In a Pre-Power Combo where'e the flavour from?

[howiebrou]

Wihtout wishing to blow the lid on the whole Vitus vs Ongaku test I am conducting at the moment, in brief this is what I found.

The Vitus is the one of the best SS amps I have yet heard. Totally fatigue free, delicate at even low listening volumes and has very good control of the 11 inch cermaic bass units on the Marten Coltrane IIs. A fantastic unit.

and then I reconnect the Ongaku and the Kondo M77 preamp.

Oh dear. Suddenly, in relative terms, the singers come alive! The veil is removed and the dynamics improve. The bass is as thunderous but everything is so palpable. You might not believe the Kondo hype but I tell you it's real.

I then drove the Vitus SS101 power amp using the Kondo preamp. There was a big difference between the all Vitus setup and this new combo. Not exactly halfway there but a definite improvement.

It seems, like many have said, that the flavour is in the preamp and this demo demonstrates it in spades, even cross brands. I am now wondering what a Kondo M1000 Mk II with the Vitus Monoblocks would bring...

howie

[cmalak]

Howie...interesting. So if I read you correctly you like the Kondo pre with Vitus amps more than all Vitus set-up. What about all Vitus vs. all Kondo set-up (the imputation within the question being does the Kondo amp give up some performance vs. the Vitus monos)?

[PHC1]

Howie, since the Vitus amp easily showed you the difference between the preamps, it is not the bottleneck and it is capable of resolving the differences in the preamps. Since you also easily heard the difference between the two preamp, proves that preamps also make a difference. Bottom line, both are equally important.

[cmalak]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Howie, since the Vitus amp easily showed you the difference between the preamps, it is not the bottleneck and it is capable of resolving the differences in the preamps. Since you also easily heard the difference between the two preamp, proves that preamps also make a difference. Bottom line, both are equally important.

[psjl]

Howie......Interesting post!.....Both Serge's and your comments are spot on, where clearly gear matching is so very crucial.......When I was demo'ing the D.D. Momentums with the Avalon ISIS speakers earlier on, we did multiple swap outs with Ayre, Spectral and cj gear, and every combo produced a markedly distinct sonic flavor......Ultimately the Ayre/D.D. combo was my top choice........Truth be told, I'm kind of itching to try out the upcoming D.D. "super analog" preamp, but deep down I'm hoping my Ayre KX-R will still come out on top........In any event, do you need a 2nd pair of ears to help you evaluate your home demo?! .......Philip

[howiebrou]

Originally Posted by cmalak

Howie...interesting. So if I read you correctly you like the Kondo pre with Vitus amps more than all Vitus set-up. What about all Vitus vs. all Kondo set-up (the imputation within the question being does the Kondo amp give up some performance vs. the Vitus monos)?

I won't say I like it more just yet but it certainly lifts things up another notch or two. Bear in mind the Kondo M77 is significantly more expensive than the Vitus SL-102 preamp. The new two box Vitus preamp might be a fairer comparison I have not had the Vitus monos to compare unfortunately but I would expect more of the same, just on a slightly different level.

Originally Posted by PHC1

Howie, since the Vitus amp easily showed you the difference between the preamps, it is not the bottleneck and it is capable of resolving the differences in the preamps. Since you also easily heard the difference between the two preamp, proves that preamps also make a difference. Bottom line, both are equally important.

I agree. I guess it was more of a rhetorical question but the difference in amps / preamps was so marked I was slightly taken aback. I expected differences but not this large. I have heard it many times that if you want the Kondo sound (or almost any brand's sound), get the preamp first. Here that statement rings very true.

Originally Posted by psjl

Howie......Interesting post!.....Both Serge's and your comments are spot on, where clearly gear matching is so very crucial.......When I was demo'ing the D.D. Momentums with the Avalon ISIS speakers earlier on, we did multiple swap outs with Ayre, Spectral and cj gear, and every combo produced a markedly distinct sonic flavor......Ultimately the Ayre/D.D. combo was my top choice........Truth be told, I'm kind of itching to try out the upcoming D.D. "super analog" preamp, but deep down I'm hoping my Ayre KX-R will still come out on top........In any event, do you need a 2nd pair of ears to help you evaluate your home demo?! .......Philip

Absolutely, although the Vitus may not be around too much longer since the dealer needs them back. Let's organise a get together soon!

howie

[JSCC]

Originally Posted by howiebrou

Absolutely, although the Vitus may not be around too much longer since the dealer needs them back. Let's organise a get together soon!

howie

I blew the chance I guess .... on Sat MIDNIGHT!

To audition 2 remarkable BUT very different high end marques!

[howiebrou]

Originally Posted by JSCC

I blew the chance I guess .... on Sat MIDNIGHT!

To audition 2 remarkable BUT very different high end marques!

Jerry you missed a highly focused demo until past 2 a.m.

howie