An unscientific poll: How often are you happy?

Just came on this post, as usual with Zaikesman a good one. I'll add my recent experience which may be of interest. My Jadis JP80 is currently out of the system for repairs and a modification, and my dealer has been kind enough to lend me a Lamm LL2 (non-deluxe version) for the past month and a half to use while the repairs are being made (a good argument for a good dealer, I'd say!). The LL2 is a superb unit, easily better in most respects than my Jadis, particularly transparency, high frequency extension and retrieval of low level detail. I would seriously consider buying it, in its deluxe version (the bigger power supply would improve the unit's dynamics, which aren't as good as the Jadis) as a replacement for my JP80 if it continues to break down on me. And yet, I would say that I am virtually 95% to 100% happy with my system's sound with the Jadis in the system, but I am maybe 90% happy with the Lamm in there. I miss the HUGE Jadis soundstage and bloom, I don't mind the lack of the last word in low-level detail, and I think the Jadis is the more involving unit. Colored, yes, but in a way consistent with music and music as I hear it in the concert hall. The Lamm, I think, is at times revealing more than I want to hear when I listen to music, perhaps making me listen to the system or the technical shortcomings of the recording itself, and that may be the cause of my slightly lessened satisfaction. I will also note that I gave up on my JP80's phono stage (a non-fixable noise problem) and substituted the Lamm LP2 phono stage, again a far more revealing unit, but in that case running it through the JP80's line stage only hightened my enjoyment of the music. Curious; I wonder if any of you out there have enjoyed your systems a little less as they became more revealing?

Thanks for the input, gents, glad to see this thread revived (Detlof sez, Let's see how long it lasts!).

RC, is it your system you wind up enjoying a little less, or maybe your recordings? Does the difference matter? Should it?

As for me, both my room (I moved) and system have changed substantially since I first posted the thread, so once I finally figure out just where exactly I've landed myself, I'll have to update my $ and %.

I think it's the recordings, and all of them are CDs. SACDs sound terrific and involving, as do LPs. Some Cds, though, with the added high frequency extension, seem a little too threadbare harmonically, even upsampled. After listening last night, I'd maybe move the satisfaction level up to 95% with the Lamm, as I thoroughly enjoyed a few SACDs I had time to listen to last night. So I guess the Jadis is kinder to my CD collection than is the Lamm, as it adds a lusher sound to the midrange.

Rcprince, Zaikesman nice as always to be on a thread with you. Yes, all Jadis Preamps cheat beautifully in the midrange and what Rcprince found with the Lamm, I experienced with the Aesthetix IO, which is far more revealing, has better soundstage LAYERING and moves you closer to the event. However, I've found, that listening through the Aesthetix is always a capturing and thoroughly satisfactory experience, but with the Jadis, I stop listening critically and am drawn much more easily into the music. This especially since I equipped them entirely with Tele NOS of the 302s and 303s series. Yes, I'd also say, that the Jadis is kind to the software, whereas the Aesthetix, as obviously the LAMM gear as well, is more revealing and less coloured. However, the Jadis is like a beautiful women, who - although you know that she's not always completely truthful and above board - will enrapture you in such a way, that you don't much care about what truth is and enjoy the moment (to get back on topic ) 100% in complete bliss and happyness. Cheers,

Detlof, I presume you mean the Tele 802 and 803 series, which I use in my preamp and are as good as they say! Yes, I think that I really don't want to listen critically very much after all these years. The Lamm is a nice piece in that it handles the accuracy/musicality issue with an excellent balance, just not quite like the Jadis. A worthy replacement if necessary (although my dealer has a customer looking to sell a JP200 so he can buy a Lamm L2, maybe I should refinance the house and trade my wife a new kitchen for that piece, if I can find space to put it).