UMI 2 Clarity Plus S2

Letter from Hong Kong (24-13): ELO on UMI 2 Clarity Plus S2, Part II

UMI 2 Clarity Plus S2, Part I

It's been a few weeks since I received the new UMI 2 and I have been using it everyday. Some may wonder why I am so enthusiastic about this product. I hereby declare that I have no personal interest in this brand and I bought my own UMI unit. I do not  know Engineer Li (the chief designer) nor had any contact with him although I would love to meet him!

I have been praising this little transformer for so long (since Mk I) it's possible some readers may wonder whether I have overexaggerated the effects. Well, thanks to Icefox, who had recently organized a group buy, 3 of my Hifi friends who trust my ears also took the plunge.

Initial Feedbacks from my Hifi Friends

Kwong He has been my long term Hifi buddy since the 90s. We have been inspiring each other and often recommend gadgets and gear to each other. I took his advice on the "Studer" cables and the popular little Bluetooth device H9A. The "Studer" Cables has now become indispensable in my system. While I had recommended to him quite a few items in his current system:Audionet, JMR, Holo Spring, Rayaudio and now the UMI! 

He was so excited that he called me on two consecutive nights to tell me how amazing this unit is! At the beginning, the sound of UMI 2 Clarity Plus was not appetizing to him at all! But the second night, with a little play time under the belt, the unit transformed itself and then went from strength to strength! Here's his view:

"...the high end extension seems limitless. With the UMI, the supertweeter flourished. The music is now extended beyond the walls and the soundstage had been pushed back 3 feet to create a holographic soundstage. The decay of instrument seems to last forever, like the half-life of Uranium, LOL! The loudspeakers just disappeared!

...Background becomes darker, resulting in heaps of low-level details emerging from the depths. Bass extension improves and more bass details show up. Playing Chinese Guqin is such a treat and I'm stunned by the endless reverbs of decaying notes washing over each other. Imagine rain falling on a pond and creating ripples which intersect with each other!

...Vocals is natural with no edges nor any digital glare. I'm drawn into the sea of music and have no choice but to isten to song after song. Even familar songs which I have listened to hundreds of times sound like brand new songs or recordings!

...In conclusion, UMI is THE most important upgrade in my system. The word "improve" is not enough; "transform" is more like it!..."

Needless to say, he immediately placed an order for additional one!!

"7" Another friend  who was perhaps a bit skeptical initially about my overly enthusiastic recommendation (remember that I almost lost a friend over hard persuasion) and procrastinated a bit but finally joined the group buy. Needless to say, we have another happy customer, and here's what he wrote:

"...好多謝一位音響師兄前輩朋友ELO兄介紹我使用，起初都半信半疑，引不起即時購買嘅意欲，又相隔一段時間，ELO師兄告知攪了一個團購計劃，抱住信ELO師兄心態去購買，貨到時ELO師還親自帶給我，正值下午時份沒時間測試，當晚工作結束，打開包裝插進系統，一著機，這還是我的系統嗎？這音效從未出現在我的音樂室，真是太豐富太精彩，多了從來未聽過的音樂細節，這次真是買對了，也即時覺得這次花費，物有所值，完全超出金錢上的性價比，真的沒有介紹錯，我還打算多購入一台去再次提升糸统，這次花錢來得出的效果十分顯著明顯有效，感謝ELO兄推介，也希望多啲同好受惠..."

(Translation: Many thanks to my HiFi friend ELO who had introduced the UMI to me. At first I was skeptical with the UMI and did not have the urge to try it out. After a few months has passed, ELO told me that there's a group buy, so I thought I may give that a try based on his recommendation. ELO delivered the UMI 2 to me in person! I waited till the night after work and unwrapped the unit and hooked it up immediately. At once , I asked myself if this is the same system I  have been listening to everyday? The extent of impact and improvement brought by UMI2 has not been experienced in my music room previously and it's simply amazing. I heard so much more details in music which were not picked up before. I think I made a right decision and also think the money spent is well worth it. The PQR value surpasses any products I had bought previously. That was a heck of a recommendation and I am planning to buy another unit, hoping to elevate further the performance, which is so pronounced and immediate. Thanks ELO for his persistent recommendation, and hope more hifi lovers can benefit from this unit.)

Also, needless to say, he immediately placed an order for additional one!!

"7" also bought a vintage MF power amp recently and I asked him how it is. He said  with confidence "With UMI in the mix, everything that you throw in always sounds good!!"

Jo Another music lover friend of mine, Jo has been following my recommendations on building up his system, and after the listening session Chez Mila (see Part I), he was really gobsmacked by Mila's system and the changes UMI made. However, although he feels that in his system there are improvement when UMI is plugged in, his deelings do not seem to be up to the magnitude expressed by Kwong and "7". Also, he thinks that his noise background at home is not dark enough to reveal all the details. Therefore, I will leave him time to improve on his setup first. He will try to make a DIY ground box to lower the noise floor further. So stay tuned!

Well, things has progressed unexpectedly in a good way. I had bought him some tourmaline chips and a big piece of black tourmaline for him to DIY a gorund box. Today, he bought a wooden box and use a cheapo wire to connect it to the back of his router. He heard a difference immediately and can hear more nuances of singing skills of  Sandy Lam which makes her famous! So his setup has improved due to various upgrade! Good to know!  I give some credit to his DIY Ground box, UMI1 and "Studer" cable, LOL!

My impressions
By now, you must be curious on my own experience with the UMI 2 Clarity Plus S2 and how does that compare to my UMI 1. After I plugged in the UMI 2 and start listening to it, I lent my UMI 1 to Dr. Lo so I still haven't had the chance to directly A/B. Strangely, Dr. Lo is the only person among my friends who has experienced a setback in musical experience. I don't know what went wrong and scratch my head. He's giving me the chance to go over to his place; maybe I can try to find out why and that's the fun of playing with Hifi, haha.

