[austonia]

On my Porta Corda v2 with a variety of music. when I turn the switch on, it starts becoming fatiguing and irritiating in a subtle way, and i can't leave it on. definately there is something that doesn't click with me. i don't have any other source of reference so I dont know if it is limited to this amp or cross feed in general. Also, this amp was purchased 2nd hand and assembled by someone else other than Jan Meier, but otherwise seems to be a great little worker so I assume it was all built right...

edit typo

 

[Gord SW Ont]

I don't have a Porta Corda but based on my Corda HA-1 that just doesn't seem right. While it is subtlely different, I have never found the low crossfeed setting to be more "uncomfortable" than with crossfeed off .

In fact, the opposite is true in my case. While I listen to music without any crossfeed when I can as I like that the best, I find that with some music I get an uncomfortable feeling (seems similar to your description above) and turning on the crossfeed is the only way to alleviate that feeling. On some CD's I'll even go up to the middle setting in order to be able to listen on my headphones (I rarely use the highest setting).

I have heard that the Porta Corda's come standard with the "medium" crossfeed setting of the HA-1 unless you specifically request otherwise. There may be some cases where this is too much crossfeed and you'd prefer crossfeed off ... or perhaps the switch is wired in reverse???

Gord.

 

[Doug W.]

Doesn't hurt but I prefer the crossfeed off.

Just sounds cleaner that way.

 

[elrod-tom]

I love the crossfeed on my Total Airhead. I listen to this thing for 8-12 hours a day at work (yes, I know...don't ask), and no problem. In fact, it makes listening all that easier and less fatiguing.

Don't have any experience with the Cordas, but I can't believe that it would be that different. Good luck.

 

[taoster]

Quote:

Originally posted by Gord SW Ont I have heard that the Porta Corda's come standard with the "medium" crossfeed setting of the HA-1 unless you specifically request otherwise. There may be some cases where this is too much crossfeed and you'd prefer crossfeed off ... or perhaps the switch is wired in reverse??? Gord.

That was the case for PC1 but I am not too sure if Porta Corda 2 is the same?

 

[waffenschmidt]

People tend to generalize their opinions about crossfeed; some say they like it and some say they don't. I think it all depends on how the recording was mixed. I've found that some recordings, especially the earlier stereo recordings (jazz and rock), have excessive separation of the channels, causing that "uncomfortable" feeling. To me, engaging crossfeed on those recordings just makes everything sound "right."

On other recordings, there is no excessive separation and no discomfort to start with. On those, crossfeed doesn't seem to have any significant effect to me other than collapsing the soundstage a little and, in the case of the Headroom crossfeed, slightly rolling off the treble. On those recordings, I leave the crossfeed off.

So, don't fall into the "crossfeed good"/"crossfeed bad" trap. If the recording sounds better with crossfeed, use it. If it doesn't, turn the crossfeed off.

 

[Jan Meier]

Dear Austonia,

"when I turn the switch on, it starts becoming fatiguing and irritiating in a subtle way"

I hope you're aware that with the switch in the left position (the one with the single symbol) the crossfeed is ON and with the switch in the right position (two separate symbols) the crossfeed is OFF.

Cheers,

Jan

 

[elnero]

Austonia,

If it helps I get a similar feeling with crossfeed. I got it my Cmoy and tried it on numerous occasions but I always find something disconcerting about it. I don't know if fatiguing is the right word for what I experience but I definately feel something odd when I turn it on plus it's like I'm missing something.