 Behold Gentle and APU768
April 30, 2009
Editor,
The Behold APU768 is far beyond what I can spend on what
amounts to a preamp-DAC. But it appears that the Behold Gentle integrated amplifier
contains much, if not all of the functionality of the APU768, plus a power amp. Have you
heard this unit and do you feel it is a viable alternative to the full-blown Behold setup
you had in TWBAS 2009?
Franco
I heard the Gentle briefly at TWBAS 2009 event in a
second system set up in my downstairs living room. It is a very impressive component, and
you’re right, it has much of the APU768’s functionality and more: the latest
feature incorporated as an option in the Gentle is a music server/disc player. So
essentially the Gentle can be ordered equipped with four channels of amplification, a full
room-correction suite and DAC, a music server complete with a good-sized hard drive and an
external disc player, and even digital crossover functionality if you want to run a
digital-active speaker system. It is about the most complex “integrated”
amplifier I have ever seen. I’d definitely investigate it further....Jeff Fritz
Simaudio and Boulder
April 21, 2009
Editor,
I've enjoyed your reviews and commentary on Ultra Audio
for a while now and look forward to many more fun reviews. I'm writing in regard to an amp
upgrade I'd like to make in the coming months and would love to hear your thoughts as I
don't have the opportunity to audition these side by side: Boulder 1000-series preamp/amp
combo vs. Simaudio P-8/W-8 combo. These will be driving Dynaudio C4s. I've heard the
Boulders and enjoyed the slam and attack that they brought out of my music; however, I
won't be able to hear the Sims driving the same speaker without travelling across the
country. From your reviews, it sounds like the Sims will offer a bigger soundstage and
slightly warmer sound; however, were these differences huge, or just subtle? Any
additional thoughts you can provide on the differences would be greatly appreciated!
Luke M.
You’ve pretty much nailed the sound of the Sims:
warm and huge sums it up nicely, although I would add quiet and resolving, too. The
Boulders, generally, are dead neutral and very precise, with great weight and authority in
the bass. Frankly, I like both. I do know that Simaudio displays at shows with Dynaudio,
occasionally, and I’ve heard that they have a particular synergy. That is certainly a
consideration in your case. One other thing to remember is that electronics at this level
are very close in performance, overall, to each other. The differences, in the grand
scheme of things, is fairly subtle, at least compared with, say, a comparison of two
different loudspeakers. But nonetheless, these particular sonic characteristics, given the
right system, could make the difference between very good and just perfect. So to sum up:
If you can’t hear both Boulder and Simaudio side by side, I’d say go with your
gut feeling based on the reviews and the advice of others who have heard them.
They’re both terrific brands....Jeff Fritz
Experiments with room correction
April 16, 2009
Editor,
I just had my own little audio epiphany tonight. I use the
DEQX room-correction/crossover system and my speakers are accurate. Traditionally, I never
used equalization above 200Hz; what I got in the room was what I got (except for the bass;
my room operates a bit differently there). When I saw your
in-room response (at the listening position, I assume) my initial reaction was that it
would have been too bright for me. It was one-third octave RTA, and basically flat to
10kHz then falls off.
My listening-position graph is always smooth in the bass,
and I got what I got above that and it fell off quite a bit earlier and very much lumpier
than in your example.
I don’t know why, but tonight I mucked around a bit
with gentle correction above 200Hz, quite broad filters (your wording of “used
judiciously,” I guess), Q value not more than 2.5 in any case. Before it was flat
through the bass region to 200Hz (the bass/mid crossover point), very different from your
example.
After tweaking my response was much more like yours,
basically “flat” through to 5-6kHz. I guess I’ve got to eat crow: it is a
vast improvement. It's not bright in the slightest; in fact, it fixed a few problems I've
had for a while. One quick example was Aimee Mann. At times she can sound a bit strident
and shriekish, which always led me to blame the tweeter or midrange/tweeter area. But
filling in the areas below 1000Hz must have added the foundation to her voice, so even
though I didn't touch the higher stuff, her voice no longer shrieked. It just seemed that
when the whole voice was in balance, no part stood out.
I love learning. And I sure learned something tonight.
Terry J.
More questions on TWBAS 2009, Behold, Magico versus
Rockport, etc.
April 13, 2009
Editor,
Great articles [on TWBAS 2009], Jeff. My question is
regarding your trip to Goodwin’s High End. Which speaker did you prefer, the M6 or
Altair? What similarities are there between Rockports and Magicos and what are their
differences? A couple of questions Is it true the Behold equipment has a built-in power
conditioner? Why run the Rockports with a single stereo amp? Behold normally uses a mono
setup at the audio shows. Are the preamp and amp connected by digital or analog cable? How
good are the Behold DACs in the preamp and amp sections compared to a standalone DAC? With
a single-wire-only speaker like the Arrakis only a single Behold amplifier can be used. At
shows Behold is biamping.
