Having now lived with a Vivere and a good TT I can finally make some comparisons....
Disclaimer: This is MY observations, MY system, MY ears .... it might be irrelevant to most of you
I am NOT biased towards any media or product. The placebo effect has f-all relevance to me... price or status does NOT impress me.
A few members know the system and might comment on its relevance....
Sunday morning and my friend for the past almost 40 years (Im going on 46) pops in with a LP he just bought. Remaster of Ella and Louis..... WOW its nice and at R215 from Musica worth it. He confirms yet again what I felt...just the confirmation I need to post my comments.
The TT
SME 20/2
Grahan Phantom II Supreme arm
vDHull Colibri XCW Special Edition
Hovland HP 100 Tube Phono (Sometimes with tiny Dynavector R4k phono)
Yeah I know volume level matching, lets just say I/we listened BLOODY/Realistic levels (11-3 on volume) loud... we had the house to our own >
I tried to play same digital vs analog of same pressings etc.
Results:
Sade - Promise - Normal Pressing vs 44kHz FLAC - TT by big margin
Dire Straits - HiRes vs Normal pressing - TT was slightly more warm, guitar didnt hurt your ears, could play even louder and HUGE soundstage... Hires damn nice but slightly more fatiguing.
Pink Floyd - DSOM - Hires vs normal vs special pressing - The Hires was nicer for me... special vinyl was damn close
Janis Ian - Breaking Silence - Audiophile Vinyl - Gold Audiophile CD Flac - Laughable comparison, TT far superior
Patricia Barber - Hires vs Audiophile LP - Again LP was better but oh the Vivere spins magic!
Jethro Tull - aqualung - Audiophile LP vs Normal LP - vs hires - Hires was almost on par with Audiophile LP!! Could play LP louder
Ella & Louis - New LP vs 192/24 - The 192 sounded artificial quiet! The LP much more real
Coldplay - LP vs FLAC - Vivere much more nice! LP pressing sounded "flat"
Pink Floyd Wish you were here - Hires vs LP - Hires had more punch, great attack
Diana Krall - Vinyl vs Hires - Vinyl was better here.....
Leonard Cohen - CD Flac and LP - I preferred the Vivere
My conclusion ?
Audiophile vinyl on THIS rig is far superior to Hires material, even 192/24
Normal vinyl is sometimes on par and sometimes inferior to Hires Material
Normal CD Rips sound definitely better though vivere!
Normal CD Rips are mostly inferior to vinyl (new or mint of course!)
Some Audiophile CD Rips are very very good
24/88/98/192 sounds very analog
I was planning to sell my rig and all the vinyl - Now, unfortunately no :thinking: Even with R5k phono it thrilled people
The Vivere makes me love digital again! Even CD :dance:
Disclaimer: This is MY observations, MY system, MY ears .... it might be irrelevant to most of you
I am NOT biased towards any media or product. The placebo effect has f-all relevance to me... price or status does NOT impress me.A few members know the system and might comment on its relevance....
Sunday morning and my friend for the past almost 40 years (Im going on 46) pops in with a LP he just bought. Remaster of Ella and Louis..... WOW its nice and at R215 from Musica worth it. He confirms yet again what I felt...just the confirmation I need to post my comments.
The TT
SME 20/2
Grahan Phantom II Supreme arm
vDHull Colibri XCW Special Edition
Hovland HP 100 Tube Phono (Sometimes with tiny Dynavector R4k phono)
Yeah I know volume level matching, lets just say I/we listened BLOODY/Realistic levels (11-3 on volume) loud... we had the house to our own >
I tried to play same digital vs analog of same pressings etc.
Results:
Sade - Promise - Normal Pressing vs 44kHz FLAC - TT by big margin
Dire Straits - HiRes vs Normal pressing - TT was slightly more warm, guitar didnt hurt your ears, could play even louder and HUGE soundstage... Hires damn nice but slightly more fatiguing.
Pink Floyd - DSOM - Hires vs normal vs special pressing - The Hires was nicer for me... special vinyl was damn close
Janis Ian - Breaking Silence - Audiophile Vinyl - Gold Audiophile CD Flac - Laughable comparison, TT far superior
Patricia Barber - Hires vs Audiophile LP - Again LP was better but oh the Vivere spins magic!
Jethro Tull - aqualung - Audiophile LP vs Normal LP - vs hires - Hires was almost on par with Audiophile LP!! Could play LP louder
Ella & Louis - New LP vs 192/24 - The 192 sounded artificial quiet! The LP much more real
Coldplay - LP vs FLAC - Vivere much more nice! LP pressing sounded "flat"
Pink Floyd Wish you were here - Hires vs LP - Hires had more punch, great attack
Diana Krall - Vinyl vs Hires - Vinyl was better here.....
Leonard Cohen - CD Flac and LP - I preferred the Vivere
My conclusion ?
Audiophile vinyl on THIS rig is far superior to Hires material, even 192/24
Normal vinyl is sometimes on par and sometimes inferior to Hires Material
Normal CD Rips sound definitely better though vivere!
Normal CD Rips are mostly inferior to vinyl (new or mint of course!)
Some Audiophile CD Rips are very very good
24/88/98/192 sounds very analog
I was planning to sell my rig and all the vinyl - Now, unfortunately no :thinking: Even with R5k phono it thrilled people
The Vivere makes me love digital again! Even CD :dance:
