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Are my ears just fooling me?

I have been in this hoppy for a couple of years. I have been through alot of equipment, trying to find the sound for me (dont we all!) I have really enjoyed it but something is starting to bother me. I for some reason feel that every system I have ever heard cannot reproduce a saxophone with the body and emotion like when I hear it live. I am young but I have listened to and owned equipment all over the board. Most hifi gear I find is just really thin sounding to my ears, even with owning many tube amps. Is this normal? Does my ear just want to hear distortion with playback that really isnt there on the recording? I have never heard SET amps before and think they maybe down my alley...but is it just some more "ear candy"??
macd
learsfool
1,215 posts
 
Didn't finish reading the thread after I saw that you could buy some Klipsch Cornwalls locally for only $700. Snag them!! Speaking as a professional orchestral musician/audiophile, I can honestly say that generally speaking, nothing I have ever heard reproduces the timbre of acoustic instruments more accurately than horn speakers driven by tube electronics. The Cornwalls are sensitive enough that they can be driven by all but the very lowest watt SET amps, so that would be a very good match if that is the direction you are looking to experiment in. I own a pair of Cornwalls myself, and am very pleased with them, though someday I do want to own some fully horn loaded speakers.
rrog
1,958 posts
 
It's hard to find well recorded saxophone music. Try the title track from Grant Green's "Idle Moments" and Harry Allen "Blue Skys" on John Marks Records.
markpao
519 posts
 
I have to agree with the Klipsch recommendations above (I'm probably biased because I own a pair of the Khorns). These speakers are fast and play horns very well. Every time I hear a sax blast come through my head raises and a huge smile gets planted on my face.
artmaltman
769 posts
 
You are correct. Welcome to the club!

I have found that room size relative to the size of the drivers is critical.
It is easier to achieve that kind of presence in a smaller room, strictly speaking, if you can dedicate the room to audio

Setup is critical too. Speakers away from wall, toed in a bit, can produce a very satisfying sax.

Cables like Cardas help to warm up a system, make the sound more rich.

IMHO.

Art
charles1dad's avatar
charles1dad
10,250 posts
 
Macd,
I tend to agree with the posters who are suggesting tubes with either horns or hi effiency speakers with larger drivers. I know exactly what you mean by"that tone" and full 3D body and presence. I listen to live jazz in small venues fairly often. Those who have mentioned preamps with tubes other than the common miniature 9 pin type may be on to something also. My preamp uses 101D tubes(which are directly heated triodes). The speakers use dual 6.5inch drivers for the midrange(you need to move lots of air to mimic size and presence). DRIVEN by 300b amps, it`s as close as I`ve ever come to that live feel.I think the Klipsch with a good DHT tube amp (SET or PP) will get you well on the way.
Best of Luck
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