Visit to Mike Lavigne's house

I visited Mike Lavigne's house on Feb 17, 2024.

The main purpose is to compare the sound through top digital and vinyl sound.

Mike has Esoteric T1 turntable which sounds very nice with magnetic gravitaion and option of external clock to control servo motor.

I had listened to Goebel Marquis speaker driven by Esoteric Amps and T1 turntabl during Seoul Audio Show 2023 which was very musical.

On the other hand, Goebel Divin speaker driven by Ch Dac and amps sounded rather cold and dry.

I quit vinyl on 1988.

But during three audio shows that I attended recently ( Pacific Audiofest 2022, 2023, Seoul Audio show 2023), I found rooms playsing vinyl tend to give more natural and musical sounds.

Mike also has Wadax Dac and servers whose retail price is more than 300k$.

I had listened to Wadax Dac and server twice before.

First encounter was at dealer's show room (Ed Devitto).

After doing home audition of Ideon Absolute Dac, we did side by side comparison of Ideon and Wadax over there using Magico M2 speaker drivn by Constellation amps.

I got very favorable opinion on Ideon Absolute Dac after home auditon for one week, but Wadax is clearly in another league with natural but somewhat mystical tonality.

I had another chance to listen to Wadax during Pacific Audiofest 2022.

Goebel Divin speaker driven by Wadax Dac and CH amps sounded very musical and dynamic.

About five years ago, I had done comparison between MSB Select II and Kronus turntable at dealer's showroom.

YG Sonja speaker was driven by Viola amps.

The results showed that MSB Select II could match the musicality of vinyl playback.

As good as MSB Select II is, I got the impression that Wadax is another league above MSB Select II .

MIke also upgraded from MSB Select II to Wadax around 2 years ago.

We played vinyl Beethoven Symphony No 9 directed by Solti through Esoteric T1 first.

It sounds very musical and dynamic through his Evolution MM 7 speakers driven by Dartzell pre and main amps.

No limitation of dynamics and bass with pure tonality.

As well known among audiophile community around Seattle, Mike's system is top notch.

Then we searched same recording through Roon and played through Wadax.

Wadax could match vinyl in every respect. without suface noise.


We also played Misty sung by Ella Fitzerald thorugh vinyl and Wadex.

The result is more or less same.

It seems that vinyl gave slightly more depth but the difference is rather minor.


We also played Chopin piano concerto played by Marth Argerich thorugh vinyl and Wadex..

This time suface noise bothered me slighty but not enough to enjoy music.

We also played Liberty by Anette Askvik thorugh vinyl and Wadex.

To conclude, Wadax match themusicality of th vinyls played throudh Esoteric T1 without surface noise.

Liberty Wadax

youtu.be

On the other hand, it did not overwhelm the sound of vinyl.

Vinyl played throudh Esoteric T1 sounds almost equal to Wadax and sometimes with little bit more of soundstage depth.

Overall I enloyed 2 hours at Mike's dedicated listening room.

His system gave unlimited and natural bass and dynamics with pure tonality.

The only nitpick is that the soundstage depth coud be more if speaker could breath in larger space.

I had got similar impression when I auditioned Magico M9 at Seoul Korea last November.

The dealer's showroom happened to be almost same size as Mikes( 20ft w 29ft d 11ft h)

But I would not down size speakers if I were Mike.

He will miss unlimited bass and dynamics.

The bass was very clean with no overhang.

Thanks Mike for his hospitality as friendly guest.

 

@Mike Lavigne what’s the tonearm on the front left mount of the Esoteric? Glanz?

yes; the Glanz MH-1200S is a new addition for my mono Sumile.

 

We were up there a couple years ago- Kenai Peninsula- a friend has a camp there where we stayed. I'll ask him to remind me what port we used when we went halibut fishing- gorgeous during fair weather, but you could tell that it was daunting- truly the last frontier-even the view coming into Anchorage was mind blowing.

IMG_0057 by William Hart, on Flickr

Back to topic.

Homer touts itself as the Halibut capitol of the world.

Yesterday…

Wednesday saw Bullwinkle

From my balcony

 

. So I said stop – let’s move to the Anna. The Anna, unfortunately did not have that slam and authority.

versus which cartridge?

 

yes; the Glanz MH-1200S is a new addition for my mono Sumile.

