Ron’s New System

[bonzo75]

agree.

flow, nuance and note completion is enhanced by more pure simpler signal paths. some solid state can certainly deliver lots of authority and weight. but over time some prefer when the musical flow triumphs over the slightly strangling 'artifacts' of heavy weight circuits. these are matters of taste and preference. no one correct choice. the question is the musical immersion connection over time.

Resolution is very clear, i hear more recording details through certain type of systems done well. So much is lost when a system requires an amp to do complex phase corrections, handle impedance drops, in sensitivity mismatches of drivers, etc etc. At 105 db flat impedance everything aligned, the slightest shift of weight of hand on the bow can be heard

 

[Lagonda]

Hegel P30A

A mid priced SS preamp ? Did you sell your VTL ? Try running your Io balanced directly.

 

[PeterA]

Incorrect. And I am not referring to the specific brands you chose but the theme of presenting a high res powerful SS amp as more resolution than a SET. I have heard a few systems with Boulder 2160 including comparing the amp, and while it is a high resolution amp, the system resolution has always been quite poor compared to good analog playing through a low watt set into highly efficient speakers with simple crossovers. Because the latter is more closer to straight wire as compared to putting loads of junk in the middle of the signal path

Correct. Ron is looking at the preamps in isolation, not in the context of the rest of the system without which the preamps can not make a sound. To take his "non-partisan" certainty of the claim seriously, we need to know the context in which the "observable fact" was "subjectively impressed" upon the listener. And was it presenting pop girl playing guitar on an '80s recording?

 

[bonzo75]

Try running your Io balanced directly.

Why would you run the phono directly when you can connect it via the Gryphon woofers

 

[morricab]

For sure. But how can I list amps that will not work with them if I have not heard the combination in question?



Yes, I agree. As much as I love the Viva Aurora, Lamm ML3 and Absolare PSET (845 x 2) -- let alone sub-20 watt amps -- I never took any action to try them.

But I love these kinds of amplifiers, and the MastersounD in design gets me pretty close (845 x 4 PSET).

I think there is ample proof that Aries Cerat amps, at least the TriodeFet models, do a very good job with Clarisys speakers.

 

[Audiohertz2]

Resolution is very clear, i hear more recording details through certain type of systems done well. So much is lost when a system requires an amp to do complex phase corrections, handle impedance drops, in sensitivity mismatches of drivers, etc etc. At 105 db flat impedance everything aligned, the slightest shift of weight of hand on the bow can be heard

Hahaha,

Bonzo your cognitive dissonance and ill conceived chat is getting beyond ridiculous, a true Bovine zen master

105db
Flat impedance
Everything aligned
Complex phase corrections.

Help …

Bonzo , Try comparing the SS amps on the same loudspeakers for a change, put your SET on the Clarysis , BTW which actually do have a flat impedance curve unlike the others ,

Compare report ..!

 

[Atmasphere]

I am not convinced that anything in the Gryphon woofer tower is loading down the preamp when the woofer tower is off

With solid state gear sometimes the load is greater when the circuit is off.

The Clarisys speakers I've seen are easy to drive. 7.5 Ohms and rated 90 dB; effectively in most rooms operating as if they are 96 dB. Depending on your room size and the competence of the amplifier you might only need 50 Watts.

 

[andromedaaudio]

I think Ron likes to tinker .
With a finished system there is nothing more to do .
Also thread traffic will slow considerably which might not be the goal

 

[bonzo75]

Bonzo , Try comparing the SS amps on the same loudspeakers for a change,

Already been done, multiple times - though pointless

 

[Audiohertz2]

Already been done, multiple times - though pointless

You tried an SET on a clarysis vs SS ..?

 

[bonzo75]

You tried an SET on a clarysis vs SS ..?

Above discussion that stated from Boulder and Lamm was not referring to Clarisys but general resolution read again

 

[PeterA]

Above discussion that stated from Boulder and Lamm was not referring to Clarisys but general resolution read again

And I think it was about preamps and their relative level of resolution.

