Probably moving to Europe, how do I change my system?

[LarryK]

Dear Larry,

I would be happy to try to help you re-negotiate this provision of the move agreement.

Ha, I appreciate the offer, thanks.

Resolving this issue comes down to apartment layout, so, it’s an ongoing point of negotiation.

We are just going to have to see what apartments we find for sale and how they’re laid out.

Older apartments often have floor to ceiling windows that open in. This can help or hurt the cause. These apartments also often have closet doors everywhere, a Lyonnaise speciality, which can make it difficult to find the needed wall space.

Given that I have to place my stereo and my upright piano, I’m taking a lot of heat.

We’ve probably looked at a few hundred apartments online. We can make some of them work.

 

[Gunnar]

I have not read all posts but first let me say that Lyon is a nice place to live in. Congratulations.
We live about 4 hours drive north of Lyon.
I should not convert my stuff from 120 to 230 volt. I should sell and and by something new in France. One reason why I should not convert is that I know hardly anything of electricity and that everything used within EU must have the CE certificate. If something happens with not CE certificated stuff there could be insurance problems.Modified is not the original so …..
If I should convert it must be a European manufactured product and done by the manufacturer.
Gunnar

 

[LarryK]

I have not read all posts but first let me say that Lyon is a nice place to live in. Congratulations.
We live about 4 hours drive north of Lyon.
I should not convert my stuff from 120 to 230 volt. I should sell and and by something new in France. One reason why I should not convert is that I know hardly anything of electricity and that everything used within EU must have the CE certificate. If something happens with not CE certificated stuff there could be insurance problems.
If I should convert it must be a European manufactured product and done by the manufacturer.
Gunnar

Ha, that’s funny.

Lyon is an interesting city with Roman roots. It was the center of the silk trade in Europe.

It is a medium sized walkable city with relatively affordable apartments. Paris is much more expensive.

Go up a few posts. The conversion will be done by Gryphon.

 

[Gunnar]

Good, just have them putting the CE certificate on the unit.
Lyon is really nice. Interesting history … And a lot of good small restaurants plus less than 2 hours train to Paris, Marseille, Geneva and …. to Alsace. Strasbourg and Colmar are worth visits.

 

[ssfas]

Good, just have them putting the CE certificate on the unit.
Lyon is really nice. Interesting history … And a lot of good small restaurants plus less than 2 hours train to Paris, Marseille, Geneva and …. to Alsace. Strasbourg and Colmar are worth visits.

Colmar is even worth a stay, as long as you're not diabetic. Lots of wonderful bakeries, lots of cinnamon, and a very good restaurant called JY's. And a town centre that has hardly changed for 500 years, very Hansel & Gretel.

 

[Gunnar]

True, worth a stay. A lot of good restaurants. Not just JY. Have been eating and drinking there. Not bad at all ……

And villages as Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauville are also worth visiting / staying over a night. Beautiful original houses. Style yes Hans and Greta. Each one of these villages have several Michelin star restaurants.

 

[ssfas]

One cannot predict the future but it looks like a permanent move. My wife has family in Lyon.

Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. The food is another reason why we want to go.

Plus, they say that intensively learning another language late in life helps preserve cognitive skills, so, it will be French classes for me, for years.

Given the amount of money it will take to pack us, ship us, and buy an apartment, I don’t see getting away with an expensive reimagining of my system. Thanks for the thought, though.

I just want to hold on to what I’ve got. My system has brought me a lot of pleasure.

So, I wasn’t going to say anything about this until I made it happen but things have gotten a little heated so I feel I have to say something.

I wrote directly to Gryphon and they said they’d switch the voltages for me on the Colosseum and Pandora if I ship from France and return ship to France. That’s exactly what I will do.

I’m grateful that Gryphon will do this for me. They were very helpful in working with SoundSmith to repair my Colosseum on two occasions.

Moving countries is not easy. Knowing that I can bring across my system will help me face this move. Wish me luck.

