jazzbo

Here's some info Steve has posted about "riding the gain" which is a large part of the way the CSP3 can be perceived to "improve" the sound of components it is connected to: RIDING THE GAIN A term we came up with because of the active nature of the adjustment process that can take place when you use a ZSTAGE in conjunction with an preamp OR amplifier fitted with a gain control. INPUT OUTPUT Riding the gain happens when you have two controls. One at the source and one at the amp or preamp. Think of it like water pressure. You have a pipe with a valve at the input end and another valve at the output end. The valves represent the gain controls and the pipe represents the signal path between the two gain gain controls. By turning up the input valve and turning the output valve down we create pressure inside the pipe. By turning down (closing) the input valve and turning up (opening) the output valve we reduce pressure inside the pipe. So if you took a garden hose and turned on the faucet you would have lots of water coming out the end, but it wouldn’t be able to spray anything until you put a nozzle on the end. The nozzle acts like a valve to restrict the output causing the pressure in the hose to increase. PRESSURE in this metaphor is the same thing as DYNAMICS in your stereo system. FREQUENCY BALANCE By having a gain control at the source and a second one at the amp (or preamp) it is possible to manipulate the dynamics of your music and it’s overall frequency balance. For example, if the music sounds thin you can increase the “pressure” by turning down the gain control on the amplifier (or preamp) and then raising the gain control at the source. This will add noticeable weight to the music and mellow out the top end. On the other side, if the music is sounding boomy or thick, you can do the opposite - turn up the gain on the amp and reduce the gain at the source. The boominess will go away. from: http://www.decware.com/newsite/ZSTAGEMANUAL.pdf

Actually, that's not true at all. If you buy a $1,300 pre-amp that makes your DAC sound twice as good, and your amp a "lot" better, then both of those components were suffering from very serious issues (in other words, it's impossible). And that was my point. Unless you were trying to power 4 ohm speakers with a transistor radio, your amp might sound better, but not a lot. That's not the way it works once you pass a certain threshold in the audio world. And claiming to make a DAC sound twice as good is beyond absurd. As for tubes vs. SS, yet another subjective battle that rages on. Just like CD vs. LP. Technically, SS is superior as far as the technology is concerned, but as I said in response to the post I quoted, "Many folks actually prefer the harmonic distortion inherent in vacuum tubes. So considering it an upgrade or downgrade is actually pretty subjective, IMO." It's not that simple Scott, as much as I wish it were. I'm not saying "twice as good" is accurate, but there are a lot of ways to improve sound that has nothing to do with a component being fed by a preamp "suffering some issue." Unless a "thin" sound, or a "dull" sound, etc. are "issues a component suffers." You haven't heard these in action and so . . . . I don't personally think in this instance you can dismiss the matter so glibly and finally. I totally agree with you regarding tube and solid state. . . . my point was "sounding better" is subjective, and if something sounds better it can be argued it can't be "technically inferior" if the goal is to reproduce music well. Not going to go on and on and argue with you but your problem with the CSP3 statement I don't at all feel is as tenable as you think. I own three of the earlier versions of this model and feel they do make significant improvements to the sound of components they are connected to, and that doesn't mean that the components had "issues" in the way you are implying. From your narrowed viewpoint that cabling, power treatment, natural compression, etc. don't make a difference, it may seem that means that the components are flawed in some ways, but from my experinece that these things can improve sound then the statement has merit even if the "amount" (twice) is a very subjective quantity. There's a divide between what you think and what I have experienced, and that influences how the statement is taken. Right here is the divide: you say "If you buy a $1,300 pre-amp that makes your DAC sound twice as good, and your amp a "lot" better, then both of those components were suffering from very serious issues (in other words, it's impossible)." That is not at all true in my experience. It sounds incorrect to me to view components and their sound that way. Ne're the twain shall meet imo Hope you get to experience the CSP3 and hope you use it between two components and hear for yourself.

Available on ebay for a . . . not terrible price.

There is always 'some cat' on an audio board saying tubes are old-fashoned and inferior. Yes you do have to apply some care in matching components with tube amps, but the sonic rewards are worth it. (And you should apply care in matching components with solid state systems as well). I still haven't heard a solid state amp that I can afford that rivals the sound of the Decware amps I own, whether transistor or chip. A technically inferior product? Not if it makes music sound better, that technically is what one is after. "Better" is always subjective, and there's always room for several different ways to "skin a cat." I haven't been able to build the type of amp that I want, so I went into vintage tube gear at first then found Decware . . . I grew up with an ST70, my Dad's. My Dad said that the Decware amp I have in his system now (my "C" amp) sounds so much better than anything he ever had before in making music sound real and flowing, and I agree.

