After a few days of excitement, and wonder at the actual size of this behemoth, different depending on whichever review you read, I finally parted with a substantial amount of money.
Just to put this into context, I was running an Arcam CD192 which to my ears is a very good CDP, and thoroughly enjoyable. I still have the rest of an Arcam set-up and Kudos C2 speakers which are relatively new. But the time and opportunity presented iteself to buy myself a serious piece of verging on hi-end equipment at a cracking price and delivered with a 2 year warranty to boot.
First impressions, of course after the 30 second 'valve warm-up' countdown was impressive, a very organic sound emanating from the Kudos, a little less brittle than what I've been used to, a little more analogue perhaps.
I put on a couple of favourite albums, Tracey Chapman came to the fore, a superb voice and something I have listened to on a regular basis recently. Well, she has a great voice, an often I've suggested (on these forums and to my own mind) that she is a huge talent and someone who has been singing in my front room. Never before has it been quite so realistic. Don't get me wrong, I've been very impressed with my system and it has offered me hours upon hours of pleasure, but this added something, a touch of musicality, expression, joy perhaps; a rounded sound that the likes of Cyrus just couldn't touch.
It seemed a little quieter than I was used to and I had to turn the volume up to a level higher to get the same sense, but after this thought, I sat and listened, a friend appeared unexpectedly early too, someone who stayed on my sofa two weeks prior having been overcome with the quality of sound on offer. This time he didn't put the TV on at all, but tested my system while I went out with the missus for a quick meal. On our return, he looked sheepish and there were many CDs lying around. Need I say more?
Well I'm going to.
It's smooth, and if you could imagine the Cadbury's flake girl sitting on your windowsill you're getting close.
I read many reports, buying blind you really have to, but I'm happy that I know the kind of reproduction that appeals to my ear, and I'm not wrong.
Having 'lived' with it now for a good period of time, 3 days in fact, I can say that it sounds wonderful, and looks the part to to my eyes, possibly a little big for some...but I now want the matching amp which I will get.
Trying to describe the sound, I would say that it's simple, uncluttered, the separation of voice and instruments is up there with chocolate profiteroles in the lap of the gods. But above all its sheer musicality is astounding, it makes the CD192 sound a touch false - no it's not 2 1/2 times as good but it is lovely.
In summary, I've struck lucky again; it's the sort of playback I like. A lot.
Just to put this into context, I was running an Arcam CD192 which to my ears is a very good CDP, and thoroughly enjoyable. I still have the rest of an Arcam set-up and Kudos C2 speakers which are relatively new. But the time and opportunity presented iteself to buy myself a serious piece of verging on hi-end equipment at a cracking price and delivered with a 2 year warranty to boot.
First impressions, of course after the 30 second 'valve warm-up' countdown was impressive, a very organic sound emanating from the Kudos, a little less brittle than what I've been used to, a little more analogue perhaps.
I put on a couple of favourite albums, Tracey Chapman came to the fore, a superb voice and something I have listened to on a regular basis recently. Well, she has a great voice, an often I've suggested (on these forums and to my own mind) that she is a huge talent and someone who has been singing in my front room. Never before has it been quite so realistic. Don't get me wrong, I've been very impressed with my system and it has offered me hours upon hours of pleasure, but this added something, a touch of musicality, expression, joy perhaps; a rounded sound that the likes of Cyrus just couldn't touch.
It seemed a little quieter than I was used to and I had to turn the volume up to a level higher to get the same sense, but after this thought, I sat and listened, a friend appeared unexpectedly early too, someone who stayed on my sofa two weeks prior having been overcome with the quality of sound on offer. This time he didn't put the TV on at all, but tested my system while I went out with the missus for a quick meal. On our return, he looked sheepish and there were many CDs lying around. Need I say more?
Well I'm going to.
It's smooth, and if you could imagine the Cadbury's flake girl sitting on your windowsill you're getting close.
I read many reports, buying blind you really have to, but I'm happy that I know the kind of reproduction that appeals to my ear, and I'm not wrong.
Having 'lived' with it now for a good period of time, 3 days in fact, I can say that it sounds wonderful, and looks the part to to my eyes, possibly a little big for some...but I now want the matching amp which I will get.
Trying to describe the sound, I would say that it's simple, uncluttered, the separation of voice and instruments is up there with chocolate profiteroles in the lap of the gods. But above all its sheer musicality is astounding, it makes the CD192 sound a touch false - no it's not 2 1/2 times as good but it is lovely.
In summary, I've struck lucky again; it's the sort of playback I like. A lot.