CH Precision 10 series

[ACHiPo]

It is truly difficult to explain what the EVP do under speakers( really make a huge difference in this area)
I had Norm make a pair of custom EVP planks to handle the Noblesse. He delivered them at CAPFEST and I finally got the opportunity to install them this week under the large Divin Noblesse. MY thoughts are if you haven't tried this you should. I'm not a technical person so I wont comment on what they actually do as Norm is the scientist and he measures etc., I just listen and these things really work under every speaker I have tried. The Noblesse being the largest was the last one I got to try. I had issues the last time I set the speakers up in my room truly getting them to couple in the room and disappear. I have since then added the Wadax and now the M10 of course and I am thrilled with what I am achieving here. The EVP just seem to let the magic happen. The bass is deeper and cleaner, the sound stage is more transparent and you can really "see" the performers and the space around and between them. I highly recommend them and I think I am going to have him custom make a couple of them for some other items I have in mind.

Elliot,
I absolutely agree on the EVPs. I tried them under my two subs first. I was so impressed I put them everywhere (almost). Subs and speakers have the biggest effect in my system. Amps and front end components much less.

Sorry for adding to the tangent, but I’m a fan of Norm’s stuff.

Evan

 

[Elliot G.]

Just for everyone's information the CH M 10 series has a price increase starting Jan 1. So if you want them it will pay to act before then. The amp is increasing by 11k and the preamp by 3k .

 

[cmarin]

Setting up large speakers is always challenging and takes more time. They are hard to move around and all the little things are just not easy. I spent half the day today working on finalizing the speaker location and getting the leveling feet set properly. The Noblesse really moves a lot more air than the Marquis and really pressurizes my listening room. The sensation of space and air with the dynamic bass response of the Noblesse is really cool and so finding the proper balance of that with getting the voices localized and sounding " real" does take some time in a room my size.
The Marquis is relatively easy to set up in my room the Noblesse not so much. I should be able to finish the set up tomorrow time permitting. I am excited as some of the larger pieces of music today really sounded AMAZING.

Hi Elliot,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the CH Precision M10 and your speaker setup optimization process. It’s clear that it requires a detailed and time consuming effort in order to get the most out of your system. And congratulations on the combo of great equipment you have assembled!

I’m wondering if you could possibly share the differences in the position and in the quality of the sound of the speakers in their original position, versus your speaker’s final optimal setup position?

Thanks.

 

[Elliot G.]

Hi Elliot,

Thank you for sharing your experience with the CH Precision M10 and your speaker setup optimization process. It’s clear that it requires a detailed and time consuming effort in order to get the most out of your system. And congratulations on the combo of great equipment you have assembled!

I’m wondering if you could possibly share the differences in the position and in the quality of the sound of the speakers in their original position, versus your speaker’s final optimal setup position?

Thanks.

Hi Carlos,
I am not sure exactly what you are asking. Are you asking what the difference in position is with the Marquis versus the Noblesse ?
Each speaker , although they have similarities, sets up slightly differently. What I am looking for foremost is the coupling of the bass in the room. This is the spot where everything comes into alignment. The bass becomes totally focused.
In reality the Noblesse came a little further into my room and a little further apart in my room than the Marquis. Once I get the speakers to this point I begin to work on a few small things at the same time. These finishing steps, angle towards the listening position of each speaker, adjust ment of the feet to get the height correct towards the listening position, the speaker stable and not rocking, side to side leveling and equal, getting the distance from the speakers to my ears as equal as I can. These small , and very small adjustments are a bit more difficult with a really large heavy speaker but are worthwhile once its spot on and dialed in.
The differences all add up to the speakers disappearing sonically in my room, incredible space and air, macro and micro dynamics which the system now does with incredible ease and most importantly allows me to sit in front of it for hours without wanting to get up and leave. I usually listen in the afternoons and many times I close the door and when I finally take a break its dark and everyone in my place has left. Its these times that I realize how wonderful it can be.
THe addition of the M10 along with the Wadax system made me want to go through the effort to set up the bigger speakers. I had been thrilled with the marquis for a long time and I did not want to touch them. I did however want to see what I could do with the Noblesse in my room again and I am really thrilled with the results.
I hope that helps,
Elliot

 

[cmarin]