Ron: “For example, I love the sound of the four box Lamm preamp, but it does not have the resolution of the Boulder 3010. I don't consider this to be a subjective impression. I consider this to be a fact observable by any non-partisan.”

I am curios to learn how such a direct comparison was made, the system context, and how Ron reached his conclusion to make such a claim.

 

[Al M.]

And I think it was about preamps and their relative level of resolution.

Ron: “For example, I love the sound of the four box Lamm preamp, but it does not have the resolution of the Boulder 3010. I don't consider this to be a subjective impression. I consider this to be a fact observable by any non-partisan.”

I am curios to learn how such a direct comparison was made, the system context, and how Ron reached his conclusion to make such a claim.

I guess it also comes down to how you define "resolution".

 

[Holmz]

And I think it was about preamps and their relative level of resolution.

Ron: “For example, I love the sound of the four box Lamm preamp, but it does not have the resolution of the Boulder 3010. I don't consider this to be a subjective impression. I consider this to be a fact observable by any non-partisan.”

I am curios to learn how such a direct comparison was made, the system context, and how Ron reached his conclusion to make such a claim.

^that^ is a good point.
The higher distortion amps can sound more rrsoloving as. The harmonics sort of outline things with texts/sharpie.
It is not necessarily right, but a lot of people like those distortions.

 

[hopkins]

^that^ is a good point.
The higher distortion amps can sound more rrsoloving as. The harmonics sort of outline things with texts/sharpie.
It is not necessarily right, but a lot of people like those distortions.

Is it?
Out of curiosity, have you heard the amps mentioned by Ron or otherwise do you have any reason to believe he would be fooled by such crude gimmicks?

 

[Holmz]

Is it?
Out of curiosity, have you heard the amps mentioned by Ron

He mentioned 1/2 dozen amps…
But I thought we were talking in the context of SET amps.

or otherwise do you have any reason to believe he would be fooled

How would he be fooled?
- Few of the have measurements and distortion spectra, so there is no metrics and facts to fool him.
- Many people like the distortion, and are they all fooled too/as-well?

… by such crude gimmicks?

How is it a gimmick?
It is part of the design, and all amps have some distortion, so pick your spectral context.

 

[Kingrex]

Hahaha,

Bonzo your cognitive dissonance and ill conceived chat is getting beyond ridiculous, a true Bovine zen master

105db
Flat impedance
Everything aligned
Complex phase corrections.

Help …

Bonzo , Try comparing the SS amps on the same loudspeakers for a change, put your SET on the Clarysis , BTW which actually do have a flat impedance curve unlike the others ,

Compare report ..!

Why is this cognitive dissonance?
Wouldn't basic electrical theory say high efficiency, flat impedance, physical alignment instead of crossover alignment of phase/timing result in less loss of detail in the signal chain.

 

[Ron Resnick]

A mid priced SS preamp ?

Yes -- I don't believe in spending as much as possible just to placate audiophilia nervosa.

I am waiting for my high-gain Incito S which Stavros is cooking up presently.

Did you sell your VTL ?

yes

Try running your Io balanced directly.

When amplifiers are natively single-ended I do not believe in using balanced connections and cables.

 

[Ron Resnick]

The Hegel P30A has an output impedance of about 830 ohms, significantly more than the 50 ohm output impedance of the Incito S. IF the preamp sees a load from the Gryphon woofer towers even when they are off, this might explain the hardness that Robbes heard through the Gryphon woofer tower through-put.

 

[morricab]

He mentioned 1/2 dozen amps…
But I thought we were talking in the context of SET amps.


How would he be fooled?
- Few of the have measurements and distortion spectra, so there is no metrics and facts to fool him.
- Many people like the distortion, and are they all fooled too/as-well?


How is it a gimmick?
It is part of the design, and all amps have some distortion, so pick your spectral context.

Psychoacoustic studies have shown that most humans have a preferred spectral content and it’s not because of euphony or outlines with sharpies. It has to do with how out ear/brain has evolved to deal with such sounds from the natural world and what we are insensitive to and what we are hypersensitive to.