rskarvan
10-25-2005, 11:19 PM
Here is a mini-review of my system....
Speakers are 3.1TL SDA's.
I originally drove these form a Denon 3801 (105wpc). Not enough power to make them sound good.
I splurged and purchased a used Krell KAV 250A (250wpc). Now, lots of power. I used the Denon3801 as a preamp and that worked fine.
Then, I decided to get a Krell preamp with home-theatre pass-thru. Honestly, the Krell preamp didn't make all that much difference.
I hooked up the preamp to the amp using an XLR cable (balanced connection).
The system was fine... but, not incredible. Just fiine.
On a whim, I purchased a balanced ADCOM DAC (GDA-700). Now, I have a balanced DAC feeding a balanced pre-amp, feeding a balanced amp, feeding my 3.1TL SDA's.
WOW ! ! ! The balanced source made an incredible difference. The whole system woke up and took notice. Dynamics are much, much better. I am now hearing HDCD for the first time... and, it greatly improves the sound of CD's. The DAC is smooth. Not exceptionally detailed. But, smooth. It tamed the metallic sound of the tri-lams on the SDA TL's. I can listen to my entire cd collection without getting that worn-out feeling that my ears used to experience.
My old cd player was a very respectible older JVC single-bit player. I never realized how harsh that cd player was until I heard the ADCOM DAC.
I think the balanced connections makes a lot of difference. There is some synergy between the DAC, PREAMP, AND AMP that I didn't experience until I got all three hooked up with XLR connections.
The XLR cables I purchased off e-bay are Monster 1000i's. The two sets of Monster 1000i's MSRP for $500. I think guys are nuts to spend that much on cables. I got them off e-bay for about $40/set and I'm can deal with that kind of coinage for interconnects.
I've never heard my SDA's sound so pleasing to the ear. The difference is the DAC and the balanced XLR connections throughout.
One more thing, the XLR connection of the DAC boosted the output of my Krell amp CONSIDERABLY. I used to turn the preamp half way to really listen loudly. Now, with the XLR connection, I get even more volume at about 1/4 the way up. I don't quite understand that... but, it makes my KAV 250A sound like a beast of an amp (and, I suppose it really is - but, I never really noticed it before). Before, I just thought it was a rather big box for an amp.
All three pieces of the source were purchased used at less than 50% of MSRP and have worked flawlessly. If you want to be an audiophile and you have a budget.... my recommendation would be to go for quality on a shoe-string budget.
Thanks for listening.
Speakers are 3.1TL SDA's.
I originally drove these form a Denon 3801 (105wpc). Not enough power to make them sound good.
I splurged and purchased a used Krell KAV 250A (250wpc). Now, lots of power. I used the Denon3801 as a preamp and that worked fine.
Then, I decided to get a Krell preamp with home-theatre pass-thru. Honestly, the Krell preamp didn't make all that much difference.
I hooked up the preamp to the amp using an XLR cable (balanced connection).
The system was fine... but, not incredible. Just fiine.
On a whim, I purchased a balanced ADCOM DAC (GDA-700). Now, I have a balanced DAC feeding a balanced pre-amp, feeding a balanced amp, feeding my 3.1TL SDA's.
WOW ! ! ! The balanced source made an incredible difference. The whole system woke up and took notice. Dynamics are much, much better. I am now hearing HDCD for the first time... and, it greatly improves the sound of CD's. The DAC is smooth. Not exceptionally detailed. But, smooth. It tamed the metallic sound of the tri-lams on the SDA TL's. I can listen to my entire cd collection without getting that worn-out feeling that my ears used to experience.
My old cd player was a very respectible older JVC single-bit player. I never realized how harsh that cd player was until I heard the ADCOM DAC.
I think the balanced connections makes a lot of difference. There is some synergy between the DAC, PREAMP, AND AMP that I didn't experience until I got all three hooked up with XLR connections.
The XLR cables I purchased off e-bay are Monster 1000i's. The two sets of Monster 1000i's MSRP for $500. I think guys are nuts to spend that much on cables. I got them off e-bay for about $40/set and I'm can deal with that kind of coinage for interconnects.
I've never heard my SDA's sound so pleasing to the ear. The difference is the DAC and the balanced XLR connections throughout.
One more thing, the XLR connection of the DAC boosted the output of my Krell amp CONSIDERABLY. I used to turn the preamp half way to really listen loudly. Now, with the XLR connection, I get even more volume at about 1/4 the way up. I don't quite understand that... but, it makes my KAV 250A sound like a beast of an amp (and, I suppose it really is - but, I never really noticed it before). Before, I just thought it was a rather big box for an amp.
All three pieces of the source were purchased used at less than 50% of MSRP and have worked flawlessly. If you want to be an audiophile and you have a budget.... my recommendation would be to go for quality on a shoe-string budget.
Thanks for listening.