An amplifier that retains the richness of the real instrument without sounding lush or soft in the upper octaves. A midrange to kill for. Inner details in abundance without artificial enhancement. The tonal distinctiveness between Simpson's steel guitar and Mann's pipa was rendered with greater accuracy than any amplifier that I've had in the system. With the latter piece, Simpson's guitar is much closer miked, revealing a greater sense of detail and instrumental body.
Transients come from nowhere, without warning.
Cymbals are clean and without edginess. The amplifier did run into a little bit of trouble at the extremely dynamic end of the spectrum. This wasn't so much evidenced on cymbal work but a little further down the frequency spectrum, say on the trumpet on the Isle of the Dead . When pressed, the trumpets sounded little thinner than they should. Studio recordings sound more studio-like and hall recordings have their characteristic ambience.