Posted by manualblock [ 69.112.69.86 ] on July 07, 2005 at 21:48:38:
In Reply to: Don't hold back... posted by GarMan on July 07, 2005 at 19:55:30:
Sure; when have you seen me hold back? The Fisher; believe it or not sounds a lot like their tube stuff. The mids are smooth and melodic, the bass is a little flabby but warm and natural sounding and the highs are very full and open but a little rounded. Not real detailed but nice and musical.
They really sound very little like modern SS equipment. I guess they are tuned to have tube characteristics and if that is possible then they have succeeded. Non-fatiqueing but also not strong on resolution. There is noticeable vieling through the entire frequency range; but it is not irritating. I prefer it to my Carver TFM 35 amp, thats for sure.
The Sansui is a real nice piece. It sounds big/looks big. If I can make myself understood; you know how those older Pioneer SX 1250 recievers had that sense of effortless power? The Sansui has that in spades. Little ragged way up top but the bass/mids are pretty smooth and very ballsy. Other than that slight high freq thing it is Pretty even response, I don't hear any ragged response problems in the mid/bass and also pretty detailed, not as vieled as the Fisher, but not quite as smooth either. What it gives up in smooth it makes up in definition.
I really don't know why some of the older SS from the early seventies sounds more alive than more recent stuff but the Sansui does have a lively presentation. On some orchestral pieces; full orchestra; it drives those Alons to the point where it sounds like the drivers are floating with the music; like they are weightless and have incredibly quick reaction to transients. It is very gratifying on massed and complicated portions of the music. My friend uses Alon speakers and the amp can rock and roll with them. It is visually staggering, big lights/big face.
If I enjoyed that thunder and majesty of large orchestras and big band jazz as well as Led Zepplin played with a lot of drive and foundation I'd like the sound.
Also the tuner section is pretty competent, we were able to capture some distant stations with very good results.
Something about those 1970's big guns that is enjoyable; I tell you this, they make a nice combination with Wayne's Theater 4's. Everyone I bring by enjoys that system; fingers popping and smiles.
When I hear people praising the songs on the Turntable I know the system is right and I get that all the time with those. They think it is the music but hey; we know better.
Hope this helps.
Let me know if you get the chance to audition; or maybe you already own one of those behemoths. I'd like your perspective.
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