liked. I had done some amps swaps with the Thiel 3.7 in the last 6 months and this maybe useful for you or others. The best amp was the Benchmark AHB2 in stereo and mono. However, it was also the worst because it had less power in the 2 Ohm than the others I tested. So I loved the sound of it the most but it lacked that low grunt or power that the others possessed. The next 2 were equally good - KRELL K-300i integrated, very smooth and killer bass - CODA CSib integrated, did everything well D-Sonic M3A 800s Class D ($1500) - surprisingly good. Maybe not as refined on top but it showed me that tons of power are appreciated by the Thiel CS3.7 - I bought my final amp for the Thiel CS3.7 a few days ago. It is the CODA #8. I will get delivery in 4 weeks. I plan to rotate the CODA #8 with the Benchmark AHB2 (likely in stereo mode) with the CODA 07x preamp and the Benchmark HPA4 preamp. A very easy task and something I was already doing with the D-Sonic and a single AHB2. The CODA #8 replaces the D-Sonic. The CODA #8 is rated anywhere from 600 watts to 1200 watts at 2 Ohm depending on the version one buys (1, 2, or 3). |
The best sound I have now gotten out of my Thiel CS3.7 is with the new CODA #8. It is spec’d perfectly for the CS3.7. An excellent match for the CS3.7. I moved my Benchmark monos to my RAAL SR1a headphones. I am done. BTW - I am using the Benchmark speaker cable with SpeakON connection. I had the CODA #8 built with SpeakON termination. |
@sdl4 I use the Benchmark XLR cables from my CODA 07x preamp to the CODA #8 amp into my Thiel CS3.7. I need 15 feet of length and the quality to cost ratio is excellent. For this situation short XLR cable is not better. I do not think with pro gear, that likely are adhering to the AES48 XLR standard (like CODA and Benchmark) need fancy interconnects. I was using a Benchmark preamp and AHB2 monos to my Thiels prior to the yesterday and they also sounded great with the Benchmark XLR’s (just not big but that is a function of the amp). For my sources, I use Audience AU24 SE cables. The main reason is that I had a very old and 15 foot Audience AU24 and I recently got it chopped up and upgraded to AU24 SE level. It was a bit better from the sources to my Benchmark preamp versus some Benchmark XLR’s, except the Benchmark DAC3B to the preamp. I could not tell a difference with that source (again pro gear). The cable that made the biggest difference was the speaker cable. Another XLR I recently bought is the RED one from WyWire. Alex from WW seems to be very knowledgeable from his writing and his cables sound great. The one I have cost around $200. BTW - I moved the Benchmark stack downstairs to the big living room to pair with the KEF LS50’s. I will be replacing these speakers with a bigger speaker that does not go to 2 Ohms like the Thiel. The CODA #8 is much better suited for the Thiel CS3.7 though I do prefer the sound of the BM stack. I will likely get a KEF Reference 1 or Yamaha NS5000 to pair with the BM stack. I need to sell a KRELL K300i integrated to fund the speakers, which is great with the CS3.7, if anyone is interested. |
I would like at ask the help of anyone that has the same COAX driver as on the Thiel CS3.7. Today when I was listening to the new George Harrison's ALL THINGS MUST PASS (50th Anniversary / Super Deluxe) I heard something from my RIGHT COAX driver that makes me think it is damaged. At 39 seconds into the song HEAR ME LORD (Disk 2) I hear some distortion from the RIGHT COAX driver. I can reproduce it every time on the CS3.7. However, I cannot reproduce it on my RAAL SR1a headphones nor KEF LS50. The RAAL is hooked up to almost the same setup except for amps. On the RAAL I can sense that at 39 seconds there is a 'hot' sonic passage but the RAAL does not sound distorted. The 2 COAX on the LEFT and RIGHT are only about 8 months old and never played loud. So I would be surprised if they are damaged. A bummer if it is but I can replace them myself. |
@jafant I was streaming this on TIDAL or Qobuz though I assume the CD or LP should be the same. It is very nice sounding release. I listened to it late last night on my headphones and loved it. The passage that is giving my CS3.7’s a hard time is at 39 seconds onwards where George starts humming. That is what I meant by a ’hot’ sounding sonic. I think every time he hums my COAXs gets distorted. I would tend to believe I have some damage but it sort of defiles explanation given how the speakers are used. |
