mattloh99
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- Joined
- Nov 4, 2014
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Oh... I hope it won't lose out the bass after 50 or 100 hours burning.. ..haha. ..for the vocal singer I really like the mid and high. Really enjoying it.. .cheers...
Received my Savant few days ago, due to work commitments, could only spend some quality time with them today.
This is not going to be a detailed review or detailed impression of the Savant frequency responses, rather, sharing my experience with my favorite acoustic guitar live performance album, “Friday Night in San Francisco” by Al Di Meola, John McLaughlin, and Paco de Lucía, through the Savant and the Noble PR (P mode).
Album: “Friday Night in San Francisco”
Further details of the album can be found here: http://www.allmusic.com/album/friday-night-in-san-francisco-mw0000097398
What I look for in terms of experience from this album, is the realism of the live performance (as if, I am in the concert). Comfortably sitting on my couch, closing my eyes and let my ears and imagination do the rest when listening to the magic created from the guitarists techniques (drumming guitar tops, strumming, bare thumb plucking, palm muting, tremolo picking, hammer-ons and pull-offs, sweep picking, shredding, vibratos and glissandos.)
Savant and Noble PR (P mode) experiences
Source: 24 bit/176.4kHz Flac > AK100 > Chord Hugo > Savant from one of the Hugo 3.5 mm headphone jack and Noble PR from the other Hugo 3.5mm headphone jack
Note: the Noble PR (P mode) impedance is around 240 ohm while the Savant is around 30 ohm, thus, had to adjust the volume of the Hugo to ascertain comparable level of listening volume.
Performances from both IEMs sounded alive and realistic, with the Savant having more musicality and subjectively more natural sounding to my ears, probably due to less fatiguing tuning; on the other, the PR (P mode) felt a little bit more transparent and airy.
The perception of where I was sitting in the “concert”, with the Savant was the front row with the guitarists playing in front of me (the stage, level to where I was sitting); while, with the PR (P mode) it felt the guitarists where playing on slightly elevated stage.
Imaging of the crowd cheering, it might be strange, but what makes this album so realistic to me is the crowd cheering. Try listening the last minute of the 1st track ([COLOR=333333]Mediterranean Sundance/Rio Ancho), you will probably understand what I am trying to say[/COLOR]:bigsmile_face: [COLOR=333333]. Both have good imaging, with cheers coming from left/left back and right/right back; however, felt the PR (P mode) had bigger sound stage/distance.[/COLOR]
[COLOR=333333]One last thing, which I think it is important, is that the Savant performance sounded more balanced and consistent on any level of volume I was playing, especially at lower decibels. On the other hand, the PR (P mode) sounded warm at lower volume, while at higher volume it sounded brighter and brighter (more fatiguing).[/COLOR]
[COLOR=333333]Final thoughts[/COLOR]
I would like to reinstate that, this post is not meant to provide any definitive judgement on the Savant. Instead, sharing my subjective experience with you.
Nevertheless, I have to be honest to you. Before the Savant were delivered to me, I was worried that, sonically speaking, the Savant and the PR (P mode) were going to be too similar. Now, after performing some A/B comparisons, they are both keepers.
Wished the Noble PR were not discontinued by Noble Audio, so that more people could experience them. I regard them as unique, in the Noble Audio family, metaphorically speaking, If my custom K10 is the father and the Savant is his baby boy, the PR are twin little girls [considering that both the P(ure) and R(eference) modes are brighter sounding than the K10 and Savant].
Cheers
Simon T.
Got my Savant at long last. Received them via Gisele Flower (Aid2Hearing UK). Had placed a commission during the birthday sale. So was $640ish ([$600 base + $200 for Wizard design] - 15%). It cost me 50 pounds for the forwarding service (ideal for EU buyers that are scared from customs ^^).
Hmm not very convinced by the storm box. It's smaller than a Peli 1010, but I don't like the latch and the pressure wasn't ideal, it's not enough to make it fully closed.
I'll keep my Peli for secure carying, and a tiny softcase for my daily commuting.
Is it normal the card isn't filled with my info? would've been nice to have them engraved on my card. I doubt a pen would work on that card. Maybe if I use those CD marker pens.
Would've been great to have it already made, for a more premium feel. But it's just a card in the end right
I tried my best to lobby for a gold color signature like I've seen on another Univ Wiz model but it's ok.
I'm glad the glitter is only visible when under strong lighting.
Is it normal the card isn't filled with my info? would've been nice to have them engraved on my card. I doubt a pen would work on that card. Maybe if I use those CD marker pens.
Would've been great to have it already made, for a more premium feel. But it's just a card in the end right
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Picked up the Melbourne tour Savants today. Impressions coming soon w comparisons to K10 as well.