King
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Sep 16, 2004
- Posts
- 1
- Likes
- 10
1st & foremost, I’m not a Head-Fi er, by definition instead on occasion, I have desires/need for insightful precision interpretation via headphone monitoring & SR71, affords me this & much more. My set-up being strictly balanced & speaker based was unprepared for such a capable little device. My first encounter w/ Emmeline SR71 under my control, revealed a mighty, mighty mini can amp w/ soul. Its unique signature quickly overcame my perceived notions of its ergonomically faults, and quirks towards my intended end use. Immediately, I noticed its ability to accurately reflect notes. As either, headphone amp or pre-amp of hi-end setup, SR71 simply got the music right, it was very proper in an unusually involving manner. What SR71 does by any elevated standard is remarkable. After initial burn-in, auditioning/recording/analyzing over a (4) four-week span w/ this device & countless hours, I declared SR71 an indispensable evaluating tool on her (4) fourth set of 9 volts. It outshined an unlikely heavyweight. Meridian 502 was an early casualty during early A/B testing…..YES. After phone consulting w/ Ray, its designer & manufacturer, I was resigned to accept his miniature conception within its usable function & internal space constrictions. During auditioning, I swapped out numerous HQ interconnects (1/8 to 1/8 type) fed by (2) two portable DAT players & discovered SR71’s ability was limited only be its input source. After critical listening & scouring the earth for quality IC’s, I naturally found it necessary to personally manufacture some acoustically superior 1/8 to RCA IC’s to match SR71’s transparent capabilities. Amazingly, even then higher levels of appreciation were obtained. The Phrase input equals output holds especially true w/ SR71. My reason for sharing this brief positive exchange is simple, LIFE IS SHORT & others ought to be aware of this accomplished techno breakthrough. Emmeline SR71, brought back fond memories & pure delight of long forgotten treasures anew. As a Japanese citizen, once quoted “ HABU, Blackbird Kickass” a phrase reminisance of my military days shortly after the observation of a Hi-Performance ground roll-out of a reconnaissance SR-71 aircrafts’ it was a Glimpse … then Airborne…..Gone. In my 40 + some years of recollected listening, I’ve never experienced any portable circuit to date, which held a candle to SR71’s distinguished sound stage/separation abound. What I once considered excellence by any standard sounded 2 dimensional by comparison. Artist intent was very recognizable, nuisances, weather faint or rich complex harmonics, SR71 kept it coming and maintained my entire attention. With SR71, one may find them, listening penetratingly into the essence of music, till the moment of distortion, which represents a depleted status of battery power. A testament to its duel mono design, exemplifying authentic stereo as laid, on original tracks. I only wish by nature of my usage, that the input/output jacks were RCA’s and reversed, then life would be Grand. Sr71’s revealed rare insights into many well regarded components, each w/ their respective merits.
Sound advice: Never purchase audio equipment on reputation alone, instead acquire a time proven standard of preference, then judge for thy self.
Note: In my experience, many components output a montage of L/R information creating an aired center sounding rather matrix. This common placebo effect has too commonly replaced TRUE two channel discrete stereo.
I could go on, regarding this revelation, but furtherance would become moot. In the near future, I’m going to strongly encourage/recommend to RSA that he expand this applied method of topology towards a broader market. Issues of reliability generally are proven w/ time. SR71 is priced way out of its respective build/sound class.
Janiee2000
Associated gear:
Kubala Sosna
Pursang Signature
Transparent Ultra
MIT 330 Plus
Belden 83264 Digital
Yamamura 5000
XLO reference 1
PS Audio 600
VD Nites Power Cord
DAT store cables
Sources:
Goldmuth laser 1
Burmester 967 transport/980 D/A
Muse 296/model 8 13w3
Muse two plus/Model 5 13w3
DCS Elgar DAC
Pioneer DV414
Esoteric DV50
Sony 7000
Headphones:
Sony CD 3000
CD 999
Sennheiser HD600
Similar Products:
EAR/HR4
Musical Fidelity X-CAN V2
HR-2
Music Selections:
Dr. John N’AWLINZ Disdat/Dudda
Hendrix Tribute various artist
Maria Muldaur A women alone w/ blues; Meet me where they play the blues
Cy Touff In his memory 1927-2003
Paul Hard castle U N K
Joyce Cooling 3rd Wish
Caribbean jazz Project Island Stories
Jessie Cook Nomad
Brown/Eva Cassidy The Other side
Dave Koz Saxophonic
