OMG moments with 250DR

I love reading posts like this and this is surely why we all spend a disproportionate amount of our disposable income on bits of hi if. It's when those assorted black boxes, bits of wire and speakers come to together and produce such an emotional response that makes the whole ludicrous exercise in assembling said bits of kit worthwhile.

Great post Allan and so glad you are finding the 250DR so rewarding - it is rather special.

Allan Milne posted:

The other OMG moment I had this afternoon was Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side from his Transformer album ...

those "coloured girls" started their do ti do as normal in the back and came forword ... and came forward ... and came forward ... right out of the speakers !

and then of course their is that magic stand-up bass playing that is now so clear along with every instrument and voice 

This track is regularly used, both here, and at friends houses, as a "demonstrator" to compare any changes in our respective systems. (I can suggest a few others too, if you're interested).

I recently swapped my 300 for the new DR version, and experienced the same OMG moment, the girls marched out into the room..............this DR thingy?  ...............good, innit? 

250DR...The amp that just keeps on giving.

Mine is nearly 8 weeks old now and is still surprising me with 'OMG' moments. Try a few albums you dismiss as 'not that well recorded' Allan as I'm finding it can turn the chaff to wheat on even the duffest of recordings. It seems to get right to the m u s i c.

G

Congratulations,  like NIGELB, it's a pleasure to read your experience of a Wow moment,  I also have the 250dr so have been through the run in process, I was seriously questioning my investment until that special moment arrived and then you think.... Worth every penny... 

I agree with you Nigel, I also like to hear posts from members who are caught up with the music. Makes me feel like I'm not alone and brings me back from getting too het up about all the technology etc.

Dave - yes I would be interested in the tracks you use.

The 250DR certainly does keep giving as you all say ... and I'll keep taking it

I'm not so sure about wheat and chaff though Graeme, it certainly points out bad production/mixing and some stuff I find annoying to listen to now ...

... 'annoying' is carefully chosen as there may be good music there but the presentation just fails it and I think how much better it could have been if that producer/mixer had just done ... have to turn it off eventually.

However there is lots of other 'chaff' that is coming to life now, particularly piano pieces as I mentioned.

Also old blues numbers, although I suppose technically 'badly' recorded or produced, are certainly more live sounding and that can still grab me even if the fundamental sound is poor.

Dear wife is back home now so will have to put listening on hold again ...

... would drive me to building an extension for a listening room

Allan

Hi Allan,

I quickly had a look at your profile to see if you were likely to be using Tidal or one of the other streaming services, though, sadly, Tidal doesn't seem to offer a couple of my tracks with grin inducing moments. Anyway, here's a starter.

  "Am I Wrong?" Percussive acoustic guitar and Keb's in the room with you.

 "Athens to Athens" Joe doing it acoustically, . You're "there" in the theatre.

Fleetwood Mac, "Dreams" from the "Rumours" album, Mick Fleetwood's drum kit is in the room.

Anything from Yello, though the album before last, "Touch" does it for me.

I do agree, as I'm into blues as well, that many of the old crude recordings have now sprung into life.

Also, from your profile, keep on rocking' that Les Paul, though, in my own case, I wonder if a DR upgrade might improve my playing. 

Enjoy, it's all about the music. 

Thanks for these Dave,

We both seem to have a penchence for acoustic / percussive tracks

Here are 3 I use:

Boneparte from Secret People by Capercaillie

- superb varied percussive intro and then Karen-Anne's beautiful voice, really tests detailed rendering.

Mahler Symphony no.5, 1st movement

- starts with a trumpet - check out the timbre and realism ...

- then a huge chord with all the orchestra brass - can you hear this as music or (as in my early systems) just a huge sound?

Bach - Toccato and fugue in Em by E Power Binks

- this was in a church in Germany that apparently has 3 organs operated from 1 manual;

- listen to the different staging and the different voicings.

Allan

Thanks Allan, I'll check these out.

It's all good.

Dave.

Thanks Dave. Didn't know him, but Keb' Mo' is amazing.

nigelb posted:

I love reading posts like this and this is surely why we all spend a disproportionate amount of our disposable income on bits of hi if. It's when those assorted black boxes, bits of wire and speakers come to together and produce such an emotional response that makes the whole ludicrous exercise in assembling said bits of kit worthwhile.

Great post Allan and so glad you are finding the 250DR so rewarding - it is rather special.

Hi Alan,

What was your system prior to upgrading to the 250DR?

Thanks.

Hi Tariq,

The 250DR replaced a NAP 200.

... at the same time, as per an earlier post, a little accident meant that my Klyde cartridge was also upgraded to a Krystal (twice!) 

