Location: South Yorkshire
Posts: 2,683
I'm Andre.
First Yes gigs were early 1968, They used to do mostly cover versions in the very early days, Wilson Pickett, Yardbirds, Beatles etc,, YES were basically a proto-prog band at that time, The second album still had the feel of the first..Things did not start getting technical with em till the third album..
20th March 1969 they played at Salford University.. Be no LP out when you saw them, it was released in July of that year.
Okay so a month on I'm now having a go at combo number 2) - XTZ pre with the Krell KSA100 - with the Spotfire interconnects and speaker cable. If you recall I was finding that the KSA100 sounded a bit too soft and warm for my taste, but my thinking is that this might be down to the match of pre and power amp, the DCB1 being a passive it might just be something to do with the impedance matching or something similarly arcane.
It's all set up, will do some listening and report back.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Played a couple of albums. Interesting that I'd pretty much say overall that the Krell is a better amplifier than the Philips Black Tulip, especially in terms of the bass and the control it has over the speakers. That's noticeable right from the off. But in terms of tone I'm listening now to 'Couldn't Stand The Weather' which is quite a 'glassy' digital production, very polished. The Phillips conveys that character intact but the Krell makes it sound more 'organic' and analogue.
Which I think is down to that slightly soft quality it has. I don't think using an active pre-amp has tempered that, maybe by a little. I'll have to put the DCB1 back in and compare again but it's certainly still there, most obvious on snare strikes and cymbals. Not to the extent that it spoils the sound but it's stopping a good sounding system from being a great sounding system.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
You could try a stepped attenuator passive. They have the potential to sound cleaner (if that's what you want).
It is impossible for anything digital to sound analogue, because it isn't analogue!
The DCB1 is a stepped attenuator passive though. It isn't making it cleaner that's the problem, the sound is clean it's just a bit soft with either pre-amp. Either the Krell is just like that regardless, or there's something else going on, I just don't know what but I wondered if it is impedance matching. Although 2 different pre-amps tried and it is the same so maybe not.
By soft I mean as an example take a good, clear recording of a snare-strike. On some systems it's overdone and it feels like it is hitting you right between the eyes. On others it is so soft it sounds like the drummer is hitting a cardboard box. They're the two extremes. Most good systems are in the middle but veer either way a little bit. This is veering towards cardboard box when I want it to veer more the other way.
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
As of today - Pioneer DVD565A, XTZ A100-D3 (as pre-amp only), Krell KSA100Mk2, JM Labs Elektra 926:
cables and interconnects are all Bigbottle Spotify
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Location: Dagenham Essex
Posts: 11,215
I'm Allen.
Not keen on your CD storage unit the rest looks good
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I'm too lazy to put them back in it after playing - I mean it is 5 feet away from the player, give me a break!
Current Lash Up:
TEAC VRDS 701T > Sony TAE1000ESD > Krell KSA50S > JM Labs Focal Electra 926.
Location: Dagenham Essex
Posts: 11,215
I'm Allen.