Hi Carlos,
I am not sure exactly what you are asking. Are you asking what the difference in position is with the Marquis versus the Noblesse ?
Each speaker , although they have similarities, sets up slightly differently. What I am looking for foremost is the coupling of the bass in the room. This is the spot where everything comes into alignment. The bass becomes totally focused.
In reality the Noblesse came a little further into my room and a little further apart in my room than the Marquis. Once I get the speakers to this point I begin to work on a few small things at the same time. These finishing steps, angle towards the listening position of each speaker, adjust ment of the feet to get the height correct towards the listening position, the speaker stable and not rocking, side to side leveling and equal, getting the distance from the speakers to my ears as equal as I can. These small , and very small adjustments are a bit more difficult with a really large heavy speaker but are worthwhile once its spot on and dialed in.
The differences all add up to the speakers disappearing sonically in my room, incredible space and air, macro and micro dynamics which the system now does with incredible ease and most importantly allows me to sit in front of it for hours without wanting to get up and leave. I usually listen in the afternoons and many times I close the door and when I finally take a break its dark and everyone in my place has left. Its these times that I realize how wonderful it can be.
THe addition of the M10 along with the Wadax system made me want to go through the effort to set up the bigger speakers. I had been thrilled with the marquis for a long time and I did not want to touch them. I did however want to see what I could do with the Noblesse in my room again and I am really thrilled with the results.
I hope that helps,
Elliot

Hi Elliot,

Sorry for the confusion.

I meant, what were the differences in position and in sound quality between your initial (previous optimal setup) position of the Divin Noblesse (with the M10 and Wadax) at the beginning of your setup process, and the (current) final optimal position of the Divin Noblesse (with the M10 and Wadax)?

More to the point, did the Divin Noblesse/M10/Wadax combo sound significantly different between the starting point and the final setup point? And was the difference in the initial and final setup position of the Divin Noblesse significantly different or only relatively small?

i hope that’s clearer and I didn’t confuse the question more!

 

[Elliot G.]

To me its all significant and its the difference of good to really good to amazing. The small things make really important differences in the systems ability to resolve and create the optimal " illusion of reality" or suspension of disbelief or turning the enjoyment factor to full.
Im not a writer nor a reviewer, and dont want to be so these things are someone diffult for me to describe or express. Its the leading edges, the decay of notes in space, the dynamics mostly micro but also macro. Its intonation in vocals and its the flushing out of the whole human or humans singing that makes the system and the small placement adjustmenrs worth while.
Example"
I use Bruce Springsteen Live on Broadway "Beautiful Disguise" Its always sounded really terrific but when you get it right Bruce and Patti are there in space singing harmony together and you can "see them" Its quite spooky . I dont think O ever really appreciated her ability to sing under his voice and how well see really can do it.

 

[sbnx]

These small , and very small adjustments are a bit more difficult with a really large heavy speaker but are worthwhile once its spot on and dialed in.

You know you are getting close when you can walk up and tap the right speaker with the knuckle of your index finger and hear a significant difference in the sound.

 

[Elliot G.]

After months of listening to the Noblesse again and getting it totally dialed in my room I am really excited to finally be receiving my L-10. I am excited about adding it to my system later this coming week. I can't wait to experience the new 10 pre and replace my L1 in the main room.

 

[CKKeung]

After months of listening to the Noblesse again and getting it totally dialed in my room I am really excited to finally be receiving my L-10. I am excited about adding it to my system later this coming week. I can't wait to experience the new 10 pre and replace my L1 in the main room.

There won't be any surprise.
The L10 is in my mind one of the best 3 ss preamps in the market.

 

[LL21]

There won't be any surprise.
The L10 is in my mind one of the best 3 ss preamps in the market.

I think you have named the FM 268C as one of the other best SS preamps. What is the 3rd? And you qualify this with SS...what is your favorite overall?

 

[CKKeung]

Yes, FM 268c is another favorite of mine.
The 3rd one is not launched yet but I have been following up its development closely and I have 100% confidence in it. Will share with you once it's ready.

 

[LL21]

Thanks! Look forward to hearing about that one!!! Most intriguing...

 

[cmarin]

After months of listening to the Noblesse again and getting it totally dialed in my room I am really excited to finally be receiving my L-10. I am excited about adding it to my system later this coming week. I can't wait to experience the new 10 pre and replace my L1 in the main room.

