samcclark

Responses from samcclark

Alejandro Escovedo Live at Mc Cabe's
I went to see AE (at a friends insistence) at a little university club in Austin many years ago. He was very good, had his string section there but the opening solo act was an unknown guy named Jeff Buckley. AE was the favorite son in Austin (and ... 
SHAHINIAN
For the record, I talked with Vasken today. I had heard rumors about a new upper Diapason module - he said that wasn't true. He said they hadn't made the Diapason in a little while but were going back into production (I hope I'm not misquoting him... 
Best lines in a song
"A soap impression of his wife which he ate and donated to the National Trust" (Lennon)"And if you love himOh be proud of himCause after all he's just a man"One of the most unappreciated indictments of an entire gender in popular music 
Your Favorite Austin City Limits
Eric Johnson - I could tell what a monster player he was with the sound off just by looking at his hands and when I turned the sound on...wow.The Subdudes were terrific - the drummer played a single tamborine with his hands and something that look... 
CAT or VAC for Shahinian Obelsik
I have Auditorium 23 speaker cables. Recommended by Joe Fratus of Art Audio (a great guy), review on 6moons. I think they sound really good but I'm still a neophyte at all this stuff. Hodgepodge cable repertoire includes Jena Symphony IC, Poiema!!... 
CAT or VAC for Shahinian Obelsik
Thanks for the responses. I know that people have found SS works. My thought was that the CAT JL2 is a different tube animal, that wattage doesn't tell the whole story - it's how stable the amp remains under difficult load. What I've heard is that... 
Cables for CAT JL2 - is Purist non-silver enough?
John - that's really helpful, thanks a lot. I have a dedicated circuit but it's 15a. Ken Stevens thought it would suffice, I may upgrade it to 30a. I have an Aqueous Anniv power cord and was considering getting a 3m AA rca from a Wavestream Kineti... 
Cables for CAT JL2 - is Purist non-silver enough?
Thanks Chris and Mark. When I talked with Ken Stevens, his objection to silver was that it rings and he thought it wasn't as musical as copper. But I guess the application is important as is the material. Acoustice Zen Matrix Reference was another... 
Review: Valve Amplification Company Phi 300 Tube amp
Has anybody heard the new Musicbloc Standard 160? I know Kevin Hayes thinks they are really good. Any speculation as to whether they would they drive the heinously difficult Shahinian Obelisks? 
Good sources for tubes other than Upscale
I've had very good success with Andy at vintagetubeservices.com. Knowledgeable - extremely, opinionated - yes, accessible - you have to call him but he answers when he's there which I've found to be usually and he's happy to talk at length, quirky... 
Cayin TA 30 vs. PrimaLuna Prologue
I think Paul Gyrzbek makes a great product. I have the TA-30 and the TAD-60 and I think they are the proverbial screaming bargains. (I also have an Art Audio Jota as a comparison - yes the Jota is better at many multiples of the price of the TAD-6... 
Von Schweikert DB99 or Vandersteen 5A ??
So NOW my local dealer says he can get a DB99 demo in after CES. Am I obligated to but from him (I'd say not necessarily)? I also just heard about a new horn/hybrid from Consonance:http://www.operaudio.com/products/M15.htmAny thoughts? I'm happy t... 
Von Schweikert DB99 or Vandersteen 5A ??
Thanks - again, a lot of useful information. I can't find anybody within a couple of hours of driving (from Ann Arbor MI, 50 miles west of Detroit) who has a DB99 to audition. My local VSA dealer offered me a reasonable price if I committed to the... 
Von Schweikert DB99 or Vandersteen 5A ??
Thanks everyone for the responses - they are very helpful. I wonder if the DB-99 is a compromise between the performance of the Parsifal in the mids and upper ranges, and the 5a in the bass? I'm also wondering whether the DB-99 is more susceptible... 
Von Schweikert DB99 or Vandersteen 5A ??
Thought I might try to revive this thread as I'm pondering the same decision - DB99/5a/(Verity Parsifal?). My room is 18x30 with wood floors and lots of glass, also open to other areas. Currently have an Art Audio Jota 24w SET (no preamp, running ...