Well, good to get the Public Holiday that is Christmas out of the way LOL, and get back to more serious matters (beyond the overeating and overdrinking) ie more finetuning of my reinstalled analog.
Today, on a bit of a whim, I removed my suite of GIK panels (just keeping in the cnr bass traps). These helped calm down some of the worst excesses of my previous room, but since my current room doesn’t have any of these excesses, well maybe the GIKs are counter productive?
Well, maybe they are indeed. On their removal, there is an immediate upping in treble definition esp percussion, ride cymbals etc, more air and reverb and shimmer, just a more lifelike sound.
I can only think that the GIKs were unecesarily taming and dampening upper frequencies, because the upstick has been immediate and unambiguous.
There is a marginal worsening of imaging, a sort of increased “messiness” in the soundstage, but bass, texture and air remain in abundance, more detail apparent with these higher frequencies more audible, and so I’ll gladly take the slight diminution of orderly staging.
What is becoming more and more apparent is that despite my new found respect for digital over 6 months of full time listening to CDs only, in the second half of 2017, analog still pulls ahead with its ability to carve out a wholly substantial yet delicate picture that digital can only try to imitate at present.
And that I remain fully vindicated on choice of direct rim drive, linear air arm, Straingauge technology cart, as my analog perspective.
At this point I have zero compulsion to investigate much higher price point marques like SME, Brinkmann, TW, Kuzma, AMG etc. I’ve never felt that way before.
My remaining areas of optimisation remain finetuning the ideal subs settings on my Zus, nailing down precise speed (looking at investing in either a KAB SpeedStrobe or Monarch non contact laser tach), possibly an extra wide Stacore Advanced top platform, to allow me to position my tt more centrally over the main chassis plinth below, and a second Stacore Adv to isolate my new bespoke psus to tt motor speed controller and Straingauge energiser.
I start relistening to all my fave lps once I get the speed and Zus settings sorted, 24 months has been far to long to have had to wait.
But I can honestly say the sound I’m getting, and it’s potential to improve further, justifies me not rushing the reinstall, and ordering over a dozen advances, and waiting...and waiting some more...