Today I a got chance to experience Hari's new system. Last time when I(we) visited him, it was a decent system with tube amp. Now with upgraded tubes.added DIY preamp, OB speakers, DIY sub and a solid source(Marantz UD7007),it was certainly interesting to explore.
We started with vinyl setup connected to his DIY pre and tube amp,but sound was not clean and lacked weight. Adjusting subwoofer level did help, Still vocals were not on warmer side with treble little sharper. We listened for short time and then started with Marantz UD7007 as source.
Hooked up Pen drive and started with some good recorded tracks. Wow,speakers got some warmth and bass started to appear better. Vocals still not good and natural. So Hari did towing in of speakers and yes there was some definite improvement in vocals. Treble edginess reduced. As the time was passing bye, I felt the tube amp becoming warmer in sound signature. At that time we connected Hari's diy dac to check it sound different than UD7007 analog out, but I(we) couldn't. This was interesting. how there was hardly any change? Hari said DAC chips in marantz and DIY DAC are almost similar. So time to change another DIY DAC with different chip.Still not much of the change which is unusual. When I asked about his pre, I found that there is an opamp output stage. Yes that can be it. I have used many opamps with my SSP earlier and some opamps do not change their signature.
So time for different pre. We connected DCB1 and found immediately some looseness in sound. It must be due to zero gain which is not appreciated by the tube amp.
After some time, we changed Hari's much talked telephonic ICs to DAC(Designer audio) one. Difference was immediate with rounded treble. Soundstage marginally improved.Vocals has some thickness now but certain things got softer.
Again discussed with Hari and he explained its low capacitance which improves details.When measured DAC IC capacitance,it was much more than desired and that was making sound warmer. Now to me these figures are not much important as long as sound is improved or near perfect. I have found many times that extra details are heard in music at the cost of natural warmth.
Now hooked B1 and yes it added more warmth to music. By the time I(we) can say that its Hari's pre which do not alter much of the sound.Its can be a good thing as long as one is enjoying music. It sounded very clean though and reason was perhaps better PSU with both current and voltage regulation.
As we spend 2 hrs. tube amp added more and more weight to sound. OB speakers started singing well. Instruments and separation was nice. Subwoofer was adding perfect bass. Vocals still not to my liking, but certainly improved with the time.
Also I have observed, after 6 pm, AC power also improves in our are and all noise reduces by at least 15-20%.
Hearing the Sub performance, we played some movie clips down-mixed by UD7007. With some well recorded clips, sub was punching bass very well and fronts adding perfect details to it. Even with these 2.1 speakers,we were getting the feeling of powerful theater.
Not talking of any surround effect, but tube amp's ability to handle OB speakers was great with good dynamics. We also played YouTube from VUTV to DAC and system didn't let us down. Some orchestra tracks were presented as live performance which is a big plus.
Did quick comparison with Pioneer BD150 with UD7007 and yes marantzs was sounding taut with dark background. Pioneer had good vocals(coaxial out to DAC),but again was sounding loose. After all marantz is 5 times costlier.
Finally it was nice 4 hrs spend with Hari's all DIY system(except UD7007) . Its is always nice to discuss all technical things in person than to just reading in the forum. OB speakers has very good soundstage but need better vocals.The Star performer is DIY SW. It was good in music and movies.Tight and flat bass response. Hari has taken good efforts making his pre and anaog ICs.
Yes sound is a never ending story but this time its one step ahead to his last speaker system.
Cheers.