Description
Unfortunately for all of us the sound coming from our set always is a pale imitation of the sound produced at a live music experience. In my opinion each set, high-end or not, is only a poor imitation. I even dare to say that good reproduced sound doesn't really exist.
But it is fun to try to get as close as possible to the "reality". After all, that s our common hobby, right? My main criterion is that a set sounds nice and comfortable, not perfect.
I regret that the main part of the hi-fi fans I know, have very strict opinions about how the ideal set should sound like, without ever having heard an instrument in a live setting.
Comments like there is an edge to the sound of that violin or trumpet, "the deep bass of the large drum and bass are not correct" or "the sound is not open, are most often coming from people who have created their own frame of reference by selecting a set which sounds like they think it should be, but that sound is usually far from "realistic".
In itself there is nothing wrong with that, but it's not my cup of tea.
About taste we can argue for ever, and my ears are only for my own reference of course.
This reference has been build up by visiting approximately ten concerts a year in Paradiso, Melkweg and the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam. With that in mind I can say this set sounds very realistic. And that is incredibly important to me!
I started a long time ago as a kid, about ten years old. First with dads old stuff and then slowly, very slowly climbing the quality ladder with sometimes "obscure" brands like Akai, Philips, Aristona, JVC, Bose, Technics, Yamaha, Sony, T&A, Elipson, Audio-Analyse, Teac, Audio Synthesis and QED to what it is now. And of course there were cables like Monitor PC, Van den Hul and Audioquest in the early days.
1994. One evening I was caught by the Audio Note virus. When I was a member of a Dutch audio club this brand was demonstrated by Mr. Ed de Jong. It was overwhelming!
In those days I bought all my stuff at Renaissance Audio in Amsterdam, the finest shop in town. Its owner, Kees Ooms, was a very enthusiastic Audio Note lover and showed me much more Audio Note components which I found great listening to.
1995. I bought my first piece of Audio Note. Its integrated line amplifier Soro SE (18 watt class A, single-ended 6L6G). It replaced my also integrated Audio Analyse PA 90.
1996. My speakers, Elipson 1303 with Foster tweeter (89db), are replaced by the Audio Note E/SP (94 db).
October 2000. I bought myself a Magnum Dynalab 101A with the marvellous ST-2 FM antenna and sold my Yamaha TX-900 to a colleague.
End 2001. The Audio Note Soro was replaced by the wonderful sounding, integrated, Audio Note Meishu (9 watt class A, single-ended 300B).
Start 2003. This amp was so unbelievably beautiful that I didn't hesitate to buy a double Meishu the Audio Note P4 mono blocks (18 watt class A, parallel single-ended 300B). They sound just the same as the Soro but now with double power and an enormous drive. The easiness of the soundstage was very realistic and overwhelming. For several years I used them together with a passive preamp made by QED. Later that year I replaced my TEAC VRDS 20 by a CEC TL-2X with an Audio Synthesis DAC, a great step forward.
Mid 2006. I replaced the Audio Synthesis DAC by the Audio Note DAC 3.1X balanced, and at the end of that year the Audio Note M3 preamp replaced the QED. I had never realized that the influence of a good preamp good have such an impact.
It brought much more rest, openness and easiness to the sound.
Start 2007. I could sell my old Audio Note E/SP speakers for a nice price and bought myself the Audio Note E/SPe but now in Bösendorfer finish.
It was mostly for the eye but worth every Euro.
September 2008. I got an offer I could not refuse. Someone offered me a pair of Audio Note Ankoru mono blocks (70 watt class A, parallel single-ended 845), and of course I couldnt resist them. What a great power, but again with lots of easiness in the soundstage.
They bring (even) more detail and (even) more air in voices and instruments which go (even) deeper and (even) wider, but most of all: it sound so much relaxed.
October 2008. I did my last audiophile exuberance up to now.
The CEC TL-Ox is my favourite for many years and now Im able to buy one for a good price. Fantastic, what a machine, what a sound! I searched for words to describe the sound of the TL-Ox. Most of all its more realistic.
What strikes me most every time you buy a better component; you buy more air.
That seems quite strange when you just read this, but sounds great when you let your ears do the reading!
August 2009. My new ordered Shuguang 845 Metal Plates arrived.
What a difference compared with the Suguang 845B! A smoother sound, a fuller and more correct bass, a bigger soundstage and (even) more (micro) details.
Despite my many years of audio experience it still surprises me how much influence different tubes can have on the sound.
June 2010. After a critical note from a friend with good ears I replaced the ordinary power cord from the local construction market, which supplies the power for the complete set, for the relatively low budget Belden 19364 shielded power cord. After connecting the power cord to the set I was enthusiastic immediately. Normally I'm very sceptic about exotic and expensive power cords but this was amazing. More easiness, more air, more detail and last but not least more fundament in the bass section. I always preferred the standard power cords but the neutral sound and much less exotic Belden is an amazing improvement. You're never to old to learn something new.
Januari 2011. My best friend, who owns the same speakers as I do, told me he had made an upgrade to the speakers and therefore they sounded even better than before. Of course I became very curious and went over to his place. On my first entry into his house it became clear right away. What a great sound! He made an upgrade from AN-E/SPe to AN-E/SPe SE. Now, several weeks later, the same upgrade took place in my speakers. The burn in process has been completed and the improvement is beyond every expectation.
March 2011. Because I don't listen to the radio very often anymore, I sold my beloved and very musical Magnum Dynalab after 10 years of loyalty.
May 2011. For quiet some time now Ive been searching for a replacement of my Spectral rack. A few days ago I ran into a Finite Elemente Pagode Signature rack. According to most of us, myself included, one of the best and most beautiful racks available. I keep finding it strange that a bunch of shelves have so much influence on the sound. The sound is more dry, more loose and more balanced. Its also less tiring on a loud level.
In short a great gain for the complete set!
September 2011. I mounted some new feet under the Pagode Signature rack; the Carabase Classic from Finite Elements. At first the result was a complete shock! After a couple of cds I replaced them again for my old Soundcare SuperSpikes and there was my old, nice sound back again. To make a long story short. When I placed the rack upon the Cerabase without mounting them the improvement was enormous. Mounted the sound became edgy. Then what I did was to remove the metal adapters where they were screwed into and mounted them directly with wood screws into the rack. Now the improvement is significant again. Im seriously considering to put Cerabase under all the equipment.
February 2012. Ive tried to buy some used Cerabase Slimlines but I couldn't find them. So I bought them new and put them under the speaker stands and under the Ankoru mono blocks. What did change? Im afraid that its rather boring to tell. The overall sound is again more space full and balanced. And again it was a good investment which improved the complete set.
May 2012. When I bought the Cerabase Slimlines, I met Jan Hangelbroek from X-ECT AudioService (http://www.x-ect.nl) who, among other things, sells these wonderful products. This enthusiastic man also builds fine products by himself. Including reasonable priced and solid multiple sockets which are milled from thick aluminium surface relief. After a short try-out period I bought one myself. It provides more easiness which makes the sound more loose.
Responses are welcome. Happy listening everyone!
Please leave your vote on:
http://my.hifi.nl/index.php?user=2033
A review of my set (in Dutch):
http://www.hifi.nl/allesover.php?id=1974
Read more...