Allan

Allan, the 250dr is an absolutely cracking amplifier had mine 5 months and I still can believe how good it is seems to getter better by the day you have a lot of musical enjoyment ahead.

Had mine 12 months now  

Listened to Joan Armatrading's self titled album and could swear "Love and Affection" was played in 3D. Someone kept banging on the percussion at the back of the studio which I don't have in my living room. 

Have queued up a DSF rip of SRV's "In Step" SACD and just know that  "Riviera Paradise" will be sublime.

I think one of the biggest wow moments I've had with my 250 when I finally hooked it up to Ovators S-400.

And played one of my recent discoveries from the ECM record label: Manu Katche 'Neighboughood'. Track 2 oddly called 'Number One'. Amazing.

I suddently had all of them in my room. Wow!

Allan Milne posted:

 The other OMG moment I had this afternoon was Lou Reed's Walk On The Wild Side from his Transformer album ...

those "coloured girls" started their do ti do as normal in the back and came forword ... and came forward ... and came forward ... right out of the speakers !

and then of course their is that magic stand-up bass playing that is now so clear along with every instrument and voice

... just exceptional, the stand-out track of this album IMO, and I think every track is great..

 

By an almost creepy coincidence, I just read your post while listening to this same track! Slumming it with a 200DR here, but it still sounds great....and yes, probably the most memorable track on an album that, for me, has stood the test of time like few others.

Chris, that is really creepy !

this was not an album that was on my top list but it is now, don't know why it never clicked before 

... might be the 250DR magic, I had a non-DR 200 before.

Allan

All you need now is a 282 

Yep, listening now on my 252/300/ Supercap/NDS/XP5XS/S600 magic ... and yes, that song is one of greats!  

dave marshall posted:

Hi Allan,

I quickly had a look at your profile to see if you were likely to be using Tidal or one of the other streaming services, though, sadly, Tidal doesn't seem to offer a couple of my tracks with grin inducing moments. Anyway, here's a starter.

  "Am I Wrong?" Percussive acoustic guitar and Keb's in the room with you.

 "Athens to Athens" Joe doing it acoustically, . You're "there" in the theatre.

Fleetwood Mac, "Dreams" from the "Rumours" album, Mick Fleetwood's drum kit is in the room.

Anything from Yello, though the album before last, "Touch" does it for me.

I do agree, as I'm into blues as well, that many of the old crude recordings have now sprung into life.

Also, from your profile, keep on rocking' that Les Paul, though, in my own case, I wonder if a DR upgrade might improve my playing. 

Enjoy, it's all about the music. 

Alan and Dave,

I have to say, THAT Keb' Mo' album started it all for me.  I witnessed it for the first time, playing in a record shop next door to a Naim/Rega Dealer, playing on a loaned Rega RP-2.  I bought the vinyl on the spot -- first vinyl in 15+ years.  Then I replaced my worn-out BeoGram with a pre-loved Rega Planar3/RB300/Fono.  A few hops later, a 552/500 has replaced my AV system for playing music that matters.

I give you back:  Liz Story "Part of Fortune" and Ray Bryant "Somewhere in France".

OMG.

Nick

Sorry, "Allan".

"Bluesamericana" is fun, too.

Nick

Allan,

My comments come across sounding a bit off.  Not intentional.

Those "hops" of mine started with a 112/150/FC2X system -- that was the most important revelation to me -- Naim know what they are doing, and make inspiring stuff -- and every piece earns its place in the hierarchy.

Enjoy your 250DR -- my dealer is right to feature one, to hook newcomers to the brand.

Best,

Nick

Nick - No worries, didn't come across "off" at all

- bet your wallet is wishing you'd never heard that Keb Mo album though

I'm noting the music you are all suggesting but ain't going to buy any since

* I'm enjoying revisiting my own collection too much and don't want new buys "taking over"; and

* sorry to mention this in October, but Xmas is not too far away and the family are always looking for presents for me so keb Mo et al are going on the Xmas list.

I don't know about the rest of you but it is very easy to get into "buying" mode, especially when I have so many gaps in my early (1970's) vinyl collection when I didn't have the money, and the existing collection doesn't get played because the new stuff is always there to listen to.

Even in retirement there just aren't enough hours in the day for all that listening ...

... tend to go buying in bursts of around 5-10 albums each time but have made a promise that I won't buy any more until after Xmas

Not really an issue since all my collection now sounds new with the 250DR

Aside - only exception is the Jazz at 33 series that I have ordered with my local newsagent as I didn't have any Jazz at all in my collection previously.

Aside to aside - I'm afraid that yesterday I could only stomach half a side of the Ornette Coleman 'New York is Now' album, this style just sounds so self-centred to me - sorry to all the jazz lovers out there! ... but at least the album will now remain unplayed and pristine

Allan