But you know… it might just be not very relevant in the end for much current recorded music… certainly the power appears fine with my Empyreans.
I can’t be the only one who has found this… it’s almost like i want the choice depending on what I am listening to.
I will hopefully be borrowing a DAVE again, now production appears to be more fully recommenced.
I find the Mscaler/TT2 combo has a far greater effect on redbook CD files than the original Hugo, whereas the Hugo really benefits from high res.
Well listening to 44.1/16/2 now… don’t get me wrong… this is certainly a noticeable effect… it’s more a case of what I seem to enjoy on certain recordings…
It’s kind of like the experience I had all those years ago comparing early CD with a well recorded cassette tape.
Anyway it’s definitely a case of pros and cons… it’s not all one way which makes it difficult…, and having two DACs feels eccentric.
S-I-S are you responsible for my observation that Hugo prices seem to be going up? :0)
It’s not the first time that you have made me consider the original. I have tried the TT and more recently the Hugo 2 and TT2 in my system, I wasn’t so keen on the Hugo 2 or TT2, but the time between listening to the TT and the newer ones was a bit too long to be sure if the original was much different.
Perhaps when the second wave of enthusiasm has passed I’ll try a TT or Hugo again!
That made me chuckle…
No one calls the “Hood” eccentric😉
Got to say that I am loving the TT.
Currently on hols in the New Forest, so I bought the TT with me. In the evenings I am streaming Qubuz via my phone WiFi > TT bluetooth > Sennheiser Linear HD250 IIs = superb.
M
So I went round to Signals to audition the mscaler / TT2 into SCM40 Actives… and it is a miss for me… so we will try again when the DAVE arrives hopefully with a week or so.
You’re getting a good bit use out of the TT… it’s been an inspired part-ex purchase for you!
I am sure with their help you will eventually find another musical sweet spot. Take care Simon.
One thing I’ve found with ATC Actives is they really benefit from a good analogue Pre amp . It’s the main reason I now have an Auralic Vega G2.1 in that role . Unless you’re looking to reduce boxes I’m sure your 552 would make the Active’s sing .
I am very pleased with it. I think I will have to plug it into my main system and so a head to head against the Qutest/MScaler - then TT + MScaler.
They all sound excellent.
M
Have you taken the M Scaler with you as well? Good to hear you still loving them. I wouldn’t be without the TT2 & HMS… they just have the ability to make me smile every time.
Need to get a pair of headphones before I take a week in the Highlands in Nov… most likely closed back ones so I don’t annoy the better half!
No, just the TT. I love what it does in my desktop system and here with the headphones.
@Naim_The_Dragon I bought a pair of Focal Elegia as I needed to have a pair for listening to music while in a room with others. Completely missed that you’d mentioned them here. Really enjoying them so far… made a couple of tweaks in DSP for the highs but really nice headphones.
Thinking of adding a pair of open backs, HD800’s, either the original or the S version. I was thinking of just tweaking the 6k peak in the 800 with Roon DSP if I bought them.
Anyway, as you have this combo I was just wondering whether you feel it’s a worthy addition or have you found the Elegia get more use.
Listen to varied music, from house music to classical with jazz and folk.
The Elegia are great closed-back but they don’t quite deliver the soundstage and detail you get from the open-back HD800S. But the HD800S do NOT like poor recordings – with a good source you hear everything; fascinating detail but also things you rather not hear… Since you like your Elegia, I think it’s well worth comparing the HD800S with Focal’s more forgiving Clear. Both are great – could happily live with both.
Thanks… extra detail and soundstage is what I’d be looking for. I have a mix of CD Flac files and streaming from Qobuz. I presume however you will be referring more towards the production/mastering than the physical files.
How did the soundstage on the Clears compare with the Elegia… I appreciate the HD800 offer a fair bit more in that regards. Just don’t want two sets of headphones that are too similar.
I haven’t directly compared the Clears and Elegia – so I can’t comment confidently on how the soundstage of the two compares. I only listed to the Clears when I was in the market for open-backs – the Elegia were bought much later when I needed closed-backs (lock-down purchase…).
More detail and soundstage – to me, it sounds like the HD800S are a no-brainer in your case. Unless you have an incredibly oddly shaped head…
On a more serious note – comfort is import. In my case, the fit of the HD800S is much looser than the Focal headphones – which is good, I think, for long listening sessions. But I couldn’t do head-banging. Luckily that’s not really a requirement when listening to classical music…
Sat here drawing with the Elegia listening to classical now… I think I’m also safe on the head banging front
That said, if I was listening to dance music, house etc… I think I’d be more likely to use the Elegia anyway… they have quite a bit of slam to them. Nice and punchy. I find they have more than enough bass for me and wouldn’t really be wanting too much more (if any). That said, that’s with the TT2 / MScaler combo. I tried using them with my iPhone… that lasted approximately 2 seconds. My AirPods have nothing to fear there.
I think I’ll keep an eye open for a pre loved pair of HD800s then! Cheers
Good luck!