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| Stereopal Featured System: | Stephen from Hong Kong |
Date: Jan 7, 06 Update: April 14, 06
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"With Mark Levinson Players, you'll be like driving a Porsche, and I like that feeling !" ............Stephen
Stephen's Current System (2006)
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Stephen's ultimate Synergistic Mobile Low Frequency Damping Device. This device not only provides extensive low frequency absorption, it dynamically relocates itself randomly across the entire sound field, with or without music playing !!
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System Components:
| LP Source: | Nothingham Space Deck |
| Arm: | Dynavector 507 |
| Cartridge: | Denon 103R |
| Phono Stage: | Benz Micro PP1 |
| Preamp: | Mark Levinson ML26S, Mark Levinson 32 (New Addition, April 14, 06) |
| Power Amp: | Mark Levinson 335 |
| CD Transport: | Mark Levinson 31 |
| DAC: | Mark Levinson 30.5 |
| Speaker: | Wilson Benesch Discovery |
| Tuner: | Marantz ST400FM |
| Power Conditioner: | Chang Lightspeed 9600 |
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Other Gears Stephen have used in the past:
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Stephen's Comments:
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General Comments:
My system is overall very well balanced. It is fast sounding, and detailed which makes it capable of handling all kinds of music. Some have suggested the sound is not "warm" enough, but in my opinion, an over emphasis on warmth is usually achieved at the expense of speed and dynamics.
A preamp which I have used in the past is the Mattisse Reference Preamp. It gave me some of my very best memories. It was very warm sounding, the vocals were thick and sexy. In recent years, I have been listening to more and more classical music, this requires to change into faster sounding systems with more dynamics and details.
I believe a system should be versatile enough to be able to play different kinds of music. I listen to a variety of jazz, classicals and vocals.
I especially like Mark Levinson sources. I find them to be detailed, sweet, dynamic. They also have huge sound stages. Overall they are thick, but not fat; crystal clear but not thin sounding; warm but not overly warm. Some high end CD players are only expensive, but they lack these qualities.
Comments on the recent upgrade to Mark Levinson 335.
Recently, I upgraded to the Mark Levinson 335. It has more speed and slam when compared to my old 23.5. They were both good amps. In automotive terms, it will be like comparing a Porche to a BMW. They both have speed and handling, while each of them have a different personality and character.
Future Upgrading Plans I have always wanted to buy a Mark Levinson 31.5 CD transport, which I believe will give me more dynamic headroom (20% more than 31). It is very good for classical music which can be difficult for some players.
April 14 Update:
The sound of my new ML 32
preamp is silky smooth, very very detailed, with excellent
micro dynamics. I had simply never heard a better
sounding solid-state preamp, or anything which will come any closer
to the No.32. The 32 can make me feel all and each of my
equipment pieces. It reveals all the weaknesses off my
cheap balanced cable and my power cord. After I replaced it
with a Siltech spx 30 , the changes were dramatic.
The 26s is a good preamp but it is still slightly colored. But the 32 is not , it is extremely transparent and it is very musical and has a lot of dynamics while not being punchy) , it is also very quiet. I also have a McIntosh C2200 Preamps which is very good, but it is nowhere near the league of the 32. As I have said before, I love the design of that preamps which makes me want to keep it, but i think I can't swap the 32 out of my system. The next thing I may want to do is to upgrade my power amp to 436 mono block. But before that, I want to upgrade my speakers to a Watt 7 first.
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Below, you'll see a chronological order of how Stephen's system evolved. It goes to show the progress of his
disease. Once somebody has been bitten by the bug, there's no recovery !!
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