Ron’s New System

[PeterA]

In this hobby, a very small improvement is often enough to make you not want to go back to what was. Any improvement is an addiction.

 

[hopkins]

In this hobby, a very small improvement is often enough to make you not want to go back to what was. Any improvement is an addiction.

Deep… So there are other hobbies where small improvements are small improvements but in audio a small improvement is not a small improvement…

Anyway, it’s good to know that spending 50.000$ on a component offers only a very small improvement that is in fact a very big improvement.

Here’s a guide to qualifying improvements;

Audio Philosophy

 

[Holmz]

In this hobby, a very small improvement is often enough to make you not want to go back to what was. Any improvement is an addiction.

Addiction…

 

[morricab]

Well don't forget I had the low gain Incito S in my system for months, thanks to Robert Neill. This new one with appropriate gain for my system will only sound better.

But honestly one of my pet peeves in the industry is grossly hyperbolic fake quantification of subjective sonic improvement.

I totally agree with the ~ 20% improvement. That's the number I would come up with myself.

Thank you for the good wishes!

20% could easily be the difference between daily bliss and almost never listening, thus the subjective impact of a 20% improvement can be much larger in terms of system use and pleasure.

 

[thedudeabides]

To Hopkins. RE Post 7842.

Thank you for posting "Audio Philosphy". I am only through the "musical and involving" discussion but and even when you disagree, it is an extremely well written and serious attempt to demystify the hi end audio lexicon.

 

[bonzo75]

Thank you for your kind good wishes!

But a 300% improvement by changing preamps? Three times more convincing that somebody live is in my room singing to me?

Please stay where you are. The Hyperbole Police will be arriving shortly.

It is not clear if your previous preamp had the right gain or incorrect gain. If the current preamp is correcting it, then the improvement between right and wrong can't be expressed in precentages, it is infinity. If your previous preamp was the right fit, than a higher model might only be a small improvement.

 

[bonzo75]

Please stay where you are. The Hyperbole Police will be arriving shortly.

They are still held up trying to force the guy who said a reference recordings LP is sonically the best ever, to leave his house with his hands held high in the air (he currently has them in his ears and is threatening to press them in harder should the cops make a move)

 

[Ron Resnick]

In this hobby, a very small improvement is often enough to make you not want to go back to what was.

This is true. But this is a very different point than a claim of a 3X improvement by changing preamps.

 

[Ron Resnick]

20% could easily be the difference between daily bliss and almost never listening, thus the subjective impact of a 20% improvement can be much larger in terms of system use and pleasure.

I would think that the percentage difference between "daily bliss" and "almost never listening" would be a greater delta than 20%.

For example, if I found a system to be relentlessly edgy, bright and fatiguing, a 20% decrease in edginess, brightness and fatigue is not going to give me daily bliss.

 

[Holmz]

…
For example, if I found a system to be relentlessly edgy, bright and fatiguing, a 20% decrease in edginess, brightness and fatigue is not going to give me daily bliss.

The question ^here^ is why was it edgy?
And how did that happen… i.e. what was the causal mechanism?

Is it the source, the speakers, preamp or the amp, or in a distant last… something else?

 

[orfeo_monteverdi]

A new arrival!

View attachment 154597

[please forgive my poor English]

Anyway, whatever the model, it is an Aries Cerat: near zero compromise regarding the power supplies, each tube has its own transformer, and choke, etc.
This results in incredibly heavy weighty gears: 33kg for their smallest preamp, 75Kg for their new 15w NOIES SET amplifier (the Quidecim), etc.
Such weights are no problem once the gear is in place. But it has to be...unpacked before.

My point is: be very, very careful with your back while unpacking ! Get (a lot of) help.
Before any move, think about what movement you and the team will make. Repeat those movements together before lifting any load (and clarify before who wears what before any attempt: the center of gravity is closer to the transformers, rounded edges, no handle at the back, etc).
(Sorry if this seems obvious, but I had to tout this before.)

Good luck with the unpacking. I cross my fingers.