Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site
In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Initial thoughts about new/old Lamm ML2s
Post Subject: Another plug for the ML2Posted by Paul S on: 1/6/2007
Well, I hope that Romy is the only one who still thinks I'm tube rolling, because this post is even farther afield (although it is almost a spin off from the previous posts about AC/grounding).
I finally got around to adding not-terrible power cords. I had been using some little peices of crap I had in a box with some cast-off computer stuff, but now I have nice fat solid 12 gauge copper, and yes, Virginia, there is an audible "difference", and the difference is an "improvement", and the improvement is in the "ease" of the performance. The amps are now, paradoxically, at once both more free and more in control, if that makes any sense. Music does not feel at all squeezed or pushed but it is yet more dynamic, more sudden and spontaneous, and there is still less background HF whatever-it-is that ties the music back to the speakers. This was not a "big change", because the amps were already tending like this, but it was significant enough to suggest that the AC cord does "matter" with the ML2. One really cool audiophile tidbit was to hear for the first time with my system the proper sound of the air from a trumpet, consistently rendered when the miking warranted it. (Sorry, Romy, it is true, but I said it just to tease you...)
Although I have had audible reasons to believe that the amps have not up to now been running true to spec, I am ready to accept that they are presently operating to spec. However: I still plan to try new 6N6Ps. Again, this is because I want to be as certain as possible that I know how the amps sound with the properly-functioning tubes they were designed around. I will begin evaluating my system in ernest once I am sure the amps are up to speed.
By the way, all the things I was excited about earlier are still in effect without the "Holiday Power Grid", so I hope this means that I am flipping over this amp while it is working "normally".
Best regards,
Paul SRerurn to Romy the Cat's Site