Genesis 10th Anniversary Show: International CES 2013

[vinylphilemag]

I'm surprised with all that snow you guys were even allowed to take off. Glad to to hear you and everyone else is ok and nothing serious happened.

The runway was kept clear by ploughing, but they did close the airport for an hour or two shortly after we were due to take off. If we hadn't have slid, I think we would've been the last flight out for a couple of hours. Once the snow stopped they cleared the runway pretty quickly and flights were coming and going once again.

 

[NorthStar]

Yep! Not only was I on THAT plane, but I'm the guy at the end of the video in this interview:

http://www.chbcnews.ca/westjet+plane+slides+off+taxiway+in+kelowna/6442783418/story.html



I think CTV also ran the story and featured me in an interview...

Wow, you're a TV star now!

 

[vinylphilemag]

Wow, you're a TV star now!

Yeah, but I'll try not to let it go to my head.

On a totally unrelated note, I am selling autographs for the bargain price of $10,000 each (gotta fund new audio toys!).

 

[NorthStar]

-- There was also a cute girl on that plane; did you talk to her?

* Perhaps she'd love to see Gary's setup at the International CES 2013 Show.

 

[garylkoh]

Gary ,

Remember its difficult setting up TT's @shows , some usually give up and have static displays ....

Beautiful setup , congrats and good luck ....

Yes, it is difficult to properly set up a TT, but with Touraj and me both in attendance, plus Nishikawa-san IMHO the table's well set-up. Both arms are optimized as much as we can have the arms optimized.

 

[A.wayne]

-- There was also a cute girl on that plane; did you talk to her?

* Perhaps she'd love to see Gary's setup at the International CES 2013 Show.

Damn , tricked into watching the video ....

 

[ca1ore]

Those model 2 jr speakers really look fabulous. I always had it in my mind that I preferred the older rosewood finish, but those really are striking. Are they essentially a modernization of the 350SE, or much more? Kinda sad I didn't make the trip to Vegas this week.

 

[vinylphilemag]

-- There was also a cute girl on that plane; did you talk to her?

* Perhaps she'd love to see Gary's setup at the International CES 2013 Show.

A gentleman never tells! Besides, what happens on the plane to Vegas, stays on the plane to Vegas.

 

[garylkoh]

Wow! What a set up! Just by seeing it, I could almost hear perfect music from those beauties.

We are trying to bring the system to KL end-Feb. Nishikawa-san will visit to help set up turntable, and I will visit to help set-up speakers. Just have to convince Han

 

[Thf99]

We are trying to bring the system to KL end-Feb. Nishikawa-san will visit to help set up turntable, and I will visit to help set-up speakers. Just have to convince Han

Excellent, Gary. Looking forward to that date. I know Han will be bringing in the Air Force One.

 

[garylkoh]

What's extremely interesting about the system (as I was explaining and demo-ing today) is that it plays exactly what's on the LP. I was playing the Ballet Music of the Opera, and someone was commenting that the trumpets on the Aida march was a bit hard and harsh.



Well, the thing is - the trumpets are hard and harsh. But not because the speakers are distorting or anything like that. This is something that my sister Carolyn and I know very well, but not a single person in the audience was aware of.

You see, when Verdi composed Aida, concert pitch referenced A=432Hz. In 1936, the American Standards Association recommended that A=440Hz. So, by the time this album was recorded in the late 50's even the International Standards Organization followed the ASA standards.

The Air Force One allows me to flatten the pitch by reducing the speed - the above album played at 32.7rpm (1.6% slow)..... well, you'll have to hear it for yourself When I played the same track again at a concert pitch that the composer would have used - well, let's just say that everybody in the audience MUCH preferred it.

 

[garylkoh]

Those model 2 jr speakers really look fabulous. I always had it in my mind that I preferred the older rosewood finish, but those really are striking. Are they essentially a modernization of the 350SE, or much more? Kinda sad I didn't make the trip to Vegas this week.

They are an evolution of the G350SE's - I changed the cabinets, drivers, crossovers, servo system - and even gave them a suspension system.

 

[MylesBAstor]

Gary ,

Remember its difficult setting up TT's @shows , some usually give up and have static displays ....

Beautiful setup , congrats and good luck ....

You keep repeating this....Garbage. Highly exaggerated.

