If you had $20K to spend, what would you buy in audio?

[steve59]

I had a pair of Yamaha ns5000’s delivered a few days ago and am scratching my head at the level of detail these guys replay. A bit lean but as they get time playing they’re filling out. I bought them because my wife and I are tired of using closed captioning to follow our programs and I believe these are just the tool for the job. If op is offering up $20k to the winner of the thread….

 

[thedudeabides]

Four Argento Audio "Extreme Edition" AC outlets.

 

[Rexp]

Having recently returned to the UK having spent 12 years in SE Asia with no system, ideally I'd like to spend 20K on a digital source that is engrossing to listen to, has such a thing been invented yet? If anyone has found this holy grail please post a system video. Thanks!

 

[dcc]

Tapes... more tapes.

 

[AudioHR]

Tapes... more tapes.

What does a descent reel to reel cost nowadays? Played around with some Sony, Tandberg and even Revox in the 70's. I don't think retail pre recorded tapes were even available back then?

 

[dcc]

There were some pre-recorded tapes available at that time though usually not 2 tracks at 19 ips/38 cms.

I have 3 tape recorders: A fully overhauled and improved Studer A80 RC MKII, a Nagra IVS with a QGB module and an Analog Audio Design TP1000. Tapes are important to me. I have about more than 350 tapes and my library is still growing.

 

[No Regrets]

All the caps in your crossovers? Were they Duelund Cast? What about the resistors? What cables? What wire from crossovers to the Cardas coppers?

All the caps in your crossovers? Were they Duelund Cast? What about the resistors? What cables? What wire from crossovers to the Cardas coppers?

Hello,

This was just an experiment for me, so the first step of the experiment was for me to simply swap out the old original 12uf capacitor in the crossover of each speaker with a high end cap of like value.

This crossover is very simple, consisting of only 1 capacitor per speaker. I did not change any of the internal wiring, etc. I only changed the single capacitor. I wanted to keep the sound as close as possible to what Wharfedale had intended this speaker to be.

I also swapped out the very crude steel screw that they used for a binding post with Cardas Copper Longs.

I used a 12uf ClarityCap Pur from their top of the line Purity Range as shown below...



and then I bypassed this cap with a .1uf Jupiter Copper Foil cap as shown below...



I also swapped out the very crude steel screws that they had used for a binding post with Cardas Copper Longs...



Just these very simple changes, imho, really bring out the best of what this speaker is capable of. At some point, maybe I'll go in and change out the internal wires, but for right now I am very content with what these old vintage speakers from the 1960's can do.

Best wishes,
Don

 

[No Regrets]

Wow this is brilliant. This will humble many way more expensive systems.

I never heard the Wharfdales before. Can you please show if these play larger orchestra?

You can play some of the 3rd movement, start of the first movement. I know you have some DGG ToS. If you have the Kleiber Beethoven 7 from ToS, then the second movement please.

Any good piano?

Sorry for the requests but the above video is really good so would like to explore more.

Hello Kedar,

Thank you for the very kinds words regarding these very humble and modest vintage Wharfedale speakers.

I think part of the magic of these old speakers is simply due to the fact that they are utilizing Alnico speaker drivers. They are very efficient. If I remember correctly around 95dB. The alnico drivers have a reputation for having exceptional tonal qualities (playing with very nice tonal purity, density and weight), a very nice and noticeable attack and amazing trailing decay of the notes - which helps in the believability (or what some refer to the naturalness) of the instruments being played, and they really excel in capturing the performance hall acoustics as well. The other thing that I love about these speakers are their micro and macro dynamics which gives them the ability to really scale big.

We are celebrating Mother's Day this weekend in the USA, so I have been very busy with family, etc. I will be happy to record some of your requests as I have time, but it might be awhile due to work, medical issues, etc but I will do my best.

I will try and post a quick video right now of Liszt piano music. I find this to be hauntingly beautiful (in my listening room at least). Again, just recorded handheld with my iPhone with no external mic's. (Please forgive the motion from my breathing, etc.) It's saying there might be some copyright issues, so this may not be able to be viewed in all countries....

Best wishes,
Don

 

[AudioHR]

There were some pre-recorded tapes available at that time though usually not 2 tracks at 19 ips/38 cms.

I have 3 tape recorders: A fully overhauled and improved Studer A80 RC MKII, a Nagra IVS with a QGB module and an Analog Audio Design TP1000. Tapes are important to me. I have about more than 350 tapes and my library is still growing.

So 20k wouldn't cover it, lol!

I didn't recognize the speed at first, more familiar with the 7.5 IPS, 19 must be the metric equivalent?

Incredible library of tapes, wow!

 

[No Regrets]

Any good piano?

Hello Kedar,

Here is some more Liszt piano music for you. In my music room, this sounds breathtakingly beautiful. The dynamics and the power of the grand piano is mind blowing. The attack and decay of the notes and way it captures the acoustic of the hall really connects you to the performance.

When I listen to this Youtube, you can get a "sense" of what it might sound like, but it just doesn't compare to hearing it in person. It's as if the iPhone or Youtube has compressed the recording, or maybe the dynamic full sound these Wharfedale W60's overwhelmed the mic's of the iPhone... but in either case, the sound of this recording just doesn't breathe like it does in my music room.

When listening in my music room to this piece, it literally takes your breath away... I mean it's like you forget to breath at points because the music is so commanding. At the end you want to yell out "Bravo". Sadly... the compression of the video it just doesn't come across quite the same. But, hopefully it might give you a little glimpse of what it can do with powerful piano music.

