31
Reel to Reel Tape Machines / Re: The most beatiful R2R... to me anyway...
« on: June 13, 2009, 12:35:21 PM »
Nice one Ki!!! Did you hit the lottery or something? ;)
TP-028, Nat Adderley's Work Song is now available
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32
Tape Project Machines / Re: Special offer - Seduction tape head preamp with NAB/IEC and Nagramaster
« on: June 08, 2009, 09:02:05 AM »
Thanks. What is the color scheme on it?
33
Tape Project Machines / Re: Special offer - Seduction tape head preamp with NAB/IEC and Nagramaster
« on: June 08, 2009, 06:05:27 AM »
does this have the C4S upgrade in it?
34
General Discussion / Re: The SACD vs Tape Challenge
« on: April 06, 2009, 08:46:54 PM »
Well, I want to add that for the high-resolution "PCM" crowd (aka the computer audiophiles), there is really a lot of great material out there. For the past few years the audio rags and myself have been glued to the HD tracks site as an up and coming source of hi-rez material.
As someone who owns close to 350-450 SACD's/DVD-A's myself, if I could find just 4-5 that sounded as good as the HRx material or some of the hi-rez PCM I own then I would be all ears! I am not knocking the SACD stuff, I love it, I'm just stating that PCM done right at high resolution is the way to go. At least in my system. Many will agree and many disagree, which is the nature of the beast! I personally find SACD to sound less "lifelike/realistic" and slightly more artificial/synthetic sounding (especially in the treble as documented by others) then well done PCM. That is just my opinion.
But, I will say that PROPERLY recording in DSD is about as close to "analog" as you can get. My friend is a recording engineer and bought the Korg mentioned in this thread. In his opinion, its as close to analog as you can get. And I have heard this myself in his half million dollar system and also with the very few pure DSD recordings I own---mostly Telarc's. However, as ALSO mentioned in this thread---its the decoding that counts, and unless he uses the same Korg to play it back when my friend is recording, there is a loss in quality.
Done **right** I think you will be hard pressed to beat PCM----- from either HRx, or any of the magnificent 24/192 material available from such labels as 2L, Acousence, Design w/ sound, or Linn for example. MikeL, hopefully at some point you can hear this (HRx or hi-rez) material done right in your own system and can agree with me (like it took you a while to do with tape!!)! ;)
Actually, with regards to the 2L material---I don't like the PCM OR the SACD versions quite as much as the Blu Ray version! For example on this release where you can compare them all:
http://www.2l.no/epost/news2008may.html
For those who really want to learn what HRx and PC audio/PCM audio have to offer, check out the computer audiophile website:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/\\
P.S. MikeL I know Winston Ma too (and his friend Gary Koh from Genesis who happens to be here in Michigan today) and as I spoke with him at CES this year----- he will be the first to tell you that computer audio downloads/PCM are the "wave of the future". I hope that soon Winston has these type of downloads available direct from his site, as he said would happen eventually at CES.
In the end its all about having all these wonderful formats---hi-rez PCM, SACD, Blu Ray, tape analog, LP, redbook, etc.---at our (my) disposal! As to which is "absolute best" will be an argument for eternity!! Each is in the grand scheme of things only slightly different then each other----none significantly better nor worse!
Regards,
Joel
As someone who owns close to 350-450 SACD's/DVD-A's myself, if I could find just 4-5 that sounded as good as the HRx material or some of the hi-rez PCM I own then I would be all ears! I am not knocking the SACD stuff, I love it, I'm just stating that PCM done right at high resolution is the way to go. At least in my system. Many will agree and many disagree, which is the nature of the beast! I personally find SACD to sound less "lifelike/realistic" and slightly more artificial/synthetic sounding (especially in the treble as documented by others) then well done PCM. That is just my opinion.
But, I will say that PROPERLY recording in DSD is about as close to "analog" as you can get. My friend is a recording engineer and bought the Korg mentioned in this thread. In his opinion, its as close to analog as you can get. And I have heard this myself in his half million dollar system and also with the very few pure DSD recordings I own---mostly Telarc's. However, as ALSO mentioned in this thread---its the decoding that counts, and unless he uses the same Korg to play it back when my friend is recording, there is a loss in quality.