My initial feeling is, if broken down into hifi parameters, all the good things that UMI 1 has, UMI 2 Clarity Plus has them too, and perhaps I do not feel any significant improvement. However, as a whole, there is an improvement in overall musical experience. The sound has gained refinement and has become more organic, smoother, more natural and musical. At first, I felt that there may be a slight loss in detail when compared to UMI 1. But the more I listen, the more I do not feel that way. In fact, the details are there but not as flashy. The music presentation has become more holistic -  I would  say overall a 10 to 15% increase in quality of UMI 2 Clarity Plus over UMI 1 (since the starting point of UMI 1 is quite high already)

UMI 2 Clarity Plus S2 version 优美 1:1 Isolation Transformer

Click pics to enlarge. Top, Mila's complicated yet interesting rig. Stacked Stirling 3/5A (15 ohm version).

Letter from Hong Kong (24-12): ELO on UMI 2 (latest Clarity Plus S2 version), Part I

Home (Salon) Visit: A Quaint Hair Salon

ElO's Review of UMI 2 Clarity Plus, Part II published 

ELO's Review of UMI 1

Editor: I  have written several articles on the slightly older UMI 2 (for a start, see here and here) but it's great to have now the initial evaluation of the latest v2 by ELO! See sections below for the subtle functional, cosmetics and sonic differences between my v2 and his latest v2).

The long awaited UMI v2 (UMI 2) has finally arrived thanks to icefox for organising the group buy! As I mentioned previously, 4 for me and my friends.

Round 1, Chez Mila's
We had arranged pickup at his freind Mila's shop on Tai Ping Road in Sheung Wan, a quaint street with a unique vibe rarely found elsewhere in HK. I used to visit the area for taking street photos or just hanging around. His shop has a back alley which is arguably the cleanest in HK, just perfect for food and wine gathering with friends!

Me and Jo arrived at the shop around 7 pm to pickup our orders, one each for me and Jo, another for Kwong and the last one for another Hifi friend "Seven" who is now using Infinity Renaissance 90 and Lab12 preamp, and I can't wait to hear his system with UMI 2 in the mix.

Mila's place is actually a hair salon with a small but dedicated space that houses a very unique system. When I first look at his setup, I know he is a seasoned veteran as his equipment are definitely far from main stream, kinda like mine even if our systems are very different in direction of preference. After a short conversation with him, I immediately realised that he is more of a music lover  than an "Effects Chaser", and we do share the same belief on how a good piece of music should sound like. Afterall, it's music that we are chasing, not effects!

Before I describe the sound from his setup, let me make a run down of his interesting setup! I categorize him as like me, an " Itchy Ass" kinda guy, meaning we don't want to be tied up by the mainstream stuff and instead like to find our own way. Thinking of my system, I suddenly realised that it comprises products made in Denmark, Sweden, Switzerland, UK, Japan, Mainland China, France, Germany and Canada!  In it I used 6 earth boxes to kill background noise in order to achieve a low noise floor. Diversity and open-mindedness and know-how is what a music/hifi lover should have in mind all the time.

R, Cyrus One atop EAR Phono Amp (chrome)

Setup Mila uses Bluetooth to stream Tidal music. He is also a user of  H10U (variously branded as Kyoeon 友昂, You Sheng Heng 友聲恆 or Wenliang), the el-cheapo little BT device which Kwong introduced to me and which I had written about in an early post [Editor: Before the H10U, ELO used the H-9A and reported on it.  I then got the H-9A courtesy of ELO, written up here; still has it in SZ. It should be noted that in ELO's reports, he preferred both the H9A and H10U to the popular and well-reviewed iFi Zen Blue - this is illustration of this Blog's independence from commercial influence!]. I believe it has become a popular cheap yet effective musical device! He then uses multiple  Reisong signal transformers and Douk E6 as preamp (his unit does not have any tube ringing as reported by DJ!) Then through a generic red/black wire to a MCM Reverse/Inverse RIAA device that converts the analog output of BT into an RIAA signal, which is then sent to his newly acquired "EAR 88P" (Chinese clone)! Then the "EAR" converts the RIAA signal back into analog signal and send the signal to the early version of Cyrus One Integrated Amp driving two pairs of Stirling 3/5A, stacked!! What an interesting setup and I noticed he must have followed this Blog. M told me originally the Reverse RIAA unit was acquired to run in the EAR phono, but it turned out the system sound had improved to a point that it has now become a pivotal piece in his setup. What a beautiful accident! Sound from streaming Tidal has surpassed his Turntable and he told me he mainly streams music through Tidal now.

Unboxing the UMI2 was such a pleasure. It came in a box only slightly larger than the unit, with a snug and tight fit. The unit itself is sturdy, with near-perfect metal works, like my UMI 1, not surprisingly.

Before UMI 2 We had an initial listening session with Mila's standard setup before moving on to implant the UMI2 and my Studer cable into the system. Overall sound was musical, and was already quite good. His liking is towards a meatier midrange and I can understand since stacked (15 ohm) 3/5As were used!! The stacked Stirling's seemed to add some heft in the lower octaves [Editor: interesting as a single pair of the Stirling 15 ohm tends to be lean in the bass; perhaps this is the result of stacked pair!]. The overall sound was very enjoyable and analog, without too many Hifi artefacts. His setup, with a listening distance of only 6 or 7 feet, tends to be more upfront and in your face compared to mine (which is like seated at the 8th row while his is 3rd row). 

One thing  that I really want to comment on: the whole system does not make me feel the shortfall of using a mass market Bluetooth receiver in streaming music. Back some time ago, for a while I had used BT to stream music; even now, I still use the BT that is built in to my Aiyima A08 Pro to stream TV and Youtube videos. They sound really good but ultimately fall behind the my proper setup using WEA. With the addition of UMI 1, I began to feel the gap widening between the two. Having said that, I'm still enjoying streaming Youtube music videos thru Bluetooth . 

