Great going jai, please also post your impressions on the ACA with my Frugal Horn speakers that you heard. I am loving this combination and my Zaph have gone in the back and resting. Even my better half likes this combination rather than the Marantz amplifier :lol:. My setup is yet to be done and once finished will post the pictures of my completed FH and ACA.
Thanks
Thanks for having me over to listen to the FH / ACA combo and also for holding on to the amp for me. Some key points about the setup and my impressions:
1. The chain was dedicated audio pc -> ODA -> Pass B1 -> ACA -> Frugal Horn speakers
2. I have spent a lot of time listening to single driver speakers and have owned three pairs (DIY bookshelf with Fostex, Audire Io2 with Fostex, Rethm Saadhana with Lowther and active bass section)
3. The FH and ACA setup got the essence of a single driver setup right - a realistic stereo image and very palpable "rightness" with vocals
4. The FH use very small drivers and the cabinet is also quite compact. Despite this, the bass made its presence felt and overall bass quantity was comparable to the Io2
5. There was some mild colouration in the mids, which I think will probably fix itself as the speakers break in and possibly with some positioning tweaks (i've always had good luck with single drivers without toe in). Apart from this, the midrange was quite impressive and lived up to all that one expects from a single driver speaker. The shoutiness that larger drivers sometimes face wasnt there.
6. The high frequencies were well balanced. I didnt notice any of the roll-off that some single drivers have and the bite / shimmer of cymbals was felt
7. The soundstage came together well and the "you are there" feeling that single drivers give was very much present. I suspect this is another area which will improve with some experimentation on placement.
Overall, it was a very well put together system. Frankly, to recreate this level of sound from a commercial setup would require significant investment in both electronics and speakers. Its obviously taken a lot of effort to put everything together.
edit: the ACA and single driver combo works well enough that I quite look forward to trying the amp with my Rethm Saadhanas once they are set up again.
