Varese/Gryphon/XVX impressions

[Mike Lavigne]

I have a different opinion. I have owned a TechDas AF1 plus with a Graham Phantoma at a period I also owned an EMT 927/SME 3012R. IMO the TechDas was the best turntable I owned, much closer to the performance of the Studer A80 playing tapes than the EMT. I got it from a friend who owned also a Continuum Caliburn and I listened to both side by side several times in comparison, including with the SAT turntable. IMO , all ranked very high in quality. There are so large differences in sound quality between top vinyl that choice is mainly a question of listener preference, not which is the "best". But the TechDas /Graham was extremely resolving and neutral - easily the best vinyl system I owned.

I have now listened several times in separate sessions to the dCS Varese with D'Agostino's Relentless and XVX. When playing top digital recordings, IMO it is at a different level from all else I have listened in stereo - an immediate absence of artifacts that can disorienting - where are they gone?

'poof',

absence of artifacts verses realism of vinyl....3 years ago. not every tt set-up relates the realism of better vinyl pressings equally. but the better tt's all do a pretty good job.

 

[microstrip]

'poof',

absence of artifacts verses realism of vinyl....3 years ago. not every tt set-up relates the realism of vinyl equally. but the better one's all do a pretty good job.

I am used to this line of preference - considering our favorite artifacts as realism, because they were masterly recorded, we got used to them and enjoy them.

We have different perspectives on stereo reproduction since long, no problem. BTW, I have not changed my opinion because of the dCS Varese - in general I have preferred digital format to vinyl for a long time - surely some particular recordings can reverse it. I am happy because I find the dCS Varese a significant step in sound quality that I appreciate, not because of feeding vendettas.