Keith is younger than many here and seems impressively open minded. I enjoy reading along.
KeithR's "Dream Speaker" Search
- Thread starter KeithR
- Start date
Keith is younger than many here and seems impressively open minded. I enjoy reading along.
Never said I minded, Peter. Just didn’t realize he was still eyeing other speakers seriously. Of course we are all eyeing something out there in audio land…
I agree Brad. But I suspect a lot of the searching and auditioning is more about personal curiosity and learning than it is about replacing what one has. That is, until it isn’t.
Indeed seems like a lifetime since Keith's pilgrimage started --the journey makes for keen anticipation and involving reading--long may it reign!
Like any sojourn to ways forward -one must learn to avoid the "potholes" in the roadway--seems so far so good--Kudos!
I'd like to have seen a Field Coil ( my personal faves!) in the Mix--ah well sometime maybe !
Good Listening,
BruceD
Like any sojourn to ways forward -one must learn to avoid the "potholes" in the roadway--seems so far so good--Kudos!
I'd like to have seen a Field Coil ( my personal faves!) in the Mix--ah well sometime maybe !
Good Listening,
BruceD
That’s right - people enjoy reading my opinions as we approach 4,000 posts. I’m not actively searching for a new loudspeaker but never will say never.
Some amp musings as the Essence has been here for a few weeks. It’s definitely not a dark Class A amp. In fact, tonally it sounds pretty neutral to me. Gryphon builds up from the bass compared with other amps that could be midrange outward. It really hits hard - seriously hard - with dynamic sound. Sometimes can be overwhelming on the 96db Fynes. The amp has tremendous presence, is deep and like I said before is just a big sound. It also has the resolution matching the Nagra Classic, and does the imaging stuff in spades. The weakness is that on Fyne it’s just too much at times- doesn’t have the organic flow of a Dartzeel but is tonally richer so it still wows you with the details but doesn’t feel optimized yet. You see the bits and pieces but not the painting if that makes sense. What’s strange is the class A creaminess is still there at times like on piano, but then the amp hits you on the head. Won’t say I get fatigued necessarily but can’t really relax for long sessions. So I think a tubed preamp is what this amp needs on Fyne to chill it out! I did try a Melody 6SN7 preamp but the combo was just overly done on the class a smooth/creaminess scale.
To that end, I’m figuring out that Fyne works more like horns matching amps. Tubes and smoother SS need apply. It could be a damping factor thing, don’t know.
To that end, I’m figuring out that Fyne works more like horns matching amps. Tubes and smoother SS need apply. It could be a damping factor thing, don’t know.
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To that end, and because the amps I’ve auditioned lately all seem to want a tube preamp, I’ve ordered a Nagra Classic Pre. Like MSB, this is a destination piece for my system and the time was right. The other good idea was the Vac Master but just didn’t want to step up to that price range. Both Nagra and Vac are tube rollable which I prefer. I also have a Nagra BPS phono that is a great value.
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A friend of mine has the Nagra Classic preamp. We tried it over here in my system. It's good. I can't say if it's great value because it's not cheap.
I still think you owe it to yourself to try some high powered SETs or something unique like the Aries Cerat Essentias or if space is an issue the Aperio.
Nothing is "cheap" these days. Does he like a particular tube combination or just the stock EHs?
Aries Cerat in this country is like one guy out of Texas. Not easy to hear although I'll check in at Axpona.
I preferred the SIT3 on the Fynes….but you all know what I think about that amp.
There is a guy in the Pasadena area who has Aries Cerat Essentia and Ageto. I could provide his information if so desired.
Hey everyone, Axpona was the best show in a decade hands down! It's a convention, not a hifi show and a mini Munich. The facilities are great, there were 200 rooms + a zillion other audio and live music things to do. Multiple bars, a decent restaurant, and bathrooms on every floor (great idea) made for a well-oiled machine.
In many ways, it was old school vs new school as well- one day I was hanging with my friend Jay from YouTube, seeing him and OCD Mikey take celeb type photos with followers. On another one, Mikey Fremer was playing a lacquer in the Clarisys Audio room (by my dealer and friend Mike Bovaird) that was an intimate wonderful experience.
Can't tell you how many reviewers, audio industry folks just chatted me up in a room after a song. How many times I got to chat for a few minutes with a designer or importer. So much fun - impossible to see everything and in fact I missed 3-4 *entire floors*. That's a convention, folks.
Finally, ANALOG EVERYWHERE! Usually shows are more digital these days but I would say 75% of the rooms were playing records. Whether this was because of the wifi quality I'm not sure but when in doubt, a record usually sounds better in these environments.
With RMAF gone and the rest of shows as more local, smaller affairs - this is what a big US hifi convention is about! Bravo. Anyways, on to the speakers of Axpona!
In many ways, it was old school vs new school as well- one day I was hanging with my friend Jay from YouTube, seeing him and OCD Mikey take celeb type photos with followers. On another one, Mikey Fremer was playing a lacquer in the Clarisys Audio room (by my dealer and friend Mike Bovaird) that was an intimate wonderful experience.
Can't tell you how many reviewers, audio industry folks just chatted me up in a room after a song. How many times I got to chat for a few minutes with a designer or importer. So much fun - impossible to see everything and in fact I missed 3-4 *entire floors*. That's a convention, folks.
Finally, ANALOG EVERYWHERE! Usually shows are more digital these days but I would say 75% of the rooms were playing records. Whether this was because of the wifi quality I'm not sure but when in doubt, a record usually sounds better in these environments.
With RMAF gone and the rest of shows as more local, smaller affairs - this is what a big US hifi convention is about! Bravo. Anyways, on to the speakers of Axpona!
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Well before we begin, these are totally awesome and will get younger audiophiles started - $5k in 10 colors. So cool!
Sonus Faber Aida-
I was anxious to hear the big ones due to my excellent classical demo of the Il Cremonese last year. The Aidas are gorgeous, unimposing, and had a nice room. TOTL Boulder 3k preamp/amp, dCS, and a Clearaudio Statement TT (!!).
Spent a half hour in this room, with the full sweet spot, and just thought the music was dry as the desert. Both on digital and analog. It did all of the hifi things well- soundstage, imaging, bass- but wasn't my cup of tea. I will give credit to the large, distinct image in the room that gave some of that "you are there" mystique.
I was anxious to hear the big ones due to my excellent classical demo of the Il Cremonese last year. The Aidas are gorgeous, unimposing, and had a nice room. TOTL Boulder 3k preamp/amp, dCS, and a Clearaudio Statement TT (!!).
Spent a half hour in this room, with the full sweet spot, and just thought the music was dry as the desert. Both on digital and analog. It did all of the hifi things well- soundstage, imaging, bass- but wasn't my cup of tea. I will give credit to the large, distinct image in the room that gave some of that "you are there" mystique.
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Hey MadFloyd,
Long time no speak. Hope the system is continuing to sound fantastic. What did you hear with the XVX? I am curious as I have also heard them. My gut tells me extremely good speakers, but it was not a room I knew well, and I would like to hear them in a bigger room.
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