I would appreciate if anyone owning a Luxman L-550AXII Class A integrated amplifier (or an earlier version of the 550A) connected to a DSD Sr. (with the latest Sunlight firmware) could send me a Private Email telling me how do you rate the SQ of your system and also tell me if the L-550AXII is reliable, and if coping with the extra heat dissipation represents an issue.
I presently own an Accuphase E-370 integrated and I would say that it has a very accurate sound with may a bit of a edgy sound in the highs and I am considering switching to the L-550AXII in the hope of getting warmer vocal tones, especially with female voices (high pitch tone).
Thank you in advance for any interesting comments you may have.
I would also be interested to hear from you if you own another brand of “affordable” Class A integrated amplifier. For example, I would love to get a Pass Lab, but they are outside my price range.
After a few weeks now, I know, that I could live happily with “Sunlight” for the years to come. Nothing is perfect anyway… And if it would be, nobody could marvel about the DS2 in the near future
Update on some of my system sound impressions after sunlight firmware upgrade. Initially, I was not convinced that I really liked the Sunlight upgrade over Windom. As I continued to listen over the next several days, Sunlight began to sound a little better, less forward (bright) but again not a big deal over Windom. Heck, I really liked the sound I got with Windom. Well, it has been about 3 weeks now and I am thru the roof loving Sunlight!!! There is more air, better definition and separation of instruments for sure. Texture in acoustic instruments are so life-like and the music’s attack and decay qualities have been bettered imo.
Now get this, My rig is Antipode DX music server-> DSD Jr-> DeHavilland UltraVerve 3 → Belles Reference 150A-> Harbeth C7
Cabling was AQ Diamond USB from music server to DSDjr–Signal cable silver resolution form DSDjr to UltraVerve3 (tubed pre) Then AQ Earth from UltraVerve 3 to Belles 150A and AQ Oak speaker cables. That combo of cabling gave me the sound I was looking for, however just for fun I swapped out the AQ Diamond usb for the entry level Wireworld Starlight 7 usb and the improvement in sparkle~ability and air/transparency is even better. Go figure
Anyway, Sunlight is a great improvement, give it time!
To make this short, I am for Windom. To me the soundstage with Windom is concave and with Sunlight convex. Concave seems more cosy to me.
I must admit the immediacy of Mahler 3 with Sunlight was very powerful, but Windom feels like I’m moving down through a tunnel which I like. Sunlight feels like a STOP sign. STOP! LISTEN TO ME!
Both are very nice.
My preamp crapped out again. If I fix it, I will re-try the Sunlight.
Well, I listened to it some more and…um…cough…switched the polarity. OK so my Pre has its polarity switched, why QS does that I do not know, but anyway when I removed the pre, I, …uh…forgot to switch the polarity back on the Direct Stream. So what? Right?
Absolute phase varies with every recording sometimes from track to track on a given disc. Not sure why you would perceive it as having that substantial effect on the overall sound. Glad you like that change though.
Hi all. I know this has been talked at length. However I went direct to amp with sunlight last night and I’ll tell you I think it sounds better direct than before. I’ll have to go back to my pre to double check - but it sure sounds swell. I think the last time I tried this was Torreys.
Wow. That is fairly impressive. Yes. The point of my post was really more about going direct to amp vs overall sunlight impressions. I did it many upgrades ago and liked my pre in the mix. Different speakers as well. But better is better right? So I figured - hey - better will always be better - closed case. I’m still wondering if I have a tube issue in my pre…haha… but right now I’m just enjoying the clean quiet unadulterated sound direct to amp seems to give w the new software. As I said - scratching head - will flip back after a week to see if I’m whacky. But some listening sessions have brought out the words ‘I’m not cryin….you’re cryin’. Usually a good sign. Lol
I don’t know about tubes any more. I had sold the mono block REF210 (which was modded to work with KT120 tubes), sold LS27 > upgraded to REF5 > then REF5 SE. Now I am running Gryphon Antileon stereo amp, it had everything that tubes and solid state had. I do not stick to tube anymore, if the design is good then it sounds good regardless. Just tried the Soulution amp, it is on another level. Like I said, it doesn’t have to be tubes to be good.
In my case the tubes are a big reason my initial impressions of sunlight more not positive. The interesting thing is the tubes I was using in my BHK preamp sounded good with previous software versions. When I changed back to the stock tubes my impression of sunlight changed.
I have an all tube system except for sources. Windom sent me through a thorough investigation and exploration of input, rectification and voltage regulation tubes for both my input and output tubes. Found a great complement for each component. With Sunlight I only made a change of output tube regulation. . . and have great sound.
Totally different application (Conrad Johnson Premier 16LS2 preamp) but I did note some differences between Siemens 7308s from the 1960s versus 1970s. Both had excellent clarity while the earlier production seemed a little less analytical and more musical for lack of a better way of putting it. Just my 2¢ and it’s gonna be system dependent.
So that is wild sixpack. I have nos rca 6sn7s. Somewhere in the 50s - black base. Not real syrupy or anything. The Maggie 20.7 seem to like the direct to amp so far. I’m kinda liking the simplicity. If this works out - I will get some balanced cables and use those (pre is single ended). And - sell off some equipment for some dream amps.
So I’ve been asked how is the Sunlight upgrade compared with the transformer Edcor XS4400 upgrade. Which is a bigger improvement. Today my brother brought his DS over to compare. His DS has the Sunlight firmware installed, but no XS4400 transformer. My DS has the transformer upgrade, but has changed back to the Windom firmware.
No doubt about it, the XS4400 with Windom is easily the better mod over no XS4400, but has Sunlight upgrade. You can hear it right away. Much better resolution and dimensionality with the XS4400 and Windom.
With the XS4400 and Sunlight together over with Sunlight only, not even close, it really puts the DS in a much higher level.
So there you have it, the transformer mod is a much bigger improvement than the Sunlight update.
I have switched between Sunlight and Windom, and have not decided whats best. On good recordings with classical or jazz i really like Sunlight but Windom is more forgiven and more smooth with not so good recordings. Interesting to hear that the transformer update made a big difference. Where can you buy this transformers and is it something you can do yourself?
