Well Mike, it won't be me to ask you for some kind of more substantive compare between both those 2die4 front ends. No sir, not me at all...
So Mike, what kind of music do you prefer the NVS set up on, and what kind of music do you prefer the CS port on?
Ked,
obviously your heard my system in 2016, and my vinyl then is the current NVS set-up; the Tana active system is advanced over what you heard. and the rest of my system is similar, except i now have the upgraded dart 468's, along with the Tana active under each of those. so you know what it can do, you heard it. it does big music in a spectacular way. another level better now.
and NVS also is completely a full all-around player, doing everything at a very high level. super low noise floor. maybe in this group of three set-ups, the easy thing to say is that it's ceiling for large music is higher. if i pull out Frampton's 'Do You Feel Like I Do?' it's likely on the NVS. yet it's also a go-to for another viewpoint on solo piano; the Tana shelf translates into an unfair advantage for textures and precision. the NVS can compete on every type of music (which we played when you were here).
these last 4-6 months i've mostly been playing the CS Port and Saskia, that's where the new cartridges and phono are, so it's been most of my listening. i've owned the NVS for 9 years; i purchased the Saskia last August, and the CS Port LFT1 and phono in November; so it's not been a year yet for these new turntables, arms, cartridges and phono (+SUT's). i'm still getting acquainted with them, and the NVS has been odd man out in that process. not because i don't appreciate it, but because i know it so well. i've only had the 2 Etsuro Gold's a few months, and two EMIA silver SUT's a month or so. listening to these tt's back to back during a session has been 'pinch-me' awesome.
in about 2 weeks i'm adding an over-the-top phono cable for the CS Port that will upset the balance again; a top of heap LFD (Dr. Richard Bews in the UK) din-rca is being built. excited for that. it's my last piece to add to this year long vinyl upgrade process. it's been a fun year and very musically fulfilling. this last month or two i've started buying more new vinyl for my collection and that has been great too as i change focus to the media from the gear.
as far as what music i prefer on the CS Port; my answer is more what aspect of the music i'm desiring, which i agree does bleed over into what music i choose. although they are slightly different ways of looking at this question. and if i'm choosing between the CS Port and Saskia: then it's; do i want a more delicate, expansive, ultra detailed and soaring type sound? which is the CS Port, with the ultimate sense of ease and presence, or a more focused and intimate type sound with the extra measure of tone, PRAT and flow? which is the Saskia. both are super low noise, both ultra nuanced, both great bass and balance. both can be explosive and are micro-dynamically alive.
this morning i played a late Beethoven String Quartet; side one on the CS Port, side two on the Saskia. both were perfect to my ears......but different. do i lay back and let the music wash over me? or is it more of an intense thrill ride?
generally; it's classical (choral, techno/electronic) and more soft rock/vocals on the CS Port, jazz, folk and blues on the Saskia, and hard rock on the NVS. but many sessions i'll just play one tt. all of them can do it all. and they certainly should be able to do it all.