Recent content by luizamarns

That's a spot on perspective, Mechnutt. At the end of the day, personal enjoyment in our own listening space matters far more than strict studio flat response. Vintage receivers like that Pioneer SX-780 really had a magic warmth that made long sessions effortless. Using a transparent EQ like the...

The ultimate burn in shortcut. Nothing makes a boutique fuse sound more magical at 500 hours than finally pulling out the flat tubes and putting the good ones back in.

Older gear was often voiced by ear rather than just being built to satisfy an analyzer. That human element in the design process is exactly why classic setups carry a distinct warmth and character across different tracks, whereas a lot of modern, ultra low distortion gear ends up sounding...

Conrad Johnson is the perfect example. That liquid, lifelike presentation they pull off is exactly what defines 'soul' in a playback system. It’s definitely not just simple harmonic distortion it's about how the gear reconstructs the transient response and flow of the music without making it...

I've heard good things about NuPrime trying to tune their modules for a more tube like warmth, but it still feels like a workaround to fix what's fundamentally missing in the tech. Interesting to hear about the PM-KI Ruby Marantz definitely knows how to tune for that liquid, romantic midrange...

Appreciate the welcome! Glad to fit in with a 'strange bunch' if it means focusing on good music. Looking forward to diving into the discussions here.

You're spot on about the technical mismatch. A lot of affordable Class D modules suffer from load dependency and output filter interactions that completely mess with the high frequencies depending on the speaker's impedance curve. That’s exactly why they can measure flat into a perfect dummy...

Exactly. Even with names like PS Audio and NAD, the core characteristic doesn't change it measures perfectly but lacks that organic depth. The hybrid approach you're using with a tube pre amp and McIntosh solid state seems to be the only real way to escape the clinical Class D sound without...

That is a seriously impressive list of amps to compare against, especially heavyweights like Accuphase and Mark Levinson. Moving away from SET valve amps is a massive shift since that holographic midrange is addictive. It speaks volumes that the NAD M33 held its own and outperformed setups...

That is a fantastic point, Bill. Genre absolutely dictates what we look for in amplification. For complex classical arrangements and massive choral pieces, that absolute black background and clinical separation of Class D probably shine perfectly. But like you mentioned, when it comes to Jazz or...

I’ve been reading through the endless debates about Class D efficiency, and honestly, I don't get the hype. Sure, they are light and run cool, but every time I listen to a Class D setup, it feels completely clinical and sterile compared to a solid Class A/B or a tube amp. To me, it feels like...

Totally agree. Starting with stock tubes gives you a solid baseline to actually appreciate the upgrades later. Some stock tubes are surprisingly decent and don't deserve the bad reputation they get Totally agree. Starting with stock tubes gives you a solid baseline to actually appreciate the...

thank you very much I'm to be here