+ UMI 2 Then we inserted the UMI 2 between the EAR and Cyrus. Upon turning up the volume, the sound had taken a change for the better. The bass dug deeper and with better definition, and imaging had tidied up without taking away the musicality. Musicians seemed to have drunk some Red Bull's, suddenly more alert and played at their highest level. Shades and Colours were fantastic, the flow smoother, more toned up and conditioned in body, all to my liking. Also, reverbs and decays were portrayed nicely in the background. Very enjoyable indeed given the listening in limited space (around 100 sq. ft I would guess).

Mila told me that his experience this night was very different from what he had heard from the loaner UMI 2 that DJ had earlier left to his HiFi buddies in HK to audition. M would have joined the group buy based on what he had heard on this night, which in his opinion was significantly better than his previous encounter. This begs the question: Perhaps this batch of transformer is better in quality? I'd think, like many smaller brands, the designer feverishly chases after improvements, so any upgrades will be implemented into the next batch without changing the version number. Therefore, it is no surprise that the most current batch's sound is superior to the previous batches! [Editor: Because of this I spoke to Engineer Li of UMI and clarified the differences; see below]

Detour: "Studer" Cable Then we added the "Studer" cable into the mix, we experienced a slight softening and increased smoothness in the music, For me the "Studer" may be a perfect match to take away some kick and coolness from my Aiyima A8 Pro and UMI 1, but on his setup, which is quite rich in body, the sound, though still very nice, turned in a slightly different direction! I tend to think that "Studer" cables is more suitable for cooler systems.

I think Mila's system definitely benefits by inserting the UMI 2 into the lineup. I think it integrates musicality and hifi values seamlessly! I'd also recommend trying out an earth box, as the background can become darker and more valuable music information can be retrieved! 

Next time, I will bring my Wattson WEA and my Entreq Earth box over to try - should be quite interesting! BTW, some days later I went again with my family for a stroll around the Tai Ping St and Hollywood Rd area and there's a shop selling a vast array of precious stones and crystals across the street from Mila's salon. I bought another pack of tourmaline and a piece of black tourmaline for Jo for his DIY earth box project.

Round 2, Chez Moi
Recently, for no particular reason, the sound suddenly suffered a setback, becoming less engaging and the soundstage seemed to have shrunken slightly. Except for switching cables for comparisons I had not altered anything. DJ reminded me that he had similar experience before and that it will go away eventually. I had my fingers crossed but, sure enough, days later the previous musical sound returned in full and now I'm back in Enjoy mode, yeah!

My latest setup with Crystals everywhere; for decoration purpose only, LOL. Also another newly acquired Entreq Minimus Ground box in the mix~

I have now replaced the UMI 1 with the UMI 2 in my system and will let it run-in for a week or so before I would switch it back to my UMI 1. DJ had said that the sound traits should be more similar than dissimilar, which is also my initial feeling, though I think the v2 has a slight edge. I am curious about the actual differences when UMI 2 is fully burnt in. It is already amazing!

Editor's Note on Latest UMI 2, Clarity Plus S2 version

Things moved fast! Before ELO penned this article (I thank him for his efficiency - must have been motivated! :-) as he has always been by UMI), very soon after the event chez Mila's, from icefox via Wechat (as E) I had already received pics of the latest v2 and texts on the proceedings. I was a bit taken aback as, aside from the purported sonic differences, there are certainly ergonomic differences between this latest v2 and my slightly older v2. So, I decided to clarify the differences and just now had a long wechat with UMI engineer, the perfectionist Mr. Li. Here are the essences on common as well as new features.

Note the Latest Version says Clarity Plus S2

The back of the Latest Version is also different! Phase Switch still there, but GONE is the 300/600 ohm switch (only 600 Ohm now). Now, for both channels there are XLR/RCA switches, which

have more functions than meet the eyes (see text).

v2 Latest Version (ELO's) vs older v2 (Editor's):

• Latest Version is Clarity Plus S2 This is silkscreened on the casing (see above pic; the previous v2 does not have this). ALL of ELO's comments above are based on this latest version! Mine is the older version without such words.

• Trannies (core materials etc) are the same.

• Circuit Board is the same, but re-purposed for the different Ergonomics [Editor: Wiring is certainly different and simplified].

• No more 300/600 ohm Choice. Only 1:1 600 ohm now. [Editor: IMHO, this is a good move as I had found the 300 ohm to be not much of a higher gain and pretty superfluous. The simpler the better].

• Phase Switch remains the same. [Editor: I have not written much on this feature before, so at the behest of Engineer Li some pointers here. On higher-end vintage equipment (Preamps, Phonoamps and DACs) there are often a Phase Switch to cater to those who care (even obsess) over phase. To put it simply, many older recordings, be it classical or jazz or whatever, were recorded phase-inverted. My experience is that in a good system it makes a difference to have the choice, but if one listens to a mix of the modern and vintage (as I), switching back and forth is barely practical even if the switch is at one's finger tip. On the other hand, if one deals with a Preamp that is itself Phase-Inverted, like the Goliath Douk E6 (referenced above), or most CJs, it pays to have a means to invert phase (instead of switching speaker cable polarities, which is my preferred way). With this statement, if you infer that the Editor thinks Phase-Correctness is more important in a Preamp than in a Recording, you are damn right. I'd not belabor the point here. Suffice to say, this is a useful feature].

• Ground (New Feature) This is fascinating. According to Engineer Li, with the removal of the 300/600 ohm switch a new function is added. This is because the Center Tap (300 ohm) is now permanently grounded, circuit board repurposed to the dual channel XLR/RCA Switches, etc. It's kind of confusing on the back panel, but follow me: 1) No matter where the Switch Position, both XLR and RCA will work properly; 2) XLR, with its carefully grounded planes and differentiation of ground and -ve return, of course should be switched to XLR (unless your system is uniquely queer, and I hope not); 3) RCA is grounded when switched to RCA position, but floated when switched to XLR position! This is of great use to the minority of people who experience hum with trannies [Editor: sorry to say, imho these people have usually committed basic errors in setup; analog SUT users should be familiar with this].

