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In the Forum: Audio Discussions
In the Thread: Initial thoughts about new/old Lamm ML2s
Post Subject: Failed experiment a success (What ho, peasants?): another gusherPosted by Paul S on: 1/8/2007
Too bad I had to continue today with the original 6N6Ps! LIke I care right now!
I imagine there are people who read these posts and wonder if the ML2s are "worth it", as I did for a couple of years. If by "worth it", you mean do they truly kick ass, then yes, they are worth it. But I will also hedge like a mother and say "it depends", because it does depend on whether the rest of your system can make good use of the ML2's capabilities, and it also depends on your tastes, expectations, and hi-fi acumen.
Getting the tubes closer to spec has worked just the sort of improvement I wanted along with lots of other benefits I never saw coming when I first used the amps. But I would also hazard an educated guess that these amps, although used when I got them, yet needed some "break-in" time, simply running with loads, to stabilize and begin to give their best. Although this has required but a modicum of patience, it has taken some time and attention to details to get the amps where they are now.
Where they are now is by far closer to live music in a very literal sense than I ever even imagined hi-fi could be, because up to now my expectations were limited by my (rather extensive) experience, which up to now did not include these amps. Circular, but true. Although you have heard about "holographic imaging" rendered by other amps before, I have heard them and they simply do not do it the the way the ML2s do it, and they do not do it as well as the ML2s. These amps just hinted at this for a while, but it is now part of the regular program: the uncanny, unshakable aural impression that the music is coming from the singer(s) or instrument(s) rather than from the speakers or the "sound field". This might seem like a fine point, but it isn't, and it has to do with the way the sound travels (especially the incredible "non-existent" highs) and in turn is percieved by a listener. The way the ML2s put it, the musicians and vocalists are making the music and the "sound field" rather than vice-versa. Which wouldn't mean a thing to me if everything else wasn't so well done, too; but it is.
I want everyone to know that I kept my old amps because I was not going to keep the money tied up in just another pair of amps, no matter how "good" they were in terms of my former understanding. But I want to encourage you fence sitters that if you care about music and you are prepared to go the distance to get it, then the ML2s should be on a very short list (of, perhaps, 1).
I would wait to post this kind of drivel, but I am too excited to stay quiet. I'll try to be more coherent (and less of a little kid) as the amps settle in and I get my TT up and running again.
Best regards,
Paul S Rerurn to Romy the Cat's Site