Genesis 10th Anniversary Show: International CES 2013

[garylkoh]

Viola Labs seem to be much better known in Asia than in the US - even though the company has a long history at home. Even though Viola was founded in 2001, I didn't encounter the brand until a couple of years ago when a friend and customer invited me to his home to listen to his Genesis 5.3 loudspeakers. His speakers were nearly dwarfed by what I thought was a pair of monoblocks sitting between them - and they weren't monoblocks - it was a massive amplifier sitting on top of an equally massive power supply.

Cool! I thought - separate power supplies just like how I designed my own amplifiers. The more I listened, the more impressed I was. Sonic neutrality without being sterile. Clean and dynamic, and yet extremely emotional and supremely musical. When I found out that the amps cost more than twice what the speakers cost, I thought that they were a bit of an over-kill.

Fast foward, two years and my new distributor in Hong Kong was showing the same amps. This time, it was with the Genesis Dragons. With the Dragons, I was even more impressed by the Viola Bravo's. A bit of begging later, I have just heard word that a Bravo and the matching preamp, the Crecendo, are being sent to me for CES to show with the G2jr. Happy 12/12/12



The Bravo was the last amplifier designed by the great Tom Colangelo (the designer behind Cello). At 350W into 8 ohms, and 700W into the 4ohm load of the G2jr (plus the 2 x 500W amps built into the speaker) we have ample power to knock the socks of everyone. However, the best thing about the Bravo is that it also displays every musical nuance and subtle tonal hue needed for the playback of live music.

I'll be bringing suitable Shaded Dogs, deep groove Blue Notes, Columbia Six-eyes, and modern pressings to show the system off. Israeli psy-trance anyone?

 

[garylkoh]

As per my usual practice, I set up the entire show system in the factory to run-in and make sure that there are no surprises when I'm in Las Vegas. Every last cable, tweak, spike and screw is accounted for and listed in my "show list". This afternoon, the turntable arrived just after 3pm, and by 4pm I was spinning music on it.

The TechDAS Air Force ONE must have been one of the most painless high-end turntables I've ever set-up. Everything's so logical that I didn't even get to opening the envelop that contained the Owner's Manual.

 

[Gregadd]

I think I missed it . Where is the cartridge description?

 

[NorthStar]

View attachment 7100

She looks real solid Gary.

 

[garylkoh]

I think I missed it . Where is the cartridge description?

Unfortunately, the tone arm is not done yet. It will be brought to the show, so I've set it up with what I had - the Roksan Artemiz and Micro-Magic Virus.

For the show, it will be a Vertere Reference Tonearm and a modified Magic Diamond like the one I posted here:
http://www.whatsbestforum.com/showt...s-Everyone-Using&p=89904&viewfull=1#post89904

However, I had another one done with more mods - including a stylus with a different profile.

 

[garylkoh]

She looks real solid Gary.

She is!! Shipping weight was 121kg (266 lbs).

 

[NorthStar]

She is!! Shipping weight was 121kg (266 lbs).

Wow, hard to judge from the picture alone. ...She's just a bit more heavier than me.

 

[Gregadd]

You've definitely raised the bar. Well you do closed demo's a la Wilson Audio or just walk through traffic?

 

[garylkoh]

You've definitely raised the bar. Well you do closed demo's a la Wilson Audio or just walk through traffic?

I don't like to do closed demo's as it can seem to be exclusionary. So, I tend to conduct demos that walk through traffic can come in at any time.

I'll be posting the albums we'll be playing on this thread......

 

[JackD201]

Viola Labs seem to be much better known in Asia than in the US - even though the company has a long history at home. Even though Viola was founded in 2001, I didn't encounter the brand until a couple of years ago when a friend and customer invited me to his home to listen to his Genesis 5.3 loudspeakers. His speakers were nearly dwarfed by what I thought was a pair of monoblocks sitting between them - and they weren't monoblocks - it was a massive amplifier sitting on top of an equally massive power supply.

Cool! I thought - separate power supplies just like how I designed my own amplifiers. The more I listened, the more impressed I was. Sonic neutrality without being sterile. Clean and dynamic, and yet extremely emotional and supremely musical. When I found out that the amps cost more than twice what the speakers cost, I thought that they were a bit of an over-kill.

Fast foward, two years and my new distributor in Hong Kong was showing the same amps. This time, it was with the Genesis Dragons. With the Dragons, I was even more impressed by the Viola Bravo's. A bit of begging later, I have just heard word that a Bravo and the matching preamp, the Crecendo, are being sent to me for CES to show with the G2jr. Happy 12/12/12

View attachment 7009

The Bravo was the last amplifier designed by the great Tom Colangelo (the designer behind Cello). At 350W into 8 ohms, and 700W into the 4ohm load of the G2jr (plus the 2 x 500W amps built into the speaker) we have ample power to knock the socks of everyone. However, the best thing about the Bravo is that it also displays every musical nuance and subtle tonal hue needed for the playback of live music.

I'll be bringing suitable Shaded Dogs, deep groove Blue Notes, Columbia Six-eyes, and modern pressings to show the system off. Israeli psy-trance anyone?

I saw these amps in Singapore. They are very big amps!

 

[Gregadd]

http://www.amazon.com/gp/offer-listing/B005X5MXVQ/ref=dp_olp_0?ie=UTF8&condition=allhttp://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?9042-Billie-Holiday-Songs-for-Distingue-Lovers

 

[garylkoh]

The loudspeakers, amplifiers and turntables we bring to Las Vegas would be useless if we didn't have great music to play.

