Just let me know when and if you're ready. No rush and no biggie. Just had a job over the weekend cramming the components into the back-up system. The EVS 1200 in that system had to sit in front of the entertainment unit and the little PC running JRiver behind the monitor/TV. All up and running and sounding really nice, although not in the same league as the main system. Now I have a couple of more systems to adjust (hook up and move stuff) where all the shifting of stuff around. Then I'm done for a bit (after the new USB cable gets here in a week or so). The room where the EVS now sits is not big (about 11x13 and not rectangular - the doorway at the front and closet in the back are at angles) and the power is lots more than necessary. Using Selah Audio SA2s (7 inch Seas woofer and Fountek ribbon tweeter) hooked to a Rel Strata III sub.
Stock Voyager GaN amp (350/600) Contrasted with my EVS1200 (600/1200)
The Voyager (V) I received is well broken in, and as the title says, it is stock. An upgraded version will come later.
I let the V warm up for ~ 24 hours while I listened to my beloved EVS 1200 (~$2300) playing a wide variety of Redbook CDs; The Judds, Chris Issak Heart Shaped World, Leonard Cohen remastered collection, Willie Nelson Across the Borderline, the Eagles Hell Freezes Over, and Jennifer Nettles Playing with Fire (love the music, but the mastering has a few ear bleed cuts- or does it???). I capped the session off with Roger Waters Amused to Death SACD, a huge, occasionally very dynamic, and intentionally phasey recording. While I enjoyed the hell out this listening session, but afixed in my mind was reading others reporting on their not fully broken in V amps frequently mentioning detail/clarity, the music via the EVS 1200 wasn't as focused as I felt it should, but have accepted for 2 years, as it easily outperformed my PS Audio M700s (MSRP $4000), FYI, their M1200s are based on the same IceEdge AS1200 modules as my EVS 1200, but untouched. They simply added their own tube input stage (MSRP $7000), and Audio Alchemys DPA-1 ($2000), wish I could have tried the monos ($4000), but...
Could the lack of focus be elsewhere, like the Wire World Electra 7 Power Conditioning cord ($240), connected to my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5, which is IMO, my weakest PC, all the others are $700+, or my $150 Pangea XL coax cable? How would the V stack up? Im thinking it can't be THAT much better, and what about the huge power disparity in my ~ 26 x 38 X 12 lively room with lots of glass and open beam ceilings, which adds up to brightness?
I connected the V, but didn't want to start with any of the same discs, just in case the V needed to see some signal before being ready for the comparison, so I chose Getz/Gilberto Jobim and Astrud Gilberto SACD as a nice way to ease into the Voyager. I haven't listened to this disc in months, so no recent memory to taint hearing it now. Did I say 'ease'. Silly me.
I'll cut to the chase hear/here, from the first note, it was obvious that this is a special amp, but at $3500 MSRP? OMG: What a steal!!! The focus reminds me of how much sharper and with greater depth of field pictures taken with Leica camera lens are, compared to all other cameras and lenses. GaNs magic is the equivalent of Tesla EV motor speed- immediate: The V grabbed me from the first note.
More to come after I go through the Redbook CDs that I started with, but I already know it's a moot point. And wilder, still, LSA has already made a few tweaks, like the internal wiring for an additional $175.
Ric Schultz was right when he said expensive amps will be boat anchors
I let the V warm up for ~ 24 hours while I listened to my beloved EVS 1200 (~$2300) playing a wide variety of Redbook CDs; The Judds, Chris Issak Heart Shaped World, Leonard Cohen remastered collection, Willie Nelson Across the Borderline, the Eagles Hell Freezes Over, and Jennifer Nettles Playing with Fire (love the music, but the mastering has a few ear bleed cuts- or does it???). I capped the session off with Roger Waters Amused to Death SACD, a huge, occasionally very dynamic, and intentionally phasey recording. While I enjoyed the hell out this listening session, but afixed in my mind was reading others reporting on their not fully broken in V amps frequently mentioning detail/clarity, the music via the EVS 1200 wasn't as focused as I felt it should, but have accepted for 2 years, as it easily outperformed my PS Audio M700s (MSRP $4000), FYI, their M1200s are based on the same IceEdge AS1200 modules as my EVS 1200, but untouched. They simply added their own tube input stage (MSRP $7000), and Audio Alchemys DPA-1 ($2000), wish I could have tried the monos ($4000), but...
