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For us, well... should I say? What are yours?
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For us... Keith Don't Go, we go. Pretty much any "audiophile" type music that is being played because it sounds great. Female vocals.Comment
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That seems to change every time I've managed to make a show (which unfortunately hasn't happened in recent years). Typically it is whatever the "flavor of the day" is, whatever new release becomes ubiquitous throughout the show. Typically such recordings tend towards what I call small music or timid music, and thus easily reproducible which emphasizes what strength of a system without revealing any inherent weaknesses. Not my cup of tea, and if I hear the same thing at a couple of demos I tend to avoid another demo using the same material. I generally prefer "large music".
For evaluating a system I prefer a few disