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Solo UL impressions
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DrHouse View Drop Down
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Points: 40 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote DrHouse Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 Feb 2012 at 8:33am
Originally posted by Graham Slee Graham Slee wrote:

Originally posted by DrHouse DrHouse wrote:

 


You would need two amplifiers per channel to produce a balanced output. All a 4 pin connector would achieve is single sided signal to each ear-piece in exactly the same way the jack does, except the left and right ground connections would be separated instead of joined at the plug - they'd be joined inside the Solo instead achieving nothing.

I think a balanced audio primer is in order.

Here's a starter: http://www.ukslc.org/articles/sound/balanced_lines_2005011620.html

and another: http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/ with a link to: http://www.mediacollege.com/audio/balanced/

Let's get reading.
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jrhughes View Drop Down
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Points: 145 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jrhughes Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 05 Apr 2012 at 6:09pm
I was thinking of opening a new thread on balanced output/input but then found this thread.

I've been thinking for some time now that I'd like to move up to a Solo UL from my trusty Novo. I am so happy with the Novo that I can hardly imagine things getting better (Sennheiser HD800 and AKG K702) but the Solo UL is on my wish list anyway, as it clearly has to be better. Also, since I'm so happy with the Novo, and so impressed with Graham's (and others') knowledge/help/advice here, I'd be quite happy to buy the Solo UL blind, when funds allow.

In my study room I have Apple Lossless going to CA Dacmagic to Novo. Now, the Dacmagic has balanced outputs as well as RCA and I've recently read that there's an advantage in using the balanced because the way the Dacmagic is wired means that the RCA outs are derived from the balanced, using an extra opamp or something. So more components in the signal path when using RCA.

I *could* get a Lehmann BCL Pro, which substitutes the RCAs of the BCL for XLR inputs. But something is stopping me... I'd rather have a Solo. And I'm not sure I want an amp which only has XLR input.

If balanced is supposed to be better than RCA, why doesn't all Hi-Fi gear use it?
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discrete badger View Drop Down
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Like you, I had the Novo, was very happy with it and thought the sound was pretty good. But the Solo UL is simply on a different level. It goes way beyond extremely good and into the realms of extraordinary, IMO. 

If I'd bought one blind (deaf?) I'd have been delighted, but thanks to the loan programme I didn't have to. 
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discrete badger View Drop Down
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Oh and one other thing - if you're worried about the extra op-amp with your CA single-ended output, simply pick up an XLR socket to phono plug lead; that way you use the noninverting pole of the balanced out to drive the single-ended input of the Solo. I have to do this as my DAC is balanced-only, and this works fine for me into the Solo or a single-ended power amp. 
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Fatmangolf View Drop Down
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Points: 9695 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Fatmangolf Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2012 at 11:18am
Originally posted by discrete badger discrete badger wrote:

Like you, I had the Novo, was very happy with it and thought the sound was pretty good. But the Solo UL is simply on a different level. It goes way beyond extremely good and into the realms of extraordinary, IMO. 

If I'd bought one blind (deaf?) I'd have been delighted, but thanks to the loan programme I didn't have to. 
 
+1 on the leap from Novo (very good) to Solo UL (excellent). Jon
 
Jon

Open mind and ears whilst owning GSP Genera, Accession M, Accession MC, Elevator EXP, Solo ULDE, Proprius amps, Cusat50 cables, Lautus digital cable, Spatia cables and links, and a Majestic DAC.
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tg [RIP] View Drop Down
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Points: 1866 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote tg [RIP] Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2012 at 12:08pm

I own a first edition "green" solo and have had extensive listening experience of the Novo when it was released being a member of the pre-release "round robin" evaluation of that product.

My Solo was perceptibly better than the Novo at that time.  

Having recently had experience of the Solo UL, I can say that the gap between my Solo and the UL is greater than the gap between the Novo and my Solo.

I would echo the sentiment expressed above, that it is not simply better than the Novo, but a completely different level of experience.
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jrhughes View Drop Down
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Points: 145 		Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote jrhughes Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 06 Apr 2012 at 8:08pm
Thanks for the replies. OK, I hadn't considered XLR to phono, so that's a very good reason for me to be much less concerned about the lack of balanced inputs on the amps. Very good tip - cheers!

And thanks for the further confirmation that the Solo UL is so much better than the Novo. Honestly, I find the Novo so good that I can hardly imagine it getting better, so I can't wait... although I'm currently considering a phono preamp upgrade too (as Jon knows - I'm on the list for a loan :o) ) so I'll have to make a decision as to which comes first.

Best wishes, Jason
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