I apologize to the moderators and general membership of headfi about the numerous posts on this thread. I'm just trying to keep a record of my experiences with my headphone rig.
Back on topic.
I've just gone through a series of my reference tracks on the new combo and am dazzled by the performance. While this may just be the "newer is better" effect, I do have some objective findings that have startled me. Also please note: this is not an A/B comparison, merely one from sonic memory of tracks I know extremely well.
1. Mark O'Connor / In full swing:
Firstly, there is a background hum that I never heard before. It disappears on pausing the SACD, so I'm sure it is a recording artifact. The instrument separation is much better than I've heard it before. The presentation is more alive, yet relaxed. This is a miracle if you consider the source I'm using, which is arguably one of the most neutral and flat sounding players (can be viewed as a criticism in some contexts). There seems to be oodles of space around each member of the quartet. The plucking of the strings of the bass seem to much more distinct and the attack is very fast while the decay is much longer than I've previously known it to be. While these findings may be hard to reproduce on other rigs, this particular track seems to have tremendous synergy on this particular set-up as compared to what I've heard before. The horns have a more strident presence and appear more organized than I've noticed before. Even in the fastest passages, there is no smearing whatsoever and the presentation remains coherent and punchy throughout. I'm particularly happy with the lower registers which for the first time sound right to me as compared to any of my previous arrangements. This particular track has been one of my standard reference tracks that I've listened to critically before and
2. Union Station/I am a man of constant sorrow: The audience's involvement is much more palpable in this track. The voices are well spaced out and the harmonies are easily distinguished.
3. Alison Kraus - Union Station / Down to the river to pray: I've heard this a gazillion times on a gazillion rigs and for whatever reason, the construction of the initial harmony has never been as distinct. The tremolo of Alison's opening solo is much clearer than I've noted on previous occasions. The harmony when in full bloom, seems to occupy a cathedral of space rather than the sitting room I'm used to.
4. Marvin Gaye / Sexual Healing: The Midnight Love LP is an old favorite that I've been recently hearing again. The opening bassline has never sound so rich and thumpy on my grados, yet both MG's whisper and the choral notes are clear. The notes of the synth in the background are very distinct on a really black and spacious background. The decay on the tremolo electric guitar is definitely prolonged and has more space and presence. I attribute this to the much larger canvas of presentation on the currently adjusted set up.
5. Dire Straits/ Money for nothing: This is really fun now. The guitar sounds evil. I like evil. The bass is really pleasant and sounds the way I like it to. My previous compaints about the light low end on these cans is now a thing of the past. Another overriding improvement that seems to be remarkably is the more correct timbre and tonality of the entire presentation. The bass notes are really pleasant and sound like a string instrument not a drum, something Lan had pointed out to me many moons ago. These cans really can rock. My otherwise uninvolving and neutral rig is really enjoyable. Who would have known.
6. The East Village Opera / Puccini's Nessun Dorma: I just got this CD and was really impressed by the performance. And then I rearranged the circuit. Good grief! The presentation suddenly became so much more authoritative and forward. The speed of the attack is incredible as usual with the stats, but was masked previously by the muddy overall presentation. Get this incredible CD even if you think everything else I've said is c**p.
I'm very pleased overall by this set up. I'd like to see if any of the other ESP/950 owners have tried using a 6922/EL34 preamp as a feed to the E/90.