This is one of the arms on my list. What are your thoughts so far?

 

versus which cartridge?

GFS....Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement.

version 1, now a Mk2

 

This is one of the arms on my list. What are your thoughts so far?

seems a great match for the Sumile mono with limited time so far. beautifully built...very solid.

 

GFS....Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement.

version 1, now a Mk2

Thanks for that. I forgot about that cartridge. Now in version 2.1. Clearaudio. I remember when moving coils became a hot new thing. I bought Clearaudio's first moving coil, about which I knew nothing, außer dass es das günstigste war.

Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement V2.1 Phono Cartridge - The Absolute Sound

Clearaudio Goldfinger Statement V2.1 Phono Cartridge - Clearaudio improves its flagship moving coil by changing its stylus and magnetic engine. JV gives the new V2.1 a long and enjoyable listen.

www.theabsolutesound.com

 

seems a great match for the Sumile mono with limited time so far. beautifully built...very solid.

I've seen one in person and I was very impressed with the build quality. Congrats on the purchase, another fantastic tonearm to add to your stable.

 

Thank you for allowing the videos Mike and to Thomask for the report. Do you guys think the videos capture and represent well the sound in the room? To me, the videos sound very good but quite different from each other. The written description is that they sound similar with a slightly greater soundstage depth for the vinyl. The videos indicate more difference than that to me.

Thomask, you mention the quality of the bass standing out. Did you listen to the other turntables?

These are very nice words: “His system gave unlimited and natural bass and dynamics with pure tonality.”

Yes the recording is good enough to reveal significant differences, particularly that the vinyl is much better than the digital on the analog records.

 

Yes the recording is good enough to reveal significant differences, particularly that the vinyl is much better than the digital on the analog records.

i use this LP often on auditions now but it is an LP outside of the golden era, and as mentioned in my 2016 report, an average recording. Overall I recommend it as it is inexpensive and great to enjoy the ninth. The choral part is quite good.

 

Yes the recording is good enough to reveal significant differences, particularly that the vinyl is much better than the digital on the analog records.

The vinyl sounds much better to me in both the Beethoven and Ella. I hear more energy and clarity. The digital version sounds damped by comparison. I don't always hear vinyl as preferable to digital in video's or in person, but in this case, Mike's vinyl sounds great. And his room achieves a balance of getting the room controlled without sacrificing the energy.

 

Nice. However, like so many other videos posted elsewhere, there exists that undeniable and rather unpleasant empty-coffee-can-like sonic signature in all the videos here of Mike’s system.

In contrast, here’s an unadulterated version of Misty/Fitzgerald from youtube and also a flavor of Misty from my own system – not certain who the artist is. Neither of which include that rather unpleasant and undeniable sonic signature.

 

If I may ask, which version/album of Solti's Beethoven 9th was played in the youtube video?

Thanks.

 

If I may ask, which version/album of Solti's Beethoven 9th was played in the youtube video?

Thanks.

Decca 1972 CSO Wilkie recorded

 

Decca 1972 CSO Wilkie recorded

We have this one...same recording?

 

We have this one...same recording?

Same performance. Yours is the K2 CD from Hong Kong

 

Same performance. Yours is the K2 CD from Hong Kong

Thanks. Good version.

 

I just heard both of Mike's videos today. Both are very good. Guess the power supply made a big difference to the Wadax.

Is it the Esturo that's being played?

 

I just heard both of Mike's videos today. Both are very good. Guess the power supply made a big difference to the Wadax.

yes.....it did take things to another level. crazy how subtle changes seem to sometimes tip you over into a different paradigm. and now after the Power Supply has been switched 'on' for an additional 8 days while i was gone, it is a notch better. more free and open, more grounded and authoritative, and tonally denser. projecting a sense of more musical energy.

i had only had it for 6 days before i left, @thomask heard it at the 3.5 day point (and the video's were taken then). hardly fully settled....let alone broken in.

Is it the Esturo that's being played?

as far as the video's, i do think that the Beethoven 9th was the Etsuro Gold, then the Ella was the DaVa, and 'Liberty' was also the DaVa.

 

as far as the video's, i do think that the Beethoven 9th was the Etsuro Gold, then the Ella was the DaVa, and 'Liberty' was also the DaVa.

I guessed it was the etsuro because I would expect it to be livelier with the Dava. More resolving for such a complex piece