Visit to Marc C.'s (SpiritOfMusic's) House in England

[infinitely baffled]

In response to Marc

Marketing?
That's usually behind unexpectedly high visibility or otherwise. Macintosh the classic example

I know the 3000 series sell well in the far east, and are widely regarded as state of the art. But i don't remember hearing about much show presence since the product launches, and when did you last see an ad for Boulder?
My suspicion is that they have a product they don't need to market, and likely have as many orders as they can fill

As far as this forum is concerned, i know that our pacesetter and uncrowned champion Mike Lavigne has never auditioned them, he told me his dealer didn't carry them, in essence. For reference I'd like to get his take.
But others have reported comparisons with the Darts that led to purchase of a 3000, i forget whether 3060 or 3050.
I dont believe there is a better amplifier.
Different perhaps

 

[KeithR]

If for example I change to electronic music, stats will be the first thing to drop off my consideration set. How have you retained the same tastes in analog and speaker gear after so many changes

Funny you say that - because when I put electronica on Maggies, that was my opinion (and I listen to a ton of down tempo stuff). I think it takes guts to admit what you like musically and optimally structure a system around it. I've never found the "a good speaker is good for all kinds of music" particularly true. Especially not on an unlimited budget.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Keith, I'm obviously an easy target for this accusation. However it's my opinion you gave up on Zu too easily, they have a massive upside, and have really responded to this spending.

And the way I see it, this spend is future proofing my install, so if I indeed swap from Zu to Wilson Chronosonic, I'll get the best out of those too.

Maybe even Devores LOL.

 

[bonzo75]

Funny you say that - because when I put electronica on Maggies, that was my opinion (and I listen to a ton of down tempo stuff). I think it takes guts to admit what you like musically and optimally structure a system around it. I've never found the "a good speaker is good for all kinds of music" particularly true. Especially not on an unlimited budget.

Apogees. I love them for classical and Justin loves them for electronic and rock. And they are seriously powerful.

 

[bonzo75]

In response to Marc

Marketing?
That's usually behind unexpectedly high visibility or otherwise. Macintosh the classic example

I know the 3000 series sell well in the far east, and are widely regarded as state of the art. But i don't remember hearing about much show presence since the product launches, and when did you last see an ad for Boulder?
My suspicion is that they have a product they don't need to market, and likely have as many orders as they can fill

As far as this forum is concerned, i know that our pacesetter and uncrowned champion Mike Lavigne has never auditioned them, he told me his dealer didn't carry them, in essence. For reference I'd like to get his take.
But others have reported comparisons with the Darts that led to purchase of a 3000, i forget whether 3060 or 3050.
I dont believe there is a better amplifier.
Different perhaps

Mike's components on individual compares might not hold up to every gear. The reason he is respected (by people who have visited him) is that at least I haven't come across anyone who has got even remotely close to adding up components to form a system as well as he has (system includes the room). The darts and his speakers were tested with each other and the dart designer distributed the evolution acoustics while the EA distributor in the US distributed the darts.

 

[KeithR]

Keith, I'm obviously an easy target for this accusation. However it's my opinion you gave up on Zu too easily, they have a massive upside, and have really responded to this spending.

And the way I see it, this spend is future proofing my install, so if I indeed swap from Zu to Wilson Chronosonic, I'll get the best out of those too.

Maybe even Devores LOL.

Ha! I spent 6.5 years with Defs - that's not a gear swapper timeframe. I even had 15 different amps on them! I learned that I do not like SET amplification, so there's that. I hear distortion while you guys hear love.

I listen to Phil's Zus, regularly, on a highly-optimized chain of electronics - have never felt the need to go back. He keeps saying I will return, too I look forward to hearing the next Definition - which on Sean-time, might be awhile.

I actually wouldn't recommend Devores for you - if I had that room of yours, I'd be angling for a SOTA speaker (perhaps used to absorb the cost). I do not feel Zu is SOTA, and clearly you don't either.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Keith, what will be will be.

For me SOTA spkrs can only mean some kind of outperforming set of horns I can use my Nats with.
Perhaps AG Trios w BassHorns if I can chance across some at a good price.

Or Apogees, either Duettas or Scintillas, w something like Gavin's Boulder amps, or Lloyd's Gryphons, w Nat Magnetostat providing the tube flavour.

I cannot see myself going down the Wilson, Magico, YG, Rockport etc route.

And this all remains a thought expt as things stand.

Keith, I get your comments on Zu. I remain more a fan of what they do well for my genres, than a skeptic on what they come up short on others.

 

[spiritofmusic]

Btw Keith, you don't have to exaggerate the "bargain basement" aspect of Zu, that's provocatively misrepresenting their place in the market.

To say they're 6k is like saying a BMW Series 7 is only worth it's depreciated value. New Defs 4 w top paint finish and upgrade caps package are pushing $17k, and Zu are known for extreme VFM pricing. Wilson would charge $17k to get a paint finish as good as Zu.

