I am currently evaluating the NuForce in my system,
Shanling CD-T100
Sonic Euphoria TVC
CJ MV-60
Gallo Reference 3
Cables: MIT, VenHaus Pulsars
I have listened to tube amps in my system for the last 20 years, yet the more I listen to the NuForce, the closer I come to admitting that I could easily live with these amps for the long run.
I am still in the first few weeks of evaluation, and these amps break in very quickly. These are my initial observations:
Dynamics are the best I have yet heard in my system. Low level detail is superb.
With the Gallos miraculous tweeter, extending as it does into the higher realms of the ethers, I find that any high-frequency garbage is immediately detectable to me. Yet, with decent recordings, I hear simply nothing objectionable going on in the top octaves of these switching amps; detail and speed are excellent without being "forward." This was quite a surprise for my ears, as I have heard very few solid state amps that have acheived this (these amps are also usually 90+ lbs. and functioning as room heaters 24/7).
Upper-mids are without glare or smear.
Palpability of the voice in the midrange leaves me only slightly wanting, but this aspect is very, very close to my reference amp. Bowing direction on stringed instruments (up-bow, down-bow) is easily rendered. Violas easily heard. I am still working on my final impressions of the midrange.
Mid-bass is warm, yet without bloat. Cello's and basses easily discriminated yet all overtones correct.
Bass is extended and spectral in its depth. In fact with these amps, I'm not thinking I would necessarily add the Gallo bass module any more.
I am still working out the soundstage, cables playing a big roll in the fine tuning. The soundfield is immense. Focus is uncanny. With the NuForce my listening position is somewhat forward and becomes more specific (I'm not wild about this aspect). The tubes have a characteristically more relaxed presentation, somewhat less focus - image is more smeary and floaty.
At the moment, the soundstage depth is somewhat lacking in my system regardless of which amplifier I use, I am still working with speaker placement and cabling, as I mentioned.
More to come.
