This was more abrupt and complete than expected, Peter. Unaware how anyone could find a negative response to changes you and David have wrought. Even if the effect were less exceptional. Not just anyone can claim ownership a decommissioned museum piece sounding good as it looks.
This was more abrupt and complete than expected, Peter. Unaware how anyone could find a negative response to changes you and David have wrought. Even if the effect were less exceptional. Not just anyone can claim ownership a decommissioned museum piece sounding good as it looks.
You hit the nail on the head rando! Peter’s speakers are not only the extremely rare early British versions from late 50’s - early 60’s they’re also in mint condition. The cabinets are gorgeous the wood has beautiful color and sheen and all original. It took me close to 20 years to make them a pair and unlike late production Vitavox made for the Japapanese market this pair is truly museum quality. Of course the sound is also exceptional!
After years and years of evolution you’ve gone straight to the revolution Peter.
Bravo, a fittingly big move from a Bostonian guy. I’d been wondering how this was going to play out but hadn’t guessed at the corner horns but they do look like such a great fit.
An exciting way to start a new phase of living with fantastic horns and SET... wishing you many great years ahead of wonderful, natural sound and the beautiful music.
What a paradigm shift. I know what you mean about tone and the Lamm electronics especially in the bass.
So different than the Magico/Pass combination. I understand the allure of the Magico and Pass. However, where you are now is so much more to my tastes that I can just imagine what you are experiencing!
Congratulations!
(P.S. If you have the air pump for the Micro in the basement , ensure you have a filter dryer in-line. Basements- even if the seem dry - are not - and you will cause a lot of issues with the precision pump and bearings of the micro. Learned through experience.........)
very interesting journey to read. From Pass Labs to Lamm, SME 30 to MS 8000, and Magico to Vivavox.
congrats!
Lamm is my dream gear. I heard once the LL2 reference with Ml2, it was the most satisfying combo i could have heard in my life. Fast, resolved, fluent and so natural and right.
LL1 signature must be something.
This was more abrupt and complete than expected, Peter. Unaware how anyone could find a negative response to changes you and David have wrought. Even if the effect were less exceptional. Not just anyone can claim ownership a decommissioned museum piece sounding good as it looks.
Rando, I consider myself extremely lucky to be in a position to enjoy this system. It has been a rather educational couple of years and full of change. One of my vdH Colibris is on its way to the Netherlands to be adjusted for the new high efficiency system. I also plan to hear some moving magnet cartridges. It is an extremely exciting time in my listening room.
Thank you very much, Peter, for this beautifully written and chronicled journey. It is a very rare audiophile who after building, fine-tuning and enjoying for decades a certain type of system with consistent component topologies does not succumb to psychological inertia, unconsciously suppress cognitive dissonance, and inadvertently practice close-mindedness. I commend your openness to new ideas, your desire to learn, your dedication to research and experimentation, and your fluid willingness to re-examine long-held sonic and topological preferences. Your confidence in your own hearing, developed and honed by frequent exposure to, and enjoyment of, live, unamplified music, was essential to this process.
It is interesting how you write again and again of the realistic and natural tone produced by this new system. I think natural tone may be one of the hallmarks of vintage systems.
Congratulations on this new system! May it connect you emotionally to your favorite recordings for many years to come!
And congratulations to David for orange pilling Peter to the natural sound of vintage audio!
This new system thread is about a new vintage system based on the Micro Seiki SX 8000 II turntable, Lamm Industries electronics, particularly the ML2 SET mono amplifier, and the Vitavox CN-191 corner horn speakers.
And dont forget the natural sounding paper cones used in most horns .
A lot of modern speakers today have the perfect piston /non flexing /hard membranes philosophy .
A lot of them miss the natural dampning paper provides causing listening fatigue .
"I think natural tone may be one of the hallmarks of vintage systems."
- the best midbass, integration, speed, also is available in some of the oldest of horns. The drivers were very conducive to moving quickly with very low watt amps that made the immediacy of the system much more. Also in terms of details and transparency and highs it is difficult to beat some vintage drivers like TAD.