Size Matters? AQVOX CI Mk II

Letter from Hong Kong (20-13): Large vs Small

AQVOX 2CI Mk II revisited, vs Parasound JC3

In NYC, after months of streaming in the LR on small loudspeakers, I finally returned to the dedicated audio room. This is a brief article to record my impressions. First, I hooked up a simple system:

Digital: Micromega Stage 2
Analog: Thorens TD-124/Thomas Schick/Goldbug Clement
Phonoamps: AQVOX 2CI Mk II or Parasound JC3
Preamp: Linear Tube Audio MZ2
Amp: Wavac MD-811
Loudseakers: YL Audio 4-way horns

 

Size Matters? Of course, the large horn loudspeakers presented a completely different vista from the small LS3/5A and P3-ESR. Mind you previously I also had the LS3/5A as a second system in the audio room. Of course, the large horns are better in almost everything, but one aspect of big vs small particularly stood out this time:

Regular readers will know my repeatedly using Nick Cave's Boatman's Call and Marvin Gaye's What's Going On. These two are similar in that both have tracks with speaking voice dubbed over the singing. With the smaller loudspeakers, with certain equipment the separation between the two is better than others, but never complete. But with the YL horns, the separation is complete. It is like the 2 voices have their own pockets of ambience, which should be the case, as they were recorded separately. I am extremely happy that the system can resolve it to this degree. I assure you, many speakers, even those that are even larger and cost astronomical sums, can fail at this. So it's not all a matter of size.

The LTA worked very well as a preamp. I then installed it in System III, in lieu of the Schiit Saga.

Two Phonoamps With the ultra-high gain Parasound, everything was thrown into high relief, precisely etched, with a wide and deep soundstage and great bass. It was however a little too hifi. Switching to the AQVOX CI Mk II (current mode) smoothed things out. Although the Parasound is very quiet, the AQVOX has an even darker background, especially on the sensitive horns. It was also perceived as an unruffled calmness. The sound is slightly warm, and less precisely focused than the Parasound, but it was eminently musical.

A few days before I left NYC. I took the AQVOX to our analog guru Andy. He had heard it before and liked the sound. This time, he said it is very fine sounding. Coming from a seasoned vinyl veteran (moreover with a tube bias) that is high accolade.