Am I suppose to hear a difference?

[chesebert]

I just got the PPA with 637/627, driving from Eastsound E3 with Rockhopper STEPS PS. I can honestly say I hear no difference from my Headsave Pimeta with 8620/10....I was like WT!@

I tried with HD600 and HF1 and I can not say which I like better....so..what am I suppose to listen for?

Note: Pimeta transform from this sloppy performer with elpac to a star performer with STEPS....so I am A/B is with rockhopper STEPS

Do I have a bad PPA or super Pimeta? or I just can't hear it?

 

[bg4533]

Listen a bit longer and see what you think. I have had similar combos and I think the difference was significant.

 

[Kirosia]

Your ears are really crappy and you have a funny name.

. . just kidding. Like bg said, give it a time. If you still don't hear a difference, get rid of it and buy some ice cream.

 

[chesebert]

OK..here how it went:

source change from AV710 to Eastsound: HOLY #@$@#$ AWSOME ...
Power supply change from ELPAC to Rockhopper STEPS: WOW..NICE improvement.
Interconnet change from Straight wire to Gold raincoat clone: HOLY #@$#@ a wire can do all that?
Headphone cable change from stock HD600 to stock HD650: hmm...minor improvement....but $15..what the heck
amp change from Pimeta to PPA (keeping everything else constant): I know I am suppose to hear a difference....PPA was warmer (637/627)..but Pimeta is so clean, and bass is just as deep and boy the soundstage is just awsome...am I missing a switch on the PPA somewhere cuz PPA sound just as good as pimeta...

 

[adhoc]

hmm, try this:

find a song with heavy cymbals or a partcular section where things get really messy/heavy.

attempt to match both amps at a similar volume level.

swap between amps repeatedly, paying especial attention to one short section of the song.

you should be able to hear a difference soon.

the alternative is to simply let yourself listen, and listen, and listen. another reliable way to tell amps apart would be how fatiguing they get after extended listening.

 

[chesebert]

hmm, try this:

find a song with heavy cymbals or a partcular section where things get really messy/heavy.
Mahler #5
attempt to match both amps at a similar volume level.
ok done
swap between amps repeatedly, paying especial attention to one short section of the song.
swapped a few times...different sound, but one just as good as the other.. (8620 vs 637 thing)..
you should be able to hear a difference soon.
difference in opamp..maybe but not in the amp...I can hear the drums in the back...full and impactful, french horns...sounds spectacular....
the alternative is to simply let yourself listen, and listen, and listen. another reliable way to tell amps apart would be how fatiguing they get after extended listening.
Uh..yeah...between critical listen..I often find myself just keep on listening on forgeting I am suppose to swap..doesn't really matter whhich amp I am on..LOL.

 

[Jahn]

time to save some cash, sell the PPA, pick up something you don't have like a headphone with a different sound signature (Beyers?) and keep on rockin!

 

[fewtch]

Strange... a flood of posts lately, stating they don't hear any difference after upgrading amps. Are we being invaded by HydrogenAudio?

 

[chesebert]

now that W1000..is looking awfully attractive now....oh..no.must resist...sell amp..save money...need food

 

[Jahn]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch Strange... a flood of posts lately, stating they don't hear any difference after upgrading amps. Are we being invaded by HydrogenAudio?

I dunno about them, but my Go Vibe sounds a TAD different from my Melos

 

[Kirosia]

Quote:

Originally Posted by chesebert now that W1000..is looking awfully attractive now....oh..no.must resist...sell amp..save money...need food

Eh, who needs food anyway?

 

[fewtch]

Quote:

Originally Posted by Jahn I dunno about them, but my Go Vibe sounds a TAD different from my Melos

I seem to hear differences between amps quite easily too. Maybe some of the subtleties are not easily heard, and need ear training (?).

 

[chesebert]

ok..I think I can hear PPA has just a little better instrument seperaiton and better depth..but I sure was thinking amp change >> cable change..and that's not the case..I notice the cable change in first min of listen....source change on the first note..LOL

 

[chesebert]

Quote:

Originally Posted by fewtch I seem to hear differences between amps quite easily too. Maybe some of the subtleties are not easily heard, and need ear training (?).

maybe amp change are more easily notice when the rest of the audiochain are not top notch .. ? I did find that's the case with AV710..when I switched from Total Airhead to Pimeta..night and day..now I don't hav Av710 nor TAH anymore and I refuse to listen to anything other than my Eastsound..

 

[gpalmer]

I would spend a week or so listening to the new amp. Then go back to the old amp. The differences between amps are different and more subtle than with some things like source upgrades but just as iimportant. If you can't hear it after that then sell or return the new amp and spend it elsewhere.