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What's your source photon?
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20-Dec-2014, 18:06
(This post was last modified: 28-Dec-2014, 08:23 by goflyshirley.)
I've been living with a D120 on my 96dB speakers for a week now, so I figure I would chime back in with a short report.
First, let me say that I came from a Primaluna Premium Integrated being fed by an NAD M51 DAC. Here it goes...
The bass was the first thing I noticed a very large improvement on; very tight, very full, and much deeper than with the tube amp... keep in mind that the Primaluna is a brute at 75Lbs. and is known for it's bass slamming output transformers! I noticed all of this within the first 30 seconds of listening.
The all important midrange... well a pleasant surprise there! I was expecting a less than stellar performance compared to the tubes; again, I was met with a very smooth and realistic presentation. I will have to admit that the tubes had a marginally better touch... you know... the tube touch. Some call it coloration; whatever you say. To me it adds just a touch more realism to the performance.
That last sentence may sound a bit negative, but trust me it's not. I find the D120 the closest I've heard to a modern (non vintage sounding) tube amplifier, with much better precision and slam in the bass, nearly identical in the midrange, and a top end with much greater detail... all the while retaining that non-sterile flow to the sound.
I realize I've been referring to the D120 as an amplifier... that being said, I feel most of it's success is in it's utterly amazing integration of DAC/PRE/AMP. Absolutely a keeper!
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@goflyshirley: Well that is a nice review. Have fun with your Devialet! Your story does make me curious after the type of LSs you are using. And did you try trim down the maximum output of the amps? Some say the SQ is better on highly sensitive speakers.
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