American Sound AS-2000 Installations- Far East (Tango)

[Tango]

Listening to the Optium this morning..right now. I am trying to describe how it presents sound to you guys. One thing came up in my mind. If you ever watched the movie Minority Report with Tom Cruise as leading actor, when crime protection unit projected crime scene of the future, all things happening there were presented clearly in detail as what was happening. But the picture of the crime scene were detached from the environment of the people who were monitoring. It is like you here and they are there. It is like someone put a spell on you and you get emotional watching (listening) to it. The sound is so very very coherent. Weird. You realize the disconnection but yet you could feel emotionally involved. The air there is different from your room. This is how the Optimum feels like in my room. The Opus and Master Sig on the other hand are very energetic, vivid, fast, sharp imaging. And the air of the musical scene is the same clear air as in my room. There is this seethrough clarity that sound of instruments just pop in the room. There is much less disconnection of the musical scene and you. I turn my back toward the speakers while listening (this is my way of testing the "musical reach" or emotional connection when I tune the sound of my carts) and I could get emotionally moved by the music equally with the Optimum, Opus and Master Sig. Again, weird. The words I wrote seem contradict. I just dont know how to explain any better.

Kind regards,
Tang

 

[Lagonda]

And you explain it very well. Watch out Fremer ! I prefer your descriptions these days, bravo Tang !

 

[bonzo75]

In minority report Tom cruise is not using his own eyes*. Hope you are using your own ears.

* He has them replaced to avoid detection for those who haven't seen the movie

 

[Tango]

In minority report Tom cruise is not using his own eyes*. Hope you are using your own ears.

* He has them replaced to avoid detection for those who haven't seen the movie

If my ears were to be replaced, I surely hope they were not yours .

Tang

 

[spiritofmusic]

Tang, it's the brain they're connected to that matters.

Put it this way, I wouldn't want to be the neurosurgeon opening up Ked's skull, or even worse, the psychiatrist going in deep.

 

[Tango]

I own a dozen cartridges. I bought all my cartridges from dealer or distributor of the brand. Majority of cartridges I bought were from dealer/ distributor in Thailand. Only three were from dealer/distributor in foreign countries because they were not available in Thailand. Thailand has an import tax of 10% with 7% vat on top. I bought 2 Opus1 on different occasions from an official dealer in Thailand at $9,000 both times. I sent one of them for refurbishment at $4,000.
No black market. Most of us in this forum are buyers. Many are sellers. Info should come from both sides imo.

Sincerely,
Tang

 

[Tango]

Just organized my things. For anyone thinking of having four arms, i advise getting a table with no less than 80cm wide.



Tang

 

[christoph]

Just organized my things. For anyone thinking of having four arms, i advise getting a table with no less than 80cm wide.

View attachment 46475

Tang

Wow, your altar looks almost like an operating table
"Nurse, scalpel... swab..."

 

[bonzo75]

Wow, your altar looks almost like an operating table
"Nurse, scalpel... swab..."

No nurse, she might break the zyx again

 

[christoph]

No nurse, she might break the zyx again

The nurse does only assist, NOT operate

 

[Catcher10]

Outstanding tables...simply wonderful thread!

 

[Tango]

I have been listening to Ayon Vulcan amps first edition since start of New Year. My dealer sent them for backups. My left side Ayon Titan Evo mono was sent for a repair. This Vulcan is a lower model than Titan in Ayon line.

It sounds terrific! In fact better than my Titan..maybe because my Titan has been broken I dont know. Have to try them again later. The only area that the Titan is better but I dont really care much is the sound stage width. Instruments from the Vulcan are a bit more closely pack together. I like the Vulcan more because of tone density, energy surge and even more sense of presence. If anyone interested in Ayon amps and don't require so much wattage. I recommend trying the mid of the range model Crossfire and go up to only Vulcan. It should give outstanding price performance and the sound you can be very happy with.

My point of writing is some time you don't need the top of the line equipment to really compliment your system. (I am saying this but I still keep buying TOL anyway.. what a hypocrite..hehe) You can save a lot of money the more you try. (Of course I am not talking about my behavior. I bought many things out of blind faith because they itched me. ) The Bonzo way actually takes a lot of risk out of your purchases but it takes forever to have a system. If I start all over again, I am sure I can use much less money than I did and get just as outstanding sound. This would not be possible if I did not join this forum and met a few trustworthy individuals that can give me reliable datapoints and recommendations.

Tang

 

[bonzo75]

Except on racks. Don't forget you would have still have needed max budget available for racks to get peace of mind.

 

[Tango]

Except on racks. Don't forget you would have still have needed max budget available for racks to get peace of mind.

Yeah. The "Nothing" (but more money spending) rack.

Tang

 

[gian60]

In 1986/87 I had Jadis 200 and I liked a lot
As soon arrived Jadis 500 in shop I saw them and became crazy for his look and power and I bought
At the end I never liked because sound was too slow and dark and full in midbass
Then I changed with ML 20
So after 30 years everyone wrong sometimes
This is Hifi

 

[Tango]

In 1986/87 I had Jadis 200 and I liked a lot
As soon arrived Jadis 500 in shop I saw them and became crazy for his look and power and I bought
At the end I never liked because sound was too slow and dark and full in midbass
Then I changed with ML 20
So after 30 years everyone wrong sometimes
This is Hifi

The wrongs get us where we are Gian. And it is a pretty good place to be. (Too many wrongs for me though.)

Tang

 

[Tango]

Today I revisit tapes. I haven't listened to tape for quite a while. I sent my Studer for a maintenance. So Woody whom I bought my Studer from sent me a loaner, a ATR 102. I like this machine. It spins the reel so damn fast, much faster than the Studer.



The same time today, I received my Kuro DIN phono (back from repair). I was waiting for this cable to come back so that I could use my SAEC 506 arm which has DIN. I put the AtlasSL on the SAEC almost two months ago but could not play because signals were coming out only left channel of my Kuro DIN. Anyway, what I want to say is the sound I get from ATR and the sound I get from my vinyl front is only different by a matter of preference. Tape doesnt beat vinyl (good vinyl) in my system. No bs.



Btw, Bonzo and Gian, you guys are right the AtlasSL sounds the best I have heard on this SAEC. I am not saying this lightly. I compared it to the ATR.

Kind regards,
Tang

 

[Tango]

The Kuro Silvergold is so stiff and heavy. Sound excellent but not practical. Maybe this is one of the reason DaveC doesn't use as thick solid core in his cables.

Cable support is needed.




My most expensive cable support.



Tang

 

[Lagonda]

The Kuro Silvergold is so stiff and heavy. Sound excellent but not practical. Maybe this is one of the reason DaveC doesn't use as thick solid core in his cables.

Cable support is needed.

View attachment 47786
View attachment 47787

My most expensive cable support.

View attachment 47785

Tang

Is that the arm board for your SAT arm ? As cable support?

 

[Tango]

Is that the arm board for your SAT arm ? As cable support?

No. That one ddk made for the SAEC but the spec was a little off so couldnt use.

Tang