I own a Gryphon amp and I can't imagine it in a period French apartment. Gryphon reminds me of the weather in the north of Denmark. It would be great to have money to burn and make exploratory hifi trips to Geneva, as far north as Breda (Kharma) and the Italian speaker people down the A1. Europe may be in a socio-political-economic nosedive, but there is still some jolly good hifi over here and if all else fails you can eat and drink yourself to death, which would be my preferred option. you don't have to go to Denmark for caille en sarcophage (that's a reference for film buffs).

 

[ssfas]

True, worth a stay. A lot of good restaurants. Not just JY. Have been eating and drinking there. Not bad at all ……

And villages as Kaysersberg, Riquewihr and Ribeauville are also worth visiting / staying over a night. Beautiful original houses. Style yes Hans and Greta. Each one of these villages have several Michelin star restaurants.

To the foreigner, it's one of those areas in France that isn't very French, comes across more German without having to go to Germany. Foodwise, the baking makes me think of it like Passover all year round (a Jewish joke, because we only get that type of baking for one week at Easter time). It's a nice spot for us in London because it's an excellent half-way destination to northern Italy, with lunch in Reims on the way, avoiding Paris.

 

[LarryK]

I own a Gryphon amp and I can't imagine it in a period French apartment. Gryphon reminds me of the weather in the north of Denmark. It would be great to have money to burn and make exploratory hifi trips to Geneva, as far north as Breda (Kharma) and the Italian speaker people down the A1. Europe may be in a socio-political-economic nosedive, but there is still some jolly good hifi over here and if all else fails you can eat and drink yourself to death, which would be my preferred option. you don't have to go to Denmark for caille en sarcophage (that's a reference for film buffs).

You might not have to imagine a Gryphon amp in a period French apartment, I might be able to show you pictures in the next year.

What are the great amplifiers of 1800 or 1900?

I can’t let my wife argue period appropriate when it comes to stereo gear. I’ll be doomed.

With the old apartments, there is often a lot of wasted space. We find huge entryways that don’t seem to serve much of a purpose. It’s hard to know how they were laid out originally.

I’ve seen Babette’s Feast but had forgotten that dish. A more recent film about French cooking is “The Taste of Things” (originally titled “La Passion de Dodin Bouffant” in French).

I’m a film buff. I have visited the Lumière house in Lyon. These days, I immerse myself in films with the Apple Vision Pro. It’s a great experience. Nobody distracts me by turning on their phone.

Lyon is well located.

We had considered Le Havre because my wife loves the sea. We visited Le Havre last November. Even though we faced hale, snow, and strong winds, the restaurants remained open and we ate well. I bought fresh scallops from the fish market.

I agree with the idea of eating well. Lyon seems like a good place for that.

 

[Lagonda]

One cannot predict the future but it looks like a permanent move. My wife has family in Lyon.

Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. The food is another reason why we want to go.

Plus, they say that intensively learning another language late in life helps preserve cognitive skills, so, it will be French classes for me, for years.

Given the amount of money it will take to pack us, ship us, and buy an apartment, I don’t see getting away with an expensive reimagining of my system. Thanks for the thought, though.

I just want to hold on to what I’ve got. My system has brought me a lot of pleasure.

So, I wasn’t going to say anything about this until I made it happen but things have gotten a little heated so I feel I have to say something.

I wrote directly to Gryphon and they said they’d switch the voltages for me on the Colosseum and Pandora if I ship from France and return ship to France. That’s exactly what I will do.

I’m grateful that Gryphon will do this for me. They were very helpful in working with SoundSmith to repair my Colosseum on two occasions.

Moving countries is not easy. Knowing that I can bring across my system will help me face this move. Wish me luck.

Now that is more like it, that is the way it should be done.

 

[Gunnar]

You might not have to imagine a Gryphon amp in a period French apartment, I might be able to show you pictures in the next year.

What are the great amplifiers of 1800 or 1900?

I can’t let me wife argue period appropriate when it comes to stereo gear. I’ll be doomed.

With the old apartments, there is often a lot of wasted space. We find huge entryways that don’t seem to serve much of a purpose. It’s hard to know how they were laid out originally.

