Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Initial thoughts about new/old Lamm ML2s
Post Subject: The sound of dust settlingPosted by Paul S on: 3/11/2007
It took some work, but I finally got a new phono stage (K&K) and a Bent TAP (transformer-based volume control) installed, along with some new cartridge clips (ugh!), and I put the "new system" through its paces Saturday and Sunday. I am still trying to see/hear how far I can take the ML2s/how far they will take me, and I am getting more and more clear about what the ML2s themselves do in my system.
I have said that the ML2s keep to harmonic center, and this has not changed. The K&K (which I will post about separately, along with the Bent TAP, as well) is also pitch-centric, and the Bent is neutral, as far as I can tell. While I still would not call the ML2s exactly "neutral" they do in fact amplify clearly and cleanly what they are fed, including, apparently, everything below 40 Hz, and they do it with/through my not-so-efficient speakers (96dB) that feature big 15" woofers and passive networks. I am no longer concerned about volume or complexity, either. No "cringe" and no "collapse". at any volume I would listen to. I sat transfixed through "Sketches of Spain" with peaks over 100 dB and then just for kicks I played the Mobile Fidelity D-to-D "Ride of the Valkeries" even louder! Huge! Simply stunning! So it looks/sounds like the ML2 pretty much "makes the best of what it's fed", meaning it still has a [VERY] nice way of "organizing" things, at all frequencies, and any deficiencies I'd noticed in the past are solved or seem solve-able with attention to other components. Since my bass bins fall off so fast below 40 Hz I cannot really comment on the subterranean stuff other than to say I imagine the ML2's would do it full justice under the right circumstances. Bass > 35 Hz with the new front end is musically right, with plucked open bass string [vibrations] clearly audible as such, as they should be. Trombones just rip. CD is also better through the TAP. Although CD sounds very much like LPs, apropos, it doesn't sound as "good"; but my CD player is an afterthought.
Right now I have a very "musical" system, and I am really enjoying it. I have no doubt that the ML2's can do "audiophile", too, because I've tweaked things to make that happen, as well. But for now I'm sticking with [loud] music that is very close indeed to my ideal.
At this pointIi think it's fair to say that if you have ML2s with "reasonably efficient" speakers then you can safely just hew to whatever works best with the ML2s and toss the rest, because in that case "the rest" is not worth keeping.
Best regards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site