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In Reply to: RE: Another Option posted by Luminator on January 28, 2015 at 18:47:17
Lummy,
I also played around with different output cables and power cords. The biggest difference is in the tubes. I've tried the 5751 and finally settled on the Telefunkens.
When you say "computerized sound" I think I know what you're saying. Less organic, detailed but etched. Sometimes I think I'm just an oldie who got used to the old sound and can't appreciate the latest technology improvements. I hope the new improvements are real so I have something to look forward to.
thanks for the post
Follow Ups:
Go to my homepage, then search for "tags." Find California Audio Labs. I've written 5 posts about the Alpha itself, 15 dedicated to tube rolling.
In DACs, I'm currently using a Simaudio Moon 100D and NuForce DAC-9. I've described the latter as "thoroughly competent, detailed, and professional." Others take that to mean the DAC-9, for all its strengths, lacks that human touch. The imaging, while focused and stable, isn't as round and 3D as it should be. So when you "look" at the music, it's more like a bunch of decorations hanging on the wall, rather than life-sized models.
The CAL Alpha may not have the WIDEST and DEEPEST soundstage, but it does a good job of tracking the images' shape, plus the ambiance surrounding each image. But in order to extract this type of reproduction, make sure your cables allow for it. When it came to 3D images, the Cardas Clear interconnect best preserved the Alpha's abilities.
Although, as a reviewer, I use cables which cost thousands of dollars, the CAL Alpha does not *need* such expensive help. My friends got terrific results with (treated on an audiodharma Cable Cooker) Kimber PowerKords and Timbre interconnect.
Same results with Alpha, and also with various ARC preamps
Samir
I understand what you're saying and although I have not read all your treads regarding the Alpha, it sounds like you've extracted the most out of it.
So tell me, what current generation of DAC would best the Alpha, while retaining that "human touch"?
Not having enough relevant experience with today's DACs, I am not at liberty to comment.
As far as DACs from the CAL Alpha's time, I do miss the Mark Levinson No. 360S. Around 2000 or so, I heard the Nos. 37/360S combo. I still have the No. 37 transport. Forget audiophile-speak. To this day, I haven't heard any DAC paired with the No. 37, which has captured the (virtual) "realness" of Slayer's B.C. Rich guitars on South Of Heaven . The guitars had a smoldering burn, which is how they'd sound, in the late-80s.
As for one-box CD players, I still haven't heard any match the EAR Acute, when it comes to organic textures.
In capturing the liveliness of music, nothing IME has matched the Simaudio Andromeda. I wonder how Simaudio's own 650D and 750D compare.
But back to the Alpha. I still recommend pairing it with CAL's own Delta. On my homepage, I have written 17 posts directly about the Delta. I use one in my secondary system, and have a backup in storage. A DAC is limited by the upstream transports and digital links. So it behooves us to get the best sources we can.While the CAL Delta isn't "the best," it is available on the used market, its remote works well, load times are quick, and it just looks cool, sitting next to, on, or below the Alpha.
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