Showdown between CLAS Stepdance 15V (single ended) and CLAS SR71B (balanced out) has taken place. I still haven't received the cables from Moon Audio so I am using the single ended input for the SR71B.
Once connected and volume matched I was able to conduct tests just by unplugging and plugging the LCD2 into the two different LCD2 cables. Very easy, takes about 5 seconds now that I am used to it.
1. I immediately notice that Stepdance is much more forward than the SR71B. For vocal, the sound is like right between your heads, whereas for the SR71B, the vocal is at a slight distance. It depends on whether you like the more forward presentation of the Stepdance. However the Stepdance has better treble IMO. For trumpets it is a bit too much to me (see below), but for vocal I find that the Stepdance has more spark in the treble area. It may be tiring if you listen to a lot of soprano dominated operas though...
2. Played "High Life" in Jazz in the Pawn Shop - A/Bed five times in between. It is a great track since it has treble instrments as well as a very long drums solo. Sound stage of the SR71B is better, but the speed of the Stepdance is better - in very fast drum parts I can hear each hit and the background piano very clearly with the Stepdance, but can't hear as clear with the SR71B balanced out.
3. The bass of the SR71B is clearly better. Better impact and quantity. This is not saying the Stepdance's bass is no good - it is very clean and tight as well but just lacks that atmosphere that the SR71B's bass can bring about in the Jazz track. But as said above the Stepdance has more clarity when the drums go really fast.
4. Trumpets can sound harsh on the Stepdance given its supposedly more analytical power. The SR71B while less analytical presents a more natural feeling for Jazz.
5. Since I am using different makes of cable for balanced and single ended, I conducted one more test to compare between using the single ended cable (Norse 8 conductor) straight to the Stepdance, and using the same cable with the single ended to balanced convertor for SR71B, so as to ensure that the difference is not because of cable effects. This is confirmed - my opinion remains the same as above, but using the convertor gave a slightly shrinked soundstage on the SR71B but still better than the Stepdance (only in terms of soundstage).
Overall, vocal is a tie for me, perhaps with a slight edge for the SR71B - but that's just me because you may like the vocal to be more forward. I definitely prefer the SR71B for small band Jazz, like Jazz at the Pawnshop or David quartet - it wins over the Stepdance in terms of both soundstage and sound balance - listening to Jazz at the Pawnshop on the SR71B, I have more feeling of "being there" and had looked around a few times mistaking chatters and noises in the tracks for real life sound. Stepdance did not give me that.
Quote:
Hi!
Can you please compare this:
CLAS -> STEPDANCE 15V -> LCD2 (single ended)
CLAS -> SR71B -> LCD2 (balanced) (you can add DB2 if you have the cable already)
Thanks!
