Okay ... I installed the two new BLACK fuses into the CD player yesterday afternoon.
New, right out of the box:
My first impressions were not good. While I heard a bit more transparency over the fully broken in RED fuses they replaced, I was faced with ultra highs that had a hard edge and an overall presentation that was less musically involving, and a flattened sound-stage to boot. Wider maybe, but not as three dimensional. Overall sound was boring.
Two hours in:
Things began to smooth out and become more three dimensional. Still not as musically involving as with the RED's though. I put the CD player on "repeat" and fixed dinner, ate and watched the evening news.
Five hours in:
Ah, now we start to boogie. The realism is back in spades. The BLACK fuses allow more information to be unleashed from the recordings over the RED's. Tonally, the piano is quite remarkable ... especially the growl of the lower registers. Things are starting to come together, but still, even though more transparent, still not quite as musically involving. I hear the promise of something great around the corner however.
This morning:
Okay, I'll say it right off ... WOW!
I have this private recording on two CD's of a Rachmaninoff piano competition at the L.A. Phil that is amazing. It was burned from the master tape. On the first disc, it starts out with the orchestra tuning up and warming up. The inner detail of the rustling pages, chair creaks, audience coughs and sneezes and musicians whispering to each other were insightful as never before. I could hear the sound of the auditorium as if I had been transported into the venue. Then the music started. The massed strings were gorgeous and very present. Not strident at all. The topping on the ice cream sundae was the sound of the piano. Extremely fast stops and starts, excellent dynamics and tonality. Like the RED's, I could hear the sounds that the piano itself makes ... the wood, the hammers, the petals. Nice.
At this point, are the BLACK's as good or better than the RED's? In most ways, a resounding yes. BUT ... there are still some very important things missing. The most important being a lack of musical involvement. Its getting better ... but no Kewpie Doll yet.
We've all heard those systems that have transparency in spades ... a sound stage to die for ... dynamics galore ... and yet you're still left wanting, right? That's where the system is at at this point. Great in most ways ... but ... but ... a bit boring.
Fast forward ...
The CD player has been on repeat all day now. Mr. Golden Ears (Robert) is coming over tonight for a listen. He was completely blown away with the improvements the RED fuses made. Robert is a good sounding board. He hears like a bat and is a tough critic and cynical as hell. We'll see. Stay tuned for an update either late tonight or early tomorrow. In the meantime ...
Happy listening ...
