We all have our views, and that’s fine.
Plus i take back the hate.
But as said you or anyone is always welcome to visit if near silverstone anytime, as with most things actually meeting with someone rather than over a forum is a much better way to communicate, as after all we all share a love of music.
Cheers dunc
Plus, frenchrooster once also didn’t enjoy me, and now we almost agree on most things. Lol.
It didn’t do anything for me at the start, but it was new out the box.
It’s been over a week now, and have to say it’s grown on me. I have tried it with and without now, and all the time i prefer with.
It’s not a big difference, but a difference it is, not really sure what i like better, it’s not like i have more off anything, but it just sounds better, i think it’s easier to follow if that makes sense, and it just flows better.
I would say that for me it’s not worth £20k as far as an upgrade goes, but i would still like one.
I didn’t think i would miss it, but the more i listen to it, i feel i am going to miss it when it goes.
But clocks are certainly strange things, some just dont hear a difference, and i did think i was going to be one off them, certainly be a cheaper option. I know i haven’t explained it very well, but it’s very hard to describe it as it’s not like changing speakers, etc. It’s just a strange one.
The humbolt has taken much longer than we expected to finally turn up, was hoping to try it against the vitus before i got it, but it will be with me soon, and it will be interesting to compare.
The vitus being class A will have the warmth, the humbolt should be a bit more detailed i have been told, but hopefully not cold. As i have certainly got to like the class A sound.
But i will update.
Cheers dunc
Dunc, is there something you definitely miss from the Naim, and is there something you clearly do not like in the Sia-030 presentation. Do you think Sia-030 has the same drive capability vs the Naim for your speakers?
How close is sia-025 to the sia-030 soundwise and what are the greatest differences?
I can honestly say i haven’t given that any thought what so ever. Maybe that’s because i don’t miss anything, and thinking about now i can’t think of anything.
The only real negatives for me i guess is it’s size and weight, as far as sound goes i love it. I guess the clicking relay volume control could get on your nerves, but it doesn’t bother me.
I also like the way you can adjust each input for gain, sensitivity, etc. Very handy.
As far as drive goes, then not sure what you mean by that, but as i said it has a better grip on the bottom end, and top end. Goes deeper in bass, and has a faster start stop.
My 808’s certainly enjoy it, but remember its a class A amp and works different to the naim amps, class A is renowned for being bery dynamic, due to the amp worling at max all the time. It also has a huge transformer in it to cope with the pull, so this gives it a massive reserve off power.
The sia030 just builds on the sia25, and the sia025 is alreadya great bit off kit. It’s just better in everything really, but then it should be.
I would say it’s probably like going from a 250dr to a naim 500dr in the way everything just gets better
Hi Dunc,
Why only Vitus and not Pass-Labs int 25 or int 60?
In my understanding, this is an open audio forum, which is not restrictive, discussions that can only enrich us from the experience of others…
That is very interesting. Don’t you think that the WATT would be fine enough?
I’ve been a new user of Vitus, specifically using the Vitus SM-011 mono for about 6 months, driven directly by the dCS Rossini Apex. Overall, I find the Vitus to possess a somewhat laid-back sound signature. When switched to class A mode, the sound becomes delightful but slightly rounded, lacking a bit of attack and excitement.
While I am generally content with the Vitus amplifier, I am considering exploring alternatives that offer a more engaging audio experience. I currently own a Chord Ultima 5, which I find to have a more forward and cheerful sonic character. However, in most other aspects, the Ultima 5 falls short compared to the Vitus.
It’s not only vitus, but at the time it was the only integrated amp i could get that i wanted to try, but the Humboldt will be soon here.
But i had done some testing over the years, whilst i was trying to find what i was missing.
I listen to many different amp and speaker combo’s at dealers using the dcs, so i got to understand what i liked, and more importantly what i didn’t like.
My biggest problem was my turntable, as i didn’t want to loss it, but at the same time i didn’t really want a pre amp. I wanted to run direct from my dac into an amp, but that ment goodbye to my turntable unless i wanted to convert it to digital, then feed it into my dac, like what linn does. This to me seemed crazy, as the reason i like my turntable is because it sounds different to my digital.
So i decided to try the big super integrated amp’s, plus i had tried the sia025 a few years ago, and sort off knew what to expect. I was very pleased with the way the sia030 sounded in my system, a big step forward over the sia025
They i believe are based on the sia025 amp ?
How are you connecting up between them both ? Plus what voltage are you running on the rossini, lastly what sensitivity are you running on the amp input?
Lastly what speakers are you using ?
As i found you needed to get certain thinks right for it to sound it’s best when running direct
Dunc Do you keep your amp Always on, or on standby?
What cables are you using with it - to the speakers and to the sources, and is the amp plugged into the wall socket directly or in some sort of power distributor?
Thank you!
I find your journey really interesting @Dunc - if you didn’t have a turntable what system do you think you’d be running now?
If Class A you don’t leave on! My class A amp consumes somewhere around 500W at all times when on - I accept the cost for the hours of listening plus half hour or so beforehand to warm up when I manage, but on 24 hours a day would cost something like £1400 a year at current(!) prices. Also the music/entertainment room would also get uncomfortably hot in warmer weather, though at least that zone’s central heating would probably never need to cone on.
Amp is on standby
Speaker cables are kudos ks1 on the mid/treble, and mogami w3104 on the bass.
Xlr’s for both inputs, chord music on the dcs, and townhsend f1 on the phono.
I have 2 separate mains for my hifi, both running through a balanced mains transformer, and separate consumer unit.
The amp is on it’s own, and the rest goes into the other.
If i didn’t have a turntable then it would be basically what i have now, but just an amp or pair off mono block amps.
So it would be.
Dcs vivaldi apex dac
Dcs vivaldi upsampler
Dcs vivaldi clock
Melco N10 / innuos PhoenixNet
Amp ? Probably an expensive danAgostino or something along them lines, but would have to see what worked best for me.
So you’d still role with the DAC straight into power amp route if it wasn’t for the TT - interesting.
Cut out the middleman! I do likewise. There is no point to a preamp if the DAC output has the necessary drive capability for power amp, unless of course you have low-level or non-volume controlled sources also to use. Any electronics necessarily add to, takes away from, or otherwise modifies the signal in some way.
I drive my dCS DAC/Clock with a D’Agostino Progression Integrated, and it is a fine combination.
Yes i would 100% not run a pre amp. The volume control in the dcs dac is very good, and with the apex upgrade it got even better.
There’s really no point in putting a pre amp in the way, as i would rather put the money into a better amp, as a pre amp you will want to really better what’s already in the dac is going cost, i reckon £40k plus you would need to budget for one to make any real inpovement.
Tidal level really, so as said big investment needed.
I’ll be very interested to hear your views on the Humboldt when it finally arrives. I’ve ended up with an Ypsilon integrated for, probably, much the same reason you’re looking to change (though at a much lower price point!) and it’s nice not having so many cables. It’s simply fabulous to listen to, just more of ‘everything’ that I was getting before.
Hi
I don’t think i am looking at changing, as the price difference will be over £10k. So it will have to blow me away really, and going by other reviews it’s more a different presentation than anything else. Obviously there will be differences as one is class A, and so has a bit off warmth, but let’s see.