Natural Sound

Count me in... (pursuing what they consider to be "natural sound").
 
I had a discussion with my local distributor of record players (Nottingham etc. he also does Pathos and Unison...)
Anyway, i requested to listen to some stuff i have created (not to boast here) and asked him how he would describe what he had heard.

He said : I can not !

The point i want to make is that if you here something new for the first time it will be impossible to explain to others who you know had never heard anything similar.
 
The decision was based on the advice from a dealer I trust and respect. I wanted to stay with five boxes and he told me this was the higher value combination. I suppose we could’ve moved around a lot of boxes in Utah, but we we were busy doing other things.

Then perhaps we can hope that David will show and tell us about it. We are faced with two approaches - a top phono unit and a midline preamplfier unit or a midline phono and a top line preamplifier. For me, most of the time a digital listener, the later seems the preferred one, but for a vinyl listener I could expect the other one.
 
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I only watched Baywatch because of David Hasselhoff's great acting ! :rolleyes:
... in the video Hasselhoff’s acting skill could maybe be described as more hi-fi than natural :eek:
 
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I like big hooters all the time so I stick to Vdh. :)

@Peter I like the video of the new system more than the Magico video. A bit difficult to compare and could be misleading because I think the spl when you recorded the two were different. I think I will like your new system even more with the vdh. Detail is not always artificial but always less yawning.
 
Considering that your only source is vinyl, didn't you think about getting the Lamm LP1 signature phono and the L2.1 Reference line preamplifier for now?
The rack is being designed for five Lamm boxes. I considered the LP1 and the LL2 combination which is also five boxes but settled on this pairing.

Interesting that you bring this up, Francisco; I also wondered about the choice. As Peter intimates, space can be a factor.

At my place the L2.1 Ref preamp (2 box) and the LP1 Sig (3 box) that you mention are currently in use as review components, along with my M1.2 Ref monoblocks. These also are a sweetheart combination and would make for an interesting comparison to what Peter has. (Peter, I'm thinking maybe you meant above the L2.1 Ref; the LL2.1 ("it connected my heart and brain through my ear") is the entry 1 box preamp. Yes the names are confusing.) And I'm delighted to learn you find the LP2.1 the best phonostage you've had in your system - it truly is worthy of your comment.

Having the good fortune of seven rack spaces, I bring either the ARC Ref 10 or Ref Phono 10, both 2 box units, in and out Without giving too much away - though it is easily obvious - the ARC v Lamm comparo tells the tale of much of what we've been talking about in this thread and elsewhere.

Wrt Lamm front-end component names - for those following along but unfamiliar ... there is a unique Lamm logic to them and a few keys that might help memory... but yeah they can be confusing. If you're looking, count the boxes.

Lamm linestages are called 'preamps' although currently they offer no true preamp, ie. no linestage+phono/RIAA. Fwiw, Vladimir has talked about doing a true preamp in the past.

All linestage components start with L.
All phonostage units start with LP.

Top level models have the number 1 following an L or LP.
Their descriptor is 'Signature'.
All tube based control unit and power supply
Each channel has its own power supply box.
-- LL1.1 Signature (4 box)
-- LP1 Signature (3 box)

Second tier models have the number 2 following the L or LP.
Their descriptor is 'Reference'.
Hybrid ss control unit and tube regulated power supply
Their is no second tier phonostage, at least by name.
-- L2.1 Reference (2 box)

Third tier models have the number 2 following an L or LP.
Third tier models are 'Regular or Deluxe'.
All tube based.
-- LL2.1 Regular and Deluxe (1 box)
-- LP2.1 Regular and Deluxe (1 box)

I'm using 'level' or 'tier' as related to cost; sonics conform but use your own judgement.

Upgraded models include a decimal point.
Imo, it is best to include the descriptor - that makes it easier.

Peter, given a six slot rack with half of the top shelf for the turntable, I think you chose the right combination. (But it's all good. :) )
 
Hifi for me is the overwhelming power that many people like (especially in combination with surround sound, great for movies). But for me it is something i would like to stay away from as far as possible...

Natural sound also has "gradations" as we all know, at least the ones persuing it are done with the Hifi sound as a thing of the past.

Did i now actually say something new here? Guess not...
 
It depends on what you are referring as "Hifi sound". If it is anything that is not pure "Natural Sound " I would say most of the existing audiophiles. If you address just an unbalanced , exaggerated, mechanical or aggressive sound coming from a poorly set up system, just a few.

“Wanting to listen to” and actually hearing and owning are two different things. It is easy to want some ideal. It is difficult to find, hear, and own it.

Consider how many audiophiles continue to search. Being satisfied is enough until you hear something better. The reference is important.
 
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Reference is indeed important ! But it is also preference, consider this: You hear something you never heard before (not better or worse) you will always miss something, namely the comfort of the "known" .

Difficult to explain....
 
Hifi for me is the overwhelming power that many people like (especially in combination with surround sound, great for movies). But for me it is something i would like to stay away from as far as possible...

Natural sound also has "gradations" as we all know, at least the ones persuing it are done with the Hifi sound as a thing of the past.

Did i now actually say something new here? Guess not...

I used to search for more: blacker backgrounds, more precise pin point imaging, more extension, tighter, faster bass with more slam. More air, more crisp and sparkly highs.

I have come to realize that sometimes, less is more.
 
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Reference is indeed important ! But it is also preference, consider this: You hear something you never heard before (not better or worse) you will always miss something, namely the comfort of the "known" .

Difficult to explain....

I understand what you mean, but I did not miss the “comfort of the known” at all. It was very easy to switch. In this case, it was better, not just different as you say.

Different in my case was not enough to switch. It had to be clearly better.
 
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