"you seem happy and convinced but not so crazily enthousiastic about the change from Capri to Criterion ... am I right ?"
Hi Claude. . .the answer is an emphatic NO, that is not correct. I am extremely enthusiastic about the differences between Criterion and Capri. . . but I am always shy of using any overwhelming superlatives in writing any of my assessments. Fact is that IMO Criterion exceeds the performance of Capri in approx 12 hours from cold out of the box. . . then it is essentially a rising curve, except for a period of instability between 125 and 175 hours of break in. In the end, Criterion -- as a JRDG product -- displays some kinship with Capri in most parameters, but it is a different animal all together. Authority, macro/micro dynamics, harmonic exposure, top to bottom extension, image resolution, and ability to deliver high SPLs without batting an eye or showing intermodulating fatigue are in a different league. What is even more interesting, is that rather than given you a sense that you are 'seeing deeper into the soundstage', it is more like Criterion plops a solid and vast 3-dymensional soundstage into the listening area. The difference is what I would call transcendent.
On the other hand, it is only audio equipment we are talking about. . . any rumours that Criterion has improved my love life are somewhat exagerated. On the other hand, now that I think of it. . . hmmm (grins!)
Concerning DCS, my impression of DCS is that its house sound is always extremely pleasing, sometimes at the detriment of what to me makes music emotional: the interplay of differentially decaying harmonics, and microdynamics. I'll listen to DCS again at RMAF. . . who knows. . . I might change my mind.
Guido
Hi Claude. . .the answer is an emphatic NO, that is not correct. I am extremely enthusiastic about the differences between Criterion and Capri. . . but I am always shy of using any overwhelming superlatives in writing any of my assessments. Fact is that IMO Criterion exceeds the performance of Capri in approx 12 hours from cold out of the box. . . then it is essentially a rising curve, except for a period of instability between 125 and 175 hours of break in. In the end, Criterion -- as a JRDG product -- displays some kinship with Capri in most parameters, but it is a different animal all together. Authority, macro/micro dynamics, harmonic exposure, top to bottom extension, image resolution, and ability to deliver high SPLs without batting an eye or showing intermodulating fatigue are in a different league. What is even more interesting, is that rather than given you a sense that you are 'seeing deeper into the soundstage', it is more like Criterion plops a solid and vast 3-dymensional soundstage into the listening area. The difference is what I would call transcendent.
On the other hand, it is only audio equipment we are talking about. . . any rumours that Criterion has improved my love life are somewhat exagerated. On the other hand, now that I think of it. . . hmmm (grins!)
Concerning DCS, my impression of DCS is that its house sound is always extremely pleasing, sometimes at the detriment of what to me makes music emotional: the interplay of differentially decaying harmonics, and microdynamics. I'll listen to DCS again at RMAF. . . who knows. . . I might change my mind.
Guido