Conrad Johnson/ Vincent preamps

[Poultrygeist]

Yesterday and today I drove the Zu's with Bottlehead 2a3 Paramours and the Conrad Johnson PV1 ( not phase inverting but I don't think you could tell the difference if it was ). I also use a Aric 3.7 preamp which works well when substituted for the CJ. My Dared 2a3 and Miniwatt SET are both integrated amps which don't require an external preamp but they too drive the Zu's with great aplomb. I've tried at least a dozen push pull tube amps with the Zu's but the low powered single ended triodes just sound better.

[frenchmon]

If a phase change was not made between each swap of line stage, one would expect to hear those kind of differences reported. Even when comparing the same preamp and the effects of inverted phase.

rw

Well I have not heard from P after I emailed him....

[harley .guy07]

frenchie,

That's a quote from Srajan of 6moons fame.

The bandwidth of the Omen Def is 30-25hz. Seldom does a string bass play a note below D which has a frequency of 36hz. Bass is one of the strong points of Zu speakers but if those finger ports can't breathe the Zu's become sealed speakers.

Well I have a 5 string bass that has a low B string so that is not exactly true. It is more like around 28 to 30 hz. And there are basses out there that go lower than that, just because 4 strings are the most popular does not mean people aren't playing instruments that can play lower because I know my 5 string Active pickup model will

[frenchmon]

This is Peabodys remarks...

"I thought about that later. I reverse my speaker leads for the CJ, but didn't think to switch them back for the Vincent. I don't know how much difference it would have made, maybe the Vincent would have had a bit more focus. Unless there's more to it than I understand, not correcting the phase invert just causes the sound stage to be a bit more diffuse. The difference to me between correct or not is subtle.

Not sure what he means by focus...The Vincent was very focused that night...so if they would have been in phase and focused, they would have had a sound like the CJ with a weak bass????? It was already the better performer. I just don't get it.

I've had my system out of phase before and the sound was weak and not subtle but very much noticeable... Not strong and full as it was a Peabodys. This is really strange...stuff is not adding up. Oh well, we may never get to the bottom of this.

Poultrygeist drives his Zu with low powered amps, the CJ strains at driving them, and the Vincent has no problem and according to MrP the Vincent was out of phase not the CJ......I give up.

Now I've also had my Marantz out of phase and it was not that noticble but you could tell something was wrong, but not the Rotel.

[Mr Peabody]

Wish I knew some one with a SET around here.

[frenchmon]

Why don't you just purchase one...some of them seem to be cheap enough on line.

[frenchmon]

When I had my Marantz out of phase it was not that noticeable until you listen for the bass. It was not as strong and the Marantz was much more hot to the touch. When I corrected the problem, the Marantz cooled of and the bass was stronger.

When I had the Rotel/Vincent out of phase, it was very much noticeable....the entire sound was weak. But I guess its different with the Vincent/Conrad Johns pairing. BTW....I would love to have the Vincent paired with CJ tubed power amps....if they perform like your mono blocks. They where tight enough and not as sloppy as some tube amps I've heard. The Rotel power amp has more authority but the CJ mono blocks are very good with great definition.

[Poultrygeist]

Harley, you're right the lowest note on a 5 string bass is B which has a frequency of 30.8 hz but as a bass player you also know that music for 5 string bass seldom goes lower than D which has a frequency of 36.7 hz. Sure you can go lower but I'm speaking of the practical range.

FWIW the lowest note on a bass viol is E ( 41.2 hz ) and that's about as low as I usually encounter with the type music I listen to.

[Poultrygeist]

Most of my local audio friends have SET or SEP amps because they own full range speakers but I know a couple of horn guys who are totally nuts over their Pass Labs F1.

I've never heard the Zu's with an F1 but I sure would like to. The F1 can squeeze huge impact bass from a 4.5 inch Fostex driver like nobody's business. It's the only amp I know of that when paired with small back loaded full range horns plumbs the depths so well a sub is not needed. I wish PoppaC could hear the F1 with his Frugal Horns.

[E-Stat]

Most of my local audio friends have SET or SEP amps because they own full range speakers but I know a couple of horn guys who are totally nuts over their Pass Labs F1.

Wait 'till they hear the F1J with the new Silicon Carbide (SiC) Jfet transistors from SemiSouth. You may be interested in my recent post about the new First Watt SIT amp.

rw

[harley .guy07]

Harley, you're right the lowest note on a 5 string bass is B which has a frequency of 30.8 hz but as a bass player you also know that music for 5 string bass seldom goes lower than D which has a frequency of 36.7 hz. Sure you can go lower but I'm speaking of the practical range.

FWIW the lowest note on a bass viol is E ( 41.2 hz ) and that's about as low as I usually encounter with the type music I listen to.

You are correct and it is a fact that most bass players me included have 5 strings but mostly play 4 string basses because all the 5th string does is allow you to step down without moving down the low E string and most times the B string does not give it the same clarity as just stepping down on the E string. I was just saying the point that Bass guiter is not limited to the low E string and some music atually uses the low register notes even though it is a rarity.

[harley .guy07]

To make the point I play my vintage Peavey T40 4 string all the time and rarely play my custom made 5 string active bass. So you make a valid point