Wgerman
The amp-preamp connection when used with Behold
amplification is via a single digital connection -- in this configuration the DACs are
those used in the amplifier itself. I am now experimenting with the APU768 and my current
references, the Classé Omega Omicron Monos. It is really an apples-to-oranges comparison,
because in this configuration the APU is both the DAC and preamp (and room-correction
processor, if that is engaged). But I've not heard more transparent sound in my room with
any preamp-DAC-interconnect combination I've tried. The Behold APU is remarkably
transparent. When you add in room correction, it is just ridiculous how good it is. My
understanding is that they have onboard power conditioning.
Of course I've had three pair of Rockports in my
listening room over the past two years and they are my reference, and since I have
purchased them for my own enjoyment, my preference as well. I've written so much about
them it hardly seems needed to reproduce that here. Suffice to say that I think Andy
Payor's loudspeaker engineering is exceptional by any measure, and it translates perfectly
into the listening experience.
Having said that, I've also heard great things from the
Magicos. The last three years at CES I've heard, and written about, my overwhelmingly
favorable impressions of them. I've spoken to, and exchanged email with, Alon Wolf many
times about possible reviews. He's chosen to send his larger speakers to Jonathan Valin at
TAS, who has written extensively about his Magico experiences. There's no
shortage of info available.
In terms of my trip to Goodwin’s, I briefly
described the sounds in my article. I'm not going to "call a winner" in a brief
comparison in a strange room and with a system that was unknown to me. That would not be
fair to either company, and wouldn't really serve you, either. But more relevant, it is
important to know that both speakers did provide out-of-this-world listening experiences.
What I heard from both speakers on that day ranks in my top five all-time listening
sessions, without a doubt. Yes, they are that good. You really have to hear both if you're
shopping for a speaker that size -- in fact, I'd say those are the two I'd insist that you
do hear....Jeff Fritz
TWBAS 2009, Rockport, and amplifiers
April 9, 2009
Editor,
Great work on the TWBAS 2009 reports! I have been closely
following everything you have written about the different Rockport speakers that you have
listened to, and your visit to the factory was equally interesting.
The reason I am writing now is that I am seriously
considering purchasing the Altairs, and in that context I was hoping you could answer a
few questions for me.
I can imagine you have heard the Altairs (and their other
models) driven by different amplifiers. Of the ones you have heard, which amp would you
say has the best synergy with the Altairs? At the moment I am using an ASR Emitter II
Exclusive integrated with battery power supply for the preamp section. I am hoping this
will be a great match with the Altairs, but I am willing to replace the Emitter if the
Altairs can benefit from it.
Within my budget now (up to about $20,000), and of interest
for me, are amps from Simaudio, Spectral, Mark Levinson, Krell.
Could you maybe also describe the Rockport
“house” sound?
Nordmann
I've come to regard the Rockport house sound as three
things: neutral, transparent, and with true deep bass that many speakers lack. This deep,
full bass can give the illusion of warmth, and at one time I would have described it as
such, but now I would say that many other speakers can sound a bit thin due to their lack
of really deep, full bass. Neutral in this case describes their tonal balance, while
transparent speaks to their excellent clarity.
In terms of amplifiers, I think the Altair will work
fine with any of the amplifiers you mention. I really like the Simaudio amps these days,
of the ones you mention, but as long as you have a strong, quiet, high-current amplifier,
you'll be thrilled. I would also consider Boulder, Gryphon, Pass, Vitus, and Behold (if
you're going for a preamp-amp combo). I'm not sure if you have access to those brands --
or what the prices are where you live -- but they are worth a serious look too....Jeff
Fritz
Thanks for the Thiel review
April 6, 2009
Editor,
Thanks for the unusually
detailed and straightforward review of the Thiel CS2.4SE. I'm a long-time Linn guy:
LP-12 turntable, actively amped system. But I heard the '2.4SEs and bought ‘em right
away. It's for my second home, and an all-digital source. It ain't analog, but it is
amazing.
Michael Dubrow
“...a fantastic and extremely professional
show done beautifully!”
April 2, 2009
To Jeff and Andrea Fritz, and Doug Schneider,
What an incredible amount of thought and work went into
this event! Really, a fantastic and extremely professional show done beautifully! You,
Doug, Andrea and the guys went far out of your way to make us all comfortable and feel a
part of the group. Of course, great appreciation for Andrea and all she did behind the
scenes in welcoming us all into your home and making such fantastic culinary fare for
everyone! She is probably your most incredible asset given the combination of patience,
people skills, and old-school generosity of spirit. You make a great team!
A special thanks to Doug as well for giving everyone their
five minutes of fame, camera time, and special attention. Mike Latvis from HRS and I spoke
afterwards and both felt it was one of the most well run and enjoyable events we'd ever
attended. Everyone performed an exceptional group promotional work surrounding a fantastic
system. Of course it is not going to be anybody's individual TWBAS, but as a working model
for such an impossible-to-achieve title I think it more than holds its own with anything
out there and at any price. I thought it was a fantastic system.
All of our thanks to you for putting on such a worthwhile
show. I look forward to the possibility of participating in the future.
Grant Samuelsen
Shunyata Research
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