I've been modifying my Hi-Fi off and on for about 20 years now, with a lot of interesting results. I therefore began listening a lot to electronics, without really being aware of it for a long time. But things have recently changed a lot.
Switching to tubes and black-Gates first has given me an enormous soundstage. I never looked for that by the way...! The room in which my Hi-Fi is located is 40m2, when the Hi-Fi is on I, suddenly have 100m2...for the same rent...And at different locations in the world.....That's not bad at all, and everybody can hear this without thinking about it.
Musicians are very easy to locate... the bigger the stage...
But as you say - stage is not everything, nor is texture, nor dynamics a.s.o.
I have listened and do listen to Audio Note's products whenever possible, but have never done so except in a shop (and my own modified and sand-damped Kit One). The best AN setting let me hear the sweat from the hands of a conga player, this has resulted in a kind of reference for me...
These days I've invested in an attraction DAC from Charles Altmann 750 Euro's (BYOB)...........and............I rediscovered music..(sic)..
It's like my long lost sense of musical values were brought back to me...it's not about staging, not about texture, not about dynamics.......though it helps...but about being carried away by the music!
Bottom line, which champagne do you prefer most? How does it taste on the palate? How's the aftertaste? What does it do to your physical system and much, much more...
I've tasted a lot of different champagnes Dom Perignon, Cristal Roederer, Comtes de Champagne and more....The most outstanding experience I've had though, was a Krug "Clos du Mesnil" 1983 that got uncorked among friends on New Years Eve 2000. Taste wasn't that good (some did not like it at all, had heavy sherry connotations, maybe it hadn't been stored very well), the bubbles were mild, well rounded but not remarkable, so initially quite a dissappointing wine.......But fifteen minutes later the wine had crept into your blood system and we had an experience we'd never forget..an exhilarating surge of sweet, tantalizing "esoteric" emotions, like being swept to a higher mystical sphere that unfortunately ended a little while later. Never tried anything like it before or since.
Your Hi-Fi is like that...in some ways your own inner physical landmark....Whenever you change something, like an electrolytic, you have a new experience. Maybe you like it, maybe you don't, but it's the looking-for and having the experience that matters....and when you're on to something you'd better remember it 'cause the next moment it'll be gone or you'll get so used to it you don't even realise what's happening to you.... that you're in an impasse. You can be so immersed in your Hi-Fi it'll reflect your own life's synchronicity......The most important art in life is being...Awake...And claim your ears as Charles Altmann puts it.
I highly recommend Charles Altmann's website. Most interesting thoughts on Hi-Fi and sound I've come across to date.
Hello, my name is Danny Arredondo. I live in San Diego, CA. I read your article on GamuT Audio and wanted to add something about their product.
I've been a long time GamuT owner, I had the CD 1 MKII when it came out. I had several problems with it but most of the issues were with the drawer. I called my dealer and he said that GamuT no longer had a U.S. Distributor to deal with my problem.
David Stephens steps in, calls me and tells me not to worry, he'll take care of my issues. David said, "I'm the new U.S. Distributor and GamuT has a new owner. Sit tight; we're going to take care of you," and they did. GamuT Audio & David replaced my CD 1 MK II with the new CD 3. GamuT and David are backing up their talk with action.
The new CD player is great, I'm enjoying the music but, more than that I know, I bought a great product made by a great company. Thanks David & GamuT.
I’ve read carefully your review about the Electrocompaniet Nemo monoblock power amplifiers and Bowers & Wilkins Nautilus 800D speakers Synergy, dated of November 22, 2005, and I appreciate that you share your experience.
I didn’t have, yet, the opportunity to listen to the B&W Nautilus 800D speakers, but I believe that it sounds as wonderful as it looks!
However, I wonder why, in the whole text, you’ve never mentioned/tried a combination between the Nautilus 800D and a monoblock power amplifier from a producer that doesn’t belong to the B&W Group, like the McIntosh MC501 or MC1201?
I’ll look forward to see your comments about a possible combination between the Nautilus 800D and the McIntosh monoblock power amplifiers.
Thank you in advance.
Best regards,
Carlos Sá
(Response from editor)
Dear Mr. Sá,
Thank you for your readership and your letter. I am pleased to inform you that in DAGOGO's October 2006 Top-Of- The-Month Issue, Ed mentioned the sound of his B&W Nautilus 800D as driven by the $25,000 XLH M-2000 monoblocks in the XLH Review.
Last not least, among Ed's ongoing review projects is another pair of monoblocks, the review of which will be published in the coming months. Please come and visit us often.
Terrific article. My wife and I also visited the factory. Julien and Bruno even took us to lunch! I own Verity Parsifal Encores and find them to be the wonderful speakers, the best I've owned.
I have a pair of Klipschorn's. I am looking for a new amp to run these. I also have a Klipsch center speaker and surround speakers. Wanting a 5.0 surround signal, is there any amp/receiver that will do a good job in the $500 range?
I tried a Yamaha 5960. The sound quality was superb with no noise. But it had virtually no bass unless the treble and mids were loud enough to make my ears bleed. Any suggestions for someone who likes great sound but doesn't have $1,200 to spend on an amp?
David Stewart
(Response from Constantine Soo)
Dear Mr. Stewart,
Thank you for your readership and your letter. Congratulations also on owning a pair of the Klipschorn, they have few peers in dynamics for the money.
On inducing the Klipschorn's to produce more pronounced bottom-end's, assuming they are already positioned at corners of your listening room, my experience indicated that they were made to play loud in a large room. In such a venue, the bottom-end from these horns were astonishingly potent. The alternative is to incorporate a subwoofer to augment the bottom-end information at low to medium sound levels.
If you are looking for a better value in subwoofers and don't plan to spend too much, please look for an upcoming Dagogo Review on 2.1 sound system, as the subwoofer of which can be purchased separately.
I own the Krell 300 and for the past 1 year , 400 xi. You need to use the integrated amp with one of Krell's own CD player and the balance output to maximise the potential.
For this price , it is quite remarkable to hear a well-defined space around all the instruments. Thank you for a well written review.
Wong
(Response from Constantine Soo)
Dear Mr. Wong,
Thank you for your readership and letter. I am glad you like my Krell KAV-400xi review.
Thank you also for your suggestion. I shall keep it in mind as I plan my review projects.
I just read your review of the Audia Flight CD One. Very good review, very clear.
I'm thinking about buying an Audia Flight CD Two. Did you review this player as well? It is hard to find any reviews of that specific type.
Cheers,
Christian
(Response from editor)
Dear Christian,
Thank you for your readership and your letter. We have inquired about the possibility of reviewing the Audia Flight CD Two with Musical Sounds, the U.S. Distributor of Audia. Thank you for your suggestion.
Your review has been very helpful in providing feedback regarding if I should upgrade my EAD Ovation to the 8-channel Ovation Plus, or am I better off starting over with Arcam or some other manufacturer.
The advance audio codecs are starting to make a presence (e.g. Dolby THD) since you wrote your review. If my interest is to be able to receive the advanced codecs (analog true pass-through rather than HDMI is okay at this point, as my sources will decode the advanced) and improve my audio capability, is the upgrade versus buying new still a good option in your opinion? While I love my Ovation, is it getting too long in the tooth to be a viable option anymore? Since I cannot hear the results of the upgrade first hand, I need to defer to excellent references like yourself. I have talked to Greg and it sounds like it would be money well spent. For your information: My sources are HD DVD, Blu Ray, EAD TheatervisionP, Marantz CD 17, Von Schweikert VR5 speakers, VS LCR35, VS VR-S/3 sub, Acoustic Zen cables and interconnects. Is spending a couple thousand on the upgrades the right path?
Your feedback is most appreciated. And again, enjoy your excellent reviews.
Alan Hanson
(Response from Constantine Soo)
Dear Mr. Hanson,
Thank you for your letter and your readership.
In regards to your choices, your description listed equipment of considerable caliber as the constituents of your system, such as HD DVD, Blu Ray and Marantz CD 17 as your video and audio source, and Von Schweikert VR5 as your loudspeaker system with a full compliment of Von Schweikert surround-sound speakers. My review experience of the modified EAD Ovation Plus affirmed the ingenuity of Noble Electronics and placed the thus-modified Ovation Plus alongside the best sub-$10k machines out there; so I believe the addition of the modified EAD will provide you with a more rewarding audio experience.
Please do write again and share your latest experience with us.
I want to build my corner horn using the Seven Pi Corner Series Kit. Do you sell cabinet plans for the above kit? Or can I use the Klipschorn plan of Speaker Lab? Thanks
Thank you for such a wonderful, articulated review of the Ongaku amplifier. As one of the few owners of this elite product, it is exceptionally reassuring to hear another witness testimony and correlative perceptions that match my own. I love your publication for its writing and it's general "air" of professionalism. All the writers of your online magazine can communicate clearly and concisely without unneeded verbage. Most impressive. I hope that Dagogo will lead the way of a somewhat wayward and confused audio industry. You guys came along just at the right time. Many thanks and the best of luck.
George Lacey
(Response from Constantine Soo)
Dear Mr. Lacey,
Thank you very much for your readership and your kind words. We are encouraged by your letter. Feedback from readers like yourself and Mr. Varney from Australia (the next letter) makes us want to work even harder.
Hello from the land down under. I'm a big fan of your magazine. Can hardly wait for next issue. Great writing and choice of equipment reviews. Keep it up.
I am still with the A21a in my studio. Had cause to do similar (never to be forgotten) tour around the works whilst they fitted a phono stage for me, what a delight. I would like them to supply a circuit diagram and basic instruction manual (my only bugbear.) Very good review. I run the A21a with Lowther Acoustas. Try Tommy Emmanuel on guitar, the very best.
Stephen Ashurst
(Response from Chris Redmond)
Dear Stephen,
Glad you liked the review and glad you share my enthusiasm when it comes to Sugden's equipment.
All I can add is that if you like the A21a, you'll find the A21SE a worthwhile upgrade, although the A21a is such a sweet and musically satisfying performer that it does prevent that nagging inclination to upgrade from taking hold, does it not? Finally, thanks for bringing one Mr Tommy Emmanuel to my attention, as I'm about to order an album of his after watching a video of him on Youtube; anyone interested should visit Youtube.com and type "Tommy Emmanuel - Angelina" into the search facility - very nice!
As a proud owner of the Einstein preamp, I fully agree with what you wrote about this ingenious piece of audio engineering. But do yourself a favour and listen to "The Tube" connected to the corresponding Einstein mono power amps "The Final Cut", and appropriately matched loudspeakers, like Acapella's Campanile or a pair of Lumen White's White Light monitors. I'm sure you would like the acoustic result even though you might not like sweating in front of the rig because these power amps get really hot.