Done **right** I think you will be hard pressed to beat PCM----- from either HRx, or any of the magnificent 24/192 material available from such labels as 2L, Acousence, Design w/ sound, or Linn for example. MikeL, hopefully at some point you can hear this (HRx or hi-rez) material done right in your own system and can agree with me (like it took you a while to do with tape!!)! ;)
Actually, with regards to the 2L material---I don't like the PCM OR the SACD versions quite as much as the Blu Ray version! For example on this release where you can compare them all:
http://www.2l.no/epost/news2008may.html
For those who really want to learn what HRx and PC audio/PCM audio have to offer, check out the computer audiophile website:
http://www.computeraudiophile.com/\\
P.S. MikeL I know Winston Ma too (and his friend Gary Koh from Genesis who happens to be here in Michigan today) and as I spoke with him at CES this year----- he will be the first to tell you that computer audio downloads/PCM are the "wave of the future". I hope that soon Winston has these type of downloads available direct from his site, as he said would happen eventually at CES.
In the end its all about having all these wonderful formats---hi-rez PCM, SACD, Blu Ray, tape analog, LP, redbook, etc.---at our (my) disposal! As to which is "absolute best" will be an argument for eternity!! Each is in the grand scheme of things only slightly different then each other----none significantly better nor worse!
Regards,
Joel
35
General Discussion / Re: The SACD vs Tape Challenge
« on: April 05, 2009, 07:34:18 AM »
Anyone with an interest in this thread should check out the interview below with one of the greatest engineers of our time, Tony Faulkner. A lot of different topics are covered including SACD vs. Analog. Tony points out many of the limiting factors of SACD as well.
Also, I strongly disagree that SACD is better then HRx material. I have all the HRx releases and they are at the very top of my list (sonically) of any material I have in the home--- including the TP tapes!!
http://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/804k622/index.html
Also, I strongly disagree that SACD is better then HRx material. I have all the HRx releases and they are at the very top of my list (sonically) of any material I have in the home--- including the TP tapes!!
http://www.stereophile.com/musicrecordings/804k622/index.html
36
General Discussion / Re: CES reports
« on: February 14, 2009, 03:09:20 PM »
Hi Steve,
I worded that sort of vague. What I should of said is that Magnepan had never used those PARTICULAR Bryston amps before. They are the new 1000 watt monoblocks but into the 4 ohm load of the Maggies it was more like 1800 watts per side! THAT's some serious power. I know they have used Bryston to demo stuff the last few years, and before that it was generally Audio Research stuff.
I agree tubes are the way to go on the top and then go solid state on the bottom. I am biamped just that way myself in my main rig. Works great cause you get the "control" of SS on the bass and the warmth of tubes on the mids and top.
Joel
I worded that sort of vague. What I should of said is that Magnepan had never used those PARTICULAR Bryston amps before. They are the new 1000 watt monoblocks but into the 4 ohm load of the Maggies it was more like 1800 watts per side! THAT's some serious power. I know they have used Bryston to demo stuff the last few years, and before that it was generally Audio Research stuff.
I agree tubes are the way to go on the top and then go solid state on the bottom. I am biamped just that way myself in my main rig. Works great cause you get the "control" of SS on the bass and the warmth of tubes on the mids and top.
Joel
37
General Discussion / Re: CES reports
« on: February 14, 2009, 06:37:27 AM »
Hi Ki,
Thanks for the link! My Korean is not so hot, but maybe I can find one of those translator programs online.
I sort of agree with Simon. I too thought that if they sound THAT good, then there is no need to continue the search for audio nirvana. Its game over. I was sort of on the cusp of starting up a loudspeaker company but ever since I heard THAT demo, its almost like, "why bother"?
The only thing is whether they will sound THAT good when they come out and people actually get them into their homes. I read one blurb online that said that even the Magnepan guys said it NEVER sounded that good before the show/demo. They said it was the new Bryston gear (which they used for the 1st time at the show) that was the root cause of it sounding so good. So, who knows? When they come out, people might get them home, hook them up to their $600 Adcom amp and they could sound horrible! Should be interesting when they debut.
Joel
Thanks for the link! My Korean is not so hot, but maybe I can find one of those translator programs online.
I sort of agree with Simon. I too thought that if they sound THAT good, then there is no need to continue the search for audio nirvana. Its game over. I was sort of on the cusp of starting up a loudspeaker company but ever since I heard THAT demo, its almost like, "why bother"?
The only thing is whether they will sound THAT good when they come out and people actually get them into their homes. I read one blurb online that said that even the Magnepan guys said it NEVER sounded that good before the show/demo. They said it was the new Bryston gear (which they used for the 1st time at the show) that was the root cause of it sounding so good. So, who knows? When they come out, people might get them home, hook them up to their $600 Adcom amp and they could sound horrible! Should be interesting when they debut.
