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Simaudio W7 amp sounds not quite expected

I currently have the Simaudio Moon W3 and like the sound a lot.  So I thought getting the W7 would be an upgrade but having bought online it's a bit of taking a chance.
Last night having heard the amp in my system for the first time, the sound is not quite what I expected.  Reading some of the review, I thought it would be a bit forward, neutral.  But what I heard was the complete opposite.  It's somewhat recess and a bit warm.  There is not enough mid range present (like the W3) and the sound is somewhat withdraw and lacking involvement.  The vocal is a bit recess than I would like.  For me the first thing any component needs to do is to effectively communicate the music, but the W7 at least in my system does not do that.  I have to say I am a bit disappointed. 

May be it's my preamp.  I am using single ended.  Anyway, I am getting a Pass Labs XP-10 soon so maybe hopefully it will work with the W7 better than my current preamp which is a Conrad Johnson 17LS.
andy2
stereo5's avatar
stereo5
2,766 posts
 
If you want a little more tipped up sound, why not try a  Nordost cable between the amp and pre?  You may be pleasantly surprised.  
tom6897's avatar
tom6897
1,029 posts
 
Make sure you give the amp plenty of time to warm up and you will need 200-300 hours of running time for break in. Are you using a quality power cable? The W7 runs in class A for the first 10 or so watts IIRC, so musicality and nuance should be pretty much a given based upon hearing this amp in the past.
andy2 OP
484 posts
 
That's a good suggestion.  I currently have QED  40 reference but only single ended.  Once I get the Pass Labs XP10 and using balance, hopefully it will help.
There is something in the midbass that I wish it could be a bit more speedy.  It's possible that the W7 has a lot more resolution so it reveals the weakness somewhere in the chain - maybe it's the preamp.
jackd
362 posts
 
If this is a new amp just taken out of the box last night then a little early to make a judgement on it or make changes.  Also unless you can find a pair of Nordost cables used that you can try and turn over again I would be careful with them as they are not neutral by any definition.  
andy2 OP
484 posts
 
The power cable suggestion turns out to be interesting.  I currently use some beefy cables I bought from Amazon which has worked out fairly well in my system.  
I just swapped out with the power cable that comes with the amp.  Now the sound is somewhat opposite - the slight midbass hump is now gone but the sound is somewhat lean and leaning toward analytical.
I think I'll wait till the Pass Labs preamp arrives before making any more judgement.
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