IndieScent
100+ Head-Fier
- Joined
- Jun 9, 2010
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so, did anyone ordered and already recieved their amp? curious about the sound of the new ones.
It is a bit hard going consciously from full fledged balanced ACSS to "ordinary" single ended voltage driven RCA connections... It's like willingly stepping back into long forgotten realm where structure and quality of interconnects significantly affect the final sound.
This is the first impression you get when considering SA-31.
...and it turns out to be true. True in the sense that RCA interconnects to SA-31 do affect the sound much, much more than ACSS connectors ever did.
That and initial "whiteness" in the sound while six big SA-31 PSU caps were(/are) forming are the only sound related drawbacks that I've experienced so far. Initially, Roc (over ACSS; modded) was so much "blacker" and clearer that it was bordering to an "What I got this for?" situation.
After 50 hours or so of cap forming I think I begin to understand SA-31. It's rather odd story, but I'll try to explain...
I ordered SA-31 with two pairs of XLR inputs. Do not be fooled, SA-31 DOES NOT HAVE differential XLR inputs, nor it has ACSS inputs. It was just a silly whim of mine which insisted on connecting all four channels of RE-1/7 to this single ended pre/headamp.
It works, sound is a nuance more detailed than SE connection, but I might have misinterpreted this because of higher XLR signal levels. But - DO NOT DO IT. To listen to differential signal on SA-31 you have to alter your power connections and follow very strict rules which limit the functionality of this headamp. It is really not worth it and I'll try to picture why is it so in a moment...
In my correspondence with KingWa I inquired about diamond differential amplification and asked whether "SA" in SA-31 means abrrevation of "Sansui" as first(?) company that used such topology in it's amps. Well - he said it does not. He also explained that Sansui's implementation was the fist generation of diamond differential design that was non-symmetrical, limited and not that good by today's standards. He went on and stated that SA-31's topology is based on Accuphase early 90's A-100 class A monoblocks - a very high performance symmetrical diamond differential design.
Whoa, Accuphase! FeelGoodFactor+(A)100I immediately started digging information on A-100. I have found "endlessly powerful", "rich" and "strong sense of space".
...and similar adjectives can be tied to SA-31.
It adds much harmonics to the sound. I hear those harmonics as vastly enlarged and better defined stage with slightly increased details. Headphones do not sound "in your head" any more but slightly "in front and around you" and I have found it is much easier to listen to headphones for very long this way. Even with LCD-2s, which is quite a feat in my book.
What really struck me was the realization that this harmonic effect is better when listening to single ended source (RCA connection from RE-1/7) than differential one (XLR connection from RE-1/7). It finally clicked to me why he, who would design even his iPod balanced, did not bother to create four channel SA-31. Good choice.
So, now I am, after years of RCA abstinence, in a hunt for decent OCC RCA interconnects. My Van Den Hull Ultimates are too dark, my old DIY silver RCAs are hyperdetailed but zingy.
It sounds warmer than Roc. But KingWa warmer, no hot chocolate tube amp warmer. This would mean that if you would hypothetically connect in series two SA-31s the resulting sound would not be the same as single SA-31 sound but just a tad more colored. With two Roc-s I could almost bet vast majority of us could not tell the difference.
I have tried using jumpers to get warmer sound ("warmer sound 1" and "warmer sound 2" from SA-31 "Use Manual" page) - music does get "rounder" and warmer but I think less detailed. Will eventually re-evaluate, but for now it is no jumpers and all the details for me.
To be stereotypical - SA-31 has the control, PRaT and dynamics of SS with "airness", "musicality" and definitely "spaciousness" of tube amps. We'll see how this changes when New Toy Syndrome wears.
Endgame? No. But could be for some.
Good amp? Absolutely. Especially if you have single ended hairdryers that need proper amping.
So, now I am, after years of RCA abstinence, in a hunt for decent OCC RCA interconnects. My Van Den Hull Ultimates are too dark, my old DIY silver RCAs are hyperdetailed but zingy.