@thielrules Thanks for the effort to test and respond. I should have posted this here instead of the ALL THINGS MUST PASS thread. I played the track that was causing the problem more than 10x to investgate. It sounded the worst on my Thiel and not so bad on the RAAL SR1a headphones or LS50 speakers. Though on the RAAL and LS50 is sounded a little off. The next day (today) I listened to the album again on my Thiel CS3.7 and this time there was no distortion on HEAR ME LORD when the humming parts come up. It was likely a streaming hiccup when the problems came up. I listened a few times today and each time it was perfect. It would have been a real irritation if my 8 month old new COAX drivers needed a second replacement. |
A couple of things of interest with my Thiel CS3.7. My problems with George Harrisons ATMP was due to me having my music server on a PowerLine network which is attached to my Ethernet network. This was fine for a long time but some things have changed and I got caught by lack of bandwidth when streaming ATMP. I moved my music server to a MacMini that is now directly on the Ethernet network and the ATMP issue is gone. It sounds perfect. I sold my headphone amp and have the new LSA Voyager 350 GAN amp in to replace it. However, I also have it hooked up to my Thiels and I think this is going to be a winning combo. It costs $3000 and it seems like a great match for the 3.7. I will post again after I have over 100 hours on the amp. |
I own the DAC3B and sold the HPA4 recently. I made money on the sale and no longer needed a headphone amp. I also bought the Benchmark LA4 preamp a few days ago. The DAC3B and HPA4 work great with the AHB2. Nothing I have had is as silent. However, if your system is a little on the bright side of things (sources, speakers, cables). Then the DAC3B and HPA4 may not be a great fit. Check out a Gustard X26 Pro at $1500 which is a little warmer and also works nicely with the HPA4. Saying all of this I do like the DAC3B, especially with hard rock. |
@tomthiel A friend of mine who owns the DAC3B told me that it is thin on the bottom. He is a musician and knows more than me on how instruments and voices should sound. I also own the DAC3B and like the sound, it is clear, powerful, and fatigue free for me. I can see why people think it does not have a rich thick sound. My Gustard X26 Pro was preferred by my friend over the DAC3B. He says it has the bottom that the DAC3B does not have. I like both DACs. I tend to listen to the DAC3B with my more warmer gear, such as KRELL which also has a lot of bass. The Gustard is $1500 and a bit lower in cost to the DAC3B. |
@tomthiel I am listening to the DAC3B as I type this. I was listening to the warmer Gustard X26 Pro DAC all day. However, whenever I listen to the DAC3B it just seems to sound right to me, especially on pop and rock music. Same CS3,7 system, both DACs on XLRs to my CODA 07x preamp connected to a CODA #8 amp. BTW - I hope they do not change the current AHB2. Maybe another new model with more power but keep the AHB2 as is. Even though the AHB2 mono and stereo is not my best for the Thiel CS3.7 I think it is just fine the way it sounds now for other speakers. |
@thieliste The COAX, with mid and tweet, was $500 from Rob G. He also provides a really good solder to help attach the COAX to the speaker. I am not sure if Rob sells individual tweeters. He did say to repair my tweeter was around $250. There were 2 iterations of the COAX. I had the very first iteration with the extra capacitor (?) to fix some gremlin. I opted for the later iteration (maybe called black) instead of repairing my older iteration, which did not have the extra capacitor. I got 2 of them to match the LEFT and RIGHT. I sold my 2 old COAX’s to a DIYer for I think $250. |
Benchmark AND CODA together is a beautiful pairing, in any combination. I have an all Benchmark system and also a CODA system (preamp + amp). At one time I was mixing the gear and every combo of amps and preamps from CODA and Benchmark sounded so good together. I no longer mix the 2 together because of the need to incorporate my RAAL SR1a headphones. I mixed and matched the following with terrific results. - CODA 07x preamp - Benchmark LA4 preamp (sold my HPA4) - CODA #8 amp - Benchmark AHB2 mono amps Benchmark VS CODA is a simple one for me. The Benchmark is a bit clearer, detailed, and quieter. The CODA is a bit warmer, more powerful, and bit more relaxing with a bit less detail. Now I heard the CODA #16 amp recently (with CODA 07x preamp) and wow, maybe the best amp I have heard. |
Since my CODA and Benchmark are pro gear and support the AES48 XLR standard I use the low cost Benchmark XLR between each preamp and amp. This is 15 foot XLR cables. |
