Bigman80
07-03-2017, 18:14
Hi all,
I had the pleasure of Alan's company at my abode today. The plan was to do some swapping of amplification.
We listened to a few of my favourite LPs and here are my thoughts
Source - Toshiba SR 370, ZYX bloom
Cables - Klotz MC5000, MS Audio Rhodium Plugs.
Speakers and cables - Mission 710, Fisual Hollywood
First combo was :
Sony 730SE as preamp and the Firebottle Monoblocks
What I got from this combo was a very typical Sony feel to the music. The FBM (Firebottle Monoblocks) sou see very sweet. Mid range was very rich and strings sounded particularly good. Female vocals were very good and full of air and breathable space.
Treble was very very natural. No harshness could be heard through the Mission 710s. Which I might add, sounded superb throughout the listening tests.
Bass, very deep crisp bass. Double bass had that twang which I love and generally very good to listen too.
So we swapped the Sony for the KIN
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170307/7aafa512058a7279b17c7c3ac9c2d4a8.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170307/552c492301be833faa30d5c54cd7920a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170307/b34588ca710663db6cc5fb099f100408.jpg
Now, this is where it gets very interesting :
Synergy. Pure synergy. Two components which have been designed to work together and produce magic. Yes, magic.
An uncanny duet of "WOW" from Alan and I followed the first few words of "Everything to hide" by Sarah Jarosz.
It's just so beautiful. It's the best word to describe it. Honestly, I have never been so dumbstruck with a piece of audio equipment.
Alan is smiling, very smugly I might add, and so am i. The vocals are perfect. The bass is better than it was and the string section is grazing along the strings and I can hear it and feel it. The bottom end is present, correct and feels like it's climbing through my floor to ceiling space. " She's leaving home" - the Beatles, is now playing and I'm trying to tell Alan how the cellos are playing different parts because I can hear them clearly. He can't lol, but that's the thing, I can !! I've played SGT PEPPER over a million times. I'm positive and it has never sounded better.
There is no treble. Nothing noticeable anyway and that's a great thing. No hissing, harshness, ear splitting cymbals, just clear well balanced highs that sound very realistic. Stevie Ray Vaughans - Tin pan alley is now on and the drums are pinpoint and thundering. I can hear the springs rattling under the snare and I'm sure I can hear the skin flexing too. Live performers will know what I'm mean there.
The tone and sustain of his Stratocaster are evident and the decay of guitar notes is perfect.
Summary -
The sony, for whatever reason couldn't or wouldn't bring the best out of the FBM's but the kin most certainly did.
It was an exhilarating Hour with them. I can honestly say they are astoundingly good and having them in my home with my TT and Speakers has only convinced me I need some.
Price is around £2750 for everything Kin and FBM
Worth every penny. PS I'm now selling a kidney for £2750 if anyone is in need 😉
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk
I had the pleasure of Alan's company at my abode today. The plan was to do some swapping of amplification.
We listened to a few of my favourite LPs and here are my thoughts
Source - Toshiba SR 370, ZYX bloom
Cables - Klotz MC5000, MS Audio Rhodium Plugs.
Speakers and cables - Mission 710, Fisual Hollywood
First combo was :
Sony 730SE as preamp and the Firebottle Monoblocks
What I got from this combo was a very typical Sony feel to the music. The FBM (Firebottle Monoblocks) sou see very sweet. Mid range was very rich and strings sounded particularly good. Female vocals were very good and full of air and breathable space.
Treble was very very natural. No harshness could be heard through the Mission 710s. Which I might add, sounded superb throughout the listening tests.
Bass, very deep crisp bass. Double bass had that twang which I love and generally very good to listen too.
So we swapped the Sony for the KIN
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170307/7aafa512058a7279b17c7c3ac9c2d4a8.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170307/552c492301be833faa30d5c54cd7920a.jpg
https://uploads.tapatalk-cdn.com/20170307/b34588ca710663db6cc5fb099f100408.jpg
Now, this is where it gets very interesting :
Synergy. Pure synergy. Two components which have been designed to work together and produce magic. Yes, magic.
An uncanny duet of "WOW" from Alan and I followed the first few words of "Everything to hide" by Sarah Jarosz.
It's just so beautiful. It's the best word to describe it. Honestly, I have never been so dumbstruck with a piece of audio equipment.
Alan is smiling, very smugly I might add, and so am i. The vocals are perfect. The bass is better than it was and the string section is grazing along the strings and I can hear it and feel it. The bottom end is present, correct and feels like it's climbing through my floor to ceiling space. " She's leaving home" - the Beatles, is now playing and I'm trying to tell Alan how the cellos are playing different parts because I can hear them clearly. He can't lol, but that's the thing, I can !! I've played SGT PEPPER over a million times. I'm positive and it has never sounded better.
There is no treble. Nothing noticeable anyway and that's a great thing. No hissing, harshness, ear splitting cymbals, just clear well balanced highs that sound very realistic. Stevie Ray Vaughans - Tin pan alley is now on and the drums are pinpoint and thundering. I can hear the springs rattling under the snare and I'm sure I can hear the skin flexing too. Live performers will know what I'm mean there.
The tone and sustain of his Stratocaster are evident and the decay of guitar notes is perfect.
Summary -
The sony, for whatever reason couldn't or wouldn't bring the best out of the FBM's but the kin most certainly did.
It was an exhilarating Hour with them. I can honestly say they are astoundingly good and having them in my home with my TT and Speakers has only convinced me I need some.
Price is around £2750 for everything Kin and FBM
Worth every penny. PS I'm now selling a kidney for £2750 if anyone is in need 😉
Sent from my EVA-L09 using Tapatalk