• DC 5V Input This remains the Same as in previous v2. USE According to Engineer Li, the 5V is used to operate the Switches, and not in the circuit path. The 5V has to be plugged in for: 1) both XLR Input and Output needs the 5V connected; 2) Phase Reversal needs the 5V. In RCA only mode Mr Li said, and as I've experienced before, even when the 5V is not needed, the 5V still changes the sound. Even a casual generic cellphone 5V source will make the sound just a trifle warmer. But my system does not need extra warmth, so I'm not necessarily keen, YMMV. Engineer Li stresses that a proper LPS 5V supply (they have developed one which we hope to test one of these days) makes a significant difference. Let's say this remains on our agenda. Since the feature is here, we should try it out! 5V Source For reasons unknown, rarely a certain 5V cellphone charger may not work. If that is the case, just switch to another one.

• XLR/RCA Conversion Same This can be easily accomplished, but 5V is usually needed. IMHO, it's more than worth its price even if used just as a two-way XLR/RCA Converter. Very versatile tool.

ELO again: Geez, there are so many combinations to try: 1) ground or float; 2) invert phase; 3) 5V input. This is gonna take some time and I hope I will not have listening fatigue.

I have created a test list, already added up to more than 80 tracks that have unique hifi attributes! Of course, I have to find them enjoyable musically as well!

Some photos taken recently👆

Ursula's Paddington, Sydney

Spaghetti with grilled "Pipa" Shrimp, slighlty grilled meat which taste so sweet and with a bouncy texture. The sauce is to die for!

Osso Bucco. No need to decribe the bone marrow is as good and lush as what you can imagine. Served on the side is super green and fresh cucumber with enchovies on toast which is equally as delicious~

Grass Fed Beef Steak on Chinese Chili Sauce (LaoGanMa) Excellemnt beef grilled to perfection and the chilli sauce did goes well with the steak!

Side dish with peach, ricotta cheese and Iberican ham

Scallop on a bed of Spinach. Such huge, fresh, sweet and tender Scallop!

Went to a nice French/Australian Cuisine with an Asian twist name Ursula's Paddington in Sydney. Highly recommended!

Reisong UMI 2 Signal Transformer 1:1

1:1 Signal Transformer Galore, Part I

Reisong 1:1 Signal Transformer, Part I

Updated 4/1/24: Links repaired, UMI versions clarified.

First: A Re-Cap and Summary of Our Ongoing Tests of 1:1 Signal Transformers

https://m.tb.cn/h.5tEgX6jk9D7iZ2e

Reisong 1:1 Transformer It's about time for a formal write up! This thing (in fact, 2 of them) had been in my Shenzhen system for the longest time. One between the DAC and Preamp; the second between the Preamp and Amp.

Regular readers would have read bits and pieces of the Reisong in my various articles. Basically, this blog is kind of a journeyman's diary, where gear are in flux and subject to further evaluations, opinions not set in stone as in trade mags. For those less avid readers, or those new to the topic, here is the Timeline in this Blog for the Reisong (almost 2 years, LOL!), and you need to read very carefully to pick up all the salient points:

• 1) A long time ago my know-all friend, taskmaster and torturer icefox informed me of the UMI 1:1 Transformer (then between 1st and 2nd gen). I had always been around transformers, including Input and Interstage Transformers (which can be 1:1) and was interested. Note that icefox and his 富贵 WE friends all use the rare and formidable vintage 天花板 WE91A.

• 2) I first tested the waters with this Reisong Transformer, which is significantly cheaper than the UMI. My impressions were favorable (as quoted below).

• 3) I bought one of the 1st gen (UMI 1 or v1) UMI for our writer ELO, and tested it myself. It was hard for me to choose between the UMI 1 and Reisong (as quoted below).

• 4) In my 2022 Year in Review I expounded on this topic and the gear. Remember China was still in lockdown and Border Control was not what it's now. I wrote: "...yet to be written up, kudos to icefox (his crowd use the rare and expensive WE91A), I started playing with 1:1 transformers (the 1:2 and even 1:3 versions are for cellphone and BT users who need the extra gain, beware). Used between source and preamp, the difference is so sharply etched it’s mind boggling; used between preamp and amp, the improvement is a little less but still obvious. I’m using 2, in both positions now. I have the fortune of experiencing a new kid on the block, UMI (bought it for ELO), which has truly superior bandwidth but, at least between the DAC and preamp, my heart tilts just a little towards the older and more old-world sound of Reisong (available on Aliexpress). This is not at all the first time I have transformer coupling between stages. The excellent EAR 912 that I had has transformer coupling at every stage (input, output and interstage)..."

• 5) ELO finally got to write about it (LOL near the end of 2023! here). I was very happy that it basically transformed his journey! I editorialized a bit: "...Where should this thing be used? Well, basically it's an impedance matching device and those who use long interconnects (like I) shall reap bigger benefits. I think the greatest effect shall be between source and preamp. But, effect can also be heard between preamp and amplifier. Think about this, many HIGH-end products employ Input and/or Output Transformers (a great example would be the EAR 912)...Well, for sonic findings I must say I completely concur with ELO. I also found it astonishingly detailed and the stabilizing effect highly beneficial to the system. I also found it was a tad cool in my system. Mind you, I also had the much cheaper Reisong 1:1 counterpart, which I have mentioned now and then but never really formally reviewed. That's for a reason. In my system, I ended up using TWO, one between DAC and Preamp and another between Preamp and Amp. The Reisong saved me a lot of money and has a much smaller footprint. BUT, it's a fact that the UMI has superior bandwidth. Whereas, the Reisong is a little warmer and more musical, though some will find it a bit rolled off at both ends. I had only heard the UMI brand new (and not run in) and I still pine for it after its departure. I suspect I shall get a unit at some point (especially after ELO's opinion). It's not often that one hears a transformer that is so transparent - consider it a job very well accomplished. Would be curious to hear the Mk II also..."

