'Source First' Brigade vs Team Mullet: FIGHT!

Posted by: Alonso on 19 October 2015

Ok guys... how does one approach this dilemma.

 

Here I am listening to music through Neat Motives 2, with an ND5 XS as source and a Nait XS and it sounds lovely. As some of you know, sometime ago I demoed a pair of ATC SCM40 and to put it in simple terms, my quest for 'The Loudspeaker' simply stopped. I found the sound I was forever looking for and needed to look no further.

 

Now the dilemma... My Nait XS does not have the muscle to move said beasts properly. 

 

My first thought was 'Simples. Save for a second hand NAP200 or even a NAP250' and use the Nait XS as a pre only while keeping the ND5 XS as source (Mullet team Re-Pre-Sent!)

 

But in the distance, I could clearly hear the thumping of the Source First Brigade galloping towards me, flying their S.F! flags... and getting ready to thrust their spears!

 

The SF brigade would defend to the death the notion of first replacing my ND5 XS for an NDX and then work on the amplification and then the speakers but that's not what I need! I need the ATC SCM40 to be moved properly... source staying put!

 

What should I do?

Posted on: 22 October 2015 by Huge
Originally Posted by DC71:
Originally Posted by Donkeyhaute:
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:

I assume you mean the accepted logic of balance, rather than imbalance?

...I'm questioning, as I said, the prevailing idea that things need to be of roughly equal cost in order to sound 'balanced'. Things only need to be of roughly equal cost in order to be equally expensive,

 

This, +1

 

Above a certain very modest price level, getting great music to ones ears is above all else about synergy between components, speakers and room.

 

IME there is not always that much correlation between the relative price of the components/speakers and the level of synergy between them. If one component is a limiting factor to the whole it's not necessarily about a price mismatch - great sound can be had from vastly (price) mismatched components, just as synergy can fail with closely priced kit - trust your ears!

+1.

 

Particularly when dealing with components from different generations.  I have an ND5 XS + Nait XS-2 system (about £2100 & £1800) connected to speakers that cost £550 - in cost it appears to be a classic monkfish.  However my speakers are 29 years old, and prices have changed.  The sound is however very balanced, Spendor SP2s complement the XS series characteristics very well.

 

Incidentally, a later version of those speakers with relatively minor revisions was still available 5 years ago selling at £2700, and there is a current version with revised drives, but still basically the same speaker now selling at £2500.

 

29 years ago, when I got the speakers originally, I was using a £350 CD player, and a £130 amplifier, and the amp was the weak point in the system, however I knew that I intended to replace the amp.  So I built a £210 amplifier, designed specifically to complement the CD player and speakers, again achieving a well balanced sound.  That system surprised people with much more expensive equipment (such as full Quad 44 / 405 / ESL63 systems).

£350 / £210 / £550 - not balanced in cost, but certainly balanced in sound.

Posted on: 22 October 2015 by Jan-Erik Nordoen
Originally Posted by Hungryhalibut:
Originally Posted by nigelb:

HH, I assume your system was christened a Hallibut before you got the SL2s. Might I respectfully suggest that it has now moved more into Mullet territory?

 

No, I won't, no, I'll resist. Oh why not, might it now be called a Mullibut.

 

I know, I know, I'm going, OK.

The idea was coined for a balanced system - flat all the way through. It did not refer to my own setup at all. 

The fish that fell over. There is no way on this flat earth that a halibut can be considered balanced :

 

 

... a far better candidate is the boxfish :

 

Like tiny helicopters, the boxfish can float motionless (apart from the whirring fins) and move in any direction at whim. Now that's what I call balance.

 

The ultimate, of course, is the black boxfish :

 

 

Posted on: 22 October 2015 by nigelb
Originally Posted by TOBYJUG:

Yes Nigelb happy birthday.

cheers.

Thank you.

 

Everyone is changing their Avatars. Being a pub landlord I quite liked the Togy Jug!

Posted on: 22 October 2015 by Olly

HH thou doth protest too much.

 

What I want to know is this, Is your Halibut called Eric?

 

Olly

 

NB given our legacy as flat-earthers, I think our quest should be for flatness and we should leave balance to Yoda!

Posted on: 22 October 2015 by hungryhalibut

Verily I say you, about what doth I protest?