Linn Akurate DS streamer/DAC -> MJ3 -> Eta Mini C
- bal in
- preamp off
- high gain
- se mode
- feedback off
- vol 7-8
- headphone cable came with Mini C, balanced cables are nothing special other than actually colored red/white.
Tonally, this is really spot on. Piano sounds a lot like the one over in my living room
Soundstage is wide, but not bigger than my head. There's a vertical dimension to it that I've rarely experienced. It's kind of like a singer is sitting up high on a chair while the rest of the band is somewhat lower. The background reminds me of a SET amp I heard at a meet where it's so deep and silent it almost hurts.
Listening to hi-res
Hadestown can really hear the difference amongst all the percussions instruments: woodblocks, different drums, etc. Loving the saxophones (one of my favorite instruments).
Brass In Pocket Pretenders Isle of View Live images fantastically, everything is fixed to a location and stays there. The thump of the drum is very palpable.
My torture track for imaging/staging is
Bach - Double Concerto For 2 Violins, Strings, And Continuo In D Minor, BWV 1043 from
The Club Album, Live from Yellow Lounge. Gotta be able to hear the 2 violins as distinct instruments in different locations. MJ3 passes this test with flying colors, never heard the 2 violins so distinctly. On other tracks from that album, the front to back placement of instruments is outstanding.
I love the playing on
Studio Live Session Liechtenstein but Edwyn Collins' voice is usually more than I can take. This setup actually makes it almost good
The
Infernal Dance Of All Kastchei's Subjects from
Firebird has gotta be heard. Every, and I mean every, instrument group is individuated(?) in a way I've never heard on any system. Additionally, it sounds like you're only a few feet from the drums (kettle? tympani? I don't know the names).
Ok, one more for imaging. Joe Stilgoe's
Almost Like Being In Love.(spotify link, I have a high res version). He repeats himself a few times before starting the song. The second time, 3-5 people clap, and you can hear where each of them is in space. I feel like I can hear the individual strings on the double bass.
A bass test I use is
Wrapped Around Your Finger The Police: Every Breath You Take (The Classics) as lesser systems tend to make the bass sound like an inchoate buzz. Here, it's clearly a bass and I could also hear some castanets (?) I've never heard before. (edit) listening louder (8:30) it's actually cymbal brush work...
Lastly, when I told my better half that I had a new listening station because (long story) with headphones, the response was, "You mean you play your music now as loud as you like and not disturb anyone else? What a great idea!" -- I fear for my speakers now....
(edit) Pix or it didn't happen: