Nelson Pass amps

[Tofffsy]

Here is some audio mumbo jumbo from me to you (Audio Science peeps).
I got to researching as to the why's of.... after inserting a Hattor tube line stage in my stereo chain, my sound signature improved by the seat of my pants.

DAC is RME ADI-2 DAC FS (0 db to -18 dbr fixed settings) running through a Khozmo passive preamp (ladder type) - I inserted a Hattor tube line stage in front of my AHB2 power amp.

Impact: soundstage widens (different impact on different speakers; always depending on source material); a bit more depth; voices and some instruments details take place front and center on the music stage. Sometimes it's like the singer is right there in front of me. Love it.

I read up on Nelson Pass' H2 distortion, or the different type of H2 distortion that can have this impact. I have no idea what the Hattor tube line stage does harmonically speaking. It does have 6SN7 tube complement.

I have always felt I had the best amplifier in my stereo system and now it scales with whatever I put in front of it. Quite nice and oh so un-scientific.

The Hattor is too expensive for me so I will try to do something as close to.it possible but in a cheap way with the new Aiyima T20 preamplifier used only as tube gain / buffer stage with the digital volume control bypassed, opamps decoupled on sockets and tube upgrade. It will use it with my Khozmo passive preamplifier with its 48 steps shunt attenuator. It's the same philosophy but fitting my budget. I use a C3850 as buffer for now with the Khozmo I'm curious about the differences in sound quality

 

[ahofer]

The Hattor is too expensive for me so I will try to do something as close to.it possible but in a cheap way with the new Aiyima T20 preamplifier used only as tube gain / buffer stage with the digital volume control bypassed, opamps decoupled on sockets and tube upgrade. It will use it with my Khozmo passive preamplifier with its 48 steps shunt attenuator. It's the same philosophy but fitting my budget. I use a C3850 as buffer for now with the Khozmo I'm curious about the differences in sound quality

My guess is one of the studio effects might be a good way to dial this in. They are well-known to achieve the effects mentioned, but have some control over degree. The studio will already have done it in many cases, and a fixed tube stage might be overkill.

Harmonic Exciters 101: Unlock Rich Harmonics for Clean Mixes

Learn how to use harmonic exciters to enhance your mixes and masters. Plus discover the best tips, tricks, and techniques for flawless sounds.

unison.audio

Despite my obsession with fidelity, I would absolutely buy one of these as a roon plug-in if I could.

 

[Julf]

I have always felt I had the best amplifier in my stereo system and now it scales with whatever I put in front of it. Quite nice and oh so un-scientific.

Indeed. Some people prefer lots of extra salt and ketchup on every dish - even in a michelin-star restaurant.

 

[Chr1]

I reckon that it's good to have seasoning as an option in restaurants personally.

Don't really understand why some restaurants don't give you the option to season your own food to taste.

 

[Tofffsy]

My guess is one of the studio effects might be a good way to dial this in. They are well-known to achieve the effects mentioned, but have some control over degree. The studio will already have done it in many cases, and a fixed tube stage might be overkill.

https://unison.audio/harmonic-exciters/[/UR

http://

My guess is one of the studio effects might be a good way to dial this in. They are well-known to achieve the effects mentioned, but have some control over degree. The studio will already have done it in many cases, and a fixed tube stage might be overkill.

Harmonic Exciters 101: Unlock Rich Harmonics for Clean Mixes

Learn how to use harmonic exciters to enhance your mixes and masters. Plus discover the best tips, tricks, and techniques for flawless sounds.

unison.audio

Despite my obsession with fidelity, I would absolutely buy one of these as a roon plug-in if I could.

I maybe would do it if my sources weren't Audirvana, CDs and LP

 

[Julf]

I reckon that it's good to have seasoning as an option in restaurants personally.

Don't really understand why some restaurants don't give you the option to season your own food to taste.

Because there are so many different taste preferences and seasonings. Not sure why you would go to a high-end restaurant if you don't trust the chef to figure out the seasonings and spices.

 

[Chr1]

So, why should you have the option of seasoning in any restaurants then?

Does not offering salt and pepper make a restaurant high end?

 

[DSJR]

In my stash of 'stuff,' I have a Musical Fidelity X-10D valve/tube buffer stage.

It added a warmth to the perceived sound of then cheaper thin-toned CD players, such as the Marantz CD63 KI Signature and Rotel 965BX (I accept the speakers we sold were perhaps more the culprit). The sales-pitch was a better impedance match between CD player and amp input...

When I came by mine many years later at a give-away price, it sounded muddy and added a 'dirt' I didn't like. 'Rock Grotto' did an update kit for it (as well as a higher capacity 12VAC transformer suggestion), which involved fresh caps, two new Russian-sourced valves and so on, which I fitted. Sure, there was a substantial sonic improvement, the 'dirt' and 'bloom' all but banished, but then I found it was little if any different at all to the source fed straight through it, so it was quietly abandoned and put in storage, currently hidden...

here it is after the mods -

 

[Julf]

So, why should you have the option of seasoning in any restaurants then?

Does not offering salt and pepper make a restaurant high end?

When was the last time you saw ketchup in a michelin-star restaurant?

 

[Chr1]

Don't think that I actually mentioned ketchup. Like it with burgers but not with steak personally.

Curious if you think that it is wrong for restaurants to offer seasoning?

(Apologies folks, but I believe this is actually on topic.)

 

[Julf]

Curious if you think that it is wrong for restaurants to offer seasoning?

No. Just like I don't think it is wrong for audio vendors to offer ghetto blasters or amps with huge amounts of coloration. No accounting for taste. That is actually what I stated - "Some people prefer lots of extra salt and ketchup on every dish - even in a michelin-star restaurant.". I just personally wouldn't go for a burger at a michelin-star restaurant.

(Apologies folks, but I believe this is actually on topic.)

I think we are pushing it. Again, sure, it is not in any way "wrong" to prefer having everything colored in a certain way, but to stretch another analogy, it is like going to an art exhibition wearing tinted glasses, or always having a soft focus filter on your camera. Any other analogies we can push until they snap?

 

[Chr1]

Fair enough. I guess my point would be that there is nothing wrong with having food seasoning, sunglasses and camera filters as options surely?

 

[ahofer]

When was the last time you saw ketchup in a michelin-star restaurant?

Available on request, always.

I think “start with fidelity and season to taste” is a great approach, so no quarrel here.

 

[Julf]

Available on request, always.

Really? I guess that must be an US thing - haven't seen ketchup in any European michelin-star restaurant.

I think “start with fidelity and season to taste” is a great approach, so no quarrel here.

Indeeed. And the best tool (most flexible) for that is probably DSP.

 

[Chr1]

Don't think anyone here would argue that DSP is the most flexible tool for audio seasoning... just that it needn't be the only one.

 

[Fledermaus]

Here is some audio mumbo jumbo from me to you (Audio Science peeps).
I got to researching as to the why's of.... after inserting a Hattor tube line stage in my stereo chain, my sound signature improved by the seat of my pants.

DAC is RME ADI-2 DAC FS (0 db to -18 dbr fixed settings) running through a Khozmo passive preamp (ladder type) - I inserted a Hattor tube line stage in front of my AHB2 power amp.

Why not connect the ADI-2 directly to the AHB2, using its volume control?
IME, passive preamps are prone to impedance mismatches and sensitive to cable characteristics. At some point I encountered audible defects (high attenuation and muddiness) with my own Hattor preamp in passive mode, with a certain interconnect cable more than with others - specifics forgotten - until I switched it to active buffer mode, which restored transparency.

 

[Sal1950]

michelin-star

Since when did tire manufacturers start rating restaurants ?

 

[Fledermaus]

Since before your grandad was born : https://guide.michelin.com/th/en/history-of-the-michelin-guide-th

 

[Sal1950]

Since before your grandad was born : https://guide.michelin.com/th/en/history-of-the-michelin-guide-th

Well son of a gun, you learn something new every day !
I hope they don't tip the rating scales towards "chewy" cooking.

 

[Julf]

Well son of a gun, you learn something new every day !
I hope they don't tip the rating scales towards "chewy" cooking.

According to the wikipedia page they have mostly been accused of favouring French cuisine... Quelle surprise!