Specialists > Audiologists
What are we struggling with in our systems?
dBe:
Other than the huge amount of money that mainstream audio manufacturers would try to convince us that we need More, Better, Newer, Blingier gear, what are the issues that plague our systems when it comes to stellar sound?
For me it is the difficulty in finding the appropriate front end for my system. I'm beginning that I need to go back to the perfect time I had for years with a very low gain front end, or a transparent passive volume control.
Best my system ever sounded was with the bare bones Cary SLP-50B that I modified.
How many people here run a basic buffer? I'm open for suggestions. I have an incredibly transparent passive switched volume control. Problem is there are times that the system balls have dried up in my experience.
Active?
Gain?
Buffer?
Passive?
I am so, so tired.
richidoo:
My DAC has a ballsy output stage, straight into the uncolored SS amps. I'm OK with it so far, speakers bigger priority.
A good tube preamp can be a joy if you can tolerate the tone change and the tube foibles. Maybe you just need a fistful of 6SN7s in your life? Don Sachs makes a fully tweaked Aikido 6SN7 preamp based on Tube4Hifi PCB. Or buy the Tubes4Hifi SP14 kit and roll your own tweaks.
LM49710 is a a ballsy bass opamp that you can add as buffer to your VC. Run it in unity, it will sound a little stuffy on top but strong phat bass. Add 10dB gain and the top will open up, but slightly dry. MC33078 sounds clear and open in unity gain, a favorite, neutral.
If you're religiously anti-opamp like I used to be before using MC33078, then here is a simple discreet SS buffer, error correction, no feedback, idealogically perfect. ;) The Kuartlotron. Feed it with Belleson regulated PS.
Lastly, the intact audio autoformer volume controls sound very, very good. They add a slight golden sunshine but otherwise neutral and fast. They maintain good output impedance at high attenuation, which might help your bass if it's your (resistive VC output impedance is rising with attenuation) and they step up output voltage by 6dB at full crank. There is a new silver winding version now.
rollo:
Not an expert in this area however I can share my Buffer and passive linestage experience. IMHO after trying Bent, transformer based passives that they are dry and lean in character compared to an active preamp.
Transparency off the charts, openness off the charts, detail , etc. However no hit you in the heart sound for me. Lacking body [ weight] and soul.
You did say front end. Could your source be the issue. When I used a passive say Bent [ dry, lean] a tubed CDP was a must for me or a lush sounding amp after passive Pre.
As far as Buffers are concerned my short partnership with Promithius [ Malaysia] prove a tubed buffer was a good solution. There were trade offs. The transparency of the passive was lost but body was found. Added sufficient gain but bass was weak.
IMHO I firmly believe from my experience an active preamp is a must. I believe it is the Heart of our systems. Maybe time for you to a Gary Dodd back in. I have two if you do not.
charles
Nick B:
Have any of you guys tried Mortens Tortuga over at AC? My buddy Gary has one and loves it. Gary has a great sounding system. I'll be at his place in a month to check it out. Gary, if you're reading this, you ought to post about it!! You are trying things all the time. I'm sure the guys would like to hear about your liquid wires among other things.
Nick
P.I.:
--- Quote from: Nick B on August 08, 2017, 11:03:25 AM ---Have any of you guys tried Mortens Tortuga over at AC? My buddy Gary has one and loves it. Gary has a great sounding system. I'll be at his place in a month to check it out. Gary, if you're reading this, you ought to post about it!! You are trying things all the time. I'm sure the guys would like to hear about your liquid wires among other things.
Nick
--- End quote ---
I use one of his latest iteration DIY solutions and I love it. iT needs to feed a high current front end to get the oomph, though.
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