I need to differentiate between ‘normal’ listening and ‘testing’ mode. For all normal listening scenarios I have the convolution filters linked into Roon and when using the HSA I always have them engaged. I also have HQPlayer on a MacbookPro but I’ve not used that this week while I’ve been ‘testing’ the Envy. I often, when in normal mode, don’t use HQPlayer, I’m quite happy using the Holo May in NOS mode with no external up/oversampling. If I do use HQPlayer I turn off the convolution filters in Roon and engage them in HQPlayer. This week in ‘testing’ mode with the Envy I’ve listened with and without the convolution filters and I’ve found that the quality of the recording plays a large factor in whether I use them or not, as also does which phone I’m using. With lower quality recordings there’s a tendency for the upper frequencies to sound bright or even harsh so I engage the filters, with better quality classical or jazz I’ve tried with and without and can enjoy either. The Envy certainly has a very different presentation of the upper frequencies and in general I listen without the filters. I find, especially with the SR-1b, that if you soften the higher frequencies it can be very tonally pleasant but you lose some of it’s ’raison d’etre’ as the French would say; there’s a reduction in the spatial qualities. With the SR-1a/Envy combination I did use the barrel compensation but in my relatively short time of listening it didn’t sound great to me. My mental conclusion is to wait until Immanis and the Envy are together and then decide where the SR-1b fits into my future plans. It’s not going anywhere it’s just a question of how much use it will get; and if it does stay ‘active’ I will buy the SR-1b filter from Mitch, the one that includes the barrel compensation. This could get out of hand because I’ve done a lot of testing this last few days so I need to summarise. In general I’ve preferred CA-1a to SR-1b when using the Envy direct. I’ve compared with HSA direct but I’ve also enjoyed the ‘hybrid’ mode of Envy pre-amp into HSA. On one day I inserted the SP3000 into the system to replace the Holo May. The sound was surprisingly good but it does become more 2 dimensional than the May. The main test was to use the SP3000 as a Roon endpoint and then to use it with Roon disengaged and this was very successful. As an endpoint I still get full Roon functionality and control from my iPad and this means the convolution filters were used. Very enjoyable in ‘Roon Mode’ but not so when SP3000 was ‘alone’. Treble especially becomes a little splashy and I’d need to explore EQ to improve this. I use Nutopia with the SP3000 when I travel but thought I’ve give it half a day with the Envy. This was the best I’ve heard the Nutopia either direct or with the Envy/HSA combination. It sounded good but a little more relaxed that the Raal duo so I might use this more often for late night listening.
Apologies for the brain dump but I’ve had a great time with the Envy this last week. Do not regard any of what I’ve said above as cast in concrete as many things that I conclude often only make themselves known to me after days of exposure, and therefore my long-term conclusions could differ slightly or significantly from these short term ones.
I think a few things have emerged that are important. Firstly, I was thinking of taking the HSA/CA-1a combo to my second location once I have Immanis and Envy together. I might still do that BUT I do not want to lose the ‘hybrid’ mode of Envy pre-amp to SS amp; so until I sort this out the HSA will stay here. I’ve enjoyed my time with the Envy and would now not want to live without a tube amp in my set up. And finally, there is a short-term loser here. I bought a Caldera last year, a special amber-stained Maple Burl that Zach made for Munich 2023. It looks very nice on its stand but it has not featured at all this week and so has gone back in its case
. I rarely feel the need to use it when I’m home though I do sometimes use it with the SP3000 with the PA10 Amp and it sounds good. But I’m thinking once Immanis is here it will see no home use. Time will tell, and I will give it a chance, especially if I do take the HSA away and replace it with a Holo Bliss at home.
