Sorry got busy with work relations. Ok folks here we go next round of updates particularly the R70X with pairing with drum rolls....... also copied pasted to my other R70X thread as well .....
R70X on valve amp (Audiotailor jade) VS NuForce HA200!
Setup:
Macbook Pro -> Wireworld USB Silver OFC -> Audinst MX1 as Wolfson WM8740 variable output 100% -> Jade / HA200
OR
Macbook Pro -> Wireworld USB Silver OFC -> Cheap asynchronous USB Sabre ES9023 DAC -> Jade / HA200
Power (apologies I should also elaborated this further before)
From wall -> Cattylink / Analog Research Silver Raincoat -> Yarland AC6 power grid.
Power cord for amp : Shunyata Research Diamondbacks
ICs from DACs to AMPs: Acthung audio silver 5 wire solid silver litz RCAs
Accessories
Precision Audio - Cable Elevators(Cable Lifts)
On the chunky cattylink analog silver raincoat
Tubes on the Audio Tailor Jade
Russian 6AS7G (not those fancy NOS ones, this is still the one I’m using as a stock when bought with the amp still working perfectly fine to this day). So in this test I will be testing R70X elligiblity across 12AX7s that I have in stock.
Isolation cones:
made in japan heavyweight carbon TAOC TITE25s (bought these $350SGD, even though yes the changes in SQ are there - never again I’ll be spending that much!!!)
Overall impression R70X with Audiotailor Jade
the bad....
First things first -
quite strangely enough - even on low gain the Jade already drives more than enough volume around 7.30 o’clock. Contrast to the HA200 it's around 9 which allows some reasonable proximal adjustments.Unfortunately this is quite a big negative for me as it doesn't allow to have precise adjustments
.
the good / tube rolling notes
But nonetheless what did I hear GENERALLY SPEAKING? My goodness the lower midrange bloom, drive and force is there. And is there even more aplenty. Does the R70X makes it muddy? To me, perhaps. However it did not sound excessively so. There is WEIGHT to almost everything. Even more so than the Nuforce HA200. My notes on the tubes below
- Electroharmonix 12AX7 -
I find this to be the most "neutral" baseline of all 12AX7s I have. It neither performs amazingly on one area or specific area of listening. Perhaps an ever so slight smudging on the separation of vocals. On the Nuforce HA200 however, the voices remains well separated and distinct no doubt. This could be well attributed to the fact that the HA200 whilst being a solid state - is definitely more resolving whilst does sounding noticeably drier at first. Had this tube since DOGE6210 days (5 years+) no problems.
- Tungsol 12AX7 -
noticeably more “dynamic” and “airier” sound staging than the electroharmonix 12AX7. The vocals may perhaps leave me a little bit more wanting. In other words, I find that whilst the tube musicality was indeed alive in many degrees, it also somewhat smears the impressive voice separating ability. The Nuforce HA200 retains that impressive separation ability. Had this tube since DOGE6210 days (5 years+) no problems. I find however it can get the soundstaging together with punchier bass may sound too lively with the R70X.
- Jan GE PHILLIPS 5751 -
Impressive midrange euphoric blooms, even more so than the Electroharmonix 12ax7 and the Tungsol but amazingly thanks to the R70X intuitive coordination of elements actually prevents it from to sound nasal. Had this tube since DOGE6210 days (5 years+) no problems. However interestingly with different DAC (the Wolfson WM8740 in the audinst but using variable RCA 100%) - the voicing separation is better, but still not as accurately separated on the HA200 .
- JAN GE 12AX7 -
Somewhat a middleground between the Tung Sol 12AX7's wide soundstage with the noticeable of bloom of the midrange of the Jan GE 5751. Still somewhat lacks detail of the Tung Sols.
- Sylvannia 12AU7 -
a bit shouty in the mids. Voices sounded good. Separation wise difficult to distinguish if it’s any different to the JAN GE 12AX7.
