jafant...
Sheesh, dude - I was just submitting a post to an unrelated thread (Maggies) when I closed it to submit an update here! Eeeeerie...
First and foremost I have to offer that we all should REALLY, and I mean really, read the manufacturers manuals thoroughly. As a now official "old fart" with decades long experience of hooking up 2 channel hifi many times over, I most often took the manuals out immediately, glanced at them, and tossed them into a drawer somewhere or, even worse, into the recycle bin. Mind you, these acts of carelessness were committed when my mindset was, "well, here's ANOTHER piece of equipment I'll own forever."
And then I stumbled upon Audiogon...
On point...
As per the Simaudio manual's suggestion to leave the unit "on" at all times - advice that I previously determined to be foolish from any manufacturer - I have to admit that it makes complete sense with the 340i integrated. As you already know I employ a Furman conditioner in my system which controls the power to all my components. I have left the Furman "on" all the time since purchasing the 340i, leaving it in "idle". Powering off the 340i immediately puts it in idle mode. There is an on/off switch on the rear of its chassis if one is inclined to do so, but it's located in an absurdly tight space requiring some awkward finger searching, not to mention unnecessary monkeying around with the piece if it's in a rack. If there's news of a storm I simply power down the Furman.
Anyway...
Yes Virginia, there IS a sanity-clause. Simaudio's owner manual suggests that leaving the unit in idle will serve to break the amplifier in, that it will sound better with some amount of hours of operation. Having owned a fair amount of tube equipment in the past distant and recent I knew that well in advance.
The 340i however, unlike anything I've owned in the past, became quite a different source of amplification yesterday afternoon by following the suggestion. Jeepers - imagine that!
Moving from CS3.5 to CS3.6 has been an education in how "moving up" a manufacturer's lineup may infer "mo' better", but rarely if ever delivers. In my case it has - in spades.
Yesterday afternoon I turned on the HAP to spend a few hours relaxing after getting a quote on a new roof for the house. (Shit - there goes the Pass Labs monoblocks!) Kidding...
What the 3.6's showed me immediately when I hooked them up a few weeks back had become considerably more refined, focused, defined. The soundstage, which I believe I previously mentioned as seeming to float 3 feet in front of the speakers, remained intact, gaining a sense of presence they possessed before - after all we're talking Thiel here - but now almost tangible. The 340i had broken in.
Man, the lower midrange and bass became tighter at low volume, again, more defined. Prior to yesterday I was thinking, "gee, this amp kinda overlooks the low end at low volume" - which could also be said of the Thiels - but it became well defined and true, "musical" instead of "reproductive" if you will. At first the 340i seemed to "thicken" the midrange compared to the Pass Labs/BAT setup I enjoyed prior, but now more articulate, less emphasized? The mids on the 3.6 are outstanding to begin with, here the instruments could be better recognized.
The upper mids and the highs...stunning, and from speakers that are well known for doing that in the first place. Again, listening to one of my reference tunes, "Cyril Davis" off of Ginger Baker's "Why?", the piano gained presence, weight, definition.
I promise not to use "defined/definition" again.
Well, I'll at least try not to...
This is the same amp, same speakers, same source, same cabling. What the 340i was holding back it just gushed yesterday afternoon.
Moving up to the 3.6's over the 3.5's has been an absolute pleasure. The 3.6's midrange is far more immediate than the 3.5's had been, it's lower midrange and bass reproduction is as fine, perhaps even more articulate than I enjoyed from the 3.5's.
jafant...I am almost hesitant to suggest yet another possible source to drive your 2.4se's but...Simaudio might find a place in your list you most patient son-of-a-gun!
PS: I've moved the speakers 9 feet apart, 18" inches from the back wall. Mo' better. My virtual systems page shows my current setup. Take special note of the Salamander cabinet. I bought that for $189, tax included, at Stereo Exchange in NYC when they were selling off to the walls to relocate. They're reopening soon.
