crooner
Tube Marantzed
Well, finally I had the chance to compare both monsters using my Vandersteen 2C speakers and 2W subwoofer.
I was hearing some upper midrange spikes on the sound last night while playing the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans album recently ripped to my Squeezebox music server. These anomalities were apparent with sharp piano attacks. This is a great recording for testing equipment BTW. Solo piano is one of the most difficult instruments to reproduce correctly, in my experience.
I was wondering if the problem was related to the speakers or the receiver. I was betting it was the Vandy 2Cs (I bought them used, they are 20 years old). But anywho, I decided to connect the speakers and sub to the SX-5590 (black SX-1250) which has been powering my stack of HPM-100s.
Well I have to say that both receivers sound very different. The SX-5590 has a more forward midrange character. It is not agressive but you can tell right away with vocals. Bass was also less deep, even with the help of the 300 watt Vandersteen sub. Imaging was comparable to the SX-1980.
To my ears, the SX-1980 has wider dynamic range (remember this is 110 watts more powerful), with better upper bass "punch" and warmer midrange.
The slightly distorted Bill Evans piano at the start of Waltz for Debby is still there which will mean a future upgrade to the $1700 Vandy 2CE signatures (I wish I was rich $$$!).
Both receivers have been properly adjusted for DC offset and bias.
I don't want to knock off the SX-5590/1250. It's a great receiver. But the SX-1980 is clearly a notch above in resolution and overall sound quality.
I was hearing some upper midrange spikes on the sound last night while playing the Tony Bennett/Bill Evans album recently ripped to my Squeezebox music server. These anomalities were apparent with sharp piano attacks. This is a great recording for testing equipment BTW. Solo piano is one of the most difficult instruments to reproduce correctly, in my experience.
I was wondering if the problem was related to the speakers or the receiver. I was betting it was the Vandy 2Cs (I bought them used, they are 20 years old). But anywho, I decided to connect the speakers and sub to the SX-5590 (black SX-1250) which has been powering my stack of HPM-100s.
Well I have to say that both receivers sound very different. The SX-5590 has a more forward midrange character. It is not agressive but you can tell right away with vocals. Bass was also less deep, even with the help of the 300 watt Vandersteen sub. Imaging was comparable to the SX-1980.
To my ears, the SX-1980 has wider dynamic range (remember this is 110 watts more powerful), with better upper bass "punch" and warmer midrange.
The slightly distorted Bill Evans piano at the start of Waltz for Debby is still there which will mean a future upgrade to the $1700 Vandy 2CE signatures (I wish I was rich $$$!).
Both receivers have been properly adjusted for DC offset and bias.
I don't want to knock off the SX-5590/1250. It's a great receiver. But the SX-1980 is clearly a notch above in resolution and overall sound quality.
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