- RCA 12AX7 - THE BEST BUT ALSO BUZZIEST WHEN ADJUSTING VOLUME
Very nice sounding for the R70X & the audits as the DAC! Subtle has a tactful nature to the way it handles each and every thing in the mids. The bass is solidly forceful it really lets you be in the serious head-nodding “zone”. Micro details are very well resolved enough for me to gather what I liked from the HA200. Voices sounded good. Although out of all 12AX7 tubes I have - this ones produces a buzzy noise each and overtime I adjust vol. The volume adjustment opportunities however, are again my biggest issue as I had to lower the master vol output from the Macbook or the PC, as this to my ears I find the best compromise in volume control VS loss of dynamics as opposed to reduce the RCA output volume output from the Audinst. The BEST SO FAR next to Tungsol 12AX7’s and Jan GE 5751 (if I only want that romantic blooms).
Conclusions & thoughts of R70X between DACs
—
Long story short; it is a subjective requirement and decision to choose between a valve or a solid state amp. With the jade I swear I was (*%7#IO52) my head off with even more lower bdy and lower mid range vividness and more plentiful delivery of it. Also depending on which tube I’m using (especially on the 12AX7 Tungsol) - the soundstage can also sound more dynamic and livelier, though to me it can sound too "fun" to the point of fatiguing (especially combined with the lack of volume adjustment proximity range on the jade). Is it the type of valve amp? OTL? etc? Unfortunately I am never the technical type to know and understand...but I do know and reassured however is that Jade is truly a hybrid.
Two things I do notice for sure. Vocals - on the Jade do somewhat (though only perhaps ever so slightly) loses their separation factor I loved on the R70X so much, and that resolving micro details and ambience of the HA200 can be somewhat a little lacking on the Jade. However, I find that this can be improved unless if I were to use the best / more/ most expensive sounding 12AX7 I had collected in the past - eg. RCA 12AX7. The other thing I do notice is that the Nuforce HA200 is perhaps slightly more resolute / more resolving in picking up more details for the R70X then to magically coordinate them tactfully to my ears. This translates to giving that more refinement factor better than the Audiotailor jade. The Jade however, being the hybrid valve amp that it is - meant to be built for musicality.
Also now that I have listened the R70X across two DACs I must say the Sabre ES9023 is the more resolving, wider soundstage and imaging HOWEVER, the Wolfson WM8740 in the Audinst DOES THE DEPTH of imagery so much more intimately with a sense of perspective - it fits in with my definition of musicality perfectly even though it lacks resolving micro and surrounding ambient detail retrievals from the Sabre ES9023
. So with the R70X which one would I consider more superior DAC choice? There is none! The Sabre ES9023 is definitely in my book for overall more resolving performer with outstanding micro and very widely spaced and impressive detail retrievals. Where as the more musicality choice from the further elusively deep imaging I would definitely lean with the Audinst’s Wolfson’s WM8740 DAC with the RCA output @ 100%.
So is the R70X DAC / source sensitive? Given my experience - absolutely. Everything counts, even in minimal steps. Even my now-sounded-extremely grainy AD700 and recently acquired HD598 improves scalably well.
Getting back to the amps debate Does this mean the tube is then superior for the R70X? Not necessarily. When I listen onto the jade I am rewarded with even more musicality. With the HA200 (solid state) - I am rewarded back to that balance of neutrality with just enough musicality to keep wanting to listen. Plus most importantly on the HA200 - I find there is more leeway for good comfortable volume adjustment.
This to me is an excruciatingly IMPORTANT HEALTH & UX FACTOR. The Audiotailor Jade is unfortunately, only offers me that small degrees of adjustment before it’s too loud on the R70X.
I have never, ever have any idea to understand why people complain this not loud enough, that not loud enough, even if they have 300ohms Beyers, sennies, on powerful amps like the DOGE6210 & Lehmann Black Cube Linear (which I previously had and DOGE was all broke), the audinst-MX1 (which I have), and the Nuforce HA200 (now) etc.
Heck even the R70X drives quite well out of my Macbook Pro (tested for curiosity) !!!!! Of course sound wise its just not as refined.
However at the end of the day - which of the two amps provides me best overall balance & usability? I’d say I would choose the Nuforce HA200. Why? because the usable extra room for volume adjustment helps IMMENSELY for comfortable listening. If I have to be evicted by the banks / foreclosed / homeless, etc - I would unfortunately have to sadly say goodbye to my Audio Tailor Jade!
Enjoy the extra food for thought!
!