As part of the preparation for CES, we not only spend a lot of time meticulously building and tweaking the demo system, we also spend a lot of time selecting the music to play. Over the past couple of weeks, most of my time has been spent listening to music - to find the albums and the tracks to play that would not only show off the system to its best, but also be great music just for enjoying - music that captures the heart and soul and makes the body move.

My favorite genre of music is the big band jazz orchestra - it's got it all, the swing, explosive dynamics, massed brass, double bass. When it's fronted by an exponent like Count Basie, it is difficult for me not to stand up and groove.

Count Basie passed away in 1984, and one of his most popular albums among audiophiles (rightly) is 88 Basie Street recorded the year before he died. This won the Grammy award for Best Jazz Instrumental Performance, Big Band. Recorded at Ocean Way studios and engineered by the masterful Allen Sides, the sound quality is great as is the musical performance. There is a very contemporary feel to the album as Cleaveland Eaton plays all electric bass on this album.

However, I think that of Count Basie's final 3 albums, the better one (the one I prefer) is Me and You. Recorded just 3 months earlier than 88 Basie Street, Me and You is more explosively dynamic, has better bass, and a more swinging groove. On Me and You, the bassist Cleveland Eaton plays double bass, whereas on 88 Basie Street, he plays electric bass. With the appropriate system, I think that there is much more nuance and tone with double bass. Arranged by Ernie Wilkins, engineered by Dennis Sands, and recorded at Group IV Studios, it is over-shadowed by the award winning 88 Basie Street. IMHO, it is the better album both for music and sound.

For both 88 Basie Street and Me and You, the CDs both remastered by Joe Tarantino in 1987 are good, but the original Pablo vinyl are SPECTACULAR! You need a really good system to properly do justice to Side 1 Track 2 on Me and You. It starts off quietly, and you are tempted to turn the volume up and you do. Count Basie starts on the piano, then Cleveland Eaton joins him on double bass for quite a few bars..... then BAM!! The entire horn section comes in fff and you leap 6 inches in the air.

 

[jazdoc]

I don't like to do closed demo's as it can seem to be exclusionary. So, I tend to conduct demos that walk through traffic can come in at any time.

I'll be posting the albums we'll be playing on this thread......

Gary,

Thanks for posting demo tracks. I wish more manufacturers would do this on their websites/blogs. Hope the Show goes well.

 

[Johnny Vinyl]

Gary - I'm not sure how other product manufacturers gear up for events such as CES and the others, but your passion to get the equipment sounding its best by diligently selecting the music is something that you need to be complimented for. If more manufacturers did this perhaps it would spell the beginning of the end for the same old-same old selections being offered up.

 

[garylkoh]

Thanks, guys. Next year is our second decade in business, and I intend to shake up the industry. No more doing the same old-same old and expecting a different result.

 

[garylkoh]

Female Vocals

Susan Tedeshi's debut album earned her a Grammy nomination for Best New Artist in 2000, but she lost to Christina Aguilera. A shame I say, because I think that she's much better. Since then, she's had 5 Grammy nominations, and has won a Grammy for Best Blues Album this year. She is as much rock as she is blues, and she describes herself as "American Roots" - back to the days when Muddy Waters, Bob Dylan and Mahalia Jackson would play on the same bill.

She can belt out a song without losing control, has fabulous stage presence and can play the guitar like the best of them. This album, live at the Austin City Limits is the one we'll be bringing to Las Vegas with us and if anyone asks for "female vocals" this will be the album I'll be playing.

 

[garylkoh]

Classical/Orchestral

The ballet scene in grand operas of the nineteenth century is often performed in the second act, so that if the patrons arrived late (and they often do), they will miss some singing but none of the choreography. The popular ballet interludes are designed to provide some of the chic and atmosphere to the opera itself, and are often relaxing, exciting or motivating, but the music itself is accessible and enjoyable. So, even for non-classical music lovers and listeners, ballet music is often recognizable and appreciated. This is one of the albums I would play to introduce classical music to kids. The second movement on the first track - Aida has some of the most exciting trumpets recorded on classical.

Ballet Music from the Opera (LSC-2400) was conducted by Anatole Fistoulari, a specialist in the interpretation of ballet music. This is a wonderful recording re-issued on Classic Records. Even though some so-called "experts" have said that the Classic re-issue was mangled during re-mastering, I disagree. The original RCA shaded-dog is hard and harsh (at least the ones I've had). This one is bigger and more exciting and a little more mellow.

 

[Gregadd]

Gary your music choices are always impeccable. No small accomplishment because music is a matter of taste. I recommended Billie Holiday album because it it ls an exception her good music bad recording standard.

 

[garylkoh]

Gary your music choices are always impeccable. No small accomplishment because music is a matter of taste. I recommended Billie Holiday album because it it ls an exception her good music bad recording standard.

Thanks, Greg. Your recommendations have always been great. I love Billie Holiday, but haven't got a good recording, so I've already ordered the one you recommended on Amazon. I also ordered a 180gm pressing. eBay had an original Verve, and even a 45rpm. Any know which is the best (hot) pressing?

 

[Gregadd]

OT
I am working on a primer for each major genre of music. I did not put them together. but I am trying to post and listen to a sample of each album

Most interesting is Top 25 Country and Western.

If you can, make a video of your exhibit and share it with us.