2. amps-preamps
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Balancing "compelling sound" and euphonic sound

Has anyone else found the need to balance compelling aspects of sonics with forgiving/euphonic sound?

My examples here are headphone amps (but the points generalize to speaker amps).

I had a friend in the New Jersey Audiophile Society build me a custom 12AU7/FET headphone amp. I was amazed by its dynamics (micro and macro), it's musical detail and PRaT, expressive power. Very attention-grabbing sound.

I sold one of my other headphone amps at the time. Another one I had broke, so I ended up using this amp ever since then, about 8 years now. 

I massively improved my digital front end last year and although I found a much more dynamic and detailed sound, I had a lot of problems with overactive transients and this problem I have with certain sounds activating my tinnitus. I spent a lot of money trying to get something that had all the good qualities and none of the aggravating qualities.

Long story short, I tried a McIntosh headphone amp recently and all the "aggravating" factors disappeared. They were all in my 12AU7/FET amp! I didn't even realize that, and I could have solved my digital issues (which turned out not to be the digital) a lot quicker and cheaper if I had. 

At this point I realized I hadn't really ENJOYED my headphone system for a long time, and the McIntosh amp is more enjoyable. 

No it's not as dynamic or detailed or exciting, but it's the better option. And I used the word "euphonic" in the title, and it does seem that the Mac flatters certain low-quality recordings (such as YouTube classical music). 

I got tricked all those years ago because the 12AU7/FET amp was so engrossing. 

It seems that certain "attention-grabbing" qualifies of sound can also become fatiguing so they must be balanced with "pleasant" sound.

magon
avanti1960
1,548 posts
 

@magon 

definitely a fine line to walk.  I have succsssfully threaded that needle with system synergy after many years of trying.   my audio kryptonite comes in two forms-  the first is lack of refinement.  I prefer a slightly brighter sound as long as the dynamics are strong but not over the top and the sound is squeaky clean and refined.  

the other form of fatiguing kryptonite is sound that is too veiled, warm, overly bass heavy, "musical" etc.  If it is too far in that direction I find the sound just as fatiguing as overly analytical and lacking refinement.  it is as if my ears are straining to hear the missing detail !

magon OP
80 posts
 

@avanti1960 Interesting that you find an overly warm/veiled sound fatiguing. Interesting. I think I find it "boring."

Totally with you when it comes to refinement. I find that my power conditioning and PCs improve the refinement a lot. I use a system of distributed parallel capacitance and ERS paper throughout the house as well as a custom designed "power strip" that is chock full of parallel capacitance. This system was designed by Igor Kuznetsoff of the New Jersey Audio society. 

I was listening to a friend's headphone system and it lacked refinement. I had brought some PCs (which, by the way, have parallel capacitance built in) and put one of those on his DAC. Instant refinement improvement. He doesn't listen for refinement. He's happy driving his DAC from an iPad. I brought my Aurender N100 to drive his DAC via USB. Much better sounding than an iPad. 

By the way the Aurender N100, which cost me $1500 used, was the biggest jump in my digital performance I've ever heard, and the Aurender sound signature exactly matches my taste and desires. If I could afford it, I'd probably get one of their higher-end servers with DAC built in.

kennyc
1,804 posts
 

@magon 

Glad you found your solution, I might have guessed it’s the DAC before the tube amp.

My journey I’m using a high quality SS with transparent speakers, and a 100db speakers to investigate tube amps including flea watt.  

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