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Upgraded to Ultra Linear!

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Hbuus View Drop Down
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    Posted: 30 May 2019 at 1:13pm
Originally posted by Lucabeer Lucabeer wrote:

After almost 30 hours of settling, I am listening to the Solo UL with some very very heavy metal (Ill Nino).

My impression is of complete ease of listening. Even such a heavy, congested and "dirty" kind of music does not give ear fatigue. Bass is plentiful: the difference between the UL and the 2009 SRG is that even when the mix gets really bassy, you can feel the vocals clearly and not swamped in bassy mud. And anyway I am a bit surprised by one thing: I was expecting a completely neutral signature, almost clinical. It's not: it's warm, and I feel that there's a certain "euphonic" quality to the decay of notes. Not a reverb, but it seems like they have more "presence". The same euphonic quality that differentiates vinyl from digital. Overall, anyway the UL seems "natural". Detailed but not shrill.

For me, something has a completely neutral sound signature if it portrays the source material faithfully without adding or subtracting anything sound-wise. To my ears, ULDE does this. 

Btw. funny story:

After buying an audio interface with a quite good headphone amplifier, I sold my ULDE because I thought it was a little overkill for me to keep it, now that I had the headphone amp in the audio interface. But guess who regretted that sale almost immediately afterwards! The headphone amp in the audio interface gives me fatigue, and it's not as detailed or natural-sounding as the ULDE. So now another ULDE is on my desk. I was lucky enough to find one on Ebay at a decent price. This time it's going nowhere - ever!
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capetownwatches View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote capetownwatches Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2019 at 7:21pm
Ah now that's where it gets interesting because the unit I've bought is "gently pre-loved" and although it literally looks brand new, I cannot get more accurate feedback on usage than "very little"...! Ermm

I will inspect carefully when it arrives prior to switch on.
Solo UL=Kingrex HQ1=NFB11.32=LD Mkll=SRM353X=DAC1 USB=RL Concero
LCD2F=HD6XX=SR-L500=DT990 600Ω=TH-X00=K612Pro=K240S=Y50
KRK Rokit 6=Mogami/Sommer->Neutrik/Amphenol
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Lucabeer View Drop Down
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lucabeer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 12 May 2019 at 1:51pm
And give it time when it arrives!

Two months have passed since my upgrade, and I feel that the tightness of the bass and overall balance has still slightly improved since then.


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote capetownwatches Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 11 May 2019 at 6:49pm
Originally posted by Lucabeer Lucabeer wrote:

If anyone has an old Solo SRG and was in doubt about upgrading to the Ultra Linear, just make an experiment with ONE CD to be immediately won over: Massive Attack "Mezzanine".

The difference in the quality of the bass with this album is IMMENSE with the UL! I am in awe!

I own just about every recording you have made reference to in this thread, and I am eagerly awaiting delivery of my Solo with ULDE upgrade as we speak.

I will use your recommendations once it has arrived and compare notes!

Solo UL=Kingrex HQ1=NFB11.32=LD Mkll=SRM353X=DAC1 USB=RL Concero
LCD2F=HD6XX=SR-L500=DT990 600Ω=TH-X00=K612Pro=K240S=Y50
KRK Rokit 6=Mogami/Sommer->Neutrik/Amphenol
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (1) Thanks(1)   Quote Lucabeer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 16 Mar 2019 at 9:45am
If anyone has an old Solo SRG and was in doubt about upgrading to the Ultra Linear, just make an experiment with ONE CD to be immediately won over: Massive Attack "Mezzanine".

The difference in the quality of the bass with this album is IMMENSE with the UL! I am in awe!


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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Ash Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Mar 2019 at 9:07pm
Yeah, I wouldn't try with impedances that low, although it depends on sensitivity as well.

Edited by Ash - 14 Mar 2019 at 9:09pm
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Lucabeer Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 14 Mar 2019 at 8:08pm
Yes, but wouldn't they be overkill, especially considering that all the headphones with a sound signature that I like are between 20 and 32 ohms? 
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