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Tube CDP/DAC sound: too "refined"?

Hi all, this is a controversial topic and I hope I will not offend anyone: imho many tube CDPs/DACs sound too "refined", too "smooth". Sometimes I would like to hear some "texture" but this texture is being smoothed over. It's fun and beautiful to listen at initially but on the long run it becomes... boring. It's like too much crême fraiche: it could be surprisingly tasty, but after a few times it won't surprise you any longer.

Chris
dazzdax
mrjstark
1,112 posts
 
IS THIS A "TRICK" QUESTION ????? CHRIS.......
mrtennis
3,295 posts
 
what do you mean by texture ? and what do you mean by smooth ?
honest1
586 posts
 
I have to agree with Bob and not just in terms of CD players, but amps as well - there is no one tube sound; their are many flavors of tube sound, and smooth and rolled off is just one of them. I haven't heard a lot of tube CD players, but my Atma-Sphere amps are definitely not too polite. I bet if Atma-Sphere made a CD player, it wouldn't be too polite, either.
dazzdax OP
599 posts
 
Of course this was a "trick" question meant to arouse you people. Are there other audiophiles (with solid state based systems) who want to give a response?

Chris
honest1
586 posts
 
Smooth would probably mean lacking texture.
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