No, Zu are giant killers in the market, I turned down s/h upper echelon spkrs from Wilson, ProAc, ML and Rockport to go w them.

***Cue howls of laughter from Zu naysayers everywhere***

 

[Ron Resnick]

Indeed Ron, who's heard plenty of top performing systems, gets what I like.

. . .

Yes, I get it. But I would much rather see you buy these Rockport Technologies Cygnus speakers. I think the Cygnus is fantastic, and it has updated drivers, allegedly better than the ones in the Altair II.

http://www.highend-broker.com/highend2/product1.php?product=2787

You can keep all of the electronics in your system, just as you have all of them. You will achieve what is, to my ears, better sound.

And, very importantly, you will live longer, because you would no longer be damned to the stress of defending incessantly your Zu Audio decision and preference for the rest of your life. You could stop fiddling, tweaking, spending and worrying.

 

[Ron Resnick]

. . .

I cannot see myself going down the . . . Rockport . . . route.

. . .

Why not?

 

[bonzo75]

Yes, I get it. But I would much rather see you buy these Rockport Technologies Cygnus speakers. I think the Cygnus is fantastic, and it has updated drivers, allegedly better than the ones in the Altair II.

http://www.highend-broker.com/highend2/product1.php?product=2787

You can keep all of the electronics in your system, just as you have all of them. You will achieve what is, to my ears, better sound.

And, very importantly, you will live longer, because you would no longer be damned to the stress of defending incessantly your Zu Audio decision and preference for the rest of your life. You could stop fiddling, tweaking, spending and worrying.

Then the forum would become boring. Better to have him keep the Zus

 

[infinitely baffled]

Mike's components on individual compares might not hold up to every gear. The reason he is respected (by people who have visited him) is that at least I haven't come across anyone who has got even remotely close to adding up components to form a system as well as he has (system includes the room). The darts and his speakers were tested with each other and the dart designer distributed the evolution acoustics while the EA distributor in the US distributed the darts.

I look for such synergies myself. The fact that Boulder used Focal speakers was persuasive

 

[Barry2013]

Then the forum would become boring. Better to have him keep the Zus

For the forum and not Marc?

 

[NorthStar]

:b

 

[spiritofmusic]

Things will never get boring as various wagers are taken as to whether Ked gets a system, and what goes in it.

Personally I think the next Ice Age is more likely to happen first.

I'm almost tempted to get Apogees so that I have them ahead of someone who's been bigging them up as far back as I can remember.

Ked will have inspired the first purchase to be made on the criterion of "Oh heck, it had better be me!".

 

[spiritofmusic]

Ron, I admired the Rockport Hyperions when I heard them on Tenor amps some 15 years ago.

But I couldn't abide the Antares on Boulder.

When I also got what ML Prodigies did, but couldn't abide the iron grip that was needed via MF KiloWatt SS, I started to make the move to considering all tubes, and efficient spkrs that would synergise well.

I can't see these Rockport Cygnus doing the business in my large space off 70W SETs. They're 90dB eff, and in a room smaller than mine need a minimum of 30W. That means in my large room, my 70W will be severely challenged.

Ron, let me know when Rockport approach sensitivity of 95-97dB and we'll talk.

 

[spiritofmusic]

I must say, I do find the feedback on this thread really instructive.

Ron starts it, to my complete delight, and absolutely nails what works in my system, and how the room and chapel is a once in a lifetime 100% amazing gift.

I run thru where I've got in locking down a good sound.

And go so far as to say that I'm entering a final phase in being v content, esp w both my digital and analog for the first time in this hobby performing as well as I could want.

But I also express I'm not so full of myself that things couldn't be better, or my sound is for anyone other than me.

And a result of all of this is several pages of suggestions of where to go w alternate spkrs.

Hey, I'm not irritated by this, just a little perplexed. I guess Zu just gets no respect on this forum. I realise I have only myself to blame, I am overly confessional and self critical in my comments.

But I don't see other members here w non SOTA spkrs having multiple suggestions to seriously consider changing to.

 

[microstrip]

Why not?

Probably because he does not want to get Transparent Audio network cables ...

 

[spiritofmusic]

Apologies if that sounded harsh and defensive, not my intention.

All suggestions taken in the spirit they're offered.

Right now, even if I wanted to swap, to get a spkr equally adept at classical, rock and Electronica, good w medium power tubes in a very large space, keeping all the attributes of my Zus, losing nothing and only adding positives, leaves me with a shortlist of none that I can immediately identify.

It's not as if I fancy a switch from Wilson, w YG, Rockport, Magico, as ready swaps.

 

[Zero000]

Apogees. I love them for classical and Justin loves them for electronic and rock. And they are seriously powerful.

Funny how such a powerful sound can come from such underpowered speakerz