Do audiophiles know better than scientists when it comes to hi-fi?

[tfarney]

Tim, are your Senns also in-ear the same as the Etys? If not, that might explain why the Etys reveal more detail.

Regarding the Yaqin, here's where I got mine from. The chap, Michael, is very helpful, efficient and good to deal with:

http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/KT88-High-End-...742.m153.l1262

Marco.

No the Senns are HD580s, not in-ear. And yes, that does explain some of the detail in the Etys. But the Senns are also a bit rolled-off up high. They have a warm, laid-back voice, not a bright, forward one.

Tim

[Marco]

I suspected that might be the case - no worries

Let me know how you get on with your Yaqin enquiries.

Marco.

[Peter Stockwell]

There are all sorts of variables with hi-fi so I've got no idea why you preferred the Nait 5 to the KEL34 you had, although one thing I would say is that as far as push-pull design is concerned the KT88 amps I've heard have more 'balls' and a generally bigger more powerful sound than amps which use smaller output valves such as EL34s, etc.

...

I think you should revisit valves again at some point, this time with a more powerful push-pull design. Next time you might arrive at a different conclusion

I've been pondering the upgrade urge, and all that. In fact I'm curious and it's nice to hear other gear to what we have at home. But, somewhere along the way, I feel I have to learn how to be satisfied. I spent a fair some over the last year to raise the level of the Naim stack I run, and I find it galling, to say the least, to imagine that a £300 valve integrated is going make the rest seem like crap. So for the moment I'm doing the Ostritch thing . I'm already digesting the demise of the Bastin 401 from it's throne.

regards

Peter

[Steve Toy]

Peter,

You may like to consider the prospect of putting money in your pocket. I wonder how much your Naim amps would fetch on the s/h market. I imagine quite a lot because Naim gear always does and no doubt yours is in excellent condition.

I like the Naim sound and what I have now does not detract from its virtues at all. It builds on them. If you think the bass is going to be flabby, the dynamics limp and the timing all over the place, forget it because there's no way I'd put up with that.

What I'm getting is PR&T coupled with more depth, even better dynamics and resolution, timbre and texture.

A transformer volume control which is completely passive costs around £700 built from Glasshouse.

A fully fettled Chinese valve amp like the Yaqin, Bewitch or Puresound will cost around £1800.

So for around £2500 you'll get a pre/power combo that should feel confident in the company of a Nac 552/Nap 500 (imho).

[Marco]

I've been pondering the upgrade urge, and all that. In fact I'm curious and it's nice to hear other gear to what we have at home. But, somewhere along the way, I feel I have to learn how to be satisfied. I spent a fair some over the last year to raise the level of the Naim stack I run, and I find it galling, to say the least, to imagine that a £300 valve integrated is going make the rest seem like crap.

Lol. Peter, it's not quite as simple as that.

I am by no means saying for you to dump your Naim gear and buy a Yaqin - far from it. If you're genuinely enjoying your Naim equipment don't even think of going down the valve route. The most important thing is that when you sit down to listen to music that you enjoy what comes out the speakers and it makes you want to listen again and again - that's what hi-fi is all about when your system is working properly.

All I've done is outline the difference I feel there is between valves and solid-state. I enjoyed my CDS2/XPS2/52/135s for years, but I just fancied a change, initially going for the ECS monos, which were fantastic, along with other bits and pieces, and then latterly settling for valves. The musical presentation of both the system I run now and my old Naim system is different and enjoyable in its own way.

The thing is though, if you want, trying a Yaqin or Bewiched would only cost £300 or so on Ebay direct from China, and perhaps a further £60 for a step-down transformer (if you need it with French voltage) so it's affordable enough to 'speculate to accumulate' without even touching your Naim system. If you don't like it you can sell it on and you probably won't lose a penny.

It's something to think about but if I were you I would just enjoy your 1210 for just now and get used to what it's doing before mucking around elsewhere. You know that if you need any advice in future about Yaqins or whatever that I will always help when I can

Marco.

[johnrtd]

Nice discussion so far. The only remark I might make is that a music loving technician could predict the character of a circuit just by looking at the schematics.
And, when discussing the differences between solid state and tubes, I know some "nasty" ones from both types.

John

[tfarney]

I suspected that might be the case - no worries

Let me know how you get on with your Yaqin enquiries.

Marco.

I'm totally flummoxed. It seems that the best source of information is ebay, where there seem to be a hundred different models at a ridiculous range of prices. If I had cash in my hand right now, I would have no idea what to order. If it helps, I need about 10 - 15 watts. I need a quality headphone out (the main amps stepped down), and if I ended up with something excessively warm and "tubey," I'd be a very unhappy camper.

(un)Fortunately, the job opportunity I thought was going to put me in a position to pull the trigger slipped through my hands yesterday. I have more time.

Tim