I use the CODA #8 with the Thiel CS3,7. It was an amp that could drive the CS3.7 to it’s full potential with some degree of finesse. I have had some other amps on the CS3.7, such as the Benchmark AHB2 and a modified LSA Voyager 350 GAN, that both had a bit cleaner top end than the CODA #8. However, overall the #8 was the best on the Thiel. I also had the KRELL K-300i integrated on the Thiel CS3.7. It is also fantastic on this speaker. My room is not huge so the KRELL XD line stereo or mono would be better yet in a larger room. This XD stuff is CODA level quality, maybe smoother and more low end. I recently heard the CODA #16 with my preamp CODA 07x on Legacy speakers, at the dealer. The #16 had Benchmark AHB2 level clarity, #8 like power (likely more), and I would have expected it to be smoother than the #8. I did not listen long enough to pay attention to that. The best amp I have heard. It is on my upgrade wish list. Today, I moved my Benchmark LA4 preamp back in to the office to have it easiy flipped over to the CODA #8. I normally use the CODA 07x preamp but I sometimes miss the pure silence of the LA4 and the increased detail. It is very easy for me to change the 15 foot Benchmark XLR cables I have from the LA4 and 07x into the CODA #8.
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I tried and almost loved the AHB2 with my Thiel CS3,7’s. I tried a single AHB2 in stereo and also 2 in mono. My room is small so I thought the lack of power at 2 Ohm region with the AHB2 would be OK. On most music the sound is incredible. However, with some very powerful music I felt like it was missing some grunt. I emailed John Siau at Benchmark about the low imeddance ability of the AHB2 with the CS3.7. He said it would be great. I think it can be bettered with a more powerful low impedance amp. I am keeping my Benchmark stack downstairs with my KEF LS50’s, a LA4 preamp, a DAC3B, and AHB2 amp (need to re-buy a 2nd AHB2 later). This will be used with a KEF Blade META much later in the future. The Blades are not as hard to drive as the CS3.7. On the Thiel system I tried many amps that were better at 2 Ohm. These included the following: - LSA Voyager GAN 350 (modified by EVS) - Parasound A21+ - CODA #8 - KRELL Duo 175XD - D-Sonic M3a 800s. All these amps had more ’grunt’ with the music I found the AHB2 lacking. I only have the CODA #8 and the KRELL 175XD left on the Thiel system. I rotate the 2 amps between my RAAL SR1a headphones and Thiel CS3.7 speakers. I am finding it difficult to take the KRELL out if the Thiels because it sounds so good, 175 watts in Class A. However, I will force myself tonight because I want to hear the RAAL again with the KRELL. BTW - the modified LSA Voyager is very similar sonically to the AHB2 but with more overall power (better for Thiel). I kept the CODA #8 over the Voyager mainly because I already had the AHB2 and preferred it over the Voyager with the LS50s. |
I moved my Thiel's to a larger room (from my smaller office)and I finally heard them stretch their wings. However, my Benchmark gear, which I want to use in this room, is better suited to 2 other speakers that I am now more interested in, the KEF Blade 2 META and the Yamaha NS5000. I have now learned that the Thiel's work great in this larger room and so will the other 2 speakers. I was not sure about that due to the required close front wall placement. I am going to be selling my Thiel CS3.7's but the original shipping boxes were not well taken care of by the previous owner. The boxes are good for packing and loading into a SUV but not for FedEx, UPS, et al. Any suggestions as to the best way to ship them? If I figure out a way to ship then I will put up a FOR SALE ad. Ideally, I could find a Southern CA buyer. I bought almost 2 years ago from a guy 100 miles away and picked them up. The speakers were internally in ridiculously bad shape. I wrote up about the problems on this thread back in Oct 2020. Speakers are of course now sonically in perfect shape. I had them measured after all the work I did by accuratesound.ca. https://accuratesound.ca/contact.html Mitch Barnett of Accurate Sound, remotely helped me find bad wiring on the drivers. This was done by the original owner. I have now installed brand new drivers, fixed threading problems on some screws (likely a dealer butcher job). Fixed soldering on some wiring with Rob's super solder. I have updated my Livingroom system with some photos, mainly of the room when working with dealers for my next speaker. |
@jafant Thanks for this thread. It made my CS3.7 ownership a very high end endeavor. This morning I played the CS3.7's with my Class A KRELL 175XD and my Benchmark LA4 preamp. This was in the big room I moved them too. It sounded amazing, better than the single Benchmark AHB2. Which I have stated many times is not my preference for the CS3./7's (even the monos). However, this morning I also sold the CS3.7's and will be packing it up today and deliver to a local buyer. It was a great ride and a bucket list item.
