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In the Forum: Analog Playback
In the Thread: The K&K SE hybrid phono stage: a report

Post Subject: Good --- with a TwistPosted by Paul S on: 2/14/2010

OK, this turns out not to be a no-brainer. These caps are definitely quieter than anything I've used to date. At times, there is a sense that "something is missing", but then the "missing" frequency pops up loud and clear, apropos the music (as opposed to the "sound effects"). This has actually been disconcerting, and it is causing me to re-think (again) the "detail" I expect from my system, since it appears in this situation that much of the "detail" has been ubiquitous errant noise (A sort of "over saturation") centered around the lower treble. In this case, HF and LF are appropriate, as transients bear out, including the "missing" frequencies, but the "ambient" "HF" "background" (noise) is just not there. I think this will turn out to be a very good thing, but it is also kind of weird, as the caps continue to break in and as the inevitable bad electricity inevitably confuses the issues.

For some time I have wanted to start a thread (or expand an old thread) on Ambience; but right now it is enough to say that there have been flashes of truly "spectacular" ambience with these caps, where the music comes from the instruments and the "sound field" includes "sound from the instruments" and recorded reverberations (real or added in) but no (or very little) errant noise "in the air" that typically "designates" "ambience". By this I mean to say that one does not actually "hear" the HF and LF that define the ambience, but one merely "perceives" a sense of "place" that is distinct even from the usual "recorded ambience". When it's right, it gives the uncanny sense that the sound in the "soundfield" is "real", which can be quite startling, really.

I well remember how confused I felt when I first listened to the ML2s; they are that different. And so it is with these caps, I think. I will keep listening and I will update this report as the caps continue to break in and I get a better handle on them. Right now, I'm thinking I will put some in the ML2s, as well, if I can mtch the voltages.

Paul S

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