Mid Trajectory 6J4/6P3P Preamp Beydas LS3/5A Clone Canare Belden BRZ FU50

Click pics to enlarge. 11 ohm Beydas LS3/5A on stands; 15 ohm in foreground. On "Finite Element" rack, from top, Aosibao 6P1 PSE,; BRZ FU-50 and APPLause 300B. Not the Rubber Shock-Absorbing Pads on the sides of the Aosibao and BRZ, in lieu of their own feet.

Letter from Shenzhen (22-16): Mid-Trajectory, In and Out of Audio Hell

Some months ago, my long-starved audio cravings were resurfaced, and I embarked on a New Trajectory (detailed here). Months went by, a few more amps and pairs of loudspeakers down the road (not to mention some more tubes and cables), before I asked myself whether it has been worth it. The answer is an emphatic yes, but some time ago there was a period of audio hell that I’d have preferred not to have gone through.

After the last report, I acquired a decent regulated SMPS (USD 33) and a Tube-Rectified Preamp (6Z5/6X5, 2x 6J4/EF84/6AU6 and 2x 6P3P/6V6; USD 94) and then for quite a while I didn’t buy anything, although I kept browsing Taobao. Damn it, it’s like Ebay (or Amazon), addicting for sure, but useful too (I even bought otherwise locally unavailable bagels - too soft and not very good).

But came 11.11 (one of China’s Black Friday equivalents) I lost my “iron” control, as one thing begot another. The triggering product was Beydas Audio’s “Stirling” LS3/5A clone (USD 350; I wrote the review in Chinese because it is not sold to the west; don’t waste your time as I got to know the seller whose carrier just won’t ship loudspeakers to the west for regulatory reasons). I randomly bought the so-called 15 ohm version and it completely trounced the Anubis. Its performance made me decide to get a pair of 24” stands (USD 41) for occasional use in my Study, where the main systems reside. It has proved satisfying enough to stay. And so I upgraded to 28” stands (USD 46) to have the tweeters more level with my ears near-field. Yes, the taller stands sound better overall and the lower one is now perfect too in the listening room, where the sofa is lower and far away.

As mentioned in the link, I also bought the bi-wre Canare 4S10F loudspeaker cable (USD 2:50 per meter), which performed so well with my Sansui floorstanders that I subsequently also bought the single wire 2S9F+ (USD 1.40 per meter), which I also initially liked. Thinking of doing bi-wire experiments (on both my Sansui and “Stirling”) I also bought smaller gauge version of “old stock Belden 1309A” (USD 1.40 per meter). The parenthesis is because I think it is fake - the current 1309A does not look like this at all. Fully cognizant of this, I had previously bought the thicker one (USD 1.70 per meter; there's even a bi-wire one that I thought about), and it surprised me by its performance (I also like its softness). I mentioned to ELO that we should do a counterfeit cable article together as I suspect his beloved “Studer” is one too. I almost forgot, I also got a TDA-1305 DAC (USD 28) and despite its quirks it has supplanted my Meridian Explorer.

THAT was the simple part. Trouble arrived in the form of the BRZ HiFi FU-50 amp. There are 2 versions: I deliberately chose the pentode 6J8P/6SJ7/6米8 version over the double triode 6N8P/6SN7 version. This military tube shot to fame after someone described its triode operation as operating and sounding like 300B, earning it the nickname of “little 300B”. Readers with long memories may remember a vintage Manley (when it was still David) PP amp using this tube. I spotted that at Sound Glory in HK in the 90’s but the owner was reluctant to power it on (as he was with OTL amps too, so much for inspiring confidence). Hooked up to my efficient Sansui, it sounded incredibly snappy out of the box, but with the more inefficient LS3/5A clone its performance inevitably dropped a bit (true for most SET amps). I do think its DIY fame is fully deserved, and more.

At this point, I bought a bunch of tubes to upgrade all 3 of my amps as well as my preamp and that was a bit costly. I had from Day 1 deliberately shied away from expensive tube types (12AX7, 6922, 6SN7 etc, which I have aplenty in NYC and HK but not here) in my choice of amps and chose those tubes that are still fairly priced here, but it adds up, though I have to say tubes here in China can be reasonable if one chooses wisely.

Then came the 11 ohm version of the “Stirling”, which turns out to be at least as good as the 15 ohm version, and I reckon it is even closer to the sound of LS3/5A. I shall write another report on this before the approaching 12.12 (another TB Black Friday)(香港和华人朋友请留意，史特灵将于 12.10 日 20：00 展开特卖，请抓紧).

So Why Audio Hell? Well, aside from breaking in all the stuff, you can imagine the various comparisons I was forced to make. For the “Stirling”, 11 ohm vs 15 ohm - that was the easy part, as both are just superb and the differences are small. Worse, for the tubes I bought I had to test them out (there was 1 stud, for which I was immediately sent a replacement - good service!) and compare, in 3 amps. Tube Shootout has to be done occasionally, but it is not a gratifying thing doing all that A/B. And then comparing the cables too! Comparing the Canare with the "Belden" took quite a bit of time (I still favor the latter) Well, it’s been around 3 weeks and things have settled down a bit, and I have climbed out of that hole and resumed my regular music listening. This afternoon it’s Stravinsky (Bernstein/DG). It's nice to focus on the composer rather than a tube or cable!

Oh yes, How could I forget this! With 3 amps, I decided to get a Cheap Rack on cheap plastic wheels (USD 16). After assembly and re-installation, I was not pleased. Compared to my previous solid wood stool (see below), which can only support one amp, the sound is kind of dead (yes, it kinda "looks like" and surely sounds like the ultra-expensive and -underwhelming Finite Element, which over-damps and only benefits garbage ss amps). Likely resonance wreaking havoc. So, I bought USD 5 worth of Rubber Isolation Pads (likely used in cars etc) and that instantly restored liveliness. I shall change the wheels to sturdier ones soon too. All that took listening time! LR? What LR? I’ve been cooped up in my study day and night for 2 months! :-(

The Music In case you wonder what music I used for A/B, here they are. Hilary Hahn’s new album is notable for the Ginastera, not the Dvorak (DG). The recording is not top drawer, but I try to coax the gear to render the best. It is not easy in the Dvorak to open up the orchestral texture and retain Hahn’s tone (the rectifier tube also projects the soloist in different ways). Now, Hahn is rather plain in a way but her violin sound should have allure (I have heard her live), not easy to achieve. A far better recording is Hilde Frang’s superb Beethoven and Stravinsky (Warner); the latter should have plenty of vitality! And then both supple and subtle orchestral weight in Robert Trevino’s Ravel with the Basque National (Ondine). Lately, I have added an old favorite, the best recording of Rossini’s Overtures, bar none - Pierino Gamba/LSO, now seemingly only in a huge Decca box. As I emerged out of my self-induced coma, I still warm to the music, testament to the craft of the composers and performers!

There, a summary. Is that a lot of water under the bridge? Not that much really, but while it brought satisfaction it also brought ennui, and that has always been the audiophile's pact with the devil. Many of these items I shall report in detail later. Not a loser among them, even the Anubis after considering the price (it’s the Holiday Season, and we shall attempt to be kind)!

The Stool that made a mockery of Finite Element