Quote:
Originally Posted by chesebert
... PPA was warmer (637/627)..but Pimeta is so clean ...
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I've got a few thoughts on this comparison:
0) Pimeta stands for Ppa-Inspired META, so the Pimeta borrows from the PPA in its design. With the clean power support you've given the Pimeta with the STEPPS PS, it's not too terribly surprising that it sounds so good.
1) I've got a PPA, and it needs a good 150-200 hours of use to allow its soundstage to blossom and its sound to clarify. You need to give the PPA, say, 200 hours of use before critically comparing it to the Pimeta.
2) The PPA comes with four buffers per channel. If the Pimeta has fewer buffers per channel, that may help explain some of why it sounds cleaner.
In comparisons between my PPA (with standard integrated buffers) and a Go-Vibe or Classic (both bufferless amps), the Go-Vibe or Classic always won in the crystal-clarity and visceral texture attributes. This is no longer true since I've replaced the integrated buffers with the Larocco Dyno-Biased Discrete buffer to the PPA. So, if the Pimeta has fewer than four buffers per channel, that may help to explain some of why it sound so much cleaner than the PPA. If the Pimeta also has four stacked buffers per channel, then go back to 1). If the Pimeta has fewer buffer per channel than the PPA, then you may always prefer its clarity/texture over the PPA with standard integrated buffers. If your new PPA already HAS discrete buffering, then, again, go back to 1).
3) There's also an adjustment period for your ear to get atuned to the new sound of the PPA (it's currently well tuned to the Pimeta). About 100 hours of listening is what an average ear needs to fully adjust to a new sound, and to hear it for all that it is.
If, after 200 hours of use (where the PPA has blossomed and your ear has adjusted), the PPA does not sound noticably better to you than the Pimeta, then I'm with the others who have suggested that you sell the PPA and enjoy the Pimeta. I, for one, am blessed with a palate which actually and honestly enjoys $10 per bottle wines better than $30 - $100 per bottle wines. Which is a good thing, because I used the money I saved on wine to fund the PPA with Larocco Discrete buffer
You may be blessed with an audio palate which finds its greatest pleasure from less expensive gear. But, you can come to that conclusion after the PPA and your ear are given the run and listen times they need in order for you to make a good comparrison. That's just my suggestion. As always, you do what suits you best.