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Trying to find an amp that matches my tastes (aka death metal)

So I think I am ready to change my set up/upgrade.

My current analog chain is VPI Prime (Orto 2m Bronze) > MX-VNYL > PrimaLuna Prologue Classic > Zu Omen DW mkII. Digital is Rega Apollo > PrimaLuna Prologue Classic > Zu Omen DW mkII

I feel like I am ready to move into separates and have my eyes on either the Schiit Freya + / Aegir monoblocks or a Rogue RP-1 / First Watt J2.

The issue I have is access to local dealers and also my musical tastes.

Not discounting people's likes, but so much of the audio world is geared towards Rock/Classical/Jazz and I have a very difficult time finding reviews that cite death metal/hardcore/trash metal. I also listen to a good deal of scores and jazz, but a large potion of my time is spent with bands that sound like the following:

Gorguts - Obscura

Death - Lack of Comprehension

Mare Cognitum - Weaving The Thread Of Transcendence
The issue I feel I am having is that I am not hearing much detail or clarity. Some of that might be down to the recordings, but I am wondering if there is a different set up? Would a move to tube/SS help? or all SS? Maybe a SS amp and a passive pre?

I don't feel I want to chase warmth, I'd rather feel like I am at a show or in the recording studio, if that makes sense.

Any help is appreciated!
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noodlyarm
90 posts
 
I don’t know if your PL Prologue Classic accepts the KT150, but I put these in my PL Dialogue HP and was blown away by the significant increase in slam, power, detail, presence, and soundstage.   YMMV, but I found this to be a great upgrade.
millercarbon's avatar
millercarbon
12,531 posts
 
Death metal, you say? So no SET then? 
akiravelvet's avatar
akiravelvet
72 posts
 
I love all Metal types, check out the new Bell Witch album!
the recording is done really good and feel you will appreciate it.
Burzum Filosofem is a great recording out of a good setup as the distorted guitars sound super chilling.


As for setups Id go with anything that has some good power involved and not speakers that are on the analytical side as it will bring out too many flaws in the recordings. Dynaudio contour speakers are as transparent as Id go that still can remain neutrality. Parasound amps are pretty good for metal in my experience especially the Hint6 integrated.
akiravelvet's avatar
akiravelvet
72 posts
 
Id stick with solid state if you are trying to stay away from warmth. I have a First watt J2 and that paired with the Zu DW is awesome!( also have the zu DW's as a 2nd setup)
mgolpoor's avatar
mgolpoor
55 posts
 
Non of the gear in your system has a way of knowing what music you are playing, only you know !

Given that if you go for the warm side of neutral then you will be robbing some of the feeling of Death Metal, it will sound rather boring, exactly opposite of what this type of music should be!. Conversely if your system is on the bright side of neutural then your music will tend to screech at you when no screech was intended and that will bring with it fatigue (yes you can have fatigue even with death metal).

With this type of music I think its even more important to have a very neutral sounding system specially at higher volumes (which I presume is what you are listing at most of the time)

I have nothing against tone control or equalizers provided they are properly designed. such units of course exist but are very costly and you probably have to look into Pro Audio to find a decent one.

But then the issue may become you spending more time adjusting things than actually listening to the music.

IMO it’s better to have a very flat system and just listen to the way the engineer has mixed the tracks. If you don’t like the way a particular album sounds you may listen to it less. Unfortunately you may find a lot of recordings very compressed, but that’s the nature of this type of music.
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