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Update: Nov 2006
The
Schroder Reference
tonearm
has been installed, and when we thought that nothing significant in terms of
sonic gains will be reached, we are astounded by the sheer improvement in the
system. Amazing is the word, the
Schroder Reference tonearm lives up to its illustrious
reputation.
JonL definitely has to go through his entire collection of
vinyl once again ... good hifi can really be rewarding, especially when sonic
gains are realized even further with each upgrade. No sidesteps in this
system's evolution, all upward, without doubts. And we haven't come yet to
our new tonearm, the Da Vinci Grandeza MK 2 from Switzerland, arriving
soon in Singapore, another world-class tonearm ...
Update: Feb 2006
The
Scheu Tacco
tonearm
has been installed, and a new milestone in JonL's system evolution has been
reached. The transformation is immediate, with the soundscape
significantly expanding in all directions. Along with this came a greater sense
of delicacy and airiness, with the sound seemingly suspended on air with clearly
defined images, yet definitely gutsy and floorshaking when called for.
Natural decay was likewise rendered well, and improved control of instruments
was also apparent.
To put the transformation of the system into imagery, the system was like a
small firecracker that burst into a big and dazzling array of colors and lights
:) In summary, the
Scheu Tacco is
a welcome addition to the system, and this combination is truly one of the
references for
Scheu Analog-based
systems in Singapore (and surely beyond). It does makes us miss the
Jan Allaerts MC1B
cartridge in our own system, though, a bona fide benchmark reference cartridge,
full of life and soul.
Substituting the
Gryphon with
Boulder Amplifiers 850 monoblock amplifiers which we supplied was another revelatory
experience. The
Leben RS28C
is indeed a reference tube preamp, without the major ills of
tube amplification like bloat or sluggish performance. The
Leben RS28C
proved to be an excellent match with the
Boulder 850 monoblock amplifiers, with the
Leben RS28C's
variable output level at No. 4 of 6. Music through the system is presented in a very natural
way, "meaty" with excellent timbre, superb bass quality and heft, and remarkable effortlessness
in rendering several layers of sound.
We have also supplied JonL with the
Hannl Mera record cleaning machine, the first in Singapore to own one (see
pics below), and he can now fully enjoy the benefits of super-clean records.
We cleaned an old record previously cleaned with a VPI machine, and the noise
has been dramatically reduced, and totally eliminated in another record.
The major part of the system evolution has been completed,
and we have enjoyed and learned from the ride as well. JonL can now just
sit back, and enjoy the music :) As a whole, a truly musical system,
another yardstick.
Earlier Notes:
After setting up the
Scheu Premier MK3 turntable
and listening, this is the best Kharma-based system we've heard so far to date. We
now understand more what these S$30k speakers are about. We added in moderate
treatment from
Eighth Nerve
to dial in on the acoustics, and in an instant, voila, the echoes of the rather bare small room
are fixed, with sonics now having much better bass definition, coherence, and
balance.
All in the right amount, with the room still retaining a lively sound and the
vitality in the music, without the major room pressure zone issues.
The introduction of the
Leben RS28C
preamplifier brought in the desirable qualities of tube sound, blending well
with the solid state power amplifier. A very good built-in MM phono stage
completes the picture.
On the reissue LP Janos Starker "Suites for
Unaccompanied Cello Complete", a magnificent reissue album, the system presented
the cello sound superbly, sonically and emotionally. The strings were
great on
this system, with first-rate highs, and the cartridge hasn't even burned in yet, as well as the
speakers. The soundscape was expansive as well, with imaging size in the
right proportions. On Ray Brown's "Soular Energy" reissue by Pure Audiophile,
dynamics and transients were rendered well and with excellent bass definition, just as we know they
should be from this excellent album. The bass was allowed by mastering
engineer Stan Ricker to run with less restraint compared to the more EQ'ed
original. The pairing
of Stan Ricker, also a bassist, with Ray Brown was intentional - a treat
to vinylphiles only, not on CD, not on SACD. Both LPs can be
heard at our showroom if interested, not for sale however.
On to Holly Cole, Steely Dan,
Jennifer Warnes ... JL will surely have longer nights listening now :)
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