Stubies
01-09-2013, 12:22
First, thanks to everyone for your advice while i have been searching through the choices for my system upgrade. And thanks for suffering my nubie questions. These choice are really difficult, and your help is immensely appreciated!
Ok, its been 48hrs with the new system. Exposure XXV and Usher X708s, with K20 Linn cables.
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x321/stuarttill/Sysclose2.jpghttp://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x321/stuarttill/NewSys2.jpg
Whoa those Ushers go much deeper than I would expect from those boxes, driven by the Exposure, it is also tighter, smoother and cleaner, not so quite so punchy as the NAD C340. They dont seem too bothered about wall placement, out (1m) is better, but they hold their own closer to the wall too, the base is tight enough that it sound like some larger acoustic suspension speakers i once had.
Build quality is great on the Exposure – interestingly there are no ventilation holes – and the inside was pristinely un-dusty. The remote is really well worked out, very smooth action, the volume and input knobs are driven by servos that run off separate circuitry, very fine control, no ‘over-jumping’. Very good at that time, even now!
Usher build quality also seems great – however when delivered there was a loose back-of-the-tweeter cap banging around, so I glued it back on with epoxy.
Details? The details are there, but not so bright or forward (as the earlier B&W CM2s), much smoother and much much less fatiguing. While smoother, there is bite where bite should be, sax, horn, female voice, acoustic guitar – lots of good bite. More depth, presentation, and presence. Generally easy and open.
However, during complex/busy instrumental passages, there seems to be some crowding… That said, the system may only be revealing weaknesses in my source material, which is ALAC ripped with iTunes (one day that will change…) or a old Denon Transport (mini system with optical out). The ‘crowding’, for example, on more intense passages of Spanish acoustical guitar (Ottmar Liebert, Nouveau Flamenco) it sounds like the music is being ‘pulled down’ and is muddled, slightly off key and more grainy/rough –this at normal listening volume, not even medium. Similar results for opening chorus of Carmina Burana, or violins in Four Seasons.
Any thoughts?
Perhaps more burnin time?
Better sources are on the way, so more to report soon!!!
Ok, its been 48hrs with the new system. Exposure XXV and Usher X708s, with K20 Linn cables.
http://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x321/stuarttill/Sysclose2.jpghttp://i1176.photobucket.com/albums/x321/stuarttill/NewSys2.jpg
Whoa those Ushers go much deeper than I would expect from those boxes, driven by the Exposure, it is also tighter, smoother and cleaner, not so quite so punchy as the NAD C340. They dont seem too bothered about wall placement, out (1m) is better, but they hold their own closer to the wall too, the base is tight enough that it sound like some larger acoustic suspension speakers i once had.
Build quality is great on the Exposure – interestingly there are no ventilation holes – and the inside was pristinely un-dusty. The remote is really well worked out, very smooth action, the volume and input knobs are driven by servos that run off separate circuitry, very fine control, no ‘over-jumping’. Very good at that time, even now!
Usher build quality also seems great – however when delivered there was a loose back-of-the-tweeter cap banging around, so I glued it back on with epoxy.
Details? The details are there, but not so bright or forward (as the earlier B&W CM2s), much smoother and much much less fatiguing. While smoother, there is bite where bite should be, sax, horn, female voice, acoustic guitar – lots of good bite. More depth, presentation, and presence. Generally easy and open.
However, during complex/busy instrumental passages, there seems to be some crowding… That said, the system may only be revealing weaknesses in my source material, which is ALAC ripped with iTunes (one day that will change…) or a old Denon Transport (mini system with optical out). The ‘crowding’, for example, on more intense passages of Spanish acoustical guitar (Ottmar Liebert, Nouveau Flamenco) it sounds like the music is being ‘pulled down’ and is muddled, slightly off key and more grainy/rough –this at normal listening volume, not even medium. Similar results for opening chorus of Carmina Burana, or violins in Four Seasons.
Any thoughts?
Perhaps more burnin time?
Better sources are on the way, so more to report soon!!!