Finally Pulled the trigger

Hi,

I'm new to the forum. I hadn't seen much on the net with regards to Viola and am glad to finally see something.

I purchased the Crescendo preamplifier in January and I am amazed at the performance. I am playing it along with Mark Levinson 436 monoblocks, Aurender S-10 Music Server, and Aerial Acoustics 20T speakers.

I had previously been playing music with a Meridian CD player through my HT processor and the difference in sound quality is draw dropping.

I was wondering how the Viola Symphony would sound with my speakers. Is anyone familiar with these speakers and have any thoughts?

Thanks in advance.
Ken
 
Welcome to AS, Ken!:hi:

Using the Crescendo mostly as a pre or a DAC as well? Does the S-10 feeds directly into the Crescendo?

What part of NJ are you from? I'm near the Princeton area myself.
 
Sanjay,

Since I'm not familiar with the new Viola products, can you contribute with your own opinion like the Symphony vs. Crescendo, and Cadenza vs. Crescendo?
I have just sent you another Viola review :satisfying:
 
+1


Chr. R. said:
Sanjay,

Since I'm not familiar with the new Viola products, can you contribute with your own opinion like the Symphony vs. Crescendo, and Cadenza vs. Crescendo?
I have just sent you another Viola review :satisfying:
Click to expand...
 
Hi Chris,

The Cadenza and Symphony were developed a few years ago, and are extremely nice pieces by any standards. By Viola's cost-no-object standards, they fall in their "mid-range," below the flagship Solo and Spirito preamplifiers, and below the flagship Legacy and Bravo power amplifiers. Sonically, they are purist and transparent, but musical. They seem to capture the essence of music in a manner that is human, tactile and real.

The Crescendo and Concerto are new, and they are incredibly ambitious products. The Crescendo is a preamplifier with an on-board DAC (with USB and SPDIF inputs). The signal-to-noise measurements in the Crescendo are outstanding, and sonically, this piece is really amazing. Compared to an outboard DAC of similar caliber + the Cadenza, this is a step up. By eliminating interconnects and connecting the DAC to the preamp section internally, there is less loss and better optimization. As a preamp, everything is handled in the analog domain without any pollution from digital sources. The sound is liquid and nuanced, and the unit sports incredible features (such as WiFi control from an iPhone/iPad/iPod).

The Concerto is a smaller amplifier -- 100 watts per channel into 8 ohm -- and fits in the same size chassis as the Crescendo. They are designed to work together. The amp is electronically biased to provide unparalleled control over speakers of all types. It sounds like a pure Class A amplifier on steroids, if you ask me. I find it marries the best of tubes with the best of solid state -- i.e. resolution without edge. The Concerto is beautiful on small to mid-sized, or relatively efficient larger speakers (89dB and above). For more challenging loads, I recommend either using two Concertos -- each in bridge mode. Or you can use a parallel bi-wire configuration with the Concerto on the mid/high drivers and a Symphony or Bravo on the bass drivers. (Most speakers are bi-wirable with jumpers removed, and the this is what we suggest for speakers like the TAD CR1s, which are 86dB efficient.)

So in summary, the Crescendo and Concerto are aimed at proving reference level sound at a more modest price point. I think they really nailed it here. But it all comes down to system optimization in the end. Gain, impedance, power handling, current delivery, room size/acoustics etc. must all be considered. Too much power is just as bad as too little power in many cases. It is best to start with the room, then the speakers, and then work backwards based on listening tastes. I hope that helps.
 
Mike - got your PM but can't reply as we do not have enough posts. Best to contact me at sales AT ciamara DOT com. Thanks.
 
socfan12 said:
Welcome to AS, Ken!:hi:

Using the Crescendo mostly as a pre or a DAC as well? Does the S-10 feeds directly into the Crescendo?

What part of NJ are you from? I'm near the Princeton area myself.
Click to expand...

Hi Allen,
I live in Manalapan.

I use the Crescendo as a preamp and DAC. I was looking for a DAC to play 2 channel because my HT processor was not great for that application. For HT it is killer, but for 2 channel, not great. So not only is the Crescendo a very good DAC, it is also excellent as a preamp.

