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From Jon at Oxford Audio...
#11
Cheers, Frank.
A nod's as good as a wink to a blind bat.
Matt

Sonos Connect (W4S) > DSpeaker Antimode 2.0 > Sanders Magtech > Martin Logan Montis
Sonos Connect (W4S) > Devialet 200 > Vivid V1.5
Silver Phantoms (just the two)
London
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#12
Matthieu did have some interesting things to say about SAM. Without going into everything he said (even if I could faithfully remember it all), there were some details I found interesting. Once Devialet have made the SAM model of the speaker, the amplifier can then attempt to correct any mechanical deficiencies of the speaker in real time. So if the speaker is found to react slightly slowly, when requested to produce a particular frequency / sound pressure level electrically, then the Devialet SAM programming can actually compensate by providing the required electrical current that fraction of a second early as required. Very clever stuff. (My apologies to Devialet if I have got any of this slightly wrong!) One other interesting point was Matthieu advised that SAM can take "headroom" out of the amplifier, in that by compensating for mechanical deficiencies of the speaker in some areas, the SAM system makes the driver work harder, hence more power is needed. This makes sense logically, but the cynics out there might see this as Devialet's cunning plan to make us all buy "companion" amplifiers! The good news here is that SAM is also configured to not allow the system to be able to damage the speakers, everything is kept within the design limits.

I have now got SAM set up with my KEF Blades. It has been a busy weekend for me, so I have not had time for a serious listening session, so I'll report back in more detail when I have had the time. First impressions are interesting though. For those that have heard the demonstration of the Devialet 120 / SAM / Atohm speaker package, I can report that as you might expect, that the effect is not as stark with the Blades as it is with the little "bookshelf" Atohms. So there is a kind of hifi socialism here, SAM perhaps deliverers more to those that have less!

That is not to say that there is no difference in the bass, there is, it is just at a much smaller magnitude, and I am noticing a couple of other things as well, one thing in particular that I was not expecting, but as I say, I have only had a quick listen so far, I'll report further in a week or so, fist impressions can be missleading. So far, I am hearing a positive improvement. So with the law of diminishing returns as you go up the hifi price scale, I think that getting any audible improvement is impressive. One last point, I particularly like the way the Blades deal with bass, it is a very accurate "high definition" bass if you like. I was a bit worried that maybe with SAM I could loose some of the characteristics I particularly like about the speakers, but not so, they now sound even more like Blades, if that makes sense.
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#13
(20-Jul-2014, 11:56)Confused Wrote: Matthieu did have some interesting things to say about SAM. Without going into everything he said (even if I could faithfully remember it all), there were some details I found interesting. Once Devialet have made the SAM model of the speaker, the amplifier can then attempt to correct any mechanical deficiencies of the speaker in real time. So if the speaker is found to react slightly slowly, when requested to produce a particular frequency / sound pressure level electrically, then the Devialet SAM programming can actually compensate by providing the required electrical current that fraction of a second early as required. Very clever stuff. (My apologies to Devialet if I have got any of this slightly wrong!) One other interesting point was Matthieu advised that SAM can take "headroom" out of the amplifier, in that by compensating for mechanical deficiencies of the speaker in some areas, the SAM system makes the driver work harder, hence more power is needed. (My apologies to Matthieu / Devialet if I have got any of this slightly wrong) This makes sense logically, but the cynics out there might see this as Devialet's cunning plan to make us all buy "companion" amplifiers! The good news here is that SAM is also configured to not allow the system to be able to damage the speakers, everything is kept within the design limits.

I have now got SAM set up with my KEF Blades. It has been a busy weekend for me, so I have not had time for a serious listening session, so I'll report back in more detail when I have had the time. First impressions are interesting though. For those that have heard the demonstration of the Devialet 120 / SAM / Atohm speaker package, I can report that as you might expect, that the effect is not as stark with the Blades as it is with the little "bookshelf" Atohms. So there is a kind of hifi socialism here, SAM perhaps deliverers more to those that have less!

That is not to say that there is no difference in the bass, there is, it is just at a much smaller magnitude, and I am noticing a couple of other things as well, one thing in particular that I was not expecting, but as I say, I have only had a quick listen so far, I'll report further in a week or so, fist impressions can be missleading. So far, I am hearing a positive improvement. So with the law of diminishing returns as you go up the hifi price scale, I think that getting any audible improvement is impressive. One last point, I particularly like the way the Blades deal with bass, it is a very accurate "high definition" bass if you like. I was a bit worried that maybe with SAM I could loose some of the characteristics I particularly like about the speakers, but not so, they now sound even more like Blades, if that makes sense.

Great post Confused! Thanks for sharing.

I concur re SAM for larger speakers - the difference with SAM on and off is not as dramatic with my Wilson Sophias. Having said that it does tighten up the lower registers noticeably, and in some cases can add a little too much energy into the room (electronic music with lots of bass for e.g.). With classical music in particular large scale orchestral music it's a revelation. Jazz is fantastic too.

Will be interesting to see what SAM does to the Wilson Sasha 2s which arrive next week Smile

Guillaume
Industry disclosure: UK distributor for Shunyata Research

220 PRO, totaldac d1 server with additional external power supply, totaldac d1-seven, Echole PSU for Totaldac, Wilson Audio Sasha 2, Shunyata Research cables, Shunyata Hydra Alpha A10 + DPC-6 v3, Various Entreq ground boxes and cables, Entreq Athena level 3 rack, 2 X SOtM sNH-10G with sCLK-EX + 10MHz Master Clock input + sPS-500 PSU, i5 sonicTransporter w/ 1TB SSD

UK
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#14
One point I forgot to mention.... There was some mention of full frequency range SAM one day. The Devialet teases continue......
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