Joel
38
General Discussion / Re: Seduction Finished
« on: February 12, 2009, 05:03:26 PM »
Looks Sweet! Love Auricaps too myself, I use them in some of my DIY loudspeaker designs.
Glad to know I'm not the ONLY one with a Black Seduction tape head amp. Black is beautiful.
Glad to know I'm not the ONLY one with a Black Seduction tape head amp. Black is beautiful.
39
General Discussion / Re: Seduction Finished
« on: February 12, 2009, 01:34:09 PM »
Congrats Jay!! Welcome to the big leagues!!
Joel
Joel
40
General Discussion / Re: CES reports
« on: February 12, 2009, 01:33:18 PM »
Hi Ki,
Nope, nothing and I checked everywhere Monday. Did you see this yet? Looks like I wasn't alone in what I heard. Even the "golden ears" signed off on it:
http://www.avguide.com/blog/tas-editors-and-writers-pick-the-biggest-surprises-ces-2009
Joel
Nope, nothing and I checked everywhere Monday. Did you see this yet? Looks like I wasn't alone in what I heard. Even the "golden ears" signed off on it:
http://www.avguide.com/blog/tas-editors-and-writers-pick-the-biggest-surprises-ces-2009
Joel
41
General Discussion / Re: Tanberg vs Otari
« on: January 17, 2009, 09:31:50 PM »
Wise choice going for the Otari. Just be patient and a nice MX-5050 B2 or B3 will come your way.
42
General Discussion / Re: CES reports
« on: January 17, 2009, 09:29:57 PM »
You are spot on Ki which is why I began my review on AA of the mini-maggies at Alexis Park with,
"Now, I will say right up front that of any room at either the Venetian or Alexis Park, Magnepan had the best actual ROOM to work with (maybe the TAD room was close though at the Venetian). Very large, but not TOO large, optimum seating, optimum setup, normal height ceilings, etc. So they had a significant "advantage" over the other demo rooms in Vegas. I was speaking with them and they have used this same room for a few shows now (they were there last year too) because they like its acoustics a whole bunch. I heard nothing to dismiss their beliefs!"
Good to know you know John E. too! If you were at Alexis Park, we probably did meet as I was there quite a bit last year compared to the Venetian. I had a friend representing Opera/Consonance there.
Take care, Joel
"Now, I will say right up front that of any room at either the Venetian or Alexis Park, Magnepan had the best actual ROOM to work with (maybe the TAD room was close though at the Venetian). Very large, but not TOO large, optimum seating, optimum setup, normal height ceilings, etc. So they had a significant "advantage" over the other demo rooms in Vegas. I was speaking with them and they have used this same room for a few shows now (they were there last year too) because they like its acoustics a whole bunch. I heard nothing to dismiss their beliefs!"
Good to know you know John E. too! If you were at Alexis Park, we probably did meet as I was there quite a bit last year compared to the Venetian. I had a friend representing Opera/Consonance there.
Take care, Joel
43
General Discussion / Re: CES reports
« on: January 17, 2009, 06:22:07 AM »
Ben---
Here is some more on the woofer, and a picture too:
http://www.avguide.com/blog/the-maggie-mystery-speaker-part-2
It's 4 ohms and passive (no amp in it), so you will need to have some power. They used 1800 watts into 4 ohm per channel Bryston monoblocks in the demo, but that was overkill to trick us into thinking there were huge speakers behind the curtains (i.e. all we could see were the amps in front of the curtains).
Here is some more on the woofer, and a picture too:
http://www.avguide.com/blog/the-maggie-mystery-speaker-part-2
It's 4 ohms and passive (no amp in it), so you will need to have some power. They used 1800 watts into 4 ohm per channel Bryston monoblocks in the demo, but that was overkill to trick us into thinking there were huge speakers behind the curtains (i.e. all we could see were the amps in front of the curtains).
44
General Discussion / Re: CES reports
« on: January 16, 2009, 08:53:01 PM »
Ki---do you know John Elison??? He was helping to man the April Music room last year with his PC and Stello DAC! Glad someone like Simon Lee thought as highly of those mini-maggies as I did. There have been several quotes I've heard, besides my own, that have really floored me. Such as in the mini-review on Soundstage.com where an owner of a pair of the 20.1's proclaimed, "I wish mine sounded as good as these mini-maggies!". Magnepan certainly has a predicament here because although they do SOUND LIKE 10-100k speakers (and believe me at the show those were all there as you know), they certainly can't price them too high where people will laugh or too low where nobody would ever buy the other speakers in their product line!!!!
