kh6idf
100+ Head-Fier
It's been a few weeks since I last visited this thread, glad to see the discussion continuing. That's some high praise from Bowmoreman for a $700 (in today's worthless dollars) preamp!
It's been a few weeks since I last visited this thread, glad to see the discussion continuing. That's some high praise from Bowmoreman for a $700 (in today's worthless dollars) preamp!
I was enjoying your post until until you managed to drag politics into it.And yeah, considering Kara is $700 in 2024 Joe-Biden inflation times,
Sorry to offend sensibilities.I was enjoying your post until until you managed to drag politics into it.
I don't know that I was offended. But politics permeates much of modern life.Sorry to offend sensibilities.
Thanks for your very interesting reflections on the Kara and other topics. I'm interested in the CD with the Respighi recording on Mercury that you mentioned. Do you mind sharing the cover or saying the orchestra and/or year so I can find the exact recording you're talking about?I *should* be coming up soon in the queue for service for my DR6; I’ve decided that unless it is an insane amount of $$, I’m going to get it recapped (presuming that is the issue, but it sure seems that way), and then bring it back to RACE directly head-to-head with the Kara/Skoll. My own “thunderdome” as it were. Then I’ll give it a SERIOUS review, etc.
But, for now, as I said, I’m not missing anything (that I can remember/care about) on my best recordings. For those that haven’t listened to it, the Mercury Resphigi Birds/Fountains of Rome/Pines of Rome CD is *epically* well recorded. The string section is SO three dimensional it is scary, and the tonality, etc…. Ymmmm. The only complaints (versus the LP) is the very top octave is a bit “digititus” to my hearing (likely the DAC in the Cambridge Azur 751BD being delta-sigma - I hear similar from my Modi
I can only WONDER what it’d sound like with a DAC upgrade. Alas, fund prioritization will delay THAT a bit (will probably start with a Bifrost/64 it holds value if i ultimately were to decide to move back, or on towards Yggy.
And yeah, considering Kara is $700 in 2024 Joe-Biden inflation times, and the Classe’ was $3400 (?) in 1990 dollars…. inflation calculator says that would be $8310 in today’s “money”. Working in reverse, that would have meant today’s $700 product was around $260 in 1990. There was NO preamp in 1990 anywhere near $260 that was any good, frankly.
@Jason Stoddard Question: as part of development or after, did you do listening A/B’s against older or newer (so-called) “high end” preamps? What preamps of past and current impress you?
Because you NAILED it with Kara (and Skoll), and I refuse to believe it was luck. Might make a great read to learn about how you “voice” your designs (what baselines listening-wise, etc.)
(Not asking you to say about “betterer/worserer” comparisons of other products, just HOW your process to asymptote the design to as much musicality as you obviously achieved.
After an afternoon and evening session with Kara using 4x mode, I have to say that @leafy7382 's impression is spot on.
Listening to classical, I was impressed by the added weight and clarity that 4x mode brought to tympani, double bass, and cellos. This wasn't added bass per se, but more presence if you will, better definition.
On rock fare, there seemed to be greater dynamics.
At first, I thought that 1x mode seemed a bit smoother, but after some back and forth between 1x and 4x while trying to volume match, I'm not so sure.
I thought 4x sounded a bit grainy with Freya S. I have no such complaints with Kara's 4x mode.
I detected no loss of detail/resolution with Kara's 4x mode. I appreciated the perceived greater dynamics.
The only downside that I've encountered so far, is that 4x shows that one of my phono units has a bit of self noise that can be heard if an LP isn't playing. This particular phono unit has a little more gain than average, so this isn't that unusual.
I'm going to continue with 4x for awhile, maybe a very long while...
Thanks to @adias & @leafy7382 for prodding me to give 4x another try.
Sure thing!Thanks for your very interesting reflections on the Kara and other topics. I'm interested in the CD with the Respighi recording on Mercury that you mentioned. Do you mind sharing the cover or saying the orchestra and/or year so I can find the exact recording you're talking about?
I'm still using 1x as my default. I have no qualms about switching into 4x, especially for those rare times of using headphones with Kara.Still using 4x? I went back to 4x after a long while with 1x. I suspect my perception varies with time.
My Koss ESP950’s sound quite nice on the Kara (using it’s headphone out plugged into the Koss Energizer’s rca line inputs and it has no trouble driving). I’m getting a loaner pair of Senn’s arriving later this week, and it’ll be fun to race them using same connection. I’m not a huge headphone guy, but it will be “MOAR DATA” eh?I'm still using 1x as my default. I have no qualms about switching into 4x, especially for those rare times of using headphones with Kara.
Speaking of headphones, I think that my 32 Ohm headphones sound best with Kara. Better tonal balance & dynamics. My Grado SR125's were something that I could only tolerate with tubed headamps, but they sound very nice with Kara. But you really shouldn't listen to me regarding headphones. I hate headphones. I'm sorry, but I really do.
That's funny that you mentioned using Kara's headphone output into another headamp. I did the same thing earlier this week when I was trying to see which of my headphones sounded best with Kara. My Senn/Drop HD6xx sounded sleepy through Kara's headphone out, but adding Asgard 3 to the mix woke it up. The Grado's sound pretty darn good with Kara without any extra help. If you like headphones...My Koss ESP950’s sound quite nice on the Kara (using it’s headphone out plugged into the Koss Energizer’s rca line inputs and it has no trouble driving). I’m getting a loaner pair of Senn’s arriving later this week, and it’ll be fun to race them using same connection. I’m not a huge headphone guy, but it will be “MOAR DATA” eh?
I'm still using 1x as my default. I have no qualms about switching into 4x, especially for those rare times of using headphones with Kara.
Speaking of headphones, I think that my 32 Ohm headphones sound best with Kara. Better tonal balance & dynamics. My Grado SR125's were something that I could only tolerate with tubed headamps, but they sound very nice with Kara. But you really shouldn't listen to me regarding headphones. I hate headphones. I'm sorry, but I really do.