It's not that hard to set up a cartridge provided it has relatively straight sides and a see-able cantilever eg. not like the Ikedas of yore with rounded bodies and no cantilever. The hardest part is getting the correct tracking angle and you can get 90% of the way there in an reasonable time. I had Bill Demarr and Rich over a while back and I set up the new Ikeda in 20 mins. Not all the way there but damn close. And that was in the VPI arm.

Or, have you ever played with the Graham arm? With Bob's jig, you can align any cartridge in his arm in literally five mins.

Or have you played with any of the linear tracking arms? Again, the hardest part is just getting the tracking angle and with a scope or less, it's a breeze.

I am curious though when the last time was you set up a cartridge?

 

[A.wayne]

Gary,

Where do you dig up such details , LOL, your attention to detail and tenacity is impressive and motivating.......

Regards,

What's extremely interesting about the system (as I was explaining and demo-ing today) is that it plays exactly what's on the LP. I was playing the Ballet Music of the Opera, and someone was commenting that the trumpets on the Aida march was a bit hard and harsh.

View attachment 7519

Well, the thing is - the trumpets are hard and harsh. But not because the speakers are distorting or anything like that. This is something that my sister Carolyn and I know very well, but not a single person in the audience was aware of.

You see, when Verdi composed Aida, concert pitch referenced A=432Hz. In 1936, the American Standards Association recommended that A=440Hz. So, by the time this album was recorded in the late 50's even the International Standards Organization followed the ASA standards.

The Air Force One allows me to flatten the pitch by reducing the speed - the above album played at 32.7rpm (1.6% slow)..... well, you'll have to hear it for yourself When I played the same track again at a concert pitch that the composer would have used - well, let's just say that everybody in the audience MUCH preferred it.

 

[garylkoh]

Thanks, Myles.

With all his alignment tools that are supplied with the arm, the Graham took me all of 20 mins to set-up and dial in. I confirmed accuracy of SRA and azimuth with a USB Microscope. Then I re-confirmed with the HiFi News test LP and the Analog Productions test LP. And finally with music - inner tracks as well as outer tracks. Total time - about an hour. I think that I've optimized the arm as well as I could have any other arm.

 

[garylkoh]

Gary,

Where do you dig up such details , LOL, your attention to detail and tenacity is impressive and motivating.......

Regards,

My sister Carolyn sings with orchestras and that is always a decision that the concertmaster has to consciously make. I love music, and while I don't have perfect pitch like my sister does, I notice things like this.

 

[rbbert]

1.6% is a large difference; as you commented, it's something most listeners will notice.

 

[A.wayne]

My sister Carolyn sings with orchestras and that is always a decision that the concertmaster has to consciously make. I love music, and while I don't have perfect pitch like my sister does, I notice things like this.

Try a tight elastic band, i heard it helps pitch ...

 

[DonH50]

Only if you need to raise it...

Changing the tuning pitch of our orchestra can be a challenge. We learn what the pitches are and if things are changed it can be much harder for everyone to stay in tune. Now and then we'll do "special" gigs, like when we played with bagpipes and had to tune everything a little high. You wouldn't think it would matter as it's all relative, but when I see a "C" and hear the pitch in my mind, then have to play a little off, it drives me crazy.

It's a short drive...

Back on topic: What sort of suspension system, Gary?

 

[NorthStar]

What's extremely interesting about the system (as I was explaining and demo-ing today) is that it plays exactly what's on the LP. I was playing the Ballet Music of the Opera, and someone was commenting that the trumpets on the Aida march was a bit hard and harsh.

View attachment 7519

Well, the thing is - the trumpets are hard and harsh. But not because the speakers are distorting or anything like that. This is something that my sister Carolyn and I know very well, but not a single person in the audience was aware of.

You see, when Verdi composed Aida, concert pitch referenced A=432Hz. In 1936, the American Standards Association recommended that A=440Hz. So, by the time this album was recorded in the late 50's even the International Standards Organization followed the ASA standards.

The Air Force One allows me to flatten the pitch by reducing the speed - the above album played at 32.7rpm (1.6% slow)..... well, you'll have to hear it for yourself When I played the same track again at a concert pitch that the composer would have used - well, let's just say that everybody in the audience MUCH preferred it.

Wow, that is quite an interesting revelation Gary.