New Radikal

[The FlatEarther]

New Radikal
I had a new Radikal installed this week by the Leicester Guru. Peter was kind enough to come all the down and install it knowing that I'm unable to get to him anymore. At the same time he removed the plastic housing from the Akiva. One can clearly see that the Kandid is the son of Akiva when you see the inner structure. Apart from the colour they are pretty much identical. But the Kandid builds on the Akiva's strengths and takes the design to the top of the tree. Nevertheless, a naked Akiva is a dramatic upgrade. Just on its own.

However, then we come to the Radikal. Where to begin. Everything is so much improved. But first the motor itself is a very handsome and impressively built piece of engineering. It physically runs so much smoother. This is immediately noticeable on start up and switch off. I realise now that the cogging of the old AC motor could actually be seen and felt by touching the platter. The Radikal is all together different.
There is no static whatsoever and the Motor is deathly quiet.

So how does the music sound following the upgrade and three days of Running in?

First off, there is just so much more pace, rhythm and timing. The Radikal reveals so much more detail but it all fits together musically so enjoyably. It's just so much more tuneful in a live performer way. The ability to follow not just "The tune but all the tunes has taken a massive step forward and I'll try to explain just some of it.

Each note is more precise, quicker to start and stop and has more dynamic as if the edges of the notes were sharper like a dull knife now sharpened.
The dynamic range has increased. At the same volume level, the quieter notes are quieter and the louder notes are louder.
Tracks that were previously not so enjoyable have taken on a new enjoyment capability and older thin recordings are now so much more enjoyable and suck you in.
The Background is quieter, darker and seems to have a threshold much further down the dynamic scale allowing for much more headroom.
Regular surface noise has just about disappeared and scratches are much less intrusive.
Musically everything has taken on a clearly defined unique role in the music yet builds the overall tune into a clear coherent melody.
Drums have more snap and kick with much more impact.

But the most enjoyable aspect is the vastly improved insight into the individual artist and performer each with their own style and musical inflexion. It's just lovely hearing all these talented individual performers play their own tune in their own style and skill yet each one contributes their individual role coherently into the complete melody. Backing singers with not just their own harmony but their own style and emotion.

Well as you can tell I'm loving both the naked Akiva and the Radikal. It's a massive musical step forwards.

Many thanks to Peter (Cymbiosis) I cannot recommend him highly enough.

Flat
KR
The Flatearther
Peter Swain Moonburst Wenge No.57 - Naim - Isobariks

[Spannko]

Great write-up FE. Now I feel as though I'm seriously missing out on something! And best of all, not once did you mention the "inky blackness" between the notes!!!

[The FlatEarther]

Hi Spanko, this was my version of that sentiment

"The Background is quieter, darker and seems to have a threshold much further down the dynamic scale allowing for much more headroom."

But inky blackness is a good one.