dsyzling
New Head-Fier
- Joined
- Mar 11, 2011
- Posts
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- 25
Very possibly, I'm really not sure, lack of dynamics/power, may align with some kind of software volume issue.See also:
https://www.head-fi.org/threads/canjam-socal-2023-impressions-thread.969902/page-14
EDIT: I also wonder if the London Can Jam setup had volume attenuated via software upstream?
Yes, I'm certainly not suggesting what I heard was representative of the amp and wasn't about to draw any conclusions. That leading edge, dynamics and sound stage were really lacking - so something was definitely wrong. I know there can be a certain amount of hybole and exaggeration with subjective descriptions and comparisons, but I didn't feel that this was the case when listening at Cam Jam - it was more like, this can't be right, something doesn't feel right - there were too many aspects missing/lacking.I can't comment on what you heard.
I own a WA33 and a EC Studio T, I've also owned a DNA Stratus and I've heard the Riviera AIC10 (though not in my system). I haven't heard a Primavera.
I personally would take the Viva over all of them, and it pairs extremely well with the Susvara.
I usually run about 10-11 AM volume depending on the track into the Susvara. About the same as I do on the WA33. Your not going to find many amps that require less volume than that just because volume pots are logarithmic, not linear, so 12 o'clock is more like 10% volume than 50%.
WA 33 runs 10W into 32 Ohms, probably closer to 6-8 into 64, I believe the Viva is 15+W into some unspecified impedance so it's hard to directly compare power.
The obvious difference between the Viva and other amps is in the truly massive stage (I've never heard another amp approach it), and macro dynamics/leading edge portrayal are stunning, better than the EC or WA33. The leading edge is so aggressive that I think with the stock tubes it can end up being fatiguing with the wrong DAC.
It also pushes more pronounced bass and better control of it into the Susvara than the WA33 manages.
I'll hopefully be able to listen to one of these alongside an AIC-10 at some point for an interesting comparison.