Since I left my hORNS Universum speaker, Koda Preamp, various tube amps set up, I am on the way to pair my current speakers, Wilson Audio Maxx3 with matching gear.
The first change was from Koda K10 Preamp to
- Grandinote Genesi.
I was happy with the sonic signature of the Koda, but possible Gain (only 6db) was very low and I missed a remote control. Both is given with the Genesi preamp. The Genesi is more open, less soft, more dynamic. I would say, the Genesi is more close to the trueth..., but with the Koda the reproduction was more close to the heart , to the emotion of the music itself.
So far I used the following amplifiers with some enjoyment:
— Boulder 1060
a lot of information, speaker control, huge staging, with Koda well balanced, with Genesi a littly dry and bright
— VTL S-400
a majestic powerfull music reproduction, a lot of energy in the lower end, but not the best control in the very deep end. Wide stage, a lot of energy in the voices, but lacking of contour and precision.
— Grandinote Demone
very fast, dynamic, energetic, vibrant. Due to the 60w constraint not so good at higher levels, basscontrol starts missing. a natural partner for the Genesi preamp
All 3 amps are in a similar pricerange. Remembering my Convergent Statement mono amps in comparison all 3 amps are a compromise in different areas of music reproduction.
Looking arround for good amps on offer, many of them were out, as the Genesi preamp only accepts full xlr connections.
I owned Krell 600e, so a Krell or an Agostino Amp were acceptable, but in Europe were no fair priced offers in the market. May be I have to wait for the next generation of Krell. with Dan back
But close to my home a
— Goldmund Telos 2500
offer gots my attraction, so I drove to the dealer. There were a lot of Spectral gear in the showroom as well, so we started talking about the Design similarities between Goldmund and Spectral. Bandwith rules aproach. It was than no surprise, that the Telos 2500 (on Magico) were performing a little bit like Spectral on stereoids..., In fact nothing was wrong, a near perfect reproduction. But I was not connecting to the music at all. A kind of boring neutral, I assume you understand, what I mean.
Than I spotted a Jeff Rowland amp in the showroom. As had for a long time the
Jeff Rowland Model 9 Ti/HC monos, I wanted to listen to the current best stereo, the
— Jeff Rowland model 825
To my surprise, I liked the 825 more, that the much more expensive Telos 2500.
The flow of music was back, I was able to understand the musicians and their way to play, I was connecting to the music and not longer focussed on the details of reproduction.
Finally I went home with a JRDG 825 in my car
And I have to say, that 825 is a perfect match for the MAXX3. I never heard them performing on this level. If I was volunteering in the last month, that MAXX3 likes a low to medium damping factor to sound vibrant and fast and not overcontrolled, they play now as fast and vital as never heard before with a damping factor over 1000. My learning curve with Wilson is continuing
The resolution, specially in the midrange, has increased. without becoming a lean performancer (as used to be with the 1060)
Listening to some well known tracks, the new level of basscontrol and extention to the lower frequencies became even more obvious. A very perfect match to the MAXX3 power demand.
Now I will have a look into the market, if a pair of 925 monos will become available for a fair price , seems to me like the narural next step. But may be the difference is not that big, as it seems, that 925 and 825 have the same output power, just in 2 chassis and one more PSU.
I will find out
The first change was from Koda K10 Preamp to
- Grandinote Genesi.
I was happy with the sonic signature of the Koda, but possible Gain (only 6db) was very low and I missed a remote control. Both is given with the Genesi preamp. The Genesi is more open, less soft, more dynamic. I would say, the Genesi is more close to the trueth..., but with the Koda the reproduction was more close to the heart , to the emotion of the music itself.
So far I used the following amplifiers with some enjoyment:
— Boulder 1060
a lot of information, speaker control, huge staging, with Koda well balanced, with Genesi a littly dry and bright
— VTL S-400
a majestic powerfull music reproduction, a lot of energy in the lower end, but not the best control in the very deep end. Wide stage, a lot of energy in the voices, but lacking of contour and precision.
— Grandinote Demone
very fast, dynamic, energetic, vibrant. Due to the 60w constraint not so good at higher levels, basscontrol starts missing. a natural partner for the Genesi preamp
All 3 amps are in a similar pricerange. Remembering my Convergent Statement mono amps in comparison all 3 amps are a compromise in different areas of music reproduction.
Looking arround for good amps on offer, many of them were out, as the Genesi preamp only accepts full xlr connections.
I owned Krell 600e, so a Krell or an Agostino Amp were acceptable, but in Europe were no fair priced offers in the market. May be I have to wait for the next generation of Krell. with Dan back
But close to my home a
— Goldmund Telos 2500
offer gots my attraction, so I drove to the dealer. There were a lot of Spectral gear in the showroom as well, so we started talking about the Design similarities between Goldmund and Spectral. Bandwith rules aproach. It was than no surprise, that the Telos 2500 (on Magico) were performing a little bit like Spectral on stereoids..., In fact nothing was wrong, a near perfect reproduction. But I was not connecting to the music at all. A kind of boring neutral, I assume you understand, what I mean.
Than I spotted a Jeff Rowland amp in the showroom. As had for a long time the
Jeff Rowland Model 9 Ti/HC monos, I wanted to listen to the current best stereo, the
— Jeff Rowland model 825
To my surprise, I liked the 825 more, that the much more expensive Telos 2500.
The flow of music was back, I was able to understand the musicians and their way to play, I was connecting to the music and not longer focussed on the details of reproduction.
Finally I went home with a JRDG 825 in my car
And I have to say, that 825 is a perfect match for the MAXX3. I never heard them performing on this level. If I was volunteering in the last month, that MAXX3 likes a low to medium damping factor to sound vibrant and fast and not overcontrolled, they play now as fast and vital as never heard before with a damping factor over 1000. My learning curve with Wilson is continuing
The resolution, specially in the midrange, has increased. without becoming a lean performancer (as used to be with the 1060)
Listening to some well known tracks, the new level of basscontrol and extention to the lower frequencies became even more obvious. A very perfect match to the MAXX3 power demand.
Now I will have a look into the market, if a pair of 925 monos will become available for a fair price , seems to me like the narural next step. But may be the difference is not that big, as it seems, that 925 and 825 have the same output power, just in 2 chassis and one more PSU.
I will find out
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