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Your experiences with system synergy

Hi All -

Over the weekend, I had the opportunity to demo a top of the line tube amp in my system. This is a summit piece that many audiophiles would consider and end game piece. I was ready to open my wallet and spend a big chunk of money to upgrade my system. 
 

Upon arrival at my home, I set this tube amp and sat back to experience the magic. To my surprise, the amp sounded good, but it did not best my far less expensive current tube amp. I played with speaker placement and demoed lots of different styles of music to find the magic. 
 

Eventually, I plugged my own amp in, the one I was expecting to replace, and there was an immediate sense of rightness. It was if I’d introduced a new dancing partner to my current system and they just could not match rhythms on the dance floor.  Now, to be clear, my current system has great components. I don’t think there is a weak link in the system. Thus, I thought the end game amp would be revelatory and transformational, but it wasn’t. 
 

It made me realize the profound importance of system synergy. 
 

I’m wondering if others have had this moment or epiphany when introducing a vaunted and desirable component into their system just be sort of utterly disappointed? 

bluethinker
bluethinker66
42 posts
 

@motown-l - On topic, would you mind sharing your speakers and amps? I'm curious where others have found a great matching... and which dance partner is a little bit more forward and... a little more laid back. ;-) 

bluethinker66
42 posts
 

@knotscott - I posted my system in the thread. And my friend @grislybutter was kind enough to post it as well. 

The amp I demoed was a used ConradJohnson Art 150 power tube amp. To be clear, it was a great sounding amp! I had it until last night and was really appreciating Bossa Nova music with it. 

For whatever reason, though, it didn't quite capture a certain sound that seduces me. What I've heard is that many modern tube amps are sounding a little bit like SS amps. I think it's because they are voiced pretty neutrally, right? 

I think I'm just a sucker for more rounded edges... and an ethereal sound that I associate with a "tooby amp" 

audphile1's avatar
audphile1
7,911 posts
 

Just curious, was the amp plugged into the puritan or direct to wall?

motown-l
347 posts
 

To bluethinker66 - Thanks for asking about my system and the elements of synergy.

Current system: Cambridge Audio CXA 81 integrated, Revel Concerta 2 M-16's and a Velodyne SPL-1000 sub. Various vintage and used source equipment.

Previously mentioned system: Arcam FMJ 19 integrated, Paradigm Titan Monitors V.6 and the same Velodyne sub.

knotscott's avatar
knotscott
1,389 posts
 

I posted my system in the thread. And my friend @grislybutter was kind enough to post it as well. 

The amp I demoed was a used ConradJohnson Art 150 power tube amp. To be clear, it was a great sounding amp! I had it until last night and was really appreciating Bossa Nova music with it. 

For whatever reason, though, it didn't quite capture a certain sound that seduces me. What I've heard is that many modern tube amps are sounding a little bit like SS amps. I think it's because they are voiced pretty neutrally, right? 

I think I'm just a sucker for more rounded edges... and an ethereal sound that I associate with a "tooby amp" 

Thanks for clarifying.  Sounds like it's just not for you....not at all uncommon with this hobby.  We like what we like....no apologies!  

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