Could the lack of focus be elsewhere, like the Wire World Electra 7 Power Conditioning cord ($240), connected to my Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5, which is IMO, my weakest PC, all the others are $700+, or my $150 Pangea XL coax cable? How would the V stack up? Im thinking it can't be THAT much better, and what about the huge power disparity in my ~ 26 x 38 X 12 lively room with lots of glass and open beam ceilings, which adds up to brightness?
I connected the V, but didn't want to start with any of the same discs, just in case the V needed to see some signal before being ready for the comparison, so I chose Getz/Gilberto Jobim and Astrud Gilberto SACD as a nice way to ease into the Voyager. I haven't listened to this disc in months, so no recent memory to taint hearing it now. Did I say 'ease'. Silly me.
I'll cut to the chase hear/here, from the first note, it was obvious that this is a special amp, but at $3500 MSRP? OMG: What a steal!!! The focus reminds me of how much sharper and with greater depth of field pictures taken with Leica camera lens are, compared to all other cameras and lenses. GaNs magic is the equivalent of Tesla EV motor speed- immediate: The V grabbed me from the first note.
More to come after I go through the Redbook CDs that I started with, but I already know it's a moot point. And wilder, still, LSA has already made a few tweaks, like the internal wiring for an additional $175.
Ric Schultz was right when he said expensive amps will be boat anchors
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- 111 posts total
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I just messaged tweak1, and I hope you get together and A/B the stock Voyager with your modded Voyager in each other's systems. There are many variables you discussed, so if you guys can keep it simple and constant, you can figure out what the mods do, pro and con." As Tweak1 noted, he doubts he will have the stock Voyager but has heard the EVS vs. the stock Voyager and it should be a good frame of reference whenever he's ready (it's probably a bit over 2.5 hrs. south of me). He's welcome to come to my place at anytime. I'd imagine my new USB cable (leaving one off since it is a pain to do) will be here about a week from today. |
I'd also like to point out that when I give an opinion, whether one sitting in my room would agree or not (and I would put Tweak1 in the same light), it is my opinion without any financial incentives received from anyone in audio industry. It is common practice in the audio industry to offer accomodation sales (some manufacturers may not do it on certain products, usually more reasonably priced ones, if there is not much of a profit margin and often these sales are at less than dealer cost). These accomodation sales are typically made to people in the industry, including, but not limited to, sales people working in a store for an audio dealer, audio dealers for their personal use, reviewers, audio manufacturers, people holding themselves out as providing audio consulting services, etc. So when comments are made by some, readers really should take this into account. It's not that any of them are horrible people. It's a business (e.g. https://www.wboc.com/story/44389434/global-consumer-electronics-market-analysis-till-2027-sales-reve... ) with big dollars at stake. Someone may praise a $100k amplifier but if is something they got as an accomodation sale for $50k, with an agreement to not re-sell it within a year (and it is not uncommon for someone to sell such things and make some extra money either), there's a difference between that an a genuine hobbyist who's just crazy. Some sites will be a bit more forthcoming and disclose that there are financial interests (e.g. https://6moons.com/audioreview/) and others may be silent on the issue. Not criticizing the way things work or anyone, but just stating reality. I think too often people forget about this. As noted within this thread, that's why I posted here vs. some of the others to strictly report my observations between the two amps as well as my personal experience with my own system vs. debate those who have industry connections and either expouse with very limited or perhaps no experience that all class D amps suck or other things which their persoanl interests do not allow them to be impartial. I've noted I've own some more expensive amps that I didn't care for as much and have had friends in the room that came to the same conclusion. I've got nothing against the brands I didn't care for as they are good companies. |
Adding this link to a review of the Audio Alchemy DDP-1 + PS 5. These have been in my system for several years, and I find them hard to replace without spending a lot more, though I would love to hear R2R but it would need a similar HQ analog volume control. The reason I am posting this is a guy is selling this pair for $1695 on another site. Here's the link to one of the reviews. If you are interested, just do a search
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- 111 posts total