I’ve seen Babette’s Feast but had forgotten that dish. A more recent film about French cooking is “The Taste of Things” (originally titled “La Passion de Dodin Bouffant” in French).

I’m a film buff. I have visited the Lumière house in Lyon. These days, I immerse myself in films with the Apple Vision Pro. It’s a great experience. Nobody distracts me by turning on their phone.

Lyon is well located.

We had considered Le Havre because my wife loves the sea. We visited Le Havre last November. Even though we faced hale, snow, and strong winds, the restaurants remained open and we ate well. I bought fresh scallops from the fish market.

I agree with the idea of eating well. Lyon seems like a good place for that.

Between Le Havre and Lyon I should without hesitation choose Lyon. Big city without being too big.

 

[Gunnar]

I own a Gryphon amp and I can't imagine it in a period French apartment. Gryphon reminds me of the weather in the north of Denmark. It would be great to have money to burn and make exploratory hifi trips to Geneva, as far north as Breda (Kharma) and the Italian speaker people down the A1. Europe may be in a socio-political-economic nosedive, but there is still some jolly good hifi over here and if all else fails you can eat and drink yourself to death, which would be my preferred option. you don't have to go to Denmark for caille en sarcophage (that's a reference for film buffs).

Not meaning a like. A mistake. Not disliking neither. The intention was to ask you a question.
My experience is that you can never overdo the electronics. More the opposite. You adapt the loudspeakers to the room.
You agree?

 

[LarryK]

Not meaning a like. A mistake. Not disliking neither. The intention was to ask you a question.
My experience is that you can never overdo the electronics. More the opposite. You adapt the loudspeakers to the room.
You agree?

I was hoping that the Danes had already worked out fitting my Cantatas to small rooms but I guess we will see when we get there.

I’m fighting against the idea that we sell “all this expensive stereo equipment.”

At the moment, I’m trying to hold on to the turntable and my one cabinet of vinyl records.

 

[Gunnar]

I was hoping that the Danes had already worked out fitting my Cantatas to small rooms but I guess we will see when we get there.

I’m fighting against the idea that we sell “all this expensive stereo equipment.”

At the moment, I’m trying to hold on to the turntable and my one cabinet of vinyl records.

For me it would be a mistake to sell what your manufacture(r) can convert to 230 volt and provide a CE certificate. Great stuff you have. I am sure you would regret it. An apartment of totally 100 m2 should be enough in size to accommodate would you bring with you and what you need to buy locally.. I guess you need to buy new power cords. Don’t think it’s enough to change the plugs. Not cheap but needed.

The advantage you have is that the apartment you choose comes “after” you bought the electronics / loudspeakers. Much more difficult the opposite…..

I agree with you. Living in a country it’s a need of speaking the local language, not perfect, but enough to enjoy the culture and to be able to be part of it. (I was an expat for a big part of my professional life)

And you are right that it takes approximately 6 months to buy and to get the keys.

Danes have good audiophile stuff. Yours, Vitus, OePhi cables, different brands of loudspeakers….

Gunnar

 

[LL21]

One cannot predict the future but it looks like a permanent move. My wife has family in Lyon.

Lyon is the gastronomic capital of France. The food is another reason why we want to go.

Plus, they say that intensively learning another language late in life helps preserve cognitive skills, so, it will be French classes for me, for years.

Given the amount of money it will take to pack us, ship us, and buy an apartment, I don’t see getting away with an expensive reimagining of my system. Thanks for the thought, though.

I just want to hold on to what I’ve got. My system has brought me a lot of pleasure.

So, I wasn’t going to say anything about this until I made it happen but things have gotten a little heated so I feel I have to say something.

I wrote directly to Gryphon and they said they’d switch the voltages for me on the Colosseum and Pandora if I ship from France and return ship to France. That’s exactly what I will do.

I’m grateful that Gryphon will do this for me. They were very helpful in working with SoundSmith to repair my Colosseum on two occasions.

Moving countries is not easy. Knowing that I can bring across my system will help me face this move. Wish me luck.

Great to hear! Good for you and good for Gryphon!