I had 552DR/300Dr previously, but I was experiencing listening fatigue ever faster, to the point where I was avoiding listening to music at all.
This is most likely related to my Tinnitus.
Strangely enough listening to music with my Sony headphones WH-1000XM4 is not fatiguing, as long as I turned off the noice cancelation.
So I felt I needed a change in my setup and started visiting dealers, listening to different setups.
I home auditioned Leben CS-600 (so wonderful but lacked power for larger scale music), McIntosh MA 5300 AC (not engaging and build quality not to my liking) and some Lavardin amps (ISx Reference: nice but felt too much like a downgrade; ITx so beautiful; ITx-20 similar tone like ITx but then more from everything).
This is where I stopped auditioning more brands, as Lavardin gave me a not fatiguing sound and on top a tone that made me think „music just sounds so nice and beautiful“.
I decided not to audition ASR Emitter2, Vitus, Gryphon and the like, as these large amps are just too big and heavy, I don´t want this in my home.
After a few weeks my new Lavardin ITx-20 and the new cables have settled and I thought I´d share my experiences:
First thing I notice with Lavardin is the absence of any harshness, which is so relieving and allows me to listen to music again without fatigue - well at least Vinyl and Tuner, Digital is still a bit difficult for me.
Absence of harshness does not mean absence of heights or details though. They are still there, but presented in a calm, non-shouty way. Music is so fluid, liquid and alive - it’s a big joy!
Most astonishingly I have the feeling that the Lavardin has more PRaT than my 552DR/300DR, was not expecting this at all.
Hifi aspects like soundstage, layering, instrument separation etc. seem to be even improved vs. before.
Listening to large scale music (e.g. Talk Talk Time It’s Time) a bit louder also keeps all the hifi aspects, no smearing, no collapse of soundstage, everything clear and large - though admittedly 552DR/300DR had more sheer oomph in this case.
On an emotional level I had an interesting experience though: While 552DR/300DR gave me the illusion of having the band playing in my room, the Lavardin transports me into another time and place. Not sure how to better describe this, but yesterday evening listening to Nina Simone, Miles Davis and Art Blakey gave me this impression that I have not had before.
So to summarize I´m more than happy with this new hifi toy.
(picture of the inside taken from Image Hifi Magazine)
I’ve realised I’m also more looking for a beautiful touching presentation more than uber detailed and in your face. You shall choose the music to play, not your hifi system.
Would love to demo the Lavardin ITx-20 one day.
. Still, there’s always a Plan B…..
