Coincident Pure Reference Reference

Further Reflections a Year Later
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I've now lived with the Pure Reference for more than a year and, with the exception of a few minor edits, I have not made any changes or additions to my lengthy review of this speaker. I've decided it's time to do so because there have been both a technical change in the way the speakers are used in my system and I also believe I have some important and edifying personal observations to share.

On the technical side, in the last year I have changed my speaker cables, 300B output tubes and the Jadis JP-80's volume controls. In each instance there was a noticeable improvement in the system's performance. However, the most important sonic improvement came when I began playing the Pure Reference full-range with the Coincident Frankenstein 300B amplifiers. In short, I removed both the Behringer Digital Crossover and the Coincident Dragon 211PP amplifiers from my system (along with all their associated cables).

I made this change with a considerable amount of trepidation, because not only would I lose 90% of the available power for the subwoofers, I would also now have to rely completely on my preamplifier's bass level and extension, which hadn't proved sufficient since it was gutted from six tubes to two tubes back in 1993 (consistent with my "minimalist audio philosophy"). Fortunately, my fears proved, so far, to be groundless...

As I wrote in August 2008, to my surprise, I've received outstanding results with the Frankenstein playing the Pure Reference full-range. Not only is the sound more cohesive, there is also more bass detail, a larger image, better focus and a lower sound-floor (with all the associated benefits). The overall improvement is such that I can't go back to biamping (using an electronic crossover).

Now I did help matters somewhat by increasing the input impedance of the amplifiers as well as the preamplifier's volume pots (from 250K to 500K). Any sonic problems? So far I have detected none with certainty, but I believe there will be some ultra-demanding records (or CDs) that, at certain times, can challenge the Frankenstein beyond its capabilities (especially in my large room). This belief has been confirmed by Israel Blume, who designed both the amplifier and the speaker. However, 1% or so of my records don't trump the other 99%, and even those 1% will still sound better, most of the time, with the Frankenstein playing solo.

The Purely Personal and Subjective

Next, I would like to focus on my personal experiences. This is critical, because I believe the changes in both my perspective and actual behavior will prove more important to many readers than even a novel length description of the Pure Reference's performance. Here are the three major personal changes that have occurred within the last year, all of them caused by the addition of the Pure Reference to my system (though all the other components were obviously necessary as a foundation):

1. Playing Entire LP Sides- More than at any time in the past, I am listening to the entire record, including all of the cuts that I used to avoid. This change is particularly true with non-Classical records, where there are almost always some cuts that are just not that appealing. Now I feel an irresistible urge to hear everything, just like the first time I heard the LP, because everything I hear sounds more interesting than before.

2. "Goose bumps"- I've never experienced as many (literal) goose bumps in my audio life. It happens nearly every time I listen to my system, and, even better, it usually occurs multiple times. Goose bumps are a completely involuntary emotional reaction, which means this experience may be the most honest and sincere compliment an audiophile can ever give a component or a system.

3. A Decreased Interest in "Audio"- Frankly, I've definitely lost some interest in "audio", particularly audio components. While I'll always be an audiophile, I've finally found what I have been looking (listening) for during the last 40+ years. I do expect further refinements, since audio will never be static, but I have now reached a unique level of overall performance that I could only dream about in the past.

Future Plans- I still plan to bi-amp the Pure References with the Dragons, but this time going direct, and without the Behringer Digital Crossover. Based on prior listening sessions, I believe almost all of the sonic problems I (indirectly) heard, and described above, came from the Behringer (between its two digital/analog conversions and its solid-state analog stage). It may be possible to get "the best of all worlds" with the combination of the Frankenstein and Dragon, though it will obviously come with a monetary price.

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