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@lloydviii I had my CS3.7 in a room that was 12x 11 x 9. I added 4 extra feet by taking out a closet door and put my desk in the closet. I was able to make the CS3.7 get about 80% of its ability via 2 ways. I was never able to get 100% because the CS3.7 need space to breath, but what I did get was fatigue free and very good. I enjoyed the CS3.7 for about 2 years this way. The first approach was with acoustic treatment from GIK. Since it was in my office, I could do whatever I wanted so I added 7 acoustic panels from GIK with their remote assistance. This worked well. I then called up Mitch Barnett from AcurrateSound.ca. Digital Room Calibration Services, Convolvers, Headphone Filtersets (accuratesound.ca) I had read his book on DSP and said to myself that I needed to get in contact with him to help me out. It turned out that he had a DSP services company that could setup DSP Convolution filters remotely. You need to first get a $100 mic and then a laptop to run the free REW acoustic measurements software. Mitch will give you email instructions on how to place the mic, run the test signal, and have REW measure the response in the room. A set of data files are created, and you upload them to his company. He will create 5 convolution filters (DSP) based on your goals and also standard frequency curves for you to decide which works best. The limiting factor for people to use this is that you need to run either ROON or JRIver, and it only adds DSP to the digital stream. If you have analog sources such as a tuner or turntable, then this is not a solution for you. If this process works for you the results are excellent. This is also not the simple DSP that you see in audio gear. It is done using very expensive and complicated software. The final result runs on the streaming server before your DAC.
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A lot of amps do not have published specs in the 2 Ohm region but that does not mean that it can operate there. My Benchmark AHB2 x 2 on the Thiel worked well but it did not make the low end shine. My new speakers are easier to drive and I will like to get an AHB2 again because I miss that sound. I do like my current amp, the CODA #16 which would be great on the Thiel's. I have a Magnepan LRS+ in my office ($999). It is a killer speaker but very had to drive like my old Thiel CS3.7. No way I would even try the AHB2 on it. It took me a while to find an amp to drive them. I now use the Sanders MagTech amp which is 500 and 900 at 8 and 4. It does not have published specs at 2 but given the explosive way it drives the LRS+. I am sure it is good at 2 Ohms. I was thinking this amp would be great with the Thiel CS3.7. I bought a used MagTech from the Sanders web site for $4k. Thiel users should consider it.
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I am packing up my SCD-1 to ship it out this weekend to a buyer. The SACD section died last week, and the CD section will likely die on shipment. The original shipping packaging is toast (with all SCD-1 owners). I am shipping in a Magnum Dynalab 108T shipping container (double box). The buyer and I are expecting the FedEx shipment to put the final dagger into the SCD-1. So, if you want a working SCD-1 you should seriously consider local pickup instead of shipping.
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I think they are better because they do not need the capacitor (or whatever it is called) to be added to the COAX's connector. The newer Black drivers did not need this work around. The old and the new driver sounded the same to me. |