About two weeks ago I had to be in NYC for a few days for business. I realized that I had time at night so I thought I might arrange a visit to an audio store I've been wanting to visit and hear CH Precision gear. I dropped Gideon Schwartz an email and asked if I could arrange a visit to AudioArts at night after work. I explained that I've always wanted to listen to the CH Precision gear and I pointed him to my WBF page describing my system in the Wilson Forum. Gideon responded and said he would gladly have me for a listening session. He pointed me to an article that had just appeared in the Absolute Sound profiling AudioArts. We both had some background on each other.
Before I try to explain what I experienced that night, let me start by saying thank you to Gideon. The AudioArts showroom is absolutely beautiful and he was the perfect host. I was there alone and we spent nearly four hours together listening to music and discussing music and high-end audio. Wonderful night.
As I said I was eager to hear CH Precision. I had read the review in Absolute Sound awhile ago. Gideon had the CH Precision D1 transport, C1 DAC, FM Acoustics 255R pre-amp, and FM Acoustics 711 amp playing through Zellaton Stage speakers. He also had a Sperling turntable connected to the system playing through an FM Acoustics phono pre-amp. Gideon said we were going to listen to a variety of sources: turntable, SACD/CD discs in D1, network streamed and USB audio through the ethernet and USB boards respectively in the C1.
I'll start with my impressions of the analog turntable chain. We listened to a number of tracks that night but two really were memorable. We listened to a cut from the Coltrane - Johnny Hartman album. The three dimensional characteristic of the sound, placement of voice and instruments was some of the best I've heard. Smooth as silk at the top end and good bass. The dynamic contrasts were some of the best I've heard. We also listened to a recording of a Japanese pianist (I think, can't remember her name) playing Beethoven's "Appassionata" piano Sonata. The dynamics of the piano were the best I've ever heard. The piano was beautiful sounding. I've long heard of FM Acoustics but this was the first time I've ever heard their equipment. Outstanding.
As we shifted to digital source and the CH Precision front-end D1/C1 we started by inserting an SACD in the D1. Gideon is a big fan of SACD and so am I. I probably own 150+. The detail, space, relaxed nature of the sound made an instant impression on me. The highlight of the night for me came when we played Beatles, White Album, "Julia", stereo remaster, streamed from the network. I've listened to this track hundreds of times through the years. It's stunning in beauty and simplicity, a song about John's Mom. Never, repeat never, have I heard the message of this song and its passion so clearly. John holds the "s" at the end of the lyric "half of what I say is meaningless". It sounds as a whisper into the mic as the "s" decays. No sibilance at all! The guitar placed perfectly in space and the tone! Fool you "real" moment from a "redbook" CD off the network. The Absolute Sound review of CH Precision called out the excellent performance of the ethernet streaming card and based on what I heard I concur. I also tried a few Tidal streams through USB fed from a MacBook Pro. I selected Tom Petty and Heartbreakers remake of "Green Onions" from the Live Anthology album. The "bite" of the organ and the tonal accuracy of Mike Campbell's electric guitar over Tidal caught my attention. Great stuff! Eva Cassidy singing "At Last" was just gorgeous as was Linda Ronstadt's "Dedicated to the One I Love". The three methods of playback in the digital chain seemed to be more related to the quality of the recordings rather than one source outperforming another. That's how good the CH Precision C1 seems to be. Would love to hear a D1/C1 in my system some day.
CH Precision, FM Acoustics, Zellaton, were all firsts for me. I now better understand what speed means in audio. To me this speed characteristic comes across in the music as big dynamics and that cutting first edge of music. These products also project a very three dimensional image, something I like quite a bit. This was the first experience with CH Precision, FM Acoustics, and Zellaton. I likely will not forget this experience anytime soon. That good.
Before I try to explain what I experienced that night, let me start by saying thank you to Gideon. The AudioArts showroom is absolutely beautiful and he was the perfect host. I was there alone and we spent nearly four hours together listening to music and discussing music and high-end audio. Wonderful night.
As I said I was eager to hear CH Precision. I had read the review in Absolute Sound awhile ago. Gideon had the CH Precision D1 transport, C1 DAC, FM Acoustics 255R pre-amp, and FM Acoustics 711 amp playing through Zellaton Stage speakers. He also had a Sperling turntable connected to the system playing through an FM Acoustics phono pre-amp. Gideon said we were going to listen to a variety of sources: turntable, SACD/CD discs in D1, network streamed and USB audio through the ethernet and USB boards respectively in the C1.
I'll start with my impressions of the analog turntable chain. We listened to a number of tracks that night but two really were memorable. We listened to a cut from the Coltrane - Johnny Hartman album. The three dimensional characteristic of the sound, placement of voice and instruments was some of the best I've heard. Smooth as silk at the top end and good bass. The dynamic contrasts were some of the best I've heard. We also listened to a recording of a Japanese pianist (I think, can't remember her name) playing Beethoven's "Appassionata" piano Sonata. The dynamics of the piano were the best I've ever heard. The piano was beautiful sounding. I've long heard of FM Acoustics but this was the first time I've ever heard their equipment. Outstanding.
As we shifted to digital source and the CH Precision front-end D1/C1 we started by inserting an SACD in the D1. Gideon is a big fan of SACD and so am I. I probably own 150+. The detail, space, relaxed nature of the sound made an instant impression on me. The highlight of the night for me came when we played Beatles, White Album, "Julia", stereo remaster, streamed from the network. I've listened to this track hundreds of times through the years. It's stunning in beauty and simplicity, a song about John's Mom. Never, repeat never, have I heard the message of this song and its passion so clearly. John holds the "s" at the end of the lyric "half of what I say is meaningless". It sounds as a whisper into the mic as the "s" decays. No sibilance at all! The guitar placed perfectly in space and the tone! Fool you "real" moment from a "redbook" CD off the network. The Absolute Sound review of CH Precision called out the excellent performance of the ethernet streaming card and based on what I heard I concur. I also tried a few Tidal streams through USB fed from a MacBook Pro. I selected Tom Petty and Heartbreakers remake of "Green Onions" from the Live Anthology album. The "bite" of the organ and the tonal accuracy of Mike Campbell's electric guitar over Tidal caught my attention. Great stuff! Eva Cassidy singing "At Last" was just gorgeous as was Linda Ronstadt's "Dedicated to the One I Love". The three methods of playback in the digital chain seemed to be more related to the quality of the recordings rather than one source outperforming another. That's how good the CH Precision C1 seems to be. Would love to hear a D1/C1 in my system some day.
CH Precision, FM Acoustics, Zellaton, were all firsts for me. I now better understand what speed means in audio. To me this speed characteristic comes across in the music as big dynamics and that cutting first edge of music. These products also project a very three dimensional image, something I like quite a bit. This was the first experience with CH Precision, FM Acoustics, and Zellaton. I likely will not forget this experience anytime soon. That good.