• 6) I finally got an UMI 2 myself (2nd gen or v2) for testing. It went between my DAC and Preamp for the longest time. Some of my friends in NYC also got theirs. Their opinions are fascinating too (yet to be published)! 

• 7) I wrote the formal first of my UMI 2 article in Chinese (here). Basically it's a review of the function of a 1:1 Signal Transformer.

• 8) Further Testing of my UMI 2 in my HK home (here)! With hyper-critical icefox and Taimonsing! Great stuff! I left the UMI in the hands of Taimonsing to circulate among his friends.

Have I lost you? This is a strange way to start a formal Reisong Review. There's reason behind the madness.

Reisong redux in Shenzhen I After I left my UMI 2 to my HK friends I hooked back in SZ my Reisong between the DAC and Preamp. What did I perceive? Perhaps, compared to UMI, the sound field has shrunken just a little or perhaps the dynamics appeared slightly more restrained, but things were still in good order. Smaller formations, solo instruments and quartets etc sounded luxuriant, likely even more so? This is a small setup in SZ and I was OK with the music, not being in the critical mode most of the time.

Reisong in HK I (chez moi) Lest you think I'm hopelessly laissez-faire, after I tested the UMI 2 with my ultra demanding friends (but 同气, as above, here), I took the Reisong to HK and tested it at my old house, all alone. Like the UMI, the effect was there and the same in quality, but smaller in magnitude. In Station A, between the Revox C221 CDP and MFA Magus Preamp, there was a stabilizing effect but not the expansion felt with the UMI.

Then came a pivotal event. In Station B, inserted between the Micromega Solo and the Melos 222 Preamp, the vast, airy and layered soundstage (here) disappeared and was replaced with something re-constructed, which was something more upfront and less dimensional, but more horn-like if you will (let me emphasize that I did not notice this at all in my SZ setup, which has a good soundstage even if it's smaller than the one in HK by nature of the smaller space). I was literally floored! Although supposedly a negative experience by audiophile parameters (particularly since I'm primarily a classical music person), I was still intellectually stimulated by the transformation. It was late at night and I didn't spend that much time on it (should have played some classic jazz, which is not so soundstage dependent). But, it left me with no doubt that it's an affirmation of the potent effect of the Signal Transformer. It all depends on how you use it! I'm sure, when I get the chance, I shall repeat the experiment with the Micromega connected to the UMI! I suspect the result would be similar, but I'd be glad to be proven wrong.

Lest you think I got deflated by the experience above, that was not so. The next day I took it to  Taimonsing's place (the RCA vintage guru;).

Reisong in HK II (chez Taimonsing) I specifically took the Reisong to Taimonsing. We first listened to his fabulous amps, used as integrated's (here). Then, one by one amp, we tried the Reisong between the source and the amp. The effect was all positive! A firming up of tone here, a little expansion of the stage there, all without taking anything away from the inherent qualities of the amps on offer (and what qualities!) Taimonsing expressed his opinion that the Reisong is basically neutral to him and hardly alters the signal (less than the UMI he thinks; and he thinks the UMI has a slight silvery edge). My view? In his place the Reisong certainly did no harm, only good. In particular, Taimonsing was very gratified that with the LP playbacks the Reisong provided a firming up that he was looking for. As it seemed he preferred the Reisong to UMI I left it to him for further evaluation.

Reisong redux in SZ II As I left both my UMI 2 and Reisong in HK, I am only left with one Reisong in SZ, which I use between the DAC and Preamp; which is to say, there is no Reisong between Preamp and Amp, so the cabling is different too (when I had two, I used an extra Sommer SC Club II). I had been using two for the longest time! I didn't A/B but I'm pretty sure it had a small but noticeable detrimental quality to the sound (so a 1:1 between Preamp and Amp still matters!).

Thoughts

• The Benefits of Transformer I think it's very useful (my article in Chinese on general principals here; ther are more to come). Think about this, after my initial good impression I ended up with two Reisong's (after I heard the first one I bought the second), between the DAC and Preamp and between the Preamp and Amp. When I got the UMI 2 I tested it between the DAC and Preamp, but I still had the Reisong between the Preamp and Amp. In the last paragraph above, you can infer that I am a confirmed user of two (even if I'm temporarily without), even if the one between the preamp and amp has less effect than after the front end (but less does not equate none). If one's amp is a true integrated, with an active gain line stage (much rarer than amps with a passive volume knob masquerading as integrated; Taimonsing's amps featured in the last article all have an active preamp gain stage), one uses only one. But, keep in mind, many cost-no-object designers use interstage transformers within the amp, which is like inserting a transformer between preamp and amp. Wherever it's in the signal path, the trannie of course has to be of good quality; otherwise, negatives from bandwidth limitation to other anomalies will rear their heads!

• The Character of Reisong To me, the Reisong is temperate and subtle. Compared to the UMI 2, it is a less upfront in its personality, meaning it's not prone to show off. In this respect, Taimonsing's view that it's more neutral is tenable. What is fascinating is that I view the Reisong as a little more luxuriant sounding (and hence one can interpret this to mean it's less neutral). This may boil down to the difference between systems. Here, I'd like to point out that, initially, even if I possibly preferred the Reisong to the UMI Mk I, I thought the Reisong might be a little rolled off at the top. Here's a little input from my NYC friend Andy. He thought that, compared to the WE 111C, the Reisong is rolled off too (but his downstairs horn systems are rolled off to begin with). However, let it be known that in my systems (both SZ and HK) now, with the Reisong's having had hundreds of hours of play, I don't feel at all there's any significant high frequency roll-off! I suspect that the Reisong needs more run-in to sound its best. I'm still perplexed by the Micromega Solo experience mentioned above, and wonder if the loss of spatial clues is tied to some kind of frequency anomaly, even if I don't feel there's any indication of that when listening (certainly not Taimonsing either). 

