Yiangos
22-03-2011, 07:17
Yesterday,i decided to unplug the hi-fi system for 2 reasons.first,to give it the yearly clean-up and second,to re-arrange it so i can fit two wall shelf for the turntables (although i doubt the big Kenwood would fit,but hey,i got them,so i'll install them).Because the system will be down for a few days and thought it was a chnce to try a few interconnects (i can move evrything around something i can't when the system is in its place)i thought it would be nice to place an old Audiolab 8000cd (pre Tag McLaren version) next to the power amp and connect it using an old QED passive volume controller.
I expected the sound to be bright,grainy and bodyless but to my amazement,
everything sounded fine.In fact,it was much more than fine if one would take into concideration the Audiolab was gathering dust for years and if i remember well,when it was in production,it had a reputation of being "cold and sterile" sound,plus,it performed well right away without the need to let it warm up. To be 100% sure i was hearing what i was hearing,i substituted the Audiolab with my regular cd player (Cary 306) and it was very clear that the tonality shifter towards the treble.There was warmth,body,attack etc but still
one could easily hear that everything shifted upwards. Why do manufacturers
built their equipment this way ? Other than the explanation to please certain weird reviewers,especially Americans and their followers (buyers) who purchase whatever those reviewers say its good,i don't see any other reason.
I have a phono stage (sadly broken now) who has all the resolution in the world,yet,its sound is rounded,full and lovely sounding.What i'm trying to say is a component can sound "high end" , whatever that means,without having to sound overbright or/and in-yer face.btw the phono stage iwas refering to is Tom Evans "The Groove".
I expected the sound to be bright,grainy and bodyless but to my amazement,
everything sounded fine.In fact,it was much more than fine if one would take into concideration the Audiolab was gathering dust for years and if i remember well,when it was in production,it had a reputation of being "cold and sterile" sound,plus,it performed well right away without the need to let it warm up. To be 100% sure i was hearing what i was hearing,i substituted the Audiolab with my regular cd player (Cary 306) and it was very clear that the tonality shifter towards the treble.There was warmth,body,attack etc but still
one could easily hear that everything shifted upwards. Why do manufacturers
built their equipment this way ? Other than the explanation to please certain weird reviewers,especially Americans and their followers (buyers) who purchase whatever those reviewers say its good,i don't see any other reason.
I have a phono stage (sadly broken now) who has all the resolution in the world,yet,its sound is rounded,full and lovely sounding.What i'm trying to say is a component can sound "high end" , whatever that means,without having to sound overbright or/and in-yer face.btw the phono stage iwas refering to is Tom Evans "The Groove".