ELP Impressions
lomic
Posts: 407
Got my Dodd ELP today, came with Amperex Holland 6DJ8/6922's. Looks better in person than in pictures.
My initial choice of listening material were sources I hadn't liked in the past on my system. Biggest surprise was all-around bass improvement - I thought it was very tight and accurate before - it's now clearly moreso.
1- Sarah Brightman: Time To Say Goodbye (SACD/Import)
The more mellow songs sounded fine before the ELP, but anytime Sarah belts one out or just gets lively it was painfully bright. With the ELP her voice is now silky smoothe through-and-through. I could barely breathe on some of the passages, amazing improvement.
2- The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over (DVD/PCM Stereo)
There has always been something about Don Henley's voice that didn't sound right. It sounded good, but there was just some characteristics that made me shake my head. All the other vocals sounded fine, just seemed to be a problem with Henley. I've noticed slight improvements upgrade after upgrade, but the ELP is the Ah-ha! moment. He now sounds perfect and everyone else sounds better than before.
3- Les Miserables: 20th Anniversary Concert (CD)
The DVD has putrid sound quality, and for some reason the CD's - while much better overall SQ - tend to be very bright. The ELP has smoothed the strongest edges, but the recording still remains annoyingly bright. Guess I might have to start working on finding some very warm tubes to mellow this thing out.
Gave a few other things a listen and was very pleased with all the characteristics I heard. As everyone else has said - buy one
It has motivated me to swear off multi-channel SACD/DVD-A... I have seen the light with stereo.
My initial choice of listening material were sources I hadn't liked in the past on my system. Biggest surprise was all-around bass improvement - I thought it was very tight and accurate before - it's now clearly moreso.
1- Sarah Brightman: Time To Say Goodbye (SACD/Import)
The more mellow songs sounded fine before the ELP, but anytime Sarah belts one out or just gets lively it was painfully bright. With the ELP her voice is now silky smoothe through-and-through. I could barely breathe on some of the passages, amazing improvement.
2- The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over (DVD/PCM Stereo)
There has always been something about Don Henley's voice that didn't sound right. It sounded good, but there was just some characteristics that made me shake my head. All the other vocals sounded fine, just seemed to be a problem with Henley. I've noticed slight improvements upgrade after upgrade, but the ELP is the Ah-ha! moment. He now sounds perfect and everyone else sounds better than before.
3- Les Miserables: 20th Anniversary Concert (CD)
The DVD has putrid sound quality, and for some reason the CD's - while much better overall SQ - tend to be very bright. The ELP has smoothed the strongest edges, but the recording still remains annoyingly bright. Guess I might have to start working on finding some very warm tubes to mellow this thing out.
Gave a few other things a listen and was very pleased with all the characteristics I heard. As everyone else has said - buy one
It has motivated me to swear off multi-channel SACD/DVD-A... I have seen the light with stereo. Dodd Audio ELP [ Tubes ] // Harman Kardon AVR330 // Parasound HCA-1203A // Denon DVD-2900
Polk Audio LSi9, LSiC, LSi 7 // HSU STF-2 // Signal Cable Interconnects (SG BW/A2/MP)
Polk Audio LSi9, LSiC, LSi 7 // HSU STF-2 // Signal Cable Interconnects (SG BW/A2/MP)
Post edited by lomic on
Comments
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Glad to see you are enjoying the Dodd. For most once you go tubes their is no going back. I fiddled with multi channel for a few months and once the novelty wore off that was the end of it, I actually have a number of SACD discs that I have never heard the multi track.
Anyway, you have a great piece of gear, enjoy.
RT1 -
Glad to hear you're enjoying the pre. It's even more fun once you start tube rolling. My fav out of current production is the JJ 6922.
Nice to see you're using Sarah Brightman's "TTSG" album. That's one of my reference CD. I love the sound quality. Did you notice a big difference with the CD vs SACD. I have both but I prefer the cd version. Maybe it's because I have a cheap **** all in one player for SACD and a good NAD for cd's.
Maurice -
Yep, Yep!! I'll never let mine go, unless it was to mysteriously upgrades itself into the MLP
"SOME PEOPLE CALL ME MAURICE,
CAUSE I SPEAK OF THE POMPITIOUS OF LOVE"
