Playground for practical listening exercises

[Charlie1]

In addition to finding out what equipment is being used, I'd be interested in how Fredrik experiences the clips, so which ones he prefers but more importantly, why.

[grin]

They won't play on my work laptop (Windows) but are fine via our Mac.

Windows 11 or installing iTunes on Windows might do the trick.

[Charlie1]

Tx - work build is all locked down but it is Win 10.

[lejonklou]

Two songs: 1 and 2.
Two preamps: A and B.

What do you think? Will tell you more the 1st of December!

https://lejonklou.com/1A.MOV
https://lejonklou.com/1B.MOV
https://lejonklou.com/2A.MOV
https://lejonklou.com/2B.MOV

Thank you all for sharing your opinions and votes!

Preamp A is Superkikkin.
Preamp B is Sagatun stereo 1.7.

1.7 is a new version for both Sagatun stereo and Sagatun Mono. It consists of many small changes to power supplies, chassis ground, hardware parts like screws and cable clips, new internal torques, recalibration of power supplies and new feet. The upgrade costs SEK 4000, EUR 360 or USD 400 per unit.

What did I think of the clips when listening in the room? I think Superkikkin is better than Sagatun stereo 1.4 (I’m sorry, but I messed up the recording of it) and from credible sources Superkikkin also outperforms Sagatun Mono 1.0.

I think Sagatun stereo 1.7 is a little better than Superkikkin. They both have their different strengths, though, and on some tracks I hesitated and went back and forth repeatedly. Overall I prefer Sagatun stereo 1.7.

Volume was exactly the same on all recordings.

[Sopper]

I think Sagatun stereo 1.7 is a little better than Superkikkin. They both have their different strengths, though, and on some tracks I hesitated and went back and forth repeatedly. Overall I prefer Sagatun stereo 1.7.

Volume was exactly the same on all recordings.

So, it was perfectly alright for me to choose a and b

I’m very excited to hear the upgrade to 1.7 for the SM
My set will be on the way to Sweden soon 😃

Can you tell me more about the new feet?

[Matteo]

Simply by looking at the rear connections of the pre you could understand what was playing (in clip A the Sagatun had no signal cables connected, while in clip B the Superkikkin had no signal cable connected) :-)

BTW, I like both pre a lot!

M.

[lejonklou]

Can you tell me more about the new feet?

The feet are the same as before, only changed to new ones. It’s worth replacing them every five years or so.

[Sopper]

The feet are the same as before, only changed to new ones. It’s worth replacing them every five years or so.

Oh, makes sense
I need new shoes too, so every now and then 😂

[kallesprätt]

Right now I am listening to my upgraded Sagatun partnered with Källa and Tundra, this is going to be a long night!

[tpetsch]

Congrats Frederic, looks as though your little Supperkikkin offers up serious value to performance potential for those -like me- that only have one or two source inputs.

[lejonklou]

Right now I am listening to my upgraded Sagatun partnered with Källa and Tundra, this is going to be a long night!

Cool!

Your Sagatun stereo was the one in the clips. The first one to be upgraded to 1.7.

[Hermann]

I'm very curious to see how the Sagatun Monos sound with the upgrade, as an improvement is hard to imagine with such perfection.

[ThomasOK]

I'm very curious to see how the Sagatun Monos sound with the upgrade, as an improvement is hard to imagine with such perfection.

Oh, they are a fair bit better!

[Azazello]

A or B?

A: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LBoqeVVbJ7v6WxBfA

B: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pWH27ffyf6cfJbnz6

[Whatsmynaim]

I pick A.

B didn't work unless I downloaded it so I downloaded both to get a fair comparison.

[lejonklou]

I’ve also got problems with playing B. And currently I’m unable to download anything.

[Spannko]

A for me. The streams are also a bit awkward to access because they’re muted by default.

[tpetsch]

(A) for me too, (B) grabs you for a second thinking it's clearer sounding until you quickly realize that it's way out of tune by comparison to (A).

[Hermann]

Prefer A

[Charlie1]

A for me too. Good tune dem example.

[Azazello]

I don’t understand why, but for me the clips seem to be randomly muted..?

I really value your input! For some reason I found this comparison very difficult.

[springwood64]

I have listened to them a few times.

While I can hear a little of what people describe as out of tune in B, I prefer B. I listen to my response to the music. I am more engaged with B than A.

[Charlie1]

I don’t understand why, but for me the clips seem to be randomly muted..?

They always started with mute enabled on our mac, using Safari.

[Tendaberry]

A or B?

A: https://photos.app.goo.gl/LBoqeVVbJ7v6WxBfA

B: https://photos.app.goo.gl/pWH27ffyf6cfJbnz6

I have a clear preference for A, B seems stilted in comprison.

[lejonklou]

My problems playing the clips have disappeared.

I prefer B.