• The Character of UMI 2 To me, the UMI is more dramatic. It seems more extended at the frequency extremes, and the way it expands the sound field and ups the flow and excitement factor is like grabbing one by the balls. Compared with the Reisong it almost certainly has a little less midrange richness (that is not a trade everyone is willing to make). Taimonsing said he has reservation about the smidgen of silver touch (the UMI supposedly has a little silver wiring inside). BUT, to me, and our writer ELO (who has the very similar Mk I; his views here) we love the drama it provides. Here's another interesting feedback: my NYC friend Andy thinks of the UMI as somewhat beautifying, even in his upstairs full frequency system; whereas I don't feel so (likely ELO and Taimonsing too). This leads me to ponder what exactly is beautifying. I think, perhaps expanding the sound envelope itself, which the UMI certainly does (more than the Reisong) is an act of beautifying...Fascinating! Also, the UMI didn't seem to need more run-in.

• UMI 2 vs Reisong The reason why I have left these in HK for friends to test is because personal responses are inconsistent (as in audio in general). Taimonsing was initially quite impressed by the UMI 2 but later preferred the Reisong. Andy in NYC (and freiends) seem to be impressed more by the UMI 2. And I? Well, I like both! I think the result one gets is system and gear dependent. That said, I think both will bring improvement to most systems. Keep in mind that the Reisong costs just a fraction of the UMI 2 (not that the latter is unaffordable). I also heard through the grapevine that they also compare favorably with the much more expensive local 潘氏.

Both highly recommended. However, I don't think we have gotten to the proverbial bottom of either, which is why this article is designated "Part I".

深圳莲花山公园外眺，可以看到弧形的市民中心和地标平安银行大夏

UMI 1:1 Sun Audio 300B VT25 ICL

Click pics to enlarge. Not exactly on this occasion but close enough. Station B in front. Center, Philips AK601 CDP and Melos 222 Preamp below Sun Audio VT25 and DIY 45 amps. Left, from top, Micromega Duo transport, Micromega Solo, Elekit 8230 2A3 amp, Philips cheapo CD-771, Micromega Duo Pro DAC, PS of Melos 222 and Bryston 4B. To the right, note the Ruark Crusader II in front of the B&W Matrix 801 Mk II. Note the "wall" on the right side was a partition using steel cabinets. In the back (actually near the entrance) is Station A. CDPs in use are the Revox 221 and Pioneer T-07A, second and third from top, below which is the MFA Magus B Preamp. Amp usually a Rotel 870BX.

Letter from Hong Kong (24-6): The Longest Days, Part III

Written in Shenzhen

Part I, our gathering on Jan 28th in Chaiwan

Part II, the next day, starting with the amazing den of Taimonsing. 

January 29, chez moi to finish

After being cooped up in the RCA Warehouse of Taimonsing, we had a late lunch. Then the 3 of us headed back to my old place in Pat Heung. Now you know why I fired up all my amps late the night before - in preparation for their visits! I planned out a program for them. Equipment was more or less as before (Station B described here; see Top Pic for Station A).

Program/Station A For a starter, I first fired up the B&W 801 Matrix Mk II. CDP was the Revox 221. Preamp MFA Magus B to the Rotel 870BX. I played mostly Until the End of the World. We didn't listen to this for very long as it's not the main program...

...then, after Program B finished, icefox the taskmaster asked for the Rotel amp to be replaced by Bryston 4B, which we did. Fortunately I was able to produce 2 XLR to RCA adaptors for use (no RCA inputs; there are actually a pair of professional TRX female sockets which I presume would take 1/4" phono plugs). With a lot more power than Rotel, the sound was drastically different, much fuller but less clean, the Rotel being faster in bass transients. But, as the 801 loves current, overall this was for sure an improvement. The Bryston had not been run for a long time, and it was probably a little murkier than when optimal, and there were occasional small popping noises...

...That was not all: see the UMI section below...

Program/Station B We spent the bulk of the time here. The Ruark Crusader II was used. CDP was the lowly Philips AK601 (CDM4/TDA1543). Preamp Melos 222. The program was to let them hear 2 Sun Audio amps, the 300B and VT-25, and an ICL/Softone 300B. Below you will find the reasons why I programmed it so.

Sun Audio 300B As mentioned before, this was built not on the 2A3/300B kit (2.5 and 3.5K taps) but on the Sun VT-25 kit, using the 5K ohm tap of the output trannies, so a "mismatched" amp of less than usual power (say between 4-5 watts). 6SN7's are a pair of old RCA's. As before, the 300B's and 274B are all 50's WE. The reasoning was to have them hear WE tubes. They have heard a lot, more than I (especially icefox) but not so often outside WE equipment or in humble SE amps. To my ears, this amp has the most WE qualities, including that elusive 撩撩吓 feeling. Many of the tracks on Until the End of the World have quite a bit of electronic ambient sound, swooshing and undulating. The effect is much enhanced in the amp. icefox incidentally might have found some of it a little "hea" (Cantonese for relaxed).

Sun Audio VT25  6SN7's are a pair of old suspended filament GE's. We heard first the white based WE VT25's with the WE 422A rectifier. The idea is also to hear WE tubes, albeit less famous ones (in particular, the 422A is much less regarded than the 274B). To my ears, sound was good (though some clipping is inevitable), but definitely less subtle and more yang than the 300B. And of course, sometimes the amp shows some clipping (1.x wpc)...We later changed to 274B and the sound improved markedly!

ICL/Softone 300B (here) I've always been an ICL/Softone fan. Very good designs for very sensible money, even now. The idea is to compare the WE equipped Sun Audio 300B amp with one using common tubes. The 6SJ7 (essentially a 6J7 without top cap) here is old stock glass GT with metal bass. 300B's a pair of old Shuguang's. Note that in its use of tubes this amp has a shade of the WE91A in it (though it is thoroughly modernized, with things like constant current source). Humble tubes. Sound is quite good, but modern, and certainly more powerful than the Sun.

