October 15, 2015

  • Simaudio 750D, Part 13

    The problem with Warrant's "Cherry Pie" is that it made them the poster children of the excess(es) of hair metal. Although initially a good seller, it ultimately limited their career. And that is too bad, because (a) Warrant were good live, and (b) the album Cherry Pie is more ambitious than their debut, tries to expand their repertoire, and should be given more credibility. "Bed Of Roses" sounds like a grittier Bon Jovi. The power ballad, "I Saw Red," strays from the formulaic "Heaven," and is more structured. And best of all, "Uncle Tom's Cabin" fits in between Aerosmith's "Janie's Got A Gun" and Richard Marx's "Hazard."

    In the late-80s and early-90s, my friends would get together for sports. Somebody would bring a boombox, and we'd groove or go berserk to music. Our get-togethers peaked in the summer of 1992, when all of us were back home in S.F. from college. I think we were playing basketball at West Sunset Playground, when Patricia and two of her girlfriends were sitting on a ledge, and swayed to Warrant's "Heaven." Hot damn! You could read the guys' "I want those girls" body language and facial expressions.

    As we were packing up, Skull had the cassette single of "Cherry Pie." But he told us to wait, flipped it over, played the B-side. It was killer! 'Twas way better than "Cherry Pie" itself. Upon further inspection, we learned that this drivin' rock song was called "Thin Disguise." Why it was not included on the album, or released as its own single, was beyond us.

    Some of us decided to walk the 8 or so blocks to the coast. That day was actually fog-free and relatively mild. Still, the wind coming off of the Pacific Ocean was its usual stiff self. It slowed us down a little bit, as we walked down what could have been Ortega Street. Patricia put on her shades, faced the oncoming wind, soldiered on. The wind occasionally blew her chest-length wavy hair back, exposing her collarbone, throat, and good-looking face.

    I hope you have not forgotten that the Simaudio 750D utilizes one 20mm slow-blow 0.200A fuse. At this low current, if you don't have a favorite after-market fuse at 0.200A itself, 0.250A and 0.300A will work. You just cannot use a fuse of lower value (than 0.200A).
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    When the Synergistic Research Quantum Red points to the nearest side wall, the sound becomes much cleaner. But where's the mid-treble? Where did it go?! Quite clearly, this is the wrong or incorrect direction to point the fuse.
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    When pointing away from that nearby left side wall, the Quantum Red, versus the stock fuse, evens out the tonal balance. There is greater treble extension. The music is cleaner, exhibits more energy, and isn't dragged down. It's like walking with the wind at your back.

    The soundstage has width and height, but not depth. The images are also nebulous, with width and height, but not depth. Also, image outlines are poorly-defined. Somewhat oddly, the images from bass to treble all seem to be about the same size. That's just kind of weird, where a large-sized instrument is only slightly bigger than a small-sized one. Snare drum, though not blunted or down-tuned, needs more focus, stability, body, power, and punch. So while the overall sound is fast and energetic, it could use more pop and solidity.

    Overall, with the Synergistic Research Quantum Red, the 750D sounds modern and glossy. There are many other after-market fuses. But I suspect that many 750D users, sick of the usual dreary SA warmth, bloat, drowsiness, coloration, and lifelessness, will overall rank the Quantum Red at or near the top.
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    Oh, other than the "Cherry Pie" single, you could not get "Thin Disguise," until The Best Of Warrant came out in 1996. Dude, on the back cover, Warrant look like they are trying to copy Patricia's look, as she walked against the wind, down Ortega Street.