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Strap yourselves in and turn your boredom deflectors up to 11 .........
Before I give you my impressions on its musical abilities , here are a couple of things about the operation of the Klimax Radikal 2.
1) It seems to take a bit longer before it achieves a stable speed.
2) The red LED in the start button now appears much brighter whilst the Radikal 2 is coming up to speed. It then dims a lot when the correct speed is obtained. In other words, the difference in brightness between the two conditions is much more obvious than it was before.
Carry on up the Charts - The Beautiful South
Song For Whoever - It is now easier to distinguish the two male vocals when they are singing the same lines at the same time. There is a greater depth and resonance to all vocals. The intonation and syllables within words are so clear. All of this is achieved without taking away from the emotion being conveyed - indeed it adds to it and enhances it. Each individual instrument is easier to follow. The whole track is more enjoyable.
Blue Album - The Beatles
Ballard of John and Yoko - John is further back in the depth of the mix with all the instruments that bit more forward of him. It's a great effect that is more obvious than it was before and it's very enjoyable to be honest.
Ob La Di Ob La Da - So much detail going on in the background of this track both instrumental and vocal - It's all clearer, more obvious and more coherent.
Come To Together - the 'shoopy' sound effect on this track sounds fantastic and its well forward of the vocals. Apologies for the 'shoopy' adjective that I have made up. I can't think of another way to describe it.
Even Ringo sounds good on
Octopuses Garden - no really, he does.
The harmonies on
Let it Be seem that bit more beautiful when complementing McCartney's lead vocal.
I'm Your Man - 'King' Leonard Cohen
First We Take Manhattan - The initial bass notes are clearer and have more authority. Cohen's vocals have a greater presence and the intonations in the individual words are so much more obvious. His emotional energy and his confidence in his ability to deliver the atmosphere he wants just comes dripping through. The female vocals seem that bit purer. The sound stage is larger and its definitely that bit deeper. I'm hearing some details on this track that I was not aware of before. That's a surprise to be honest as I really know this track inside out.
Tower of Song - The hang dog expression in his vocals is that bit more real - his sighing is more obvious. I almost thought that he's just about to down tools and walk off because he sounded so fed up. I just loved that effect - It was there before but Len just seems to have upped his vocal game with the Klimax Radikal 2.
The Razors Edge - AC/DC
Thunderstuck - An epic track that now has more energy and depth to the whole performance. Johnson's vocals are clearer and easier to understand. This track has so much clever detail in its composition and all those details are much easier to differentiate. The lead and rhythm guitars are very distinct, as is the large drum situated behind Phil Rudd's usual drum stack. All this revealing of extra detail is done in such a way that it adds to, and does not distract from, the track as a whole. It's a high octane performance that has just had some nitro thrown into the mix.
Indeed the whole album has a higher level of energy, it's more involving and just more enjoyable - so much so that I was moving about in my listening chair a bit more than is probably advisable for a 61 year old.
Cosmic Thing - B52's
Cosmic Thing - It's a lot more snappy and precise and the boogie factor is up - It just sounds more rhythmical. Bass line is clear as day. Lovely.
Love Shack -It just sounds FAB - my descriptive abilities have now deserted me but who cares - I don't.
All the above applies to the whole album.
Some of you will now be pleased to read that I have run out of ways to convey how much I like, no , love the Radikal 2. Of course these are just my views and others may formulate a different view when they take a listen to it. I think it is a great upgrade and I feel very privileged to be in a position to have such a fine piece of musical making kit in these difficult and challenging times.
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LP12 - Klimax Radikal 2/Urika, Harban Plinth, Karousel, Keel, Karmen, Ekos SE, Skale, Lyra Atlas
CD Players - Roksan Caspian M2 CD Player, dCS Puccini CD Player + Scarlatti Master Clock
Amps - KK/1(D), Klimax Twin (D)
Speakers - Kudos S20 A's in Santos Rosewood
Cables - Linn Silver RCA & K200 speaker cable
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