Ken
 
veindoc said:
After almost 6 months of trying to complete a proper pairing for my TAD CR-1 speakers and XP-20 pre, I finally pulled the trigger and made my final choices of amp and DAC. I am proud I was patient, work thru this process(which often seemed like Paralysis thru Analysis). The lists of what came thru my system included the following amps in no particular order. Musical Fidelity(My OLd F-15, Class A 100watts/ channel), TAD 2500, Rowland 625 & 525, Ayre VX-R, and Vx-5, Aesthetix hybrid, Pass x250, Vitus rs100, Merrill Veritas, Krell 402e, Nagra MSA, Lindemann 855, and Bryston 4bsst. The Zanden was just too friggin high and large but I was curious if the kt-120 based tube amp could bring out the best from my speakers. Dacs for my primarily network player based listening include AMR, Rowland Aeris, Berkeley, Meitner MA-1 and MSB ANalog dac...
...And the winners are: Viola Labs Symphony and Ayre QB-9 DSD ---runner ups were Lindemann 858 and Meitner MA-1.
The Symphony did it all-great power and finesse, at even low volumns. Class A/B does not run hot and tremendous imaging and soundstage. The Ayre upgrade is much more than just the addition of DSD. It is as good as anything even though it is usb only. Both sound great and seem to make crappy recordings sound better and great recordings sound sublime. FWIW the Aeris DAC was very very impressive on redbook cds. It was the only dac that used some type of synchronous interface as opposed to all these other dacs.
Good night all. Totally stoked, can't wait.

Nick
Click to expand...
Nick - First of all congrats...I hear nothing but superlatives about Viola. I know Gary Koh of Genesis Technologies absolutely raves about Viola amps. Two questions: 1. Did you hear the Zanden amp you referred to? I have heard the big monos once and love Zanden (particularly their digital which I am fortunate to run in my system after finding a great second hand set) What did you think of the Zanden? 2. Curious as to how the Ayre compared with the MSB and Meitner...I have heard Meitner's CDSA but not the MA-1...just curious really. Thanks! And again...congrats!!! Look forward to reading more about them as you listen to them in your system.
 
kken6217 said:
Hi Allen,
I live in Manalapan.

I use the Crescendo as a preamp and DAC. I was looking for a DAC to play 2 channel because my HT processor was not great for that application. For HT it is killer, but for 2 channel, not great. So not only is the Crescendo a very good DAC, it is also excellent as a preamp.

Ken
Click to expand...
Thanks, Ken. Sounds awesome! I hope to hear both the Crescendo and the Symphony on some TAD speakers in the very near future. Can't wait!
 
Sanjay,

Thanks for your detailed post :)

ciamara said:
Hi Chris,

The Cadenza and Symphony were developed a few years ago, and are extremely nice pieces by any standards...
Click to expand...

Please correct me if I'm wrong, but I believe both Symphony and Cadenza were among the products the company introduced when Viola was founded in 2001.

Regarding to how a Viola product sounds, I think this quote says it pretty well: "One wonders involuntarily itself, whether it’s tube or semiconductors that deliver the best quality? The answer is easy, as long as you have listened a few days. "I am completely indifferent, let me hear some more music".The quote comes from one of the reviews I sent to Sanjay.

I have a short Viola video I wanted to post, but it does not seem to succeed (it's an MP4 file) :(
 
Hi Chris,

If you want to send the video, we can post it on our site (assuming it is in English). Will take a few days, but could get it up there for all to see.

Thanks,
 
Zanden pre 3100 was very lovely and part of their new line which has a new look and a remote. The original Zanden pre was a two chassis device with both tubes in preamp and separate power supply. This new product even at 12.5k was very nice sounding but aesthetic not to my taste. Sort of a ivory opaque high impact plastic which matches the look of the remote. The top and sides not thick and impressive just sort of sheet metal. Compared to Nagra far inferior construction standards. Sonically a little sweeter tube like soundwith better bass slap. Nagra was much more neutral in presentation. I know zanden is planning a new updated version of there top of line pre in gold with separate power supply and remote. Probably b great and $$$ >20k

Nick
 
veindoc said:
BTW how do you like your cj Gat? does it have remote, xlr and how many tubes?
Nick
Click to expand...

Hi Nick,

I am not sure if you are asking me or Lloyd. I am waiting to get my new GAT. I should have it this weekend or next week. I liked it so much that this will be my second time with the GAT. I bought one and stupidly sold it last year. It was one preamp that I really missed, so I ordered a new one along with the ART mono amps. It comes with a remote, uses two 6922 tubes, and will drive any amp via RCA outputs with its under 100 ohm output impedance.
 
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