Feliks Audio Elise Impressions Thread – a New Start (please read first post for summary)

[connieflyer]

Don't get sand in the Elise, probably not good for it! http://www.ebay.com/itm/172262170880   mine shoulc be here next week so we shall see what all the fuss is about.  Have a great holikday Matii

 

[DecentLevi]

Well I thought I'd finally make my first contribution to this thread - although I'm still more of a 2-3 tube per socket kinda guy... but the reasons I find them to be superior (as of yet anyway) I won't mention unless you'd like me to, save for any possible conflict.
 
So here's a way to milk more 'sonic goodness' out of the Elise which can be done for free!
If your media player has any custom audio settings, choose the highest bitrate setting of 192 KHZ / 32bits. Even if you're playing files that were mastered in the standard 44.1 / 16 format, I've found that upsampling to at least 88 khz / 24 bit to improve the overall resolution. But now I've taken it one step further to 192 khz / 32 bit and though the difference I'm hearing is increased spaciousness, smoothness and an overall more lifelike sound. The difference is subtle, but if you're able to do A/B comparisons in a rapid succession playing a looped section of a track, you should be able to hear a good difference especially between the lowest (44.1 / 16) and the highest (192 / 32) settings. I had been set with 96 khz / 32 bit for the last few years but now with such a high caliber amp as the Elise I'm able to hear more of an improvement with this further "upsampling", which it's called when you essentially take a standard redbook audio file and add more bits.
 
It may sound like pixie dust but I've always heard an improvement from this process, and upsampling is part of the process that top DAC's such as the Yggy use. One note however is that if your source is via PC, make sure that your audio player is using a sort of "direct tunnel" codec. This is the method I've been using ever since getting my first external DAC; I select the specific audio codec that was installed with my DAC to get a bit-perfect data stream directly from my PC to the DAC; thereby bypassing any Windows / Apple soundcard or audio processing rather than the computer also decoding it as as a middle man.
 
If your audio player of choice does not have such audio config. options, I highly suggest swapping for another one. AIMP has been my trusty audio player for a long time, and supports any direct codec / audio format and file type. It also supports DSP plugins (or VST with a "bridge plugin") which allow you to use 3rd party effects such as compression, EQ, etc. Personally I use EQ 100% of the time as a perfect solution to counterbalance nuance imperfections of the HD 650 headphones.
 
PS - Actually this is something that can be done to any amp, but with high caliber amps such as the Elise it can be more noticeable

 

[UntilThen]

I'm upsampling at 192 using Audirvana Plus on my Mac for bit-perfect processing using my NAD d1050.

 

[UntilThen]

All setup at beach house. Now to chill out.
 

 
 

 

[UntilThen]

Hi UT and pct,

Sometimes eBay sleeps.

Paid $59.95 including shipping, for 10.

Well I didn't see that it's $60 for 10. !!!

That is an incredible deal. Seller must be sleeping.

 

[UntilThen]

I brought these tubes on holiday.



7236, 6520, EL3N and RCA6SN7gt

 

[lukeap69]

Well I didn't see that it's $60 for 10. !!!

That is an incredible deal. Seller must be sleeping.

@mordy
 
If you run out of space in your closet, you can sell a pair to me.

 
Nevermind UT, he has a room of tubes!

 

 

[hypnos1]

Further to @DecentLevi's suggestion to upsample native recording bitrates, I have been getting excellent results from using the free program "Audacity" - which I originally intended to use for amplifying low-level recordings...great for when having to turn up the volume dial might bring unwanted extras, lol!
 
Anyway, while there I noticed facility for altering the sampling rate at the same time...BRILLIANT!!  Therefore, so long as your media player can handle high sample rates, no need to spend out on one that can actually upsample itself...(not sure just how many can really do that - setting the figure to high rate doesn't automatically mean that is actually being outputted, AFAIK...). But it would certainly appear that upgrading just what is playing the media file brings overall improvements anyway!
 
The only downside of using Audacity to "Amplify" is that each track must be handled separately...no batch facility for this particular function, alas. But the added bonus of upsampling is truly wonderful...and all for free LOL!

. And I agree with DL - so long as the rest of your gear is above average, there is definite improvement in sound...

...
 
ps. Yo DL...this thread is for one tube per socket only preferences...

...

 

[DavidA]

  Further to @DecentLevi's suggestion to upsample native recording bitrates, I have been getting excellent results from using the free program "Audacity" - which I originally intended to use for amplifying low-level recordings...great for when having to turn up the volume dial might bring unwanted extras, lol!
 
Anyway, while there I noticed facility for altering the sampling rate at the same time...BRILLIANT!!  Therefore, so long as your media player can handle high sample rates, no need to spend out on one that can actually upsample itself...(not sure just how many can really do that - setting the figure to high rate doesn't automatically mean that is actually being outputted, AFAIK...). But it would certainly appear that upgrading just what is playing the media file brings overall improvements anyway!
 
The only downside of using Audacity to "Amplify" is that each track must be handled separately...no batch facility for this particular function, alas. But the added bonus of upsampling is truly wonderful...and all for free LOL!

. And I agree with DL - so long as the rest of your gear is above average, there is definite improvement in sound...

...
 
ps. Yo DL...this thread is for one tube per socket only preferences...

...

You can also use Audacity to edit problem recordings like most current pop stuff (Adele, Beyoncé, etc) since the recordings are really over done.  I lower the output and then use some EQ to try and get back some of the dynamics that is lost.  Not a great way to do it but it can make some recording that are so bad listenable again.

 

[mordy]

When we were asked about the design of the Elise we asked that a protective circuit be built in. Does anybody remember the purpose of this circuit?
 
As far as I know it was incorporated into the Elise.

 

[JazzVinyl]

You can also use Audacity to edit problem recordings like most current pop stuff (Adele, Beyoncé, etc) since the recordings are really over done.  I lower the output and then use some EQ to try and get back some of the dynamics that is lost.  Not a great way to do it but it can make some recording that are so bad listenable again.

An Apple iPod (actually the setting is in iTunes) that lets you raise or lower the volume of a song by percentage. It's saved in the metadata for all formats an iPod supports.

A lot quicker and easier than using Audacity, but...only Apple devices honor the setting...

 

[hypnos1]

 
You can also use Audacity to edit problem recordings like most current pop stuff (Adele, Beyoncé, etc) since the recordings are really over done.  I lower the output and then use some EQ to try and get back some of the dynamics that is lost.  Not a great way to do it but it can make some recording that are so bad listenable again.

 
Yes DavidA, a very versatile program indeed...much of modern so-called "music" needs all the help it can get, lol!!

...and all the more amazing that it's FREE!
 

  When we were asked about the design of the Elise we asked that a protective circuit be built in. Does anybody remember the purpose of this circuit?
 
As far as I know it was incorporated into the Elise.

 
Hi mordy.
 
The first was for DC-coupled amps when using Elise as pre-amp.
 
Then Lukasz confirmed that there was protection against most problems such as shorting...unless extremely unlucky to have additional massive capacitor failure, for example...

 

[JazzVinyl]

iTunes...volume and assign an EQ setting, per song:

Right Click on song->Get Info->Options




You can even specify a start time and stop times (to skip crowd sounds, etc...)


.

 

[UntilThen]

Morning ! Beautiful sunrise. I found some tubes here for rolling. 

 

 

[UntilThen]

I'm happy with Audirvana Plus and JRiver software player on Mac and PC. Exclusive hog mode, up sampling, volume protection, control, equalizer, DSP options till your heart's content. Both sounded very good to me. Spoilt for choices. You have to buy the licenses though but worth it.