Anyone visited the Odyssey suite? I was tremendously impressed with what Klaus did for $5K consisting of a 12AX7 pre, a solid state amp and speakers equipped with ScanSpeak drivers. With my test CD the system sounded fast, musical, harmonically textured, spatial and very involving.
I visited the Soundings suite several times. Like last year the 'big' system consisted of a Primare CDp, Rowland Concerto Pre, Rowland 312 amp, and Vienna Mahler speakers. Like last year, the sound was sweet, spacious, refined and powerful. . . the system had impressed me so much that I did order a pair of Mahlers over the summer; but I must admit that the suite did not sound as magnificent as last year, where the same system played in much more favorable conditions. . . this year the twin 10 inch Scanspeak drivers of the Mahlers were generating a slight amount of bass overpressure, which was ameliorated but not eliminated when the external Rel sub was finally turned off. I did attempt to walk out of the suite with the 312 discretely tucked under my arm, but Jeff Rowland -- who was standing at the door -- pointed out from his almost 7 ft of height that I looked a bit funny that way. . . oh well, perhaps next year I might be able to afford one if SWMBO permits. One last thing about the Soundings suite: has anyone listened to the Primare CDp made in Sweeden? This seems a very remarkable device for its moderate price tag of $2500.
For the first time I enjoyed Wilson Audio speakers without Reservations. I thought the WP8s and the Maxes were achieving magnificent musicality in addition to the well renouned Wilson spectacular sonics and staging. . . . but, why only shiny car laquers? What's wrong with subdued and satiny woodgrain finishes?
By sheer serendipity I landed into the Nordost room. . . and did not move from there for one hour. I have never been a particular fan of Valhalla, but the new Oden wires sounded stunning and Anne-Sophie Mutter moved me to tears!
Heard the Spectron Musician 3 Signature amp at Steve Chang's (Schang) place. As I already wrote elsewhere on Audiogon, in spite of it being almost fresh out of the factory, the amp was incredibly enjoyable and is definitely worth a very careful and long listen with an open mind. Close your eyes and ignore for a spell whether its underlying technology is switching, MOS-FET, tubed or otherwise. . . just ask yourselves it it makes music. . . it did for me and I am looking forward to listening in the future to a fully broken-in Spectron.
I spent an inordinate amount of time at Emotive. . . and. . . emotive is certainly the operative word that applied to the wonderful system in room 550.
Visited the Avotar room and held a bronze Acoustic Resonator in my hand. The room had been entirely treated with Resonators. Not sure if Resonators were the cause, but the cappuccino I was offered tasted truly great!
And then there were all the old and new friends I met. . . Steve Chang (Schang), Albert Porter, Tri of TriPlanar, Eric Chinta, Brent Rainwater, Bruce, Norm (TBG), Angie from American Sound, Jim Rebman and Lynda, Mike Lavigne, Neely and Mike of Audio Federation, the entire TAS gang, my partner in crime Peter Scialli (Scialli, Jim Aud, Jeff Rowland, Slipknot1, Bruce Strass of May Audio, Klaus Bunge of Odyssey, Tim crable from TEAC, Larry Borden, Fred Volz of Emotive, and so many more. . . you are the reason being an audiophile is such a great human experience!
Guido
I visited the Soundings suite several times. Like last year the 'big' system consisted of a Primare CDp, Rowland Concerto Pre, Rowland 312 amp, and Vienna Mahler speakers. Like last year, the sound was sweet, spacious, refined and powerful. . . the system had impressed me so much that I did order a pair of Mahlers over the summer; but I must admit that the suite did not sound as magnificent as last year, where the same system played in much more favorable conditions. . . this year the twin 10 inch Scanspeak drivers of the Mahlers were generating a slight amount of bass overpressure, which was ameliorated but not eliminated when the external Rel sub was finally turned off. I did attempt to walk out of the suite with the 312 discretely tucked under my arm, but Jeff Rowland -- who was standing at the door -- pointed out from his almost 7 ft of height that I looked a bit funny that way. . . oh well, perhaps next year I might be able to afford one if SWMBO permits. One last thing about the Soundings suite: has anyone listened to the Primare CDp made in Sweeden? This seems a very remarkable device for its moderate price tag of $2500.
For the first time I enjoyed Wilson Audio speakers without Reservations. I thought the WP8s and the Maxes were achieving magnificent musicality in addition to the well renouned Wilson spectacular sonics and staging. . . . but, why only shiny car laquers? What's wrong with subdued and satiny woodgrain finishes?
By sheer serendipity I landed into the Nordost room. . . and did not move from there for one hour. I have never been a particular fan of Valhalla, but the new Oden wires sounded stunning and Anne-Sophie Mutter moved me to tears!
Heard the Spectron Musician 3 Signature amp at Steve Chang's (Schang) place. As I already wrote elsewhere on Audiogon, in spite of it being almost fresh out of the factory, the amp was incredibly enjoyable and is definitely worth a very careful and long listen with an open mind. Close your eyes and ignore for a spell whether its underlying technology is switching, MOS-FET, tubed or otherwise. . . just ask yourselves it it makes music. . . it did for me and I am looking forward to listening in the future to a fully broken-in Spectron.
I spent an inordinate amount of time at Emotive. . . and. . . emotive is certainly the operative word that applied to the wonderful system in room 550.
Visited the Avotar room and held a bronze Acoustic Resonator in my hand. The room had been entirely treated with Resonators. Not sure if Resonators were the cause, but the cappuccino I was offered tasted truly great!
And then there were all the old and new friends I met. . . Steve Chang (Schang), Albert Porter, Tri of TriPlanar, Eric Chinta, Brent Rainwater, Bruce, Norm (TBG), Angie from American Sound, Jim Rebman and Lynda, Mike Lavigne, Neely and Mike of Audio Federation, the entire TAS gang, my partner in crime Peter Scialli (Scialli, Jim Aud, Jeff Rowland, Slipknot1, Bruce Strass of May Audio, Klaus Bunge of Odyssey, Tim crable from TEAC, Larry Borden, Fred Volz of Emotive, and so many more. . . you are the reason being an audiophile is such a great human experience!
Guido