|
Audio Asylum Thread Printer Get a view of an entire thread on one page |
For Sale Ads |
50.89.169.185
In Reply to: RE: My Hat's Off To You Brad! posted by RGA on December 01, 2014 at 22:20:00
Hello RGA!I know all about system synergy! Let me clarify my position ok? I presently use a tubed Goldenote Stibbert CDP ver. 5 CDP as a transport with an Audio-gd Reference 7.1 DAC for my source. The signal they provide is fed to a 40W/ch Mastersound Reference 845, integrated, SET amp. Which in turn amplified the signal and passes it to pair of Sachiko double-back-loaded horns loaded w/Dayton PS220-8 ---{w/Rispoli treated cones}--- single "fullrange" drivers and Fostex T900a super-tweeters. The T900a's are crossed in at 8Khz, while the PS220-8 run fullrange. The wires I use consist of speaker wires and digital wire custom made by Rispoli and the ICs are Grover Huffman SRC II. While the Mastersound and the Stibbert aren't inexpensive, I'd say most everything else in my system is! But it didn't start that way, oh no.
Remember those $200/pr Grover Huffman ICs I mentioned up above? Well they replaced a pair of $10K Stealth Audio Sakra ICs in my system. And the $600 custom made Rispoli speaker wires replaced $11.5K Stealth Audio Dream speaker wires! Now before I go any further I need to make 100% sure everyone understands I believe the Stealth Audio wires are one of the very few of wires being made to day that can claim to be a true Reference-Level wire! When using one of Stealth Audio's top three ICs, speaker wires, digital etc. in a system in which they have correct system synergy they will literally take your breath away and raise goose-bumps the size of mountains on your arms & legs.
So you're now probably asking yourself; What kind of fool makes such a statement and then replaces one of Serguei Timachev's ---{Serguei is Stealth Audio's founder & cable designer}--- IC wires with IC wires that cost about 50X less? Well I'd respond to that by stating; "A person like Brad, who's committed towards being truthful about what he's heard." You'd have to understand at first I didn't even want to try using the $200/pr. Huffman SRC II ICs but, after much cajoling by my friend, I was finally convinced to try the SRC II when he said; "Wouldn't it be a hoot if those inexpensive SRC II ICs actually happened to have better system synergy than your $10K ICs and sounded better?}--- Well a hoot was exactly what it was, because in my particular case, when used in my system between the Goldenote & Mastersound the SRC II actually did have better system synergy! Does that mean the SRC II ICs are better than the Sakras? HELL NO! I'd wager that 99.999999999% of the time the Stealth Sakras would blow those SRC II ICs away. It just happened I was that .000000001% of the time when they Sakras didn't.
I learned a lot when assembling my present system. System synergy is very important when attempting to obtain a component's best performance or sound. I know this because in the end I also replaced the $11.5K Dream speaker wires with $600 Rispoli custom-made speaker wires and my $1.8K Fostex FE208ES-R fullrange drivers with $256/pr. Dayton PS220-8 fullrange drivers! I'd be willing to wager some serious cash that the Stealth Sakras and Stealth Dreams would embarrass the Huffman and Rispoli wires in most systems about 99.999999999% of the time! To be completely honest, to this day I'm still completely amazed at what happened. I can honestly say I've taken the Sakras to other people's homes where we replaced the owners ICs with the Sakras. Most times there was a very noticeable sonic improvement, but one time the improvement the Sakra's made was so great it almost like someone took a sheet off of the person's speakers! And while I won't state the specific make & model, I'll tell you those ICs the Sakras bested sonically were also VERY expensive. So yes RGA I fully understand your feelings about using the LAMM ---{and all other components for that matter}--- with components that complements the other component's sonic pluses & minuses. My one caveat would be "if" an audio component only works with a very few other audio component's, I'd consider that audio component flawed and not worth a recommendation!
I needed to post all that RGA so you'd realize I have a decent handle on the knowledge of a component's needing to be used with other components that will coax the best sound from it! Now getting back to my comment about Brad. I had this caveat attached to my response; "I'd give his listening skills more credence ---{provided his change of opinion mirrors mine if & when I hear the component}---..." Plus my post wasn't so much about what Brad heard as it was about:
1) his being honest about what he heard.
2) his integrity for truthfully admitting:
---a) he may have been mistaken in his initial impression of a component's sound.---b) he must now changed what his recommendation about this component's sound, because of a.
3) his willingness to endure the negative comments some people might now begin making publically in audio forums such as A.A, about his listening & reviewing capabilities, because he changed his initial listening impression.This is a trait of a person with integrity and I admire integrity in everyone I see it. Sadly these days it's a trait that's lacking in too many people. I believe most audiophile/music lovers are smart enough to know that the LAMM would need to be heard in more than one system before they make a final decision about it's sound quality. So as you can see RGA I completely agree with your method of hearing a component in at least three different systems before judging a component's sound. Now although Brad didn't mention it, I have a feeling this wasn't the first or only other system Brad's heard the LAMM sound less than stellar in. I'd like to believe it was only after finally hearing this last combination he decided to publically change his opinion! Maybe Brad will clarify or further expound on why he finally changed his recommendation of the LAMM? After all I might just be mistaken...
I'm listening to: Sticks & Stones by Ray Obiedo
Thetubeguy1954 (Tom Scata)
Central Florida Audio Society -- SETriodes Group -- Space Coast Audio Society
Full-range/Wide-range Drivers --- Front & Back-Loaded Horns --- High Sensitivity Speakers
Edits: 12/02/14 10/28/15 10/28/15Follow Ups:
I guess there is always the possibility that his LAMMs were actually not functioning correctly...I guess...
There is always the possibility that you weren't functioning correctly as well....
try it! you know you want to!
Excellent over-view Tom. Sometimes, it is hard to expalin/imagine system synergy. You nailed it down, my Audiophile friend.
Post a Followup:
FAQ |
Post a Message! |
Forgot Password? |
|
||||||||||||||
|
This post is made possible by the generous support of people like you and our sponsors: