My Big system with Concert Fidelity DAC and Amplifiers

[CFfan]

Hi guys, if you looking for unbalanced to balanced transformer converter I can recommend Plasma Music from UK.
I have got the device today and connected my another unbalanced DAC to my full balanced system. The result is here:

 

[CFfan]

Thanks for your reply. Can you kindly provide more details on the Alize preamp, as it’s not on their website, and Ken, Masa's son in law never mentioned this preamp. Can post post pictures of its front and rear or of its inside by any chance? Also, do you have any pictures inside of the FX2 version? Would be very curious to see how did Masa incorporate his idea of vibration isolation. Would appreciate it greatly! Thanks.

Hello,
This is the pictures of my Alize. Masa said that the difference is only in two extra outputs for bi-amping. Regarding FX2 version with anti resonance box I know that it makes from two parts of aluminum and special material between. Also I spoke with Ken about your interest. You can contact with him directly about this.
Concert Fidelity do not have an agent in the US now because US agent, Mr. Chris Sommovigo of STEREO LAB, passed away a few years ago.

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Hello,
This is the pictures of my Alize. Masa said that the difference is only in two extra outputs for bi-amping. Regarding FX2 version with anti resonance box I know that it makes from two parts of aluminum and special material between. Also I spoke with Ken about your interest. You can contact with him directly about this.
Concert Fidelity do not have an agent in the US now because US agent, Mr. Chris Sommovigo of STEREO LAB, passed away a few years ago.

Thanks so much four your attention!

 

[AudioLibertarian]

Hello,
This is the pictures of my Alize. Masa said that the difference is only in two extra outputs for bi-amping. Regarding FX2 version with anti resonance box I know that it makes from two parts of aluminum and special material between. Also I spoke with Ken about your interest. You can contact with him directly about this.
Concert Fidelity do not have an agent in the US now because US agent, Mr. Chris Sommovigo of STEREO LAB, passed away a few years ago.

The inside layout of the Alize preamp is very different than of their LX3 preamps. Also the tubes are located inside, and not on the back panel. Lots of RF protection inside in the Alize.

 

[CFfan]

After 2cm moving the loudspeakers I finally found the right position for live sound.

 

[CFfan]

Step by step to a live sound….

 

[CFfan]

All system components are finally aligned in electrical phase. Only one pair of amplifiers play now. Another pair is on upgrading.

 

[CFfan]

Kaufmann sings Wagner. Not easy work even for a good system.

 

[ihmeyers]

Hello,
This is the pictures of my Alize. Masa said that the difference is only in two extra outputs for bi-amping. Regarding FX2 version with anti resonance box I know that it makes from two parts of aluminum and special material between. Also I spoke with Ken about your interest. You can contact with him directly about this.
Concert Fidelity do not have an agent in the US now because US agent, Mr. Chris Sommovigo of STEREO LAB, passed away a few years ago.

Your setups are beautiful.

I just purchased a CF080, the latest version. The Alize is very different as far as the configuration goes (standby switch on the front, all balance, multiple outputs, etc) though you would know better than I how much different it is functionally and in terms of sound qaulity.

My preamp is still breaking in but I like it. My main quibble is that the volume control is very coarse, incrementing 2db per click. I wish it was finer because many times 19 isn't loud enough but 20 is too loud. Because the volume control is so coarse anything above 25 produces audible noise in my system (Esoteric DAC/Merrill Amps/ Wilson Sasha Vs). The tubes that are included aren't very good. I had a pair of 1960s Amperex for the 12AU7s and am awaiting some others to try out as well as a couple of Mullard rectifiers.

 

[CFfan]

Your setups are beautiful.

I just purchased a CF080, the latest version. The Alize is very different as far as the configuration goes (standby switch on the front, all balance, multiple outputs, etc) though you would know better than I how much different it is functionally and in terms of sound qaulity.

My preamp is still breaking in but I like it. My main quibble is that the volume control is very coarse, incrementing 2db per click. I wish it was finer because many times 19 isn't loud enough but 20 is too loud. Because the volume control is so coarse anything above 25 produces audible noise in my system (Esoteric DAC/Merrill Amps/ Wilson Sasha Vs). The tubes that are included aren't very good. I had a pair of 1960s Amperex for the 12AU7s and am awaiting some others to try out as well as a couple of Mullard rectifiers.

Thanks for your reply,
I have not the problem with volume control on my CF080 or maybe I just don’t notice it.. I use this preamplifier in my system for films and music videos. The tubes are very important for sound quality of course.

 

[CFfan]

The sound of the live orchestra performance vs my system sound. I still have to work but the differences aren’t as big as before….

 

[ihmeyers]

Thanks for your reply,
I have not the problem with volume control on my CF080 or maybe I just don’t notice it.. I use this preamplifier in my system for films and music videos. The tubes are very important for sound quality of course.

I wish the volume control was a little bit finer. 2db change per click is higher than most preamps which are typically 0.5db for each step on the volume control. It's not the end of the world though.

I just replaced the stock rectifier with a Mullard EZ81 and that seems to have helped. I received a couple of different NOS 12AU7 tubes today that I might try over the weekend. I know in theory you can change those tubes without too much trouble, I find I have to take it off of my rack to safely swap them so I'll leave the Amperex for a day or two. I know someone that's selling the zl200 amps locally. It might be fun to audition them but it would make for a lot of work on the rack and I wouldn't get much for the Merrills if I sold them so I don't know.

 

[ihmeyers]

The sound of the live orchestra performance vs my system sound. I still have to work but the differences aren’t as big as before….

I really liked that comparison. I think your system sounds very life like. Your speakers are a very interesting design. Unfortunately my room is too small for speakers that large so I have Wilson Sasha Vs. I just bought a pair of Wilson LoKe subs that are coming next week in the matching color.

 

[CFfan]

I really liked that comparison. I think your system sounds very life like. Your speakers are a very interesting design. Unfortunately my room is too small for speakers that large so I have Wilson Sasha Vs. I just bought a pair of Wilson LoKe subs that are coming next week in the matching color.

Very nice room and great equipment!

 

[Rexp]

The sound of the live orchestra performance vs my system sound. I still have to work but the differences aren’t as big as before….

Great idea! Is this the recording (sounds good)? Also is your iphone set to stereo recording? Some are set to spatial by default. Cheers

 

[CFfan]

Great idea! Is this the recording (sounds good)? Also is your iphone set to stereo recording? Some are set to spatial by default. Cheers

View attachment 158588

Yes, my iPhone is set to stereo recording. The sound In spatial set isn’t good. I used the recording of Symphony No.4 from this Complete Albums Collection in QOBUZ. I think your recording is also from this collection.

 

[CFfan]

Thank you Tsuda-San for your new great product!

 

[ihmeyers]

Any help appreciated...

I will be auditioning a CF040 DAC next week. I have no idea which chipset it has and neither does the current owner. The board says "v 2.5" so I guess that means it's a newer version. It belonged to the late Chris Sommovigo who was set to be the CF U.S. distributor before he tragically passed. Is there any easy way to identify the chip set? I'd prefer it be the 32 bit DAC rather than the 16 bit NOS one. These are the two photos I was able to get. Thanks for any help.

 

[CFfan]

Any help appreciated...

I will be auditioning a CF040 DAC next week. I have no idea which chipset it has and neither does the current owner. The board says "v 2.5" so I guess that means it's a newer version. It belonged to the late Chris Sommovigo who was set to be the CF U.S. distributor before he tragically passed. Is there any easy way to identify the chip set? I'd prefer it be the 32 bit DAC rather than the 16 bit NOS one. These are the two photos I was able to get. Thanks for any help.

I will ask Concert Fidelity staff. The serial number will help.

 

[ihmeyers]

Thanks very much. This was Chris' personal unit, as was the CF 080 I bought. The CF 080 had never been unwrapped. I'm told he used the DAC for a short time before he passed but his widow doesn't have any specific information about the configuration of it.