After a few weeks of running in, I have been listening to various music over the last week or so to really get a feel for my new Exposure 3010S2D pre-amp and 2x 3010S2 mono power amps.
In one word I would describe them as glorious!
If anyone is interested - see this link to how I got to this stage. This review makes no attempt to compare against any other setup as such, although clearly you would expect a significant jump in performance from my previous amp, the integrated Rega Brio 2000 amplifier (38w @8ohms), which I purchased new in 2003.
It was the integrated Exposure 3010S2D amp that I liked best on home demo and which displayed many of the characteristics shared by the 3010S2D pre/power units.
I am using my Rega Apollo CDP as a transport, using a Chord Clearway Digital cable (RCA to BNC) into the Exposure DAC module fitted to the pre-amp. Speakers are the floor standing Rega RS5's in a 5m long x 4m wide room, with them placed across the 4m wall and positioned in some space 80cm in from both the back and side walls.
It's later in the evening that I listen most, and whilst I have a wide range of mainstream/modern music (I have all my son & daughter's music too which they have left with me after leaving home), I do also listen to a lot of older 'easy listening' stuff like Randy Crawford, Gladys Knight, Nina Simone, etc. I don't really listen to much rock or electronic music, but I do like a bit of jazz & funk. And typically, I will listen to a few CD's for a 2 -3 hour session.
The soundstage was the first thing I noticed, vocals are prominently placed, with instruments and bass notes easily identified across the soundstage that covers the full width between the speakers (2.1m apart) and on certain tracks, sounds can also appear on the outside of the speakers too.
Clarity - everything is much clearer, and it is much easier to pick out all the various instruments. Bass lines are also much clearer and easier to follow. I've noticed bass lines on tracks where I could not follow or notice them before. Busy tracks are now much clearer.
As a lot of my listening is later at night, and at lower levels (7 - 8 o'clock on the volume dial) the mono amps power driving the speakers is evident where the bass has more conviction and weight to it. Turn the dial up past 9 o'clock and towards 10 o'clock - OMG! - you can feel the sound waves generated. I've not turned the volume up any further so far, for fear of my wife telling me off *sorry2*
The extra power from these amps also gives a greater conviction to many of the sounds from instruments that get plucked, hit and or kicked. And sometimes this takes me by surprise as suddenly somewhere across the soundstage, a singular sound appears, generated by a musician hitting/striking something with real conviction.
I am also picking up some subtle sounds I never heard before. Stevie Wonder humming under the music during a instrumental part of a track. Voices have more character and richness to them, and some brass instruments sound more brassy and real. It's like I can hear more clearly that wind instruments are being blown into if that makes sense.
Finally I try to listen critically, but before I know it, I have drifted off into just enjoying the music. What more could I ask for?
Some general stuff - they came very well packaged in sturdy boxes, and inside well protected against damage. I like the note on the outside of the boxes that states - useless if dropped. They also come carefully wrapped in polythene. I also liked the style of the instructions, similar to those glossy colour A3 foldable quick start sheets you get from Dell and the like. Rather than have to thumb through a little booklet, you just open up the sheet and the set up instructions are clear as day.
I love the feel of the power buttons - there is a real solidity about them, it just feels like a quality product. I like the minimalist look and almost plain aluminium face of each component . It just feels like they are going to last forever, which is a good job really as it was one of my objectives to get something that would last me many years.
My next upgrade is likely to be new speakers as these amps have the ability to drive much better speakers, but that won't be any time soon as I re-stock my piggy bank.
As a footnote, listening to some tracks last night by Barbara Streisand (ok maybe not everyone's cup of tea), the music was mesmerising, I was completely transfixed by the presentation of the music. So I am quite pleased really, summing up 'glorious and mesmerising' *i-m_so_happy*
In one word I would describe them as glorious!
If anyone is interested - see this link to how I got to this stage. This review makes no attempt to compare against any other setup as such, although clearly you would expect a significant jump in performance from my previous amp, the integrated Rega Brio 2000 amplifier (38w @8ohms), which I purchased new in 2003.
It was the integrated Exposure 3010S2D amp that I liked best on home demo and which displayed many of the characteristics shared by the 3010S2D pre/power units.
I am using my Rega Apollo CDP as a transport, using a Chord Clearway Digital cable (RCA to BNC) into the Exposure DAC module fitted to the pre-amp. Speakers are the floor standing Rega RS5's in a 5m long x 4m wide room, with them placed across the 4m wall and positioned in some space 80cm in from both the back and side walls.
It's later in the evening that I listen most, and whilst I have a wide range of mainstream/modern music (I have all my son & daughter's music too which they have left with me after leaving home), I do also listen to a lot of older 'easy listening' stuff like Randy Crawford, Gladys Knight, Nina Simone, etc. I don't really listen to much rock or electronic music, but I do like a bit of jazz & funk. And typically, I will listen to a few CD's for a 2 -3 hour session.
The soundstage was the first thing I noticed, vocals are prominently placed, with instruments and bass notes easily identified across the soundstage that covers the full width between the speakers (2.1m apart) and on certain tracks, sounds can also appear on the outside of the speakers too.
Clarity - everything is much clearer, and it is much easier to pick out all the various instruments. Bass lines are also much clearer and easier to follow. I've noticed bass lines on tracks where I could not follow or notice them before. Busy tracks are now much clearer.
As a lot of my listening is later at night, and at lower levels (7 - 8 o'clock on the volume dial) the mono amps power driving the speakers is evident where the bass has more conviction and weight to it. Turn the dial up past 9 o'clock and towards 10 o'clock - OMG! - you can feel the sound waves generated. I've not turned the volume up any further so far, for fear of my wife telling me off *sorry2*
The extra power from these amps also gives a greater conviction to many of the sounds from instruments that get plucked, hit and or kicked. And sometimes this takes me by surprise as suddenly somewhere across the soundstage, a singular sound appears, generated by a musician hitting/striking something with real conviction.
I am also picking up some subtle sounds I never heard before. Stevie Wonder humming under the music during a instrumental part of a track. Voices have more character and richness to them, and some brass instruments sound more brassy and real. It's like I can hear more clearly that wind instruments are being blown into if that makes sense.
Finally I try to listen critically, but before I know it, I have drifted off into just enjoying the music. What more could I ask for?
Some general stuff - they came very well packaged in sturdy boxes, and inside well protected against damage. I like the note on the outside of the boxes that states - useless if dropped. They also come carefully wrapped in polythene. I also liked the style of the instructions, similar to those glossy colour A3 foldable quick start sheets you get from Dell and the like. Rather than have to thumb through a little booklet, you just open up the sheet and the set up instructions are clear as day.
I love the feel of the power buttons - there is a real solidity about them, it just feels like a quality product. I like the minimalist look and almost plain aluminium face of each component . It just feels like they are going to last forever, which is a good job really as it was one of my objectives to get something that would last me many years.
My next upgrade is likely to be new speakers as these amps have the ability to drive much better speakers, but that won't be any time soon as I re-stock my piggy bank.
As a footnote, listening to some tracks last night by Barbara Streisand (ok maybe not everyone's cup of tea), the music was mesmerising, I was completely transfixed by the presentation of the music. So I am quite pleased really, summing up 'glorious and mesmerising' *i-m_so_happy*
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