will
|
Hey Richard,
Good thoughts on tubes. And yes, you got the gist of what the pre and amp can do together with gain riding.
Not having a Taboo, I cannot be sure, but guess tube changes with either could have similar potential...though maybe a bit more with the CSP since there is perhaps a bit more range of usable output tubes? What one volume adjustment does compared to the other is something I never think about, so guessing they act similarly in perceived volume effect??? But more on this later.
For tubes, I typically go for neutral weighing a little on the warm side on the amp, and a little on the clarified side on the CSP. Adjusting the amp up and down, mostly the changes are in volume. Whereas, adjusting the CSP, with its wide voltage output range feeding the amp, its master pot adjusts perceived volume, but also the signal power feeding the amp, which causes useful shifts in all of the sound values...density, articulation, weight, lucidity, etc, as well as volume.
This is why I like relatively neutral and clear tuning when using the CSP3 for a preamp. As you push it more, as all signal qualities grow denser, fuller, and more intense, it can still sound clean and solid over a broad range....not getting too thick. Also lucidity is one of the wonders of a CSP, and a more revealing tube set, to me supports this lucid effect. But for the most part, I work for a revealing, relatively fast and slightly warm/musical sound with tubes on both...no masking anywhere. It works fine warmer too, but these are my preferences.
You can benefit from gain riding no matter how the pre and amp are set up tonally though, so it is fine to use the tubes you have if they are in good shape, not tending toward diminished dynamics, noise or distortions.
So lets see if I can explain it better how I like to set up a good balance between pre and amp.
CSP connected to the Taboo, the CSP's master volume pot turned down, as a pre, you will likely want different settings on the small CSP tube pots than you are accustomed to when using it as a headphone amp. I would start with the input pots set at 7 or 8, and the output pots 8 or 9. You can adjust this balance to-sound as you learn the new setup, but this would put you in a good starting place I think.
I would set the Taboo attenuator at the place you like for normal listening levels. Then, headphones on, playing a pretty good recording you think is pleasantly neutral, bring up the sound slowly using the CSP master volume until you reach your favored listening level and see how it sounds.
With a good volume established, to explore gain riding and its effects, while also possibly pointing to a balance between amp and pre you like better.... My basic gain riding method is this: keeping the volume you are hearing the same, adjust the pre and amp gain adjusters together, at the same time, one slowly and gently up, and the other slowly and gently down. Go by what you hear, not paying all that much attention to the knobs except turning them easily in opposite directions while keeping the same volume.
To get a feel for the differences in voltage output effects from the CSP, I would start with turning the CSP up as you turn down the Taboo.
Increasing the CSP in the balance as you decrease the Taboo, causes the CSP to send a more potent signal to your amp. So this version of "gain riding," CSP up/Taboo down, same volume in the phones, you will hear a more powered up sound, increased density, weight, lucidity, dynamics. Often ± one clock # change is plenty to dial in a recording, and sometimes ± two or a little more, but we are not talking big changes to get relatively natural sounding, but notable signal/sound shifts.
Then try riding the gains the other way....increasing the Taboo, and decreasing the CSP....leaning and opening the sound. This exercise will give a good sense of what you can do with gain riding, while likely pointing to a favored baseline area for the two gain settings to give your best average sound with relatively neutral recordings.
Then, a baseline established, if you put in a recording that sounds good right off, but you want a little more or less volume, generally, I would adjust it with the Taboo, keeping the volume adjustment pretty neutral.
If you put in a recording that is too dense/full, and want to adjust the sound leaner, then a good start is to ride the Taboo up as you ride the CSP down. Density, lucidity, openness, bass, etc in balance for the recording, again, if you want the volume a little different, the more neutral Taboo would adjust volume without changing your gain riding adjustments much.
For lots of recordings, I don't gain ride, many sounding quite good at the same settings, adjusting volume with the Torii, and the CSP3 level having been optimized for the best sound, I leave it alone. But for many more recordings, adjustments can really help.
For me, gain riding has become second nature. I don't really think about it, just dialing it in, and getting to really good places easily and fast. I think once you explore it a little, you might want to play around with baseline variations from time to time as you refine your familiarity and skills toward your ultimate sound....or if you make notable changes in gear, cables, or tubes, etc... But for the most part, you will probably find a baseline range you like for your recording collection, and then just have fun adjusting for recordings that benefit from gain riding. For me it is a fun journey and really supports my immersion potential in the music. And tuning with tubes along and along to better suit your tastes can be really fun too. Now having six positions rather than three, you can get some broader variations and nice complexity. My take anyway.
|