No problem, but the problem with early impressions is that they are subject to change.
I've since identified an annoying "fizziness" with the SEG that the Rega is completely free of with a smooth linear treble integration. It was vague with speakers but with headphones the difference is readily apparent.
Could be a power supply issue. I'll know on monday when an S-Booster arrives.
Allo Digione (w S-Booster)-> Rega DAC -> Rega Elex-R -> Harbeth P3ESR
Have you tried mode 1? I wonder if this trait is due to the much favoured mode 3.
Chord Mojo / Sennheiser HD600
Allo Digione (w S-Booster)-> Rega DAC -> Rega Elex-R -> Harbeth P3ESR
I’ve experienced the same, some tracks sound with a shrill overtone. Especially some high resolution (flac) tracks and older (flac) recordings are revealing a razorsharp shrillness. Most mp3 (320kbps) tracks sound great. My first thoughts were that it has something to do with the quality of the concerning master-recordings. But really, most of the music played through SEG sounds absolutely awesome. The separation of instruments, the clarity of voices, the dynamics, the 34Hz basstone through my little Magnats which I can finally hear and feel. These benefits outweigh this little drawback, for me it’s audio heaven.
Location: Glasgow, UK
Posts: 2,076
I'm Tony.
Not heard this with my SEG but I'm not playing high quality files only the TV and a cheap Denon streamer but I was listening to Simple Minds live from Perth on BBC4 tonight and my goodness it's hard to believe how good the SEG is with a poor quality signal, don't think I've ever heard the TV sound signal sound so amazing.
I swear that Charlie Burchhill's and his guitar was playing right in front of me in my lounge, uncanny.
Location: Hertford, Hertfordshire, UK
Posts: 320
I'm Adam.
I know, I’m not MasterTape, but allow me to quote a track; Worn Down Piano, Mark and Clark Band, CD Double Take. Ripped with EAC to flac format. A lot of fizziness/shrillness is happening here, it’s hurting my ears even at low volume and it gives me a headache. And for the pranksters, no, it’s not due to the kind of music...
Last edited by Baffleport; 27-05-2018 at 19:43. Reason: Grammar...
Sounds very promising. But first I have to order a coax-in-to-toslink-out converter for my satbox, I’m using the SEG coax for my streamer already. I have stored a lot of BBC4 recordings from various music programmes and a lot from BBC proms. I’m very curious to hear The Last Ship concert from Sting, broadcasted approx. 1,5 year ago by the BBC.
I want to be clear that this is through the Rega Brio which while slightly tamed compared to the old Brio-R is still capable of being a bit bright (via speakers and the HPA).
Since there is no analogue input on the back of the SEG I can't compare via its HPA that is miles ahead of that of the Brio unfortunately. But I will say that there is less excessive brightness out of the HPA of the SEG than what I'm getting from the Brio.
It's part "shrill overtones" as baffleport says, and I agree it can be headache inducing. Not blatantly obvious as much as just tiring. I'm used to no fatigue at all and this is a departure from that.
With "fizziness" I mean the sort of artifacting you can get in the sibilant region where suddenly there's a grain or fizz to the treble, often when percussion and sibilance collide. And again, I don't run into it often with the SEG's HPA that is smoother.
I like Joni Mitchell - Travelogue - Dream Flat Tires when assessing treble. Lot's of harmonic distortion in her vocal amplification, a potentially sharp ride cymbal throughout, dynamic peaks of brass and potential sibilance at full blast.
Overall I just wish the SEG was a bit more body and less outline. It's more textured than "tonal and musical" I think. But I also want to be clear that I think it's the better DAC, at 1/3 of the cost of the Rega, with a decent HPA thrown in. I just wish it was voiced a tiny bit sweeter.
Allo Digione (w S-Booster)-> Rega DAC -> Rega Elex-R -> Harbeth P3ESR