Amazing piano tone:
Title: WFMT Chicago 128 AAC+
URL: http://wttw.ic.llnwd.net/stream/wttw_wfmt_livebroadcast
Piano and Tenor - Britten's Folk songs I think.
Well done Stan!
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Amazing piano tone:
Title: WFMT Chicago 128 AAC+
URL: http://wttw.ic.llnwd.net/stream/wttw_wfmt_livebroadcast
Piano and Tenor - Britten's Folk songs I think.
Well done Stan!
Unfortunately I only had enough time to plug in my Caiman and play a bit of TV through it. So I can't really comment on the sound other than that the news sounded good. :lol: Nice clear vocals. :)
I'll hopefully be able to run some music through it over the weekend to give me a better idea.
24 Hours in.
Just listening to
Sibelius, Violin Concerto Op.47, Symphony Nr.5 Op.82 (1988)
Nigel Kennedy, Simon Rattle
Very nice. Very nice indeed , Stan.
Great strings. Even pizzicato. (Must listen to some guitar and lute.)
And it's silly things, like when during a quiet section the tympani sound from the back of the orchestra. Very convincing. I expect that is down to clarity and good, controlled bass. You do get quite a thump with (even) a softly played tymp, but the drumskin is probably producing some very complex sounds.
As I said yesterday the piano sound is excellent.
I plugged in my very ordinary Sennheiser Headphones HD435 (ten or more years old). They seem to sound better with the Caiman over the 7510.
Still exploring.
(There is a downside, of course, when you can hear a pianist shuffling on the stool.)
MMM
Didn't listen to the lute.
Got sidetracked:
D:\FLAC\Jeno Jando\Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4\06 - Sonata No.32 In C Minor, Op. 111 - Maestoso - Allegro.flac
D:\FLAC\Jeno Jando\Beethoven Piano Sonatas, Vol. 4\07 - Sonata No.32 In C Minor, Op. 111 - Arietta, Adagio Molto.flac
I am very impressed with the the range of articulation. The high register metallic sound is there, and the full bodied bass of a concert grand piano.
Sitting on the edge of my seat I was.
Of course I have large articulate speakers and the refurbished Quad 405-2 is nearly as good as a 909 - well over 100w per channel of sophisticated grunt; but the finesse has to be there in the early replay chain - and it was.
Well, I must shut up (for now) and let others have their say.
Thanks Brian,
Here's my 2p worth as a comparison between the Caiman and the 4562 equipped 7520, which makes it a pretty level playing field.
The first thing that hits you is the bass, quite literally. The 7520 with the 4562 was accused of having slightly monotonic bass, and even though the MLC5/6 cap mods went some way to addressing this, this is in a different league. Not only has the tunefulness been returned, it goes lower, deeper, hits harder, is tighter, more focussed and more controlled. It's thunderous in fact, but it never loses it's grip. What is odd is that even though there is *more* bass, it has addressed much of the boomyness in my listening room. I guess that is a testament to just how tight and controlled it is.
As a result, timing has improved massively. I've been doing a lot of air drumming lately ;-). It draws you right into the recording and doesn't let go. It's sense of rhythm and groove is quite spectacular. I'd get up and dance if I was so inclined.
Soundstage has grown in all directions, especially front to back. There's a real holographic projection of the image, both between, behind and to the sides of the speakers. Close your eyes and listen. It feels like being in a much bigger room. Listening to classical music is as if I can not only tell the left to right position of any musician, I can pick out which row they're in. I think Brian said that there is a much bigger window into the recording and I couldn't agree more. There are the most minute details coming through now that were blurred previously, but yes, the downside is that the guy in the audience with a bit of a sniff has now become irritating ;).
I think the biggest difference to my ears has been the tonality and decay in notes from any instrument. This is a MASSIVE improvement and is the thing that is currently getting me going through loads of different music, discovering sounds for the first time. Notes hang in the air in front of you and decay away so realistically, you can't help but give your full undivided attention. From the wood in an acoustic guitar to the skin of a drum, it's all very tangible and thoroughly addictive to listen to.
Vocals have taken on more presence and richness and are projected right out into the room. It's like you've moved your chair a few rows closer to the stage.
Then there's the treble: Much sweeter and more natural. I think digital systems have always had a problem with cymbals, always splashy and harsh. Here we have something that sounds more like a good turntable.
In summary, I'd say that the move from the original 7510/7520 DAC chip to the Wolfson is a bigger step than upgrading your op-amps from the stock ones to something like a 4562 or THS4032, but with the Caiman you get both upgrades from the off. If you really want to bring big improvements to your 7510/20 and you can de-solder and re-solder a surface mount DAC chip (or know someone who can) then DO IT! Seriously, just DO IT! You will not be disappointed. Otherwise, just order a Caiman ;).
I remember someone on various fora (who shall remain nameless but has been now mostly banned) banging on about modern DAC chips all sounding the same and it's the implementation of the rest of the circuit that will make a difference.. Well, I think that theory has been well and truly debunked.
Music to my ears there Rich.
My 7520 is currently getting the Wolfson dac upgrade so your comments on the bass is exactly what I was hoping for. Mine is fitted with the THS4032 so when I get it back I can decide whether or not to install the 4562 and do the MCL5/6 mod.
Thanks Brian and Rich for your excellent descriptions. I now can't wait to have a propper listen to my Caiman over the weekend. I had to go out last night so I left the Caiman sweating over a complex playlist of music and burn-in tracks. Hopefully that will have run it in a reasonable amount.
If I can hear the same improvements over the standard 7520 as you I'll be a very happy chap as they are the areas I feel my system needs to be improved in.
I'm giddy with excitement. :lolsign:
This was the first improvement I noticed. It is a firm and very controlled bass. Clearly the amp and speakers need to be capable.Quote:
Originally Posted by lovejoy
I spoke of "a very wide open window onto this music." The words in my mind were "a deeper window", but I changed that because I thought it might imply "tunnel vision". Far from it, what I had in mind falling into a deep hole to be engulfed by the music. Oh dear: I am always very wary of such subjective use of language.Quote:
Soundstage has grown in all directions, especially front to back.
I certainly agreed about the depth of the sound stage. In the Piano Concerto the piano was very far forward and the tympani (at the back of the orchestra) was in my neighbours garden! The width of the sound stage I thought a little better, but was impressive on my speakers before. Is it phase integrity that makes for a good soundstage?
This is improved over the 7510, but was very good before. I had previously commented to Stan that it was one of my first observations on hearing the 7510. At the end of some piano pieces the pianist holds the dampers off and lets the vibration of the strings decay to nothing before closing the dampers. You get some sympathetic vibration from the other strings where the mathematics is right, so it is a complex effect. Listening to such dying sounds as they sink through the noise floor can be very impressive. It was with the 7510 - I must do some more listening with the Caiman.Quote:
I think the biggest difference to my ears has been the tonality and decay in notes from any instrument.
Not listened to too much choral music - just a bit of Palestrina and Purcell - tracks I know to be very clear. Better? Maybe, but not such a striking improvement as the bass and the depth of the sound stage.Quote:
Vocals have taken on more presence and richness and are projected right out into the room. It's like you've moved your chair a few rows closer to the stage.
I heard a few minutes of Britten's Folk songs - tenor and piano. Sounded very good. Must listen to some higher voices - both soprano and treble. If a Counter Tenor sets my teeth on edge I will mark the DAC down!
Agreed. As witnessed by the quality of bowed strings and the right hand in the piano. If a Counter Tenor sets my teeth on edge I will mark the DAC down!Quote:
Then there's the treble: Much sweeter and more natural.
Strengths so far:
1. Impressive sound stage.
2. Clear mid band.
3. Sweet treble.
4. Deep, firm, rich and controlled bass.
Rich (Lovejoy):
What are you listening to? What kind of music?
What are you listening on? What amplification and speakers?
The bass and decay in notes is the first thing I noticed after fitting the WM8716, LM4562HA (with removal of ceramic caps) goes well and I never felt the need to change it
LM4562 probably does match better with the 8716 than 1716
High frequencies are a lot more polished , shame the Caiman couldn't have gone for review with the 7520
Nice write ups though guys:smoking: