Thoughts on downgrading system to make it more accessable?
Posted by: Brubacca on 19 February 2016
How do you all feel about the above topic? I'm not talking about going crazy and going down to some Sony or Bose system.
My personal story is that I use a Qute as a source to a Valve amp. While it is clearly better than the Qute alone, this made the music not quite as accessable to me. Music had to be an event with at least an hour of listening time, which I rarely have. I would go days and even weeks without having the time. I decided to change things up the other day. Valve amp went to the basement, Qute stands basically alone. I find myself stealing 5-10 minutes here and there pretty consistently. So while it sounds not as good as it could with equipment already in my house, it has enabled more listening.
I am not sure what the difference is between Qute on its own and fed into another amp from a usability point of view. Is it that the Valve amp takes a while to warm up?
Makes sense to me. However great something may sound you can only enjoy that by listening to it. In your situation it seems overall you'll get more enjoyment with the qute on its own, than with the superior valve amp.
Mattnbarns posted:I am not sure what the difference is between Qute on its own and fed into another amp from a usability point of view. Is it that the Valve amp takes a while to warm up?
Yes, it takes the valve amp about 30-45 minutes to really shine. In fact it is sublime after this warm up. Far superior to the Qute and a Nait XS.
I am really posting this as a generic thing. For another specific example- would you go streaming for the convenience over CD even if CD playback sounds dedicated better. If it enabled you to listen to more music more frequently is it worth it.
I know what I'd do - as the valve amp is so sublime I'd trade the Qute for a better streamer - ND5XS or NDX (in effect ditching the redundant amplifier stage in the Qute) - I can only imagine how good that would be!
On the other hand as brilliant as valve equipment can be it is less convenient. - take your pick. It's a just like coffee!
Regards,
Lindsay
I'd go with whatever allows me to get more listening - music enjoyment is the end goal for me. Qute may fall short in many areas of course but being musical is not one of them. I'd say enjoy what and when you can.
I am with you on this. Accessibility and ease of use is very important. That is one reason many are motivated to keep box count low.
May I enquire what valve amplifier?
My Little Dot is up to speed and very beautiful in less time than my router takes to start.
On the general thrust of the thread, a replay system that is enjoyable, easy to use and causes you to want to listen to music at home is a success at whatever price. My house has alway been full of music, so I can say that all the different replay arrangements over the years were all successful. Either expensive or much less so.
ATB from George
What has just been reinforced for me, is that component matching (electronically and on a quality level) is very important. A modestly priced system can deliver beautifully musically engaging results if the system 'works' and gels as a cohesive whole.
I've been using my Nait XS2 in my main system during the temporary absence of my 500. The sound has frustrated me every single time I've listened to it for the past month. But last evening the Nait was returned to its rightful place in my study system with a CD5si feeding it and SBL's on the other end.
The system sounds absolutely superb.
John.
Dear John,
Have you retired the ESL from your second system?
Best wishes from George
+1 for ease of use. My LP-12 sounds better, but the CDS3 is just...easier.
George Fredrik Fiske posted:Dear John,
Have you retired the ESL from your second system?
Best wishes from George
Oh no George - I can't part with them. They get 'alternated' with the SBL's.
Have your pair found happy homes, or have you kept one?
Kind regards.
John.
I think my pair are coming home after a failed sale, unfortunately, or fortunately!
Perhaps Fate is working her plan out! I am not worried, and if they return then I shall keep them. Or one of them!
And get a suitable Quad or Leak mono valve amp. The power and quality will then match the demand of the speaker!
That is for the distant future though!
Glad yours are still with you! You can check-out, but you can never leave!
ESLs, you can’t help loving them!!!!
Best wishes from George
George Fredrik Fiske posted:May I enquire what valve amplifier?
My Little Dot is up to speed and very beautiful in less time than my router takes to start.
On the general thrust of the thread, a replay system that is enjoyable, easy to use and causes you to want to listen to music at home is a success at whatever price. My house has alway been full of music, so I can say that all the different replay arrangements over the years were all successful. Either expensive or much less so.
ATB from George
I use a Rogue Audio Cronus Magnum. I love it. For my taste it easily beats the Qute Amp alone, Nait 5si and Nait XS. The warm up time is kind of killing me because of how busy we are with 2 small children.
Also take this with a grain of salt because knowing me like I do, it will most likely be right back in the system in less than a month because it does give a more enjoyable sound overall.
The ESLs are coming home on Monday - okay a refund is agreed at full whack. But nobody can really leave ESL replay. I’ll keep one provided they work on return.
...
On the OP... I think the best system is the one you listen to... So yes downgrading to make it convenient is perfect!
We run the Qute into a pair of Blumenstein Audio Thrashers, now superseded on the Blumenstein website. It sounds unbelievably good through Crimson Electronics speaker cables. I would not hesitate to get the new model and stop there. You might arrange a demo with the factory. Or they might put you in touch with a local user. Where are you located?
J.N. posted:What has just been reinforced for me, is that component matching (electronically and on a quality level) is very important. A modestly priced system can deliver beautifully musically engaging results if the system 'works' and gels as a cohesive whole.
I've been using my Nait XS2 in my main system during the temporary absence of my 500. The sound has frustrated me every single time I've listened to it for the past month. But last evening the Nait was returned to its rightful place in my study system with a CD5si feeding it and SBL's on the other end.
The system sounds absolutely superb.
John.
Agreed on this John.
My tip would be to audition an amp that can match your valve amp or at least satisfy your musical needs into more than acceptable and accessable. Let`s say a SN2 or equal, since 5si or XS did not satisfy you. Next, find a source which balances it, NDX or use your Qute with a dac.
I compared Qute alone to SN2 in the main system. Qute is outstanding on it`s own, but when compared to SN2 the latter are several leagues ahead it.