What brands/ combinations of analog gear produce the best, most lifelike decay?

[caesar]

Does realistic decay correlate with more $$,$$$ spent across all brands?

 

[JackD201]

My favorite decay award goes to Dynavector XV-1t on a TW table and arm

 

[RogerD]

A total system issue...

 

[caesar]

My favorite decay award goes to Dynavector XV-1t on a TW table and arm

Thanks, Jack. You are an expert's expert. Not trying to put you on the spot, but why that combination?

 

[Folsom]

I prefer natural as opposed to attention drawing. But I admit attention drawing is more appealing than unnatural vanishing.

 

[Blackmorec]

Decay is more a function of noise and room. Early reflections in a large room and late reflections in a small room will mask decay. Small room late reflections should be diffused, preventing multiple reflections, while large room early reflections need to be absorbed.
Noise is the other enemy of decay.....as you reduce the sources of noise, primarily conducted and radiated EMI and RFI and resolve the reflections you’ll notice an increase in both purity and length of decay and an increase in recording venue acoustics.

 

[caesar]

Decay is more a function of noise and room. Early reflections in a large room and late reflections in a small room will mask decay. Small room late reflections should be diffused, preventing multiple reflections, while large room early reflections need to be absorbed.
Noise is the other enemy of decay.....as you reduce the sources of noise, primarily conducted and radiated EMI and RFI and resolve the reflections you’ll notice an increase in both purity and length of decay and an increase in recording venue acoustics.

Thanks. I completely agree on the room. Great bang for the buck improvements, if feasible in one's living situation.

But as we invest more $$,$$$ into components, we also get that "reduced noise" and more musical information, including a fuller acoustic with realistic decay of notes.

 

[JackD201]

Thanks, Jack. You are an expert's expert. Not trying to put you on the spot, but why that combination?

I wouldn't go that far Caesar!

There's just that synergy. I can only guess. The cart itself, a refinement of the XV-1s added richness to the aformentioned carts already great ability to dig out decay trails. My AC-3 likes to hold on to notes too. likes to do it a lot. It's probably the combination of medium torque, the copper platter and the oil bearing. Thee alnico magnets in the 1t, too. I regret selling the arm but kept the table for future use. My only complaint was excessive groove noise with some 45 rpm records. Not so much a problem with 33.3s.

In any case, the combo is very sweet and so is the bloom. Lovely, lovely with massed strings.

 

[Mike Lavigne]

most life-like decay that jumps into my mind is 1/2", 15ips tape played on the Studer A-820 into my King Cello, and a component of that are the Tana TS active platforms under my darTZeel preamp and dart 468 mono blocks, along with extreme room treatments allowing for optimal detail and ambient information retrieval.

there are a few tapes that really stand out in this area.

 

[Audiophile Bill]

I heard extremely good decay and space from the CS Port / Etsuro cart earlier this week. Very noticeably Uber reference class.

 

[steve59]

Krell 300il and Kef R105/3. vintage hifi. Revel salon1 and hegel h360(slightly less vintage) dsp8000se. only 5 years since new.