daveoo
New member
In my second system I have Clayton M300 monos (Class A) and Eggleston Andra III speakers and the musicality is a smoother organic whole presentation. Like a collection of instruments playing live, this melds into a "body of presentation" more so than separating out individual instruments. This is warmer and inviting but still informative listening. With 300 watts, dynamics and pace are very good, but I would also say there is comfort here. The amp also works nicely with my Piega TC 70X speakers that are brighter. The DAC in the system is a Rocktron.
Since Randy mentioned his T+A amp, the musical nature of my T+A A3000 and separate power supply is more toward the exciting and compelling than the above system. Instruments are better understood and presented with more inner beauty and expressiveness. I think this beauty is a result of presenting more of the truth of an instrument. I love a strat into an almost clean Fenderish amp slinging minor and jazz chords. The harmonics and sparkle are exceptionally there with the T+A and I am going Ohooooooo. However, instruments do play together, a group holds together as a group, and the soundstage is whole and coherent.
If the T+A is any kind of smooth it is because of diminishing noise within the notes and the lack of noise leading the note, the leading transition. An amplifier that has less noise doesn't chase me away, it draws me into the music. It removes a barrier that would prevent me from having an involvement that is musical. Noise as I describe here is more of the grunge, hash and etch kind. Present, it does not excite me.
As expected, exciting are the dynamics, slam and pace/tempo. Toe tapping is hard to stop and the bass foundation is great. A song or an album is like a journey and I feel temporally involved in that traverse with small effort on my part.
But the special musicality of the T+A amp is an effervescence that scintillates throughout the whole presentation. It is quite intoxicating for me. This isn't really a swirly sparkly coloration however, and its hard to describe. It obscures nothing and certainly leaves me thrilled.
This effervescence improved when I added the 3000 power supply. In fact, it hit me quicker than the improved bass and slam. The DAC here is the T+A 3100.
Both amps have other attributes, but the above is how they both can be musical for me. Kind of a fun exploration this thread can foster.
Since Randy mentioned his T+A amp, the musical nature of my T+A A3000 and separate power supply is more toward the exciting and compelling than the above system. Instruments are better understood and presented with more inner beauty and expressiveness. I think this beauty is a result of presenting more of the truth of an instrument. I love a strat into an almost clean Fenderish amp slinging minor and jazz chords. The harmonics and sparkle are exceptionally there with the T+A and I am going Ohooooooo. However, instruments do play together, a group holds together as a group, and the soundstage is whole and coherent.
If the T+A is any kind of smooth it is because of diminishing noise within the notes and the lack of noise leading the note, the leading transition. An amplifier that has less noise doesn't chase me away, it draws me into the music. It removes a barrier that would prevent me from having an involvement that is musical. Noise as I describe here is more of the grunge, hash and etch kind. Present, it does not excite me.
As expected, exciting are the dynamics, slam and pace/tempo. Toe tapping is hard to stop and the bass foundation is great. A song or an album is like a journey and I feel temporally involved in that traverse with small effort on my part.
But the special musicality of the T+A amp is an effervescence that scintillates throughout the whole presentation. It is quite intoxicating for me. This isn't really a swirly sparkly coloration however, and its hard to describe. It obscures nothing and certainly leaves me thrilled.
This effervescence improved when I added the 3000 power supply. In fact, it hit me quicker than the improved bass and slam. The DAC here is the T+A 3100.
Both amps have other attributes, but the above is how they both can be musical for me. Kind of a fun exploration this thread can foster.