I really wanted to demo some PASS gear, but the local shop has sold off all their stock and not keeping anything stocked due to other internet sellers drastically undercutting prices.
So what was offered to demo is a nice pc of Italian Gear, the Viva Audio Solistino SET Integrated amp. One of these, in Red.
The picture makes the unit look miniature, but it is pretty large. This was coupled with a pair of Tannoy Canturbury speakers and he dropped in a newer McIntosh CDP for the demo. This Viva runs about 20wpc, but the MFG posts no specs for wattage. I took lots of music that I regularly listen to, and disks I thought sounded good. I found much of the playback a little bright in the upper mids. May have been the recordings or the CDP or my ears. The owner put a disk on of some ripped tracks, one was SRV Tin Pan Alley, which is usually a goto demo track but i didn't bring it with me. The setup sure woke up for this track as well as MJs Man in the Mirror. The amp has plenty of headroom and can make your ears bleed with the right speakers, but can also drive ones at 87db. It also sounded nice at lower levels. I had never heard Tannoy speakers before and getting used to a huge dual concentric driver set took a little adjustment. All in all it sounded very sweet and would be a nice addition to anyone's home lacking a heater. This guy throws some serious heat from the large set of tubes. Then he tells me there was just a price increase which took this out of the running for what I want to spend on new gear.
Before leaving, I asked if I could listen to the "other" room, which we did. This system consisted of all Burmester electronics. The Burmester-Wilson Alexia room was setup with an 061 CDP, 035 Pre, and 911mk3 amp. Wow, what a nice system and now I want to sell my house
Burmester is just gorgeous gear. Oh, and all the CDs that sounded bright in the other room.....not with all Burmester. The Wilson's are so friggin ugly but put the Tannoys to shame. The grip that the Burmester amp had on all tracks was amazing. The machining and build, look and feel was all as good as it gets. Being a Toolmaker and Machine Designer in my past career, I was amazed at the work in all this gear. The top loading CDP was about the nicest CDP I ever touched.
So then I went back home and played the same music again. My conclusion is that I will have to spend way more than what my gear cost when new to even equal the performance of the first setup. The second system will blow most others away in the right room. I now am rethinking buying anything besides room treatments and some power cords at the moment.
It sure is nice to get an opportunity to hear fabulous gear in person and also getting some reassurance about my current setup and just how good it really is. You never realize what you have until you listen to other systems......or sell it
I wish everyone that enjoys music and gear could get to a real showroom or show and have a listen to gear that is out of their reach, if only for a reference point.
So what was offered to demo is a nice pc of Italian Gear, the Viva Audio Solistino SET Integrated amp. One of these, in Red.
The picture makes the unit look miniature, but it is pretty large. This was coupled with a pair of Tannoy Canturbury speakers and he dropped in a newer McIntosh CDP for the demo. This Viva runs about 20wpc, but the MFG posts no specs for wattage. I took lots of music that I regularly listen to, and disks I thought sounded good. I found much of the playback a little bright in the upper mids. May have been the recordings or the CDP or my ears. The owner put a disk on of some ripped tracks, one was SRV Tin Pan Alley, which is usually a goto demo track but i didn't bring it with me. The setup sure woke up for this track as well as MJs Man in the Mirror. The amp has plenty of headroom and can make your ears bleed with the right speakers, but can also drive ones at 87db. It also sounded nice at lower levels. I had never heard Tannoy speakers before and getting used to a huge dual concentric driver set took a little adjustment. All in all it sounded very sweet and would be a nice addition to anyone's home lacking a heater. This guy throws some serious heat from the large set of tubes. Then he tells me there was just a price increase which took this out of the running for what I want to spend on new gear.
Before leaving, I asked if I could listen to the "other" room, which we did. This system consisted of all Burmester electronics. The Burmester-Wilson Alexia room was setup with an 061 CDP, 035 Pre, and 911mk3 amp. Wow, what a nice system and now I want to sell my house
So then I went back home and played the same music again. My conclusion is that I will have to spend way more than what my gear cost when new to even equal the performance of the first setup. The second system will blow most others away in the right room. I now am rethinking buying anything besides room treatments and some power cords at the moment.
It sure is nice to get an opportunity to hear fabulous gear in person and also getting some reassurance about my current setup and just how good it really is. You never realize what you have until you listen to other systems......or sell it
I wish everyone that enjoys music and gear could get to a real showroom or show and have a listen to gear that is out of their reach, if only for a reference point.