I finally got the L2 line stage back and warmed up; in combination with the Allnic H3000, it is conveying dimensions of information that I never heard on this system before. It is not a question of detail or resolution, but the ability to hear the individual instruments in their own space, with more spatial character and more dynamics specific to the particular instruments. Often, a good system, particularly one using tubes, is described by its ability to 'image' and create a three dimensional quality; but what is happening here is far more than that: rather than everything sharing the same dimension, there is far more individual size and placement of the instruments in space, rather than an image or stage that is all of the same size, depth and dimension. (if that makes any sense). it is not 'hyperdetail' by any means, but simply more information being retrieved and returned without constriction. I have never loved the bass on the Avantgarde Duos, partly because of discontinuity with the horns and partly because they sounded a little one-note-ish- good hi-fi, in the sense that you could crank them up and get that impressive bass 'slam' but it didn't sound real and made the discontinuity with the horns more apparent; or back off the woofer levels and have a system that just didn't have very much bass. (I'll grant that this may be heavily room dependent and while I have worked on set-up, relative phase and some acoustic treatment, i've never gotten beyond those extremes except to compromise them to one degree or another). With the Allnic-Lamm combo, the bass is now prodigious and has far more tone- still not to the level I'd ideally like but far more like real music, not hi-fi. And the discontinuity is much less apparent). One other interesting attribute: the horns would get shouty sometimes on dynamic material, and now they are not exhibiting that- the system sounds far less constrained- I think the Steelhead, despite very good tubes, was compressing things- and the system is louder on dynamic passages. I don't normally play this system at ear splitting levels, I'm more interested in capturing as much information as I can at lower volumes and then setting the volume for a 'natural' playback level for given program material. (I like small combo music with female vocal, as an example).
Although I'm describing dissected parts, rather than the musical whole, what this all adds up to is a much more cohesive, engaging sound that has startled me, and made me giddy with the uncanny quality of its 'thereness.'
One other thing- I'm digging out lot's of good, non-audiophile records (oh, i have my share of the usual suspects, but I was enjoying the hell out of an old Phoebe Snow Shelter pressing, the original Janis Ian record that has '17' on it ('Between the Lines') and JT on CBS/Sony.
I bought thousands of records in the 80's and 90's, and never had time to listen to most of them. I bought the collection of an old, dear friend who passed away in the early 90's and never really got a chance to dig into all the early stereo, Verve, Japanese pressings, and other gems he had. Now, I'm having a field day! Granted, I have more time to do this, since I just semi-retired, but it's sorta like losing 50 lbs and realizing you have a whole wardrobe you've never worn.
In short, I am delighted with the Allnic- I have a selection of various vintage rectifiers- am currently using a the first series Mullard fat base, but have a host of others I will try as time goes on.
Soon, if the real estate gods are kind, my house will be sold and I will pack everything up and start from scratch in a new room. That's gonna be an interesting project, to say the least.