Steve---you are spot on with your assessment of adding "more" of them in an array. IMHO, the REASON they sounded so good was BECAUSE they were so small. Kind of like the long standing theory that "mini-monitors image better then large floorstanders"---thats EXACTLY what was going on there. You could stand up, sit down, be on axis, off axis, stand on your head, it didn't matter---they imaged like NUTS! They did not have the "beaming effect" that I hear with so many Maggies and electrostats and this, IMHO, was because they were so small!
Ben---nothing makes a 100k pair better then a 3k pair of speakers. Magnepan just proved that at CES. In reality, these will be priced max around 2.5k, and that will include at least 1 "woofer panel". Wendell said he really didn't want to make them cost more then the 1.6's and those are $1700 right now. A single woofer panel that is needed with these mini-maggies is $500. So, max you have $1700 plus $500=$2200.
Well, this 2.2k pair of speakers just beat everything at the show (IMHO), regardless of cost (they sounded waaaay better then the self proclaimed YG Acoustics "Best Loudspeaker in the World". This Maggie demo proved once again in my mind that in high end audio "you don't always get what you pay for."!
My guess on Specs are that the speakers with at least 1 woofer (preferrably 2) they will go from 40Hz-40kHz. Remember, they are using the ribbon from the 20.1 and that one goes out that far. And the woofer panel, according to Wendell Diller, is good to 40Hz as long as it is near a room boundary. As for filling a room with sound? The room this demo was in was about 30 feet long and 20 feet wide and 10 feet tall (in other words, BIG). The room was filled EFFORTLESSLY. I doubt your room is that big, so you should be fine.
Hope that helps.
Joel
Steve---you are spot on with your assessment of adding "more" of them in an array. IMHO, the REASON they sounded so good was BECAUSE they were so small. Kind of like the long standing theory that "mini-monitors image better then large floorstanders"---thats EXACTLY what was going on there. You could stand up, sit down, be on axis, off axis, stand on your head, it didn't matter---they imaged like NUTS! They did not have the "beaming effect" that I hear with so many Maggies and electrostats and this, IMHO, was because they were so small!
Ben---nothing makes a 100k pair better then a 3k pair of speakers. Magnepan just proved that at CES. In reality, these will be priced max around 2.5k, and that will include at least 1 "woofer panel". Wendell said he really didn't want to make them cost more then the 1.6's and those are $1700 right now. A single woofer panel that is needed with these mini-maggies is $500. So, max you have $1700 plus $500=$2200.
Well, this 2.2k pair of speakers just beat everything at the show (IMHO), regardless of cost (they sounded waaaay better then the self proclaimed YG Acoustics "Best Loudspeaker in the World". This Maggie demo proved once again in my mind that in high end audio "you don't always get what you pay for."!
My guess on Specs are that the speakers with at least 1 woofer (preferrably 2) they will go from 40Hz-40kHz. Remember, they are using the ribbon from the 20.1 and that one goes out that far. And the woofer panel, according to Wendell Diller, is good to 40Hz as long as it is near a room boundary. As for filling a room with sound? The room this demo was in was about 30 feet long and 20 feet wide and 10 feet tall (in other words, BIG). The room was filled EFFORTLESSLY. I doubt your room is that big, so you should be fine.
Hope that helps.
Joel
45
General Discussion / Re: CES reports
« on: January 12, 2009, 09:14:07 PM »
Hi Doc,
Great to have met you too! I really wanted to make it to the Mirage for that party Thursday but we got so stuck in traffic at the Venetian we just decided to stay there for a few more hours. Thats what we get for parking on the 9th floor.
The Magico room was great, you are right about that. I doubt you made it over to THE Show, but the Magnepan "mystery demo" was out of this world. It turned out to be my favorite overall. If your curious, you can read a post I made earlier today on Audio Asylum:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/MUG/messages/13/137124.html
Anyhow, thanks again for being so hospitable at the show!
Joel
Great to have met you too! I really wanted to make it to the Mirage for that party Thursday but we got so stuck in traffic at the Venetian we just decided to stay there for a few more hours. Thats what we get for parking on the 9th floor.
The Magico room was great, you are right about that. I doubt you made it over to THE Show, but the Magnepan "mystery demo" was out of this world. It turned out to be my favorite overall. If your curious, you can read a post I made earlier today on Audio Asylum:
http://www.audioasylum.com/forums/MUG/messages/13/137124.html
Anyhow, thanks again for being so hospitable at the show!
Joel