Mather
Unknown Member
-sigh-
I know. And they also wouldn't like being jammed into the corner of my small livingroom. But Focals just sound SOOOOO GOOOOOD
Equipment Recommendations - The Home For New System and Upgrade Advice
- Thread starter Joe Mac
- Start date
I know. And they also wouldn't like being jammed into the corner of my small livingroom. But Focals just sound SOOOOO GOOOOOD
Splunders
Well-Known Member
I was thiiiiiis close to getting a pair a couple years ago. It required a total different direction in amps for me though, since the Focals dip down to 2.9 ohms. They don't need a ton of watts per se, but need some grunt to power through that dip without issue. I like my little, pretty sounding amps, so I went with the O/93s.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Splunders
Well-Known Member
The Audio Research i/50, with its SIX! different color choices was the best amp I ever heard with the Wilson Sabrina's, which also have an ohm dip. Those 50 tube watts sounded way bigger than the 100 watt Luxman integrated. Six colors to choose from @Mather . Six.Sounds like that could be a nice match with tubes then
OMC
Well-Known Member
Mather
Unknown Member
Haha those look so massive I think I assumed they were the 3s. Well either way trust me, the Sopras are in my end game speaker list. I find the 3s used fairly regularly but I can't remember the last time I saw a 2. Likely due to the very good value for money on those in the used market.
Nee Lewman
बैस्टर्ड
Portland Sheriff
Well-Known Member
After a disappointing saga with the Mofi Masterdeck and a dalliance pre-order for the new Technics 1300G, both mentioned in other threads, I landed on my current “end game” (lol) turntable with a great deal on an open-box Clearaudio “Signature” with the upgrade option to the Tracer tonearm.
As disappointed as I was that the Masterdeck did not work out, I’m very happy with this outcome. This Clearaudio setup sounds really fantastic on my system, and the Hana Umami Blue is still breaking in.
For anyone interested, the “Signature” is the US-only version of the Clearaudio’s new “Concept Signature” table, which has important upgrades over Clearaudio’s previous Concept model, most notably, with speed control and motor stabilization. The US-only “Signature” is different from the “Concept Signature” in other markets in the following respects:
Most importantly, so far so very good — the whole setup sounds fantastic, and the Tracer tonearm is mechanically elegant and buttery, as is the cue/lift device, which was among the problems I had w the Masterdecks I tried.
More on the Signature here: CLEARAUDIO SIGNATURE TURNTABLE | Products | Musical Surroundings
As disappointed as I was that the Masterdeck did not work out, I’m very happy with this outcome. This Clearaudio setup sounds really fantastic on my system, and the Hana Umami Blue is still breaking in.
For anyone interested, the “Signature” is the US-only version of the Clearaudio’s new “Concept Signature” table, which has important upgrades over Clearaudio’s previous Concept model, most notably, with speed control and motor stabilization. The US-only “Signature” is different from the “Concept Signature” in other markets in the following respects:
- Tonearm options: US “Signature” is packaged either with the Satisfy or upgraded Tracer tonearm. The Verify tonearm is not an option in the U.S. As mentioned, mine came w Tracer.
- Includes the “Professional Power 12v” linear power supply. I say “includes” but it’s obviously not free and is an option in any market. For whatever reasons, Clearaudio decided to make it part of a single package that makes up the “Signature” US model
- Stabilizing feet from the “Performance DC” model (the next model up from Concept Signature). These feet may also be part of the regular Concept Signature model in other markets, but I don’t think so
- “Triple black” color scheme. Not everyone’s cup of tea, but I love it. (I also really like the look of natural wood plinths)
Most importantly, so far so very good — the whole setup sounds fantastic, and the Tracer tonearm is mechanically elegant and buttery, as is the cue/lift device, which was among the problems I had w the Masterdecks I tried.
More on the Signature here: CLEARAUDIO SIGNATURE TURNTABLE | Products | Musical Surroundings
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Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
Which bronze cartridge is it?
2M, Quintet and Cadenza would all have very different requirement.
MikeH
Well-Known Member
Believe it’s the 2M. It’s for a friend.
Joe Mac
Well-Known Member
2M is an MM so 47kohms and lowest gain possible.
The other two are MC so totally different settings.
MikeH
Well-Known Member
Cheers. Confirmed it’s a 2M
Angsty
Well-Known Member
Very curious about your opinion of the Umami Blue. Not sure if it's worth the coin to upgrade my Hana ML yet.
Angsty
Well-Known Member
The Jolida JD9 appears to have only one gain setting for MM and impedance should always be 47K for MM.
Portland Sheriff
Well-Known Member
Let me get some more hours in b4 providing a more comprehensive view, but early impressions are consistent with online reviews -- the thing I notice most is how balanced it is, with plenty of instrument separation. I hear everything, but nothing is consistently dominant in the mix. It sounds very neutral and natural to me, and I'm hearing more low-mids (or at least hearing them more clearly) than I recall from my system with other components. This LKS-stamped copy of Shelly Manne @ Blackhawk Vol. 1 has become one of my go-to for sq reference bc it's a phenomenally recorded live set and I really like focusing on the cymbals in Summertime (at least I did with previous setups). But with the Hana I've discovered how pure the piano sounds and, really, the whole track is sublime from a sound perspective, including feeling the space in the room, and I feel like I'm hearing everything in the groove.
Importantly, however, this is all qualified by the fact that I've introduced multiple variables into the set up at once, so I cannot say definitively whether anything new I'm hearing is due specifically to the Hana. I also have the new-to-me table and a new-to-me SUT (bought it used).
Likewise, I have not owned another Hana so have no baseline for comparison and, perhaps most importantly, I probably would have gone with the ML or something in its price range but for the deal TMR gave me on both a component I sent for credit (and could not sell myself for a couple months) and a discount on the Umami Blue itself.