Eye opening end of the day today with the CC. Spent the work day listening on a Jotunheim 2. Overall it sounded good, but also slightly thin and steely. I kept thinking just ignore it, it's in need of burn in. But got home and fired up my Stratus and listened to the CO. What a difference! Warm, engaging, impactful, you name it, the CO was it. Totally different from the CC I spent the day listening to. So I grabbed the CC, swapped the cable from the CO, and off i went. Gone was the thin steely sound signature I spent the day listening to. Grain of salt it wasn't that that thin and steely, but it definitely wasn't a sonic profile i'd be married to. But on the Stratus? Oh yeah, I think i need one in my life for sure. It's just warm enough and decay just long enough that I don't hear any thinness or harshness. And I am cranking the volume on purpose to test my comfort limits. The AC I can crank up very loud. The CC not quite as much but not far off.
So what's the point of my drivel? Common sense I guess....AMPS MATTER! Now the bad part, I don't have a good tube amp that can power the CC at work
I really don't want to listen to the Jot anymore, it's not to my liking. I might grab my Asgard 3 and give that a run. It's warmer overall, and still packs a punch. I could try my Hagerman Tuba, though that is not a very powerful amp. We'll see. One thing is for sure though, I really want the Stratus at work, it's an amazing match for the CO and CC. Plenty of power, amazing tonal balance, bereft of any harshness or metallic undertones. It's just so dam big!
EDIT - This is where system building is crucial. I built my whole system around high impedance dynamic drivers. Other than the Stratus, I don't have any high level amps that synergize well with planars. Side note, i'm listening to the CC/Stratus while typing and my urge to headbang to the music is intense. So much more engaging and musical than the Jot 2/CC. Like apples to elephants different. If I only heard the Jot 2, i'd have returned the CC demo and passed. But hearing it on the Stratus has me looking through my gear to see what's getting sold to fund either it or the CO.
Wooo goosebumps right now with this combo!
EDIT V2 - I'm so tired today I just wanted to curl up in bed after the kiddos passed out, but here I am hours later still listening. That's when you know you're listening to something special. One more track.... just one more.....