Glad to hear about your upcoming L10 Elliot. I’m sure the Noblesse, L10/M10 and Wadax server/DAC combo will bring your system to a new level of performance.

I received my 2 box L10 late last month to replace my 4 box L1/X1. Right off the bat, even not fully broken in, you could tell the L10 was on another level than even the 4 box L1/X1.

But the real magic happened when the L10 was paired with the M10 which I received a few days later. Both the L10 and M10 have over 400 hour now.

And while one can intellectualize the concept of left brain- emotional musical engagement versus the right brain-analytical perspective, when one hears the L10/M10 with the latest source-server/DAC technologies (in my case Taiko Extreme and totaldac) and their complementary noise reduction advances, you can now directly appreciate musical engagement in a visceral/tangible sense.

Where before a musician’s musical phrasing was a passing moment, it now grabs your complete attention, opening it up to your full appreciation of the emotional energy of the musical intent.

Advances in server/DAC, vibration and amplification technologies such as offered notably by the Taiko Extreme, totaldac and Wadax products, now reduce artifacts (anything that does not belong in the musical reproduction) to the point that immersive musical engagement becomes effortless.

Personally, I couldn’t be more pleased with the recent changes in my system which in retrospect have produced in toto, significant non-linear improvements at the margin.

And now to the next step: bringing in expert help to position the speakers at their optimal position to maximize the value of the upstream electronics - another exercise where small incremental changes can make significant positive changes in performance.

It should be fun!

 

[Elliot G.]

Glad to hear about your upcoming L10 Elliot. I’m sure the Noblesse, L10/M10 and Wadax server/DAC combo will bring your system to a new level of performance.

I received my 2 box L10 late last month to replace my 4 box L1/X1. Right off the bat, even not fully broken in, you could tell the L10 was on another level than even the 4 box L1/X1.

But the real magic happened when the L10 was paired with the M10 which I received a few days later. Both the L10 and M10 have over 400 hour now.

And while one can intellectualize the concept of left brain- emotional musical engagement versus the right brain-analytical perspective, when one hears the L10/M10 with the latest source-server/DAC technologies (in my case Taiko Extreme and totaldac) and their complementary noise reduction advances, you can now directly appreciate musical engagement in a visceral/tangible sense.

Where before a musician’s musical phrasing was a passing moment, it now grabs your complete attention, opening it up to your full appreciation of the emotional energy of the musical intent.

Advances in server/DAC, vibration and amplification technologies such as offered notably by the Taiko Extreme, totaldac and Wadax products, now reduce artifacts (anything that does not belong in the musical reproduction) to the point that immersive musical engagement becomes effortless.

Personally, I couldn’t be more pleased with the recent changes in my system which in retrospect have produced in toto, significant non-linear improvements at the margin.

And now to the next step: bringing in expert help to position the speakers at their optimal position to maximize the value of the upstream electronics - another exercise where small incremental changes can make significant positive changes in performance.

It should be fun!

Congrats Carlos and I assume Stirling is coming to make a visit. Let me know when you are ready for a Wadax addition

 

[Elliot G.]

I finally received my L10 preamp last evening. I had a client in town yesterday to listen to the Marquis so I had spent the previous day taking down the Noblesse and resetting the Marquis back in the sound room. He came we listened for a few hours and this morning it was time to open my new "toy"
The preamp is very straight forward to hook up and install. It is very similar to the L1/X1 in that manner however once plugged in the similarities end very quickly.
I did the little bit of house keeping and programming the little items that should be done like naming the input and setting the impedance etc. This is very easy from the CH app and off we go.
I started to go through some of my normal playlist and got a phone call , which was good, since i wanted it to settle in and get to operating temperature, so I left the room for around 60 minutes and came back and sat down.

This is not step forward. This is not IMO incremental. The L10 with the M10 is really quite special and the two of them produce MORE, MORE , MORE and less at the same time.
after i got done I played Larry Carlton and Robben Ford Unplugged which is live and a killer album and from there into Robben Ford Pure and turned the mother up and was chair dancing. My god this is fun and only 2 hours old.
Ill be working through some other music genres later today after I get through with a meeting and lunch.

First comment this is a TURBOCHARGER

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[Elliot G.]

 

[MadFloyd]

Does it sound better on it's side?

 

[John C]

Wow! My M10 and L10 stereo units are on their way and I’m even more excited after hearing your initial impressions!