expensive yes, but it's all about implementation and execution. Think the analog stage....the most important part for the ultimate sound of the dac, not the chips per se...
RMAF Best of Show? - $10K NOLA “KO” destroys most regardless of price
- Thread starter caesar
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expensive yes, but it's all about implementation and execution. Think the analog stage....the most important part for the ultimate sound of the dac, not the chips per se...
You can spin it any way you want..analog stage, digital section...this is a joke.
The SOTA recording studios use ADACs an DACS costing far, far, far, far less because they shop with their ears, not their eyes.
Ok. I’m fresh back from RMAF and I’m a little blown away from seeing Caesar’s post about the Nola speakers. When I came home today I was blabbing to my wife about the only thing that RMAF that gave me a serious case of “I want it.” I took damn few pieces of literature from the show because frankly, I didn’t want any of it. It all ends up in the trash over time and I’m tired of brining trash home. The ONLY piece of literature I brought home was the literature for the KO speakers. I was even dumb enough to show it to my wife thinking she might be even remotely interested.
So imagine my surprise when I fired up my computer and saw this thread. Caesar beat me to the punch in proclaiming how good these speakers are. I think they are phenomenal. Best sound of the show for me? No contest, it was Carl’s room. And maybe just maybe I should caveat that statement more than a little and say best sound at the show that is remotely affordable by men earning less than 7 figures a year. The MBL room sounded incredible with its incredibly priced gear. Last year at RMAF I didn’t give a damn for the sound they reproduced in their room with basically the same gear. This year was a different story.
But back to the Nola KO speakers…I think they are very special. I think I get the point that Caesar was trying to make about the way the Nola’s sound compared to the way the big Wilson’s sound. In all fairness to Wilson, cramming such a huge speaker into a tiny hotel room and expecting wonderful results is a little like wishing a 3-legged nag could win the Kentucky Derby. For me, it was too much speaker and not enough room. Carl actually had a much bigger room to display and play his gear in. Even though I’m fresh off of the ARC trail with not so fond memories of hearing my right bicep tendon snapping as the VS115 was falling off the Fed Ex scale, the sound the Nola KOs were making with the ARC Ref 5SE and REF 75 amp (and whatever ARC CD player Carl was using) was just incredible in my opinion. It sounded more like real music and less like real good hi-fi.
So Caesar, you and I are on the same KO wavelength. I love these speakers and I want a pair.
So imagine my surprise when I fired up my computer and saw this thread. Caesar beat me to the punch in proclaiming how good these speakers are. I think they are phenomenal. Best sound of the show for me? No contest, it was Carl’s room. And maybe just maybe I should caveat that statement more than a little and say best sound at the show that is remotely affordable by men earning less than 7 figures a year. The MBL room sounded incredible with its incredibly priced gear. Last year at RMAF I didn’t give a damn for the sound they reproduced in their room with basically the same gear. This year was a different story.
But back to the Nola KO speakers…I think they are very special. I think I get the point that Caesar was trying to make about the way the Nola’s sound compared to the way the big Wilson’s sound. In all fairness to Wilson, cramming such a huge speaker into a tiny hotel room and expecting wonderful results is a little like wishing a 3-legged nag could win the Kentucky Derby. For me, it was too much speaker and not enough room. Carl actually had a much bigger room to display and play his gear in. Even though I’m fresh off of the ARC trail with not so fond memories of hearing my right bicep tendon snapping as the VS115 was falling off the Fed Ex scale, the sound the Nola KOs were making with the ARC Ref 5SE and REF 75 amp (and whatever ARC CD player Carl was using) was just incredible in my opinion. It sounded more like real music and less like real good hi-fi.
So Caesar, you and I are on the same KO wavelength. I love these speakers and I want a pair.
Mep,
The CD player was an ARC CD8. My time to tell you tubes can sound very good!
I find curious that everyone seems to be missing another important aspect - the system used ODIN cables costing far more than the electronics. I have hosted these cables with my ARC gear and really regretted when they had to leave ... In appropriate systems they really make a difference in making a system sound less hi-fi. But do not ask me why!
The CD player was an ARC CD8. My time to tell you tubes can sound very good!
I find curious that everyone seems to be missing another important aspect - the system used ODIN cables costing far more than the electronics.
I have hosted these cables with my ARC gear and really regretted when they had to leave ... In appropriate systems they really make a difference in making a system sound less hi-fi. But do not ask me why!Mep, The CD player was an ARC CD8. My time to tell you tubes can sound very good!
Interesting...this is not the first time i have read speculation or comment that Odin was transformational in systems...I am not saying anything about the KOs...i was not even there. But I will say, the electronics here were excellent as i know Ref 5, CD8 and have heard the new Ref monos (not 75). And again Odin an interesting match up given the costs of the rest of the system.
With regards to the Odin cables, I’m not a fan of how they look. It almost looks like someone blew cotton candy all over your listening room. And all of the people who believe in cable lifts can’t use them either because Nordost cables are too unruly.
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Thanks steve , looks like you guys are trying to save bandwidth , what no pics ...
Wish I could have been at RMAF...maybe next year. Steve, I'm really looking forward to your pics. I hope you took some of the new SF's that you liked so much. Are these the new one's that are sourced from China?
Although there has been a lot of talk about how the new owners have supposedly cheapened the line and lost their way...I don't think that is the case at all. IMO, the new direction for SF and ARC and hopefully Mac as
well seems to be better than before.
Anyone happen to have an opinion as to which was the best sounding analog front end they heard at RMAF?
Although there has been a lot of talk about how the new owners have supposedly cheapened the line and lost their way...I don't think that is the case at all. IMO, the new direction for SF and ARC and hopefully Mac as
well seems to be better than before.
Anyone happen to have an opinion as to which was the best sounding analog front end they heard at RMAF?
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Thanks steve , looks like you guys are trying to save bandwidth , what no pics ...
Give me a break. I'm at the gate with my flight delayed an hour. I took over 300 photos. I will start color correcting them and posting in the next day or so and you'll be the first to know.
The Nagra room had 3 analog front ends and no digital source (AFAIK the only room without). Not saying it was the best, just sayin'
BTW, their music collection was awful, a real tragedy because their speakers were Zellatons, with the most amazing ability to "disappear" that I have ever experienced. Impossible to judge any other aspect of the speakers' performance with the music available to play, though (IMO).
Give me a break. I'm at the gate with my flight delayed an hour. I took over 300 photos. I will start color correcting them and posting in the next day or so and you'll be the first to know.
You are Chief Architect along with your fellow founders of a stunningly good forum...thanks for all the hard work, Dr. Oneobgyn. Look forward to the photos...but probably even more your description of your Top 5.
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Steve Williams
Site Founder, Site Owner, Administrator
Was anyone of the same opinion as me that the show seemed less attended than last year. As well I was somewhat underwhelmed by the whole show and I saw pretty much everything. There were certainly little glimmerings of an occasional good component and speaker but by and large it was pretty vanilla but that's just my take
Give me a break. I'm at the gate with my flight delayed an hour. I took over 300 photos. I will start color correcting them and posting in the next day or so and you'll be the first to know.
Steve, stop whining and get that iPad out and upload NOW!!!!!!!!!!!
All kidding aside, we look forward to your photos. Exhausting does not even begin to describe audio shows these days.
Not being there, but having been at CES and Newport, I would guess you are probably right. There really is not much new going on. Manufacturers are trying REAL hard to
spin the same old same old as some new flavor.
Seriously
What part don't you get?? Those cables are super wide (and flat) and they just lay all over the place because they want to. I don't think there is much you can do to make them lay neat. Did you see them in Carl's room?
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