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Thirty-three years ago I
ventured into high-end audio without knowing the word, or what an
audiophile was. I was an idealistic freshman at Baylor University. I
wanted to change the world and listen to music. I have spent most of my
life trying to do those two things, like working as director of mission
for the CostaMeda Association of Churches, trying to feed the needy,
care for the hurting, and educate people on how to both live and care
for each other in this precious planet we live on.
I think my audio history
begins with the first speakers I purchased. They were small Advents,
followed by stacked Advents; you know Harry said we had to have them.
Then I heard a mono system with one QUAD 57 and I had to have a pair.
I cut my teeth in hi-fi with QUAD 57s, QUAD amps and preamps, and then
Audio Research electronics. For source, I had an AR, then a Sony Direct
Drive, and eventually a Linn. I spent many hours trying to find the
perfect Decca cartridge, some grey, some blue and one gold, they all
sounded more lifelike than any thing in my hi-fi memory.
But, they only sounded that
way for a few weeks. I also had assorted tape decks, of both reel to
reel and cassette variety, you know: Tandberg, Revox, and Nakamichi.
Well, you can't stay single
forever. I got married and we moved, and there was no place for QUADS
in my new home, so I began down the road of mini monitors. I tried KEFs,
Linn Kans with NAIM electronics, Celestion 700s, modded Spicas, and
probably some others I don’t remember, although I do remember how they
imaged and disappeared and eventually left me bored and wanting to try
another.
Eventually I had a bigger
room and tried B&Ws, Klipschs, Silverlines, Aliante Ones with a REL
subwoofer, Gershmans and then finally the speakers I owned for the 4
years: the Audio Note AN/E SEs. To my shock, a pair of speakers from a
local designer here in the Bay Area has moved in and taken over as my
reference speakers: The wonderful, $4,000 Warren Gregoire & Associates
Ikonoklast Model 3s. The latest pair of speakers that has stolen my
heart is the $10k Teresonic Ingenium II Lowther DX4. They now reside
in my reference system.
Along the way I also tried
Threshold, and Goldmund; but I quickly discovered I loved tubes. I
subsequently owned Beards, Carys, Joule-Electras, Koras, Audio Notes,
and the little Wavac MD-300B. I have spent a lot of time in the last
year listening to all comers on the amplifier front and the little Wavac
could not be unseated, but in the end there was one amp that has taken
its place: Its big brother, the WAVAC EC300B, quite possible the best
300B amp ever made. It was the last designed by the late Nobu Shishido.
The other thing I have done
over the years is working part time (shipping, sales, mailings, anything
to get to buy equipment at cost or near cost) and hung out a lot of
great high-end shops and made some very good friends. As life moved on,
there was less time for this, but the friendships have endured.
I also listen to a lot of
live music. I go to Yoshi’s in Oakland at least twice a month, I
subscribe to SFO and attend frequently throughout the year, and I listen
to live music at church weekly.
Room Description
My room is an
irregularly shaped 20 by 15. It has wall-to-wall carpet, drapes, wall
hangings, oil paintings, and several pieces of furniture. The speakers
are on the short wall, which is short in two ways, in that it is also
only 5 ft tall with the top part open to the next level of the house.
Also along one side is a stair case coming down into the room. The
speakers face the wall that has a fireplace in it.
Review System:
Source:
Clearaudio Anniversary AMG Wood CMB
Turntable with Satisfy Carbon Fiber Tonearm and Benz Ebony TR very
low output moving coil cartridge
Slim Devices Transporter
Audio Note CDT-Three transport
Audio Note DAC 1.1x Signature
Preamplifier:
Shindo Masseto
Amplifier:
Wavac EC-300B. SET Amp, 10 Watts per
channel, transformer coupled, with all Western Electric tubes. The amp sits on a Sistrum stand.
Speakers:
Teresonic Ingenium Mk2s with
Lowther DX4 drivers
Isolation:
The speakers sit
on Sistrum stands.
The equipment sit on a three-legged lead-filled rack with solid maple shelves
Cables:
All cables are Teresonic Clarison
Power Isolation:
Two Audience Adept
Response aR1p High Resolution Power Conditioners
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