I received my LS-40s from ABCaudio yesterday and have had a few hours listening since then. Thanks to Alan for producing these and sending them out so quickly. Lovely packaging too. (Note these are not the demo pair but I pair I bought for myself - 2.5m with z plugs).
My system:
- Rega RP10 / Apheta II
- Rega Aria
- Musical Fidelity M6Si with full stage 2 John Sampson upgrade
- Dynaudio Contour 20i speakers
I've been using Tellerium Q Black II as my cables for a few years and have had some LS-25 cables for the last month or so, which are being returned to ABC as the owner upgraded to LS-80.
I've been listening to a large variety of music from jazz (Herbie Hancock, David Brubeck, Bill Evans, Getz Gilberto) to EDM (Aphex Twin, Jamie XX, etc) to rock / indie (Wedding Present, Fleetwood Mac, Pavement, Squid) and Johnny Cash, Marvin Gaye (What's Going On), Al Green, and more. All on vinyl. I've tried to mix audiophile pressings and also regular pressings to hear not only the best but also how regular records sound.
In the last month the LS-25 have proven to be a massive upgrade from the Tellerium Black II in every way. The Tellerium sound muffled and held back by comparison to the LS-25. The sound opened up hugely and everything was rendered much more clearly - better separation of all instruments and more controlled bass is deep when it should be and less boomy. The speakers sound like they were receiving everything they could from the amplifier.
Now to the LS-40. On
my system the LS-40 are another step up again. Perhaps the simplest way I can describe te LS-40 over the LS-25 is that they have a similar sound but render musical elements in three dimenions. A voice, or a guitar strum or a brass instrument sound like they are 3d rather than 2d. I don't really understand why but perhaps the lower noise floor of the LS-40s is allowing more subtle sounds to come through giving more shape to the edges of the music?
I was told that the LS-40 would extend the bass significantly over the LS-25 but on my system this hasn't been so apparent. This could be that a two way stand mount speaker has already reached the limit of the bass that it can put out? I'm not disappointed by this - to me the bass is fantastic - and rendered with good texture and doesn't sound rolled off.
Have there been any "super wow" moments? Compared to the Tellerium yes - almost everything is is hugely better. Compared to the LS-25, not really any particular jaw-hits-the-floor moments, but everything sounds next level up consistently. I was listening to What's Going On (Marvin Gaye) last night at quite low volume and it sounded much better than it has ever sounded. It's a strange recording in my view, very dense, and for the first time the bass parts were far more separated from the other instruments an the sound stage opened up too. The music is now pulled apart and simplified. Music sometimes sounds slower.
So I will definately be keeping these LS-40s! I'm really very happy indeed, my system sounds absolutely right for the first time and I feel the amp and speakers are working beautifully together and no parts are over or under emphasized.
Great, great cables!