UMI 1:1 Transformer (here and here) Surprise! I brought this one over from Shenzhen just for this occasion. The effect was unbelievable!

• Inserted between CDP and Preamp It immediately improved the performance - across the board. Wider soundstage and better dynamics. It helped to bring the Sun VT25 closer to the 300B, but what was truly amazing to me was that, when used on the ICL, it kind of brought the modern amp (with modern tubes) at least a little bit closer to the old Sun with WE tubes. The ICL amp suddenly became less a straight-shooter and a little more suave!

• In Station A Again, inserted between the Revox CDP and MFA Preamp, the sound took an unbelievable turn for the better. Pushed out envelope. Much cleaner and more dynamic! We played the Burmester CD2 (long oop; pirated on TB) and it was just fab! Taimonsing rated this one as the greatest improvement.

• I gave the UMI to Taimonsing to make the rounds among the circle as I want more opinions. I'm looking forward to the feedbacks! U shall read more in this blog in due time!

Comments

• WE 274B All agreed that this tube makes the most difference. In fact, although it's very expensive, the 274B in the VT25 amp gets my vote for the "best value" WE. Although the 274B is subtle, sinuous and tactile in its upper reaches it's amazingly powerful in the lower reaches. In fact, the way it fills out the lower end may be a character trait (I think Taimonsing will agree with me). If there is just one WE tube you should get, this is it.

• WE 300B Personally, I think the real WE 300B is just a phenomenal tube. For me, its sophistication is way over any modern replicas. But, as mentioned above, the 274B is even better entry into the magic of WE. It's the essential portal.

• SET? Now, you may not know that both my guests, Taimonsing and icefox, are not SET fans! In fact, at their dens, you shall not find any SET amps! All PP amps! Well, for the SET amps I demonstrated on this occasion, their comments are fascinating. "...don't sound like the usual SET amps we have heard..." I take that as a compliment! Yes, indeed, many SET amps are just way too lean and meager, but they are not for me.

• Sun Audio Tamura Another note here on Sun Audio and Tamura transformers. If you ask me, I don't think I can easily find SET amps better than Sun Audio at any price. They are just superb value for money, and its a pity that they are so low-keyed and invisible in the US market. Mind you, for this round, I also screened Elekit 2A3 and my DIY 45 Amp (WE412 driver, Tango trannies), but I did not offer them for tastings as I thought their sounds would not be exactly what my guests were looking for.

Pics of the Food the Night before

優美 (UMI) 1:1 音頻牛

優美 (UMI) 1:1 音頻牛 (之 一)

https://m.tb.cn/h.5SXf9su?tk=zfPQWYBSWYJ

ELO 用英文作的評述

雖然筆者已經知道這神器的存在超過壹年，也在自己系統用了超過幾個月，也構思了要怎麽報道，動筆卻是超乎意料的難。筆者是壹個英文音響博主 （系屬谷歌，國內看不到），但中文寫作沒有問題。難的是這個東西對壹般發燒友來說會有點“神”，需要解釋爲什麽要用它。很多人，包括筆者，是所謂簡約派，認爲 ”多只香爐多只鬼“。但是，西方人有壹句話，Simple but not too Simple, 即 “簡單，但不能過于簡單”，值得借鑒。如果妳是屬于相信訊源直入後級，沒有前級最好聲那壹派，可能不需要看下去。

先說自己，讓讀者有個出發點。筆者沈迷音響四五十載，因爲常年在國外，造就了我玩了非常多難得的古董和現代經典器材。雖然是個膽迷，但我也有選擇性喜歡現代器材，尤其數碼音源部分。重要的是聲音平衡。非常多古董派發燒友搞出來聲音朦胧，廣東人可以說“朦過華秀只狗”。但該有的應該有，不該有的可不可以有！壹個好的系統聽所有音樂都佳宜的。匹配得好，什麽理論都可以抛擲腦後！聲音平衡是必需的。

什麽叫匹配

筆者不是工程師，數據上懂得只是皮毛。可是對聲音肯定知道好壞的。我相信這裏的讀者大部分都是有基礎的，可能大部分都多元化，有用前後級。先說前後級配搭，最簡單的問題是後級輸入靈敏度，高的甚至可以不要前級 （如古董 Leak，現代 Audio Note 後級）；低的非常需要增益大的前級（如 古董Quad II）。但這只是最簡單的問題（雖然發燒友也忽視）。

更困難的是阻抗匹配問題。簡單地說，任何有輸出的器材都會要面對後面的阻抗，二者不匹配頻寬會受到影響，可是沒那麽簡單。理論上，石前膽後可以非常優秀，但事實上膽前石後更加討好（筆者這樣認爲）。音響的複雜性是因爲音頻在不同頻段線性不壹致。所謂阻抗是動態的，不是單理論可以概括的。也就是說，最後只能耳朵聽了算！

最簡單地說，壹個好的1:1音頻牛，用在兩件器材中間，可以幫助藕合。拿優美來說，前面的器材面對的是穩定的600歐牛初級，而後面的也是接受穩定的600 歐輸入。越不匹配的器材有可能受益最大。更可以幫助驅動長的訊號線。

牛還有壹個同樣重要的特點。它可以過濾很多不必要，甚至危險的東西。各種失真（很多耳朵聽不到，但會影響音質），以至直流。好的牛，如優美，會讓人覺得背景甯靜了，聲音純真度高了，就是這個原因。

音頻牛的運用

音頻牛有這麽多潛在的好處，爲什麽我們很少在器材上見到？原因很簡單，成本太貴了。牛的制造不容易，全世界沒有多少個用家能自家生産（優美是例外，本身主要做各種牛的）。音頻牛雖然小（優美的罩在那兩個圓罩裏) 但它的制作不會比大許多的輸出牛容易。通過的訊號非常小，品控就更加重要。牛的制造不光是科學和手藝，和任何音響産品壹樣，還是含有人耳調控的成分，人耳的取舍和決定。研發的代價不少，在國外會是非常貴的。這不只是錢的問題，設計師遇到阻礙時肯定會抓狂 （廣語“嘔血”），只有最有耐力的人才可堅持下來。

現在世界上沒有多少人生産音頻牛。它大部分功能可以用其它零件解決。可是幾十年前就不壹樣。回到西電年代，非常多的器材其實是專業（如戲院）用的。幾乎所有器材都會有音頻牛，有些有增益（麥克風放大），有些沒有。那時候專業已經用平衡端子，去到膽機要用牛轉換成非平衡RCA。牛也可以輕易倒相 （優美就可以）。

既然現代零件可以代替音頻牛的功能，它有存在價值嗎？在音響領域裏，肯定有！西電用家再清楚不過。那些拆下來的”過氣“西電音頻牛現在價值連城，有錢都買不到！爲什麽？就是因爲它們能做到就算發燒級零件都做不到的效果。比較普遍的西電 111C大家可能比較熟悉，二，三十年前發燒友壹窩蜂地把它接在CD機後面。現在，更貴更罕有的91A已被搶到價錢不斷上升。

多重用途示意圖

留意: 點擊鏈接首先看到的圖片是比較便宜的 1:3, 不是這裏說的 1:1

必須挑對的"顔色"，有銀黑二款

To be or not to be - inserting a proper preamp. Less is more?

Letter from Hong Kong (23-11): ELO on To be, or Not to be...

One thing that I have been avoiding to do ever since I have moved into the new flat is to tamper even slightly with my current setup, which is so well tuned, being afraid even the slightest mod will alter the "perfect" balance that I have achieved. May not be Audio Nirvana to someone else, but I'm very close to mine.

Rule of thumb is if it runs smoothly: DO NOT CHANGE!! But, over many days and nights I kept thinking about how I can improve the sound further, or if I need to replace the little wonder Aiyima A08 Pro ,or sif I should re-insert my Elekit TU-875. Or, whether a better LPS on WEA will elevate the performance further? I am seriously looking into upgrading to SPEC amps which has gained a lot of accolades over the past few years. Yet I have a strong feeling that it will change the style but not ultimately improve the sound. At this point, I am open to any changes, even if my hunch is telling me to stay put.

After DJ's latest post on Food and HiFi trip to Shunde, somehow I started to itch was again. Last night , I finally installed my serviced Elekit back into the setup (just repair of the wall wart). I have the WEA > Elekit TU-875 > Aiyima A08 Pro lined up now using all "Studer" cables. Luckily all my equipment weigh less than 10lbs, though it still took me an hour to reconfigure as my i.c's. are quite short. While reconnecting the power back to my Aiyima, there's a tiny spark upon contact! Yikes, hopes all is well.....

The moment of truth came.....enter the drum roll.  

I could not believe my ears! I thought the tweeters of my Dynaudio Crafft had burnt out and I had to put my ears right next to the tweeters to confirm that there were still sound coming out of them!

The high frequencies of the whole setup seemed to have vanished and it was like listening to a mid-fi system! To give it benefits of the doubts, I let it run overnight at a very low volume to see if things would settle down and improve. I woke up damn early in the morning and sat down properly and re-evaluated the new setup. No improvement at all! Without hesitation, I removed the Elekit from the setup.

As soon as I reverted back to my previous configuration, the change in overall sound was so significant that it is almost like a transformation! Everything, the transparent highs, openness, clarity, details and nuances of music came back. At this point, I could tell whether my Elekit had not been properly repaired or had it simply been a subtraction by addition.... Less is more in this case?

For now, I will refrain from attempting to add a preamp in front of my Aiyima A08 Pro! Elekit may not be the culprit, but I need to further investigate!

My POTY of 2023 (only limited contestants actually LOL)

Time is ticking and 2023 has almost come to an end. My biggest upgrades of my setup is  the SPEC RSB-301 and UMI 1:1 Signal Transformer, and of course the new flat.

I can now confidently say, my own POTY goes to the UMI! How I regret not having immediately installed it into my system (I had received it from DJ in June or earlier?). SPEC RSB-301 came in second place and is already providing a very good improvement in sound, but UMI simply shocked me by its performance!! I simply cannot wax more accolades on it and mind you, I'm not paid to write these posts.

Since October, I have reached a point that I would not want to tamper even slightly with my system, being afraid the "magic" will disappear even with the slightest move. And this is how good the UMI is in my setup. Go hear it yourself, but mind you, your current setup must be reasonably well tuned as it otherwise it cannot show its full strength. Don't blame me for that~ I have learnt my lessons well and don't tell me that I did not forewarn you.

For now, I will retreat back to my world of music gleefully and until next time, adios!  Upgrade the SMPS  of WEA to a proper LPS is another step I would like to try.

Some nice eatouts recently in HK. BTW, as much as there's a lot of great restaurants in SZ, there are equally or more great places to eat at a still reasonable price even in expensive HK! 

Come 捞 is a local hole in the wall eatery in TKW serving great and quality food for the neighbourhood. 麻辣花螺正到痺，越南法包鬆脆但唔界口，料夠。流心疍係我近期最好食嘅一间 thick sweet and gooey，羊肉湯飯肉味濃湯頭清甜，飲得出係用心機煲出來的

新三興 is probably the best Chinese restaurant I have been to recently with superb food quality and immaculate cooking skills combined! Succulent ans juicy grilled pidgeon, thick cut of large eel grilled to perfection, bouncy and QQ. Such as the salted egg yolk fried prawns, - seldom had I tasted the freshness, juicy and bounciness of prawns and the crunchy egg yolk making a perfect combination! 

Went to Jiu Zhai Gou 九寨沟 in early November and this is probably the best scenic spot I have ever been to! Mind you that I have spent years in Vancouver with Rocky Mountains in the backdrop!