Well, I have gone on record, and received a lot of flack on the Decware forum, saying I hate the way that Deckert words these things and calling them "hype." And Steve has agreed with me and says he wishes he knew how to say the same thing sounding less like hype. The truth of the matter is, it really is true of the CSP2+ at least that I have three examples of. It does improve the sound of the DAC with some experimentation, being able to adjust both the incoming gain and the outgoing gain (and gobs of that) and tube rolling can really make your jaw drop. And the same flexibility really does improve the sound of your amplifier by tailoring the input to it and being able to "ride the gain." I don't think Steve will ever stop writing that way, and I wish he would because I have seen it turn people away from the products. None-the-less Steve maintains a long waiting list for his products so many do get the message, and there are many many repeat customers.

Kind of shitty to boot the two concerts that came out of the archive, these haven't to my knowledge been out over and over again like some other appearances and sessions.

No, "Hotcakes & Outakes," as mentioned in the review.

I feel your pain.

From an amazon.com review: SOUND: Some CD sites selling these sets seemed to have automatically 'presumed' that each is "digitally remastered", but it categorically does NOT state that on the outer box or any of the card sleeves or discs - and rather too conveniently - neither website for Rhino USA or UK has any info on the series at all. But what's not hard to discern is what your ears are actually telling you. Like most fans I have the crappy Eighties CD issues just to have the music and these 2010 versions seem to be pretty much the same. To put this into an audio context, when you compare the 2000 "Hotcakes & Outtakes" genuine remasters of say "Two Trains", "Willin'", "Roll Um Easy", "Rock And Roll Doctor" and especially "Long Distance Love" (lyrics above), the sound quality is infinitely better on the Box Set versions - truly gorgeous stuff. The sound quality here is merely good at best (maybe better in some places), but it's absolutely not the upgrade fans were hoping for on 'all' of the albums.

"The CSP family of pre-amps are fine machines." Indeed Scott! Thanks for weighing in.

When I was in Africa Cadbury's was king. My favorite though is Fruit and Nut. It's too sweet, but what the hell.

The Last Record Album is actually my favorite of theirs. I love Llowell George, and when he passed I never quite got into the next version of the band. But those albums with George. . .. wow.

Released March 4, "Rad Gumbo: the Complete Warner Bros. Years 1972 to 1990"--- 13 cds from Little Feat. Nice price at amazon, about 62 dollars. A review: http://markattheflicks.blogspot.co.uk/2014/02/rad-gumbo-complete-warner-bros-years.html

Maybe it's just me and my history with Decware. I have four of their preamps, four of their amps, and three pairs of their speakers, and I've been looking at those figured black bases for years and wondering why anyone would order them. They just really repel me. Sorry I mentioned it again. I won't again. I know Scott is unaffected by my grousing, but if he isn't, my apologies Scott. Just glad you are considering the CSP3. Hope it happens.

Okay I'm chastened. I just shiver every time I see that figured base. To me it's fugly.

To each their own. I have black components all throughout my system, and the walnut base looks very nice. I'm afraid to ask what you find "incredibly disappointing" about Decware.

I have only once been disappointed with Decware products, their cd player, which others really love, but I never warmed to. I sure tried. The CSP3 will be an awesome tool for your headphone use. . . . I don't like that black figured base though. I use the walnut.

Sure Cary. But I think it's likely I'll be keeping all these preamps--I need four inputs in my main system, and the two presmps give me that (with amazing sound and flexibility) and the other is used in my second system. (I actually have one more, the earlier CSP2 which I had made without a headphone jack as Steve Deckert said it sounds a bit better without, that is in use in my Dad's system.)

It does, and I imagine it will do what you wish.

Going to be great!

Scott, I have three (!!!) of the immediate predecessor to the CSP3 the CSP2+ model, and one is upgraded to the Jupiter Beeswax caps (an expensive but worthy upgrade). Two in my main system, one in my second system. I confess I have never listened to them on headphones, after years of monitoring and mixing recordings for bands I was in in the 'eighties I just flat don't use headphones any longer. They are fantastic preamps: flexible, transparent, dynamic. Next for me on my audio list is probably the new Decware Zen Mystery amp IF I can convince Steve to add his treble cut circuit. I can't own an amp without that amazing tool any longer, it just makes it possible to listen to digital with comfort and ease. But it's going to be quite some time before I can think hard about ordering a Zen Mystery Amp.

Maybe. At a premium. Dusty Groove is liable to be cheaper. You could add it to your "Watch List" there. . . .They have it listed as coming mid-March. I've pre-ordered (part of a large pre-order) from cdjapan.co

Plan Accordingly You can't rush old people. They're going to take their time And you're just going to have to like it.

I've been picking up a LOT of these that I already have as I like this series sonically and presentation wise better than the previous ones. These budget reissues from Japan have got me buying a lot of discs from Japan!