i had heard a couple of SS pre like MBL, Ayre KXR, JeffRowland, Pass Labs, EmmLabs, Simaudio, Spectral etc... they all have the qualities of good SS but their note's extension/decays seems stiff.
i wonder if anyone else,other than Charles, is familiar with the CSL or heard it before, it's really special,it WOW me within 5 seconds, as for VAC SIG, it amazed me after 20sec into the music. i'm sure anyone whom heard the CSL would agree that it's extraordinary in every way(whether it's your cup of tea is another story though) especially the special ambience effect that's so clear and its decay are very organic and airy,it's airyness is floating around you, in your space. The airyness other gears often convey is the black darkness silence where you hear the music emanates from.
i like to refer to a review in Dagogo by Doug Schroeder, he describe VAC sig in contrast to P.A.D Silver Statement preamp: "general sonic character of the Purity Audio Design and the VAC preamp reminds me of the loose classification I have made between all copper and silver conductor cables. Copper tends to be thicker, denser and tonally turned down. The silver tends to be thinner, airier and tonally turned up"
Given my taste, i would strive to get rid of the tonally down effect, and prefer the CSL airier effect. It's this tonally down effect that many gears have and make me hear the music emanates from black (quietness)background. i'm not sure if people here understand my analogy and i tried my best to described. Maybe different people hear music differently, so i just wanna thank everyone whom had tried to guide me in any way.
Lloydelee21,you make out a very good point, guess i overlooked the actual recording itself and too focus on working the gears to my preferred "coloration". but somehow playing thru CSL,i could hear a difference in soundstage with reduce "darkness background" effect compare to Aesthetcs, CJ...
Rtn1, Thanks for sharing your experience, i had a quick read over your system page and Wow...Congratulation for achieving the ultimate realism with your system. i'll try to learn more of your system and see how to make it work for me, but gotta admit i don't have your kind of budget, certainly make me envious, thanks for appearing here. BTW, how much is the street price for Rex?
Knghifi, i appreciate your guidance especially rolling tubes, so much to learn! BTW, VAC is out because no Balance volume control. i'm unsure about the "darkness" effect that many many gears have can be eliminated by way of synergy? i think Atmasphere has already identified as IM distortion. My cd player already had it and due to "it", the sound has rich harmonics(read as warmth) played thru my YBA pre. As Doug Schroeder mention in one of his review, saying multiple components of warmth may "yielded a very thick and weighty sound".
