Stahl Tek transport obviously with its matching Opus DAC .
Preferred the Stahl Tek over the Kalista , both into the Vitus Master DAC using a Stage 3 AES cable.
The Metronome is not an universal transport - but when coupled with Metronome own DAC's it makes an incredible digital playback system. For example, in the DCS Vivaldi it sounds quite inferior to the Vivaldi transport, that shares clock with it. However, when used with Devialet the Metronome Calypso ( the more recent model of the Kalista) was preferred by a wide margin - more organic and dynamic.
If that indeed is the case, then surely a hasty review while drinking is going to be heavily biased. We've all been there (or most of us likely) where a few drinks in we're making boisterous judgements in our listening rooms, but I hope that's not what the majority are using as critical assessments.
When's the last time you heard a modern digital source? Listen to Aqua, MSB, Aries Cerat or TotalDac for example and report back, none exhibit digititus.
I can however, report on many TT setups that exhibit analogitis - you know, horrible wow & flutter, tinniness, low freq rumble, footfall effects, lacking in bass extension and weight with a sprinkle of pops & ticks thrown in for free...
Ked, Arshad. I recall the Stahl Tek was quite the go-to digital five or so years ago, with an inflated price tag to match. Is there anything in the sound to suggest why a certain hardcore were prepared to spend the cash on it (obviously not anywhere near enough buyers, with the company going bust)?
Well, they weren’t the first to have that policy. Your words suggest it was hard to completely rid the Stahl Tek of a hint of hardness, that the Origine wasn’t prone to?
Well, they weren’t the first to have that policy. Your words suggest it was hard to completely rid the Stahl Tek of a hint of hardness, that the Origine wasn’t prone to?
I have also said that on that, we should wait to see if Jazzhead can get rid of that by settling it down for a longer time and tweaking something. That said, even if that works, which is to be verified, it will be good, but not for that price.
It's been 18 months since this report. Since then, Jazzhead has sold off his Stahltek 37k transport + 37k dac, Aqua formula, and Trinity. He got in the TAD Cd player, which he rates better than Neodio (I haven't compared here yet). I helped him source a Lampi Golden Gate from the used market at bargain price. He has now tried it with KR recti, KR PX25, and KR 242. Since the first note, he has been stuck on 242 - total transparency, see through, loads more energy, and distance increasing especially on classical (on amplified he says all his digital players are more or less equal). He called it a solid state tube - which is exactly how I would describe it.
He has now gone a bit mad and sourced himself a balanced Golden Gate and is getting the RK version of the tubes.
I will let him add, he doesn't access the forum much these days, if he wants to anything as the Lampi runs in (yes, it is stone cold after months of not being used, and the tubes are brand new so they will get better) and the compares of balanced and SE.
His one statement to me was "with 242 it's more direct unfiltered sound, so going back to the TAD it is like a step back from reality to recorded sound"
The Lampi is just put on the TAD. All his other gear is well cabled, isolated, and tripoint ground. He will get round to that with the Lampi. He is using the TAD for transport when playing the Lampi.
Downstream is Koda K15, Vitus SS 101 and Marten speakers
Lampi nation - Sorry I advised against the Pacific, hope you appreciate the rest, and I am sure he is mad enough to get round to the Pac soon.
I realised I did buy something a Fostex horn supertweeter to replace the ribbon supertweeter I have been using and some better quality caps for the crossover but only arrived 2 days ago
Kedar Whats you're take on the RK 242 and KR 242 I have. Some say more refined , next week I get a pair to hear. Have you heard them ? If so share please I can trust your thoughts.jazz is so right it's the most dynamic fast real music sound
Pushes it at you. I have been using j River now seems better and faster then Roon and hq combo
Thanks in advance
Kedar Whats you're take on the RK 242 and KR 242 I have. Some say more refined next week I get a pair to hear. Have you heard them ? If so share please I can trust your thoughts.
Thanks in advance
I haven't heard yet. I prefer the RK recti but haven't heard the output valves. Audioauattr, whose top valves when I was there we agreed on, we preferred 101d and KR 242. Then he bought the RK 242 and prefers those but I haven't heard.
I don't like RK 300b it's too artificial
RK PX4 is better than KR PX4 but not as good as KR PX25.
Ok I'm with you. The RK is the better recti and 101d is a greet tube by specs alone. But it seems my daxs don't like it lol. I did hear a gg1 setup For them it was Magic now doubt
Lucas says the 242 is the fastest slew rate of the set tubes so it makes sense it's fast and real
You were the first to push this tube but as you heard both gg Dacs Hated it. Both my Gg2 and pac love it and I asked Lucas to make both dacs sound great on the tube. I thank you for that a great tube
I haven't heard yet. I prefer the RK recti but haven't heard the output valves. Audioauattr, whose top valves when I was there we agreed on, we preferred 101d and KR 242. Then he bought the RK and prefers those but I haven't heard.
I don't like RK 300b it's too artificial
RK PX4 is better than KR PX4 but not as good as KR PX25.
I have the px 4 and px 25. Honestly the 242 blow both up. But if you want a relax sound they are better at the exp of jump or speed
On the pac it's network input is Linux inside
The px 25 are great there helps speed them up a bit. When are you coming to ny man it's been a while so much new here to hear and play
Pics too place is ok now hahaha
The only thing that matters with any DAC or transport is the quality of the electrical power in the entire system. Feed a digital source corrupt power and you will get some level of digitus. The truth thst until it is removed you don’t know it was there is never truer with digital. The SQ is stunning otherwise.
And to assume that all digital recordings exhibit digitus you would have to think that the recording chain somewhere is at fault. I listened to a redbook Living Stereo recording made almost 60 years ago transferred from the original master tape and it was stunning. Very rarely do I hear digitus.
I realised I did buy something a Fostex horn supertweeter to replace the ribbon supertweeter I have been using and some better quality caps for the crossover but only arrived 2 days ago