Greetings from the Nation’s Capital:
Glad to join this community of Audiophiles and Music Lovers to share, receive insight and knowledge, and join in on interesting conversations of two of my passions, Hi-End Audio and Music. Let me first state it all started with falling in love with music when I was 10 years old, listening to America’s Top 40 with Casey Kassem, hearing the likes of Led Zepplin’s “Stairway to Heaven”, Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin”, Harry Chapin’s “Taxi”, and Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” to name a few. In addition, my parents expanded my horizons with piano lessons which gave me the foundation of understanding and appreciating the theory behind the music and allowing me to express my self musically.
My first system, which was purchased at age 17, consisted of a Kenwood KCR-8300 Receiver, a Technics Turntable w/Shure Cartridge and Speakers (can’t remember the brand). I listened to this system for hours on end and was always amazed of the sound and what was in the record grooves. The research I did to buy this system was my entry into Audio as I read magazines like Audio and High Fidelity to find out about the components I wanted to hear and buy. After finishing College, landing my first job and reading my first copy of Stereophile I sold my Kenwood Receiver and bought a B&K ST-140 Amplifier and Spica TC-50 Speakers based on Stereophile’s Sam Tellig’s recommendations. However it wasn’t until I had my B&K Amplifier modified by Sound Unlimited in Bristol, Connecticut (recommended by Sam Tellig) that I truly understood what his phrase “Palpable Presence” meant and what the industry was capable if components are well engineered and use the best parts. The 2-dimensional sound from that system was so revealing it started my Audiophile journey with the buying and selling of audio equipment trying to find or hear Audio Nirvana. Unfortunately in 1993, through life’s trials and tribulations I moved from South Carolina to the DC Metro area and left my love for Audio and music behind to focus on a new career and raising afamily.
Twenty years later, I went into my local Best Buy Magnolia Store to buy a new TV and walked into one of their listening rooms and heard Martin Logan Speakers driven by McIntosh gear. The sound captivated me so much, I had to have that sound in my home and my love for Hi-End Audio and Music was reborn. In 4 years I have gone from Martin Logan’s Electro Motion ESLs, Montis to their New Masterpiece Series Renaissance 15A speakers. I took a similar path on electronics going from a Denon Receiver to integrated amplifiers and then separate components from McIntosh, PrimaLuna and Audio Research. However the biggest transformation for me within Hi-End Audio after my twenty year absence is the advancement of Digital Audio – Wow. The availability of hi-res music at my fingertips – priceless.
As an audiophile I have gone through a lot of excitement, frustration and now reward trying to recreate the live or studio recorded experience in my home. Have I reached Audio Nirvana………I don’t know….. but 25-30 years ago I could never imagined having Diana Krall performing for me in myliving room like I do today.
Well it’s truly great to be back into the community and be part of this forum to share our love, frustration and kinship being an audiophile. Thanks for having me and Good Listening
Jon Aiken
Glad to join this community of Audiophiles and Music Lovers to share, receive insight and knowledge, and join in on interesting conversations of two of my passions, Hi-End Audio and Music. Let me first state it all started with falling in love with music when I was 10 years old, listening to America’s Top 40 with Casey Kassem, hearing the likes of Led Zepplin’s “Stairway to Heaven”, Moody Blues’ “Nights in White Satin”, Harry Chapin’s “Taxi”, and Elton John’s “Bennie and the Jets” to name a few. In addition, my parents expanded my horizons with piano lessons which gave me the foundation of understanding and appreciating the theory behind the music and allowing me to express my self musically.
My first system, which was purchased at age 17, consisted of a Kenwood KCR-8300 Receiver, a Technics Turntable w/Shure Cartridge and Speakers (can’t remember the brand). I listened to this system for hours on end and was always amazed of the sound and what was in the record grooves. The research I did to buy this system was my entry into Audio as I read magazines like Audio and High Fidelity to find out about the components I wanted to hear and buy. After finishing College, landing my first job and reading my first copy of Stereophile I sold my Kenwood Receiver and bought a B&K ST-140 Amplifier and Spica TC-50 Speakers based on Stereophile’s Sam Tellig’s recommendations. However it wasn’t until I had my B&K Amplifier modified by Sound Unlimited in Bristol, Connecticut (recommended by Sam Tellig) that I truly understood what his phrase “Palpable Presence” meant and what the industry was capable if components are well engineered and use the best parts. The 2-dimensional sound from that system was so revealing it started my Audiophile journey with the buying and selling of audio equipment trying to find or hear Audio Nirvana. Unfortunately in 1993, through life’s trials and tribulations I moved from South Carolina to the DC Metro area and left my love for Audio and music behind to focus on a new career and raising afamily.
Twenty years later, I went into my local Best Buy Magnolia Store to buy a new TV and walked into one of their listening rooms and heard Martin Logan Speakers driven by McIntosh gear. The sound captivated me so much, I had to have that sound in my home and my love for Hi-End Audio and Music was reborn. In 4 years I have gone from Martin Logan’s Electro Motion ESLs, Montis to their New Masterpiece Series Renaissance 15A speakers. I took a similar path on electronics going from a Denon Receiver to integrated amplifiers and then separate components from McIntosh, PrimaLuna and Audio Research. However the biggest transformation for me within Hi-End Audio after my twenty year absence is the advancement of Digital Audio – Wow. The availability of hi-res music at my fingertips – priceless.
As an audiophile I have gone through a lot of excitement, frustration and now reward trying to recreate the live or studio recorded experience in my home. Have I reached Audio Nirvana………I don’t know….. but 25-30 years ago I could never imagined having Diana Krall performing for me in myliving room like I do today.
Well it’s truly great to be back into the community and be part of this forum to share our love, frustration and kinship being an audiophile. Thanks for having me and Good Listening
Jon Aiken