2. music
  3. 1361722327

Jazz for aficionados

Jazz for aficionados

I'm going to review records in my collection, and you'll be able to decide if they're worthy of your collection. These records are what I consider "must haves" for any jazz aficionado, and would be found in their collections. I wont review any record that's not on CD, nor will I review any record if the CD is markedly inferior. Fortunately, I only found 1 case where the CD was markedly inferior to the record.

Our first album is "Moanin" by Art Blakey and The Jazz Messengers. We have Lee Morgan , trumpet; Benney Golson, tenor sax; Bobby Timmons, piano; Jymie merrit, bass; Art Blakey, drums.

The title tune "Moanin" is by Bobby Timmons, it conveys the emotion of the title like no other tune I've ever heard, even better than any words could ever convey. This music pictures a person whose down to his last nickel, and all he can do is "moan".

"Along Came Betty" is a tune by Benny Golson, it reminds me of a Betty I once knew. She was gorgeous with a jazzy personality, and she moved smooth and easy, just like this tune. Somebody find me a time machine! Maybe you knew a Betty.

While the rest of the music is just fine, those are my favorite tunes. Why don't you share your, "must have" jazz albums with us.

Enjoy the music.
orpheus10
rok2id's avatar
rok2id
7,859 posts
 
***** If you're happy with the way things sound now, you don't need one.*****

big_greg

Thanks for your input.  My thought process was this:

If you have a CD player with a headphone Jack, most often there will be a headphone volume control next to the jack.   This tells me that there is a headphone amp built in.  I can readily see how a more powerful external amp might improve things.

My receiver has a headphone jack that kills output to the speakers when a headphone plug is inserted.   There is no volume knob specifically  for the headphones.   The the receiver's volume knob, controls the volume of the headphones.   To me this means the receiver's power output or part of it is powering the headphone jack.   The receiver is rated at 120wpc into 8 ohms.  Would a headphone amp even be applicable or needed in this configuration?

I am not an audiophile so please overlook any ignorance in the question.

Thanks
Cheers
big_greg
6,726 posts
 
@rok2id You might consider starting a new thread about headphones so we don't derail this one. I dont know what receiver you have or how it's designed, but a headphone amp usually has only a few watts (like 1-5), so no, it's probably a different power supply. 
pjw81563
1,835 posts
 
Emotiva still manufactures the XPA - 2 but it is called the gen - 3.

I would check as may reviews as you can on this amp before making a purchase. They are still number one in quality to price ratio. Here is the link to the XPA - 2 gen - 3. 

https://emotiva.com/collections/amps/products/xpa-2-gen3

For home theater applications they offer 7, 5, and 3 channel amps as well.

Emotiva also manufactures high end pre - amps as well. And they too are priced for the working man. Here is their flagship model:

https://emotiva.com/collections/pre-amps/products/xsp-1

Of course it is all solid state. My knowledge of tube amps is limited as I have never been interested in going down that road. I have only listened to a handful of "tube systems" in my life and none of them impressed me enough to make me switch from solid state.

What I do know is that a good tube system with power approaching that of a solid state system can get very pricey in a hurry. Those using inexpensive/budget tube systems cannot compete with solid state.


pjw81563
1,835 posts
 
Here is the headphone amp I use. It has a built in DAC and costs less then $250.00:

https://mayflowerelectronics.com/arc/

I use the headphone amp exclusively with my pc which I have downloaded my complete music collection on in FLAC format. 

I like trying different headphones as they all offer a different type of sound quality. I currently have the Sennheiser HD 650 and also 1MORE H1707

https://www.amazon.com/Sennheiser-HD-650-Professional-Headphone/dp/B00018MSNI/ref=asc_df_B00018MSNI/...

https://usa.1more.com/collections/headphones/products/tripleoverear
orpheus10 OP
8,668 posts
 

SS Preamps are a non starter for me. While I have tube mono blocks in the listening room, SS power amps could possibly work with a tube preamp.

I have Audible Illusions M3A preamp.


        http://www.audibleillusions.com/news/


PrimaLuna Monoblocks amplifier


        https://upscaleaudio.com/products/primaluna-prologue-premium-monoblocks-pair


I have custom efficient speakers. I worked with a crossover design engineer to build my speakers. No need for an engineer for bedroom speakers, but I wanted something special for the listening room. Absolutely not recommended; it took 20 years of modifying before I was satisfied. Not as expensive as you might think when you build your own cabinet, but way too problematic. The end result is "holographic".

I had 150 watt channel SS amps before I got the tube 70 watt a channel monoblocks, and I can't tell the difference. I know it doesn't seem to add up, but there it is.

There are a multitude of advantages to tubes; you can change the sound of your rig by swapping different kinds of tubes, you can make it sound better than it's cost by purchasing NOS tubes. Although I'm biased, I say SS lovers like sounds, while tube lovers love music.
More to discover