2. amps-preamps
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Most resolving, transparent amps.

What has your experience been in amplifiers?

The most transparent, detailed amps you've encountered.
I like to hear everything that's going on and follow the different lines and instruments but it does need to come together musically.
Dead quiet, black background, dimesnional, layered, imaging, open, extended top end - all qualities of top amps, I think. Let the music come through as it was put on the disc - no editorializing.

What have you found?
mr_bill
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Do great recordings sound better on systems that make bad CDs really terrible, or those on which they to sound decent? I ezpect the answer leads to two types of systems.
newbee
4,767 posts
 
Tvad, FWIW, "The ultimate resolving maching" means different things to different folks. All depends on what your goal actually is, I think.

For in my home, example using a Wadia direct into my old SF monos into my Silverlines and playing a Shirly Horn recording "Here's To Life" I got an absolutely focused and hugh sound stage. I could hear every room resonance in the recording. I'm sure some folks would have considered this high frequency reproduction and soundstaging outstanding. Personally I just found it totally an unrealistic reproduction of information on the disc which should have remained in the subliminal noise field. Same recording, same speakers, thru a pre-amp and I lost a bit of the "highs" but now the recording was warm and very engaging. Now that, for me anyway, is the 'ultimate'. Something that resembles music.

I'm not so sure I would feel that way if I were focused on listening to recordings of train whistles! :-)
muralman1
1,527 posts
 
To answer your question, Bubul57, absolutely great recordings sound better on highly resolving systems.
pubul57
3,712 posts
 
Muralman1, I agree. It is why I have a "transparent" setup, and a "musicality" setup. The easiest wat to do that I think is neutrality throughout, and "voicing" with a preamp.
waltcertain
19 posts
 
I am currently using a Marsh a400s amp coupled with a Superphon Dual Mono preamp (upgraded and modified by Stan Warren), and speakers with internal crossover by Stan Warren, and also interconnects and speaker cables by Stan. He also recommended the speaker drivers. This is the best combination I've heard, including all the high end audio retailers I've visited. I've also used my Supratek Sauvignon preamp in this system, but still prefer the Superphon preamp. The music reproduction is nothing short of superb in all regards, including all the criteria mentioned above. I'd like to try a Superphon 120 amp, but have so far been unable to locate a used one.

waltcertain
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