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發表於 2016-8-9 17:02:39
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Part 2B
I have been pondering how to write this intermediate report so that I would not be construed 夜郎自大. To begin with, let me make two things clear. The first one is that the sound of my system is definitely less refined and less articulate than the Tidal setup, the Zellation Statement as well that I may also report on if there is interest. Amongst other issues, my system has discernible upper bass distortion in certain recordings. 2. The Tidal setup is of of the few excellent sounding systems that I have heard. In keeping with this, what I am saying below are minor areas that I think the Tidal system may be improved; the shortcomings that I happened to hear at the particular session (what the system COULD sound because others have achieved them) and what it SHOULD sound if live performance is used as reference. Therefore what I write should be read in the context that the system is 瑕不掩瑜 and the sonic issues may well be 有則改之，無則加勉。
Here we go, my listening session at the Tidal/Entreq room:
The flimsy partitions of the room no doubt adversely affected the sound. Bad electricity, a factor that many show exhibitors blame might not be at play in this room. It was because the equipment area was lumped with numerous large and small Entreq boxes. These provided clean power, one may assume.
I sat in the room for a while prior to Lee 388 of Audiotechnique coming in to give a demo and I also stayed for some time after he had left. My seat was front row centre, about 8 ft from the speakers.
According to Mr Tam, the person in charge there, the diamond tweeter is good for 2k Hz to 70k Hz. Hence the crossover may be set at a low frequency, entailing smooth and linear sound reproduction by the same driver for a large part of the midrange all the way up to extreme highs. The crossover is external (as a separate box outside the speakers) and user adjustable. The demos were conducted with both CD and LP sources, switching between them from time to time. The turntable, with straight line tracking arm included, is Bergmann from Denmark. Cartridge is Van Den Hul. Pre-amp is Tidal and the two tower speakers on each side are driven together by a mono amp, also Tidal. The CD transport (I don’t know which brand) puts out digital signals to a DAC called Diamond Lab. The bass tower, according to Tam, has two 11” cone drivers and they work from 16 to 60 Hz. The speaker system is called Sunray T1.
Taking a easy approach, I would transcribe briefly the notes I took at the session, add comments in brackets where necessary and summarising a few points towards the end.
At the session I merely sat and listened; did not make any request to play particular albums or music genre.
* An orchestral work was playing from a CD when I sat down. I noticed strings sounded strained during loud passages. Soundstage width and spread of instruments across it was OK.
* the next track featured an electric guitar. Nothing to write about because I know in addition to tuning knobs and vibrator on the guitar body, the player may use six or seven different foot pedals to generate numerous effects. Much skill and innovation of the guitarist is called for, but using the sound as reference, no way.
* the third track was 八音和。 Tam used a CD that I did not know about. The sound was recessed and dull but it was good that all 8 instruments were properly located within the soundstage being delineated within the inner edges of the left and right speakers (meaning not projecting a giant percussionist as in the case of many large audio systems). The drums, cymbals and gongs sounded clean and sharp but too light, and the large drum did not have enough impact. (I often listen to the same piece recorded by Terence Lai and went specially to attend the concert of 錢國偉 in which the percussionist 彥倚苹 was invited from Taiwan to play this piece. I missed seeing her play it for one time. It was in the programme but changed to a group piece because she was pregnant. The song is demanding not only for audio systems but also dedicated audiophiles. Not easy for an audio system to reproduce it properly and for an audiophile to grasping the correct sound. Not easy to figure out what instruments are playing and how some of the sounds are produced. Without such knowledge, the track could not and should not be used as reference. I made many wrong guesses prior to actually seeing her play. A large Chinese floor drum was used and I started looking for it afterwards. I first came across one in China and asked 蘇師傅 to play a few strokes for me, who told me it was usually called 定音鼓。Later I found some Chinese bands when providing accompaniment in Hong Kong halls, they also used a similar one that was being lent or rented to them though on some occasions a western tympani was made available in its place).
* Another electric guitar track. Tam obviously liked electric guitars. The sound as a whole was properly forward (not recessed) and notes of the electric bass might be discernibly followed. But to me the whole rendition sounded artificial.
* Tam then switched the source to LP, playing Take 5. I already described it in previous posts and am not repeating it here.
* He switched back to CD and played a Canton pop song by a girl. Amateurish singing! As regards the sound, her voice was properly located in the centre but even with her soft singing her voice was bright and edgy. A saxophone provided fill in at times, also located in centre.
* LP again. (was it Le Cid?) The strings were strained when playing loud and even sounded a bit torn. The flute and winds were impressive. Centre fill and soundstage width were adequate.
* Then another LP with an instrument playing glissando at times; sounded like a harp to me. But image size was exceedingly large.
* This one plus two more LPs. Symphonic work (Firebird??). This time the bass impact was excellent. Strings were also strained when playing loud. But when soft, they were smooth and detailed.
* Japanese album of percussion (I have this one but forget the name). Centre fill was good. Brass close to right speaker. On the whole sounding properly forward. But highs had some ringing!
* A drum set. Snare drum in centre but the set was too widely spread. Kick drum was to the side (should be slightly off centre to the left speaker because drummer kicked it with right foot) (not too good a recording of a drum set).
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樓主: momei
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發表於 2016-8-8 03:37:45
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