BLFST
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About a month ago I had posted a question in the general forum about members thoughts on the Torrii vs. the SE 341.2 amps. I wasn't planning on purchasing an amp at this time, but was just trying to get my ducks in a row in the future event of getting one or the other. I had just ordered HDT speakers a month earlier (was supposed to ship last week) and ordreed a ZP3 days before my post. Anyway, to make a long story short - Steve offered his Summer Special on the Torrii and I decided to go for it. My two concerns were this - my current amp is a Roque Cronus (a EL34 based push/pull amp rated at 55 watts) which I like a lot, but I was concerned that the Torrii would probably sound the same. The other concern was that I ordered the HDT's with eventually getting into SET amps in mind (although I have never heard a SET amp before).
Before I go any further, let me explain to you that I am pretty new at critical listening. I started to get critical last year when I bought the Roque. Therefore, my terminology and my experience is rather limited. That being said - - - - -
Now to the present. I received the Torrii early this afternoon. I set it up and powered up. Because my HDT's have not arrived yet, I am running the Torrii thru my PSB Image 4T tower speakers (again which I have really been pleased with). I also don't have the ZP3 yet, so my source is my Rega Apollo CD player. The first thing that I noticed was the complete silence of the amp at idle. My Rogue has a hum audiable when your ear is about a foot away from the speaker, but not apparent at the listening position. The Torrii is completly quiet even with my ears against the speakers. Even though I can't hear the hum from the listening position with the Rogue, I would assume that the hum would add some level of coloration. The last CD that I had listened to last night was of a techno-pop type group called Goldfrapp, so it was fresh in my ears and mind. I therefore listened to it. At first, I didn't really notice any difference between the Torrii and my Roque. However, in short order I started to notice a clarity that I hadn't noticed the night before. The tonal balance also seemed to be a bet better, especially in the mid-range. Although my soundstage dimensions seemed about the same, it became more transparent. Also, it seemed that the overall perspective was a bit more laid back, which I really didn't expect. I thought that the recording as well as the speakers had more to do with pserspective. Anyway, after listening to Goldfrapp, I went on to Jeff Beck (Jeff Beck with the Yardbirds), Ray Lynch (Deep Breakfast), Pink Floyd (Dark Side of the Moon), John Coltrane (Blue Train), and lastly, Moody Blues (Days of Future Passed {Mobile Fidelity Gold}). The result was the same in all recordings. An example that stood out was in John Coltranes recording of Lazy Bird. There is a short Bass solo towards the end of the piece. I could hear what could best be described as sound resonating from the body of the bass throat which I had never heard before. It was completely incredible.
If this thing just gets better as it breaks in, it will just be icing on the cake. Can't wait to get the ZP3 and the HDT's integrated into the system.
One last thing of note, although not stricty of importance to the listening pleasure, the thing just plain looks cool in a darkened room!
More in a week or so.
bill
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