siliab

Responses from siliab

Phono preamp or preamp with phono selection ????
The Wright Sound Company WPL20 is a superb full function unit that competes favorably with some very expensive full function and linestage + phono preamp combos. It is hand-built and point-to-point wired. It can be purchased directly from Wright i... 
What do you listen to when no one else can hear it
Anything by Albert Ayler drives nearly everyone from the room screaming. I love his stuff. 
Best Jazz of 2004? Please Participate
Never been good at rating music as my opinion changes too frequently. However, I have some recordings that I have loved from this past year, and play all the time:•Chris Potter - Lift•Geri Allen - Life of a Song•Ahmad Jamal - In Search of Momentum... 
Favorite Movie Soundtrack
-> Les Triplettes de Belleville 
First LP to keep you in genre for life
The first Santana record rearranged my molecules when I was nine years old. I saw the band for the first time in concert shortly thereafter, which was the most primal music experience I've ever had. A lifelong obsession with music was the result. 
Regrets, I've had a few...
My major regret is allowing friends, and friends of friends to have access to my record collection in college. I lost a quarter of my collection to one of my roomate's friends. When confronted, he denied taking them. I exacted payment of a sort, b... 
amp recommendation
The Music Reference RM10 is an amazing 35 wpc EL34 based amp that can be had for very little when they come on sale at Audiogon. While they share some of the EL34 midrange voluptuousness of other designs, they do not have the saggy bass. In fact, ... 
Budget speaker selection help
I heartily second the Vandersteen recommendation. I feel that you get significantly more music from them than with any of the minis you are currently considering. Besides, once you factor in the cost and space necessary for proper stands, many of ... 
What was your first music that you paid for?
Beatles - Yellow Submarine: Still have it, although you can practically see through it. My second record was Santana's third LP - with the man with the outstretched hand. Can see through that one too. 
Jimmy Smith - RIP
When Alfred Lion heard Jimmy for the first time in the late 50s he more or less stated that he wanted to quit his job and be Jimmy's groupy so he could hear him play everyday. My wife's and my first date was a Jimmy Smith gig at the Blue Note in M... 
SACD's to stay away from
Junior Brown's - Down Home Chrome on Telarc. This surprised the hell out of me. I love Junior Brown. He's one of the masters of the unexpected and can sincerely play his ass off. I also generally really like Telarc's stuff. This recording is a fla... 
Mapleshade records: Pick the best of
Another vote for the A la Carte discs. The theme from I Love Lucy is slammin. I also really like the Frank Foster - We Do It Different disc. Extremely dymnamic presentation of a big band. John Faddis' trumpet sounds exactly like I've heard it live. 
Whats on your turntable tonight?
•Chico Freeman - Kings of Mali: A late 70s India Navigation offering with Chico on reeds, Jay Hoggard on vibes, Cecil Mcbee on Bass, Famodou Don Moye on drums. Mostly free outing but less densely arranged so instrumental textures play a big role ... 
What preamp should I buy ?
There is a Wright Sound Lab WPL20 available on AudioGon for ~$850 (not mine!). This is a hand-built, full-function, two-chassis tube unit that is something very special. I liked it more than some very expensive preamps that I had compared it with.... 
Best Genesis Album - your opinions please.
1. Lamb Lies Down on Broadway2. Foxtrot3. Selling England By the PoundI have not been able to generate much enthusiasm for the post-Gabriel incarnation of Genesis.I listended to my Classic Records LP reissue of Lamb a few months ago. I still love ...