Again, it's beneficial to listen with a decent set of headphones. This was recorded with just the simple iPhone with no external mic's and handheld horizontally. I apologize for the motion of me holding it, for it losing focus and the occasional errant noises that I made. It's just a very amateurish attempt at making a video.

Best wishes,
Don

 

[the sound of Tao]

Hello Kedar,

Here is some more Liszt piano music for you. In my music room, this sounds breathtakingly beautiful. The dynamics and the power of the grand piano is mind blowing. The attack and decay of the notes and way it captures the acoustic of the hall really connects you to the performance.

When I listen to this Youtube, you can get a "sense" of what it might sound like, but it just doesn't compare to hearing it in person. It's as if the iPhone or Youtube has compressed the recording, or maybe the dynamic full sound these Wharfedale W60's overwhelmed the mic's of the iPhone... but in either case, the sound of this recording just doesn't breathe like it does in my music room.

When listening in my music room to this piece, it literally takes your breath away... I mean it's like you forget to breath at points because the music is so commanding. At the end you want to yell out "Bravo". Sadly... the compression of the video it just doesn't come across quite the same. But, hopefully it might give you a little glimpse of what it can do with powerful piano music.

Again, it's beneficial to listen with a decent set of headphones. This was recorded with just the simple iPhone with no external mic's and handheld horizontally. I apologize for the motion of me holding it, for it losing focus and the occasional errant noises that I made. It's just a very amateurish attempt at making a video.

Best wishes,
Don

Sounds like a fabulous performance Don, thanks for sharing… who is the pianist and the recording info if I can… nice choice!

 

[MRubey]

Bespoke Audio Co. passive linestage.

 

[No Regrets]

Sounds like a fabulous performance Don, thanks for sharing… who is the pianist and the recording info if I can… nice choice!

Thank you so much!

The pianist is Igor Levit. The name of the album is "Life". It is on the Sony Classical label. This is just a redbook cd being played on my Jay's Audio dedicated cd transport into my Mojo Audio Mystique X-24AM R2R ladder dac, into my First Sound Presence Audio dual mono tubed line stage, and then into my custom roughly 12-15 watt EL-84 push/pull amplifier.

I truly appreciate your very kind words.

Best wishes,
Don

 

[PeterA]

Another nice video Don. You should post them on the violin and piano video threads.

The piano video has a different sound that the earlier Beethoven Concerto. There was a comment about the room reflections on the violin video, but I do not hear that on the piano video. Perhaps it is the hall ambiance in the violin. What do you notice in the room versus on the videos about the ambiance? Is it on the recordings or is it the sound of your room overlayed on the videos? To me, the two videos sound quite different. I would think that is a reflection of the quality of the system playing two different record recordings.

 

[the sound of Tao]

Thank you so much!

The pianist is Igor Levit. The name of the album is "Life". It is on the Sony Classical label. This is just a redbook cd being played on my Jay's Audio dedicated cd transport into my Mojo Audio Mystique X-24AM R2R ladder dac, into my First Sound Presence Audio dual mono tubed line stage, and then into my custom roughly 12-15 watt EL-84 push/pull amplifier.

I truly appreciate your very kind words.

Best wishes,
Don

Perfect! Another fan of Igor Levit here Don, great choice, when he’s in his zone he can be outstanding.

 

[ricjor1]

I've completed my HT system...Trinnov Amplitude 16, added four in-ceiling speakers for Atmos, and two more speakers for sides to complete my 7.4.4 HT system. I think I'm completely done now

 

[No Regrets]

Another nice video Don. You should post them on the violin and piano video threads.

The piano video has a different sound that the earlier Beethoven Concerto. There was a comment about the room reflections on the violin video, but I do not hear that on the piano video. Perhaps it is the hall ambiance in the violin. What do you notice in the room versus on the videos about the ambiance? Is it on the recordings or is it the sound of your room overlayed on the videos? To me, the two videos sound quite different. I would think that is a reflection of the quality of the system playing two different record recordings.

Thank you Peter,

I truly believe what you are hearing is in the recording and not my listening room overlaying the recording.

The alnico drivers have a reputation for having a very nice and noticeable attack and amazing trailing decay of the notes - which helps in the believability (or what some refer to the naturalness) of the instruments being played; and they really excel in capturing the performance hall acoustics within the recording as well.

There is something magical about these Alnico drivers in how they convey the music. I find it to be truly captivating.

I would very humbly agree with you that the system is simply reflecting the difference in sound of two different recordings.

I appreciate your comments very much!

Best wishes,
Don

 

[bonzo75]

Another nice video Don. You should post them on the violin and piano video threads.

The piano video has a different sound that the earlier Beethoven Concerto. There was a comment about the room reflections on the violin video, but I do not hear that on the piano video.

The Lola Beethoven concerto is live and Al might be hearing the venue information and thinking it is room resonance. That said some room resonance is always there on all videos.

 

[Al M.]

Nice piano sound on your videos, Don!

 

[Holmz]

We are all born with one and then we choose the approach we want to follow in this hobby.

I one on each side of my head

…
I have 3 tape recorders: A fully overhauled and improved Studer A80 RC MKII, a Nagra IVS with a QGB module and an Analog Audio Design TP1000. Tapes are important to me. I have about more than 350 tapes and my library is still growing.

Would you be so kind and as to provide more of a subjective etc description between those 3?
Or should I send a PM?