First amp comparison

holt

I picked up the Proceed Amp 3 yesterday evening and hooked it up. This is a used amp so no burn in time needed - except with my ears. Okay, I'm a noobie with untrained ears and don't know what I'm doing blah, blah, blah.... But here are my impressions:

First thing I noticed, a little higher noise floor (is that what you call it?) coming through the speakers than the Newcastle. The Newcastle (at least on my system) is a very quiet amp. There was a noticeable hum with your ear to the speaker - it is plugged into where the Newcastle was plugged, everything else off but the receiver, cd player and the amp - could be fixed with new PC.

Second thing I noticed, this amp is a bit more in your face. I kept feeling like I needed to turn down, or back up from the sound stage at volumes I normally listened to with the Newcastle with very familiar cds. Even turning it down, there was still that in your face... Not quite a slap, but almost. I guess you would say it was an amp with authority. The highs were more defined and bass more percise. I guess I need to get use to a new way of listening.

Third thing I noticed, more detail in mid range - sound stage deepened, and is more detailed. A tad less warm than the Newcastle. Warmth to me is laid back, the instrument is just there and perceptible with detail, but with a little trailing edge.

I need more listening time, and granted, there are many other components that add or detract to the sound. I'm sure there are a few reading this that are smirking because I'm running through a receiver and not a pre, but this is just an apple to apples comparison with two different amps in the exact same setup. All in all, I like what this amp does, but it is certainly a new way of listening that I have to get use to. I may have to play with speaker placement again. Still, listening to this made me appreciate the Newcastle even more for what it did with the LSi's, it is really not a bad amp. I guess what would help is to go back and listen to just the Newcastle again after a month or two getting use to this amp and hear what exactly what it was lacking in comparrison to this amp.

jinjuku

holt wrote: »

Second thing I noticed, this amp is a bit more in your face. I kept feeling like I needed to turn down, or back up from the sound stage at volumes I normally listened to with the Newcastle with very familiar cds.

How did you measure the volume as to know whether your were volume matched vs your receiver or not at your normal listening location?

holt

I'm not sure I follow you... I set up as I normally do balancing with a spl meter at 75 dBs. I normally listen to music to around that or slightly higher - depending on how it was recorded - classiscal I turn up.
What I meant was that the amp is not "louder" but that its presence is "stronger" making you feel like you're on top of things. It had that feeling even turning down. It isn't pumping out that much more wattage in 4 ohms - 250 as opposed to 165 in the Newcastle, to make that much of an appreciable difference in volume.

janmike

Are you using balanced IC's?

tonyb

Sounds more like a ground loop hum your describing rather than the noise floor persay. I always found out too that sometimes you have to experiment alittle with IC's to get the most out of a new piece. What sounds good on one will not necessarily sound good on another.

holt

tonyb wrote: »

Sounds more like a ground loop hum your describing rather than the noise floor persay. I always found out too that sometimes you have to experiment alittle with IC's to get the most out of a new piece. What sounds good on one will not necessarily sound good on another.

That is probably it.... As a matter of fact, I have some Signal IC's coming in today so I will be able to change out and see.

holt

janmike wrote: »

Are you using balanced IC's?

No, the single rca. Does using the balanced make a difference? I read opinions that it really didn't.

disneyjoe7

holt wrote: »

No, the single rca. Does using the balanced make a difference? I read opinions that it really didn't.

I tend to agree with that statement, but balanced pairs could reduce noise some. Just my $.02

janmike

holt wrote: »

No, the single rca. Does using the balanced make a difference? I read opinions that it really didn't.

I'm no expert but I do believe that it depends on the gear. I own Proceed gear and using balanced IC's made a difference. Then again, I have the synergy between the Proceed Pre and Proceed Amp.

PS - It is recommended by the manufacturer to use balanced IC's with the Proceed gear.

holt

janmike wrote: »

I'm no expert but I do believe that it depends on the gear. I own Proceed gear and using balanced IC's made a difference. Then again, I have the synergy between the Proceed Pre and Proceed Amp.

PS - It is recommended by the manufacturer to use balanced IC's with the Proceed gear.

Synergy is what I don't have right now as the Pioneer certainly doesn't have balanced outs. A pre will be my next venture (I keep saying "down the road" but that has turned into "across the street" the way I've been buying things since this bug hit). The guy who sold me the amp kind of gave me a polite lecture about using a receiver. I haven't had much time to play with the amp yet, but I am excited about it; I have read very glowing things about Proceed. I will say this though, I auditioned his setup when I went over to pick up the amp and he has some good stuff (Innersound amp, Digital Phase speakers) and I can honestly say I prefer my current setup. I think that is more a difference in listening preference though - and different listening rooms.

holt

The speaker hum was a ground loop which I fixed. I made some speaker adjustments and now I can honestly say that I am really, really appreciating this amp. Next project is finding a pre for 2 channel listening. Thanks janmike for the recommendation on this amp, I think its a gem with the LSi's.

comfortablycurt

holt wrote: »

No, the single rca. Does using the balanced make a difference? I read opinions that it really didn't.

I've never used balanced connections, but from everything I've read, it's really a situational thing. They may not always bring improvements(though some people swear by them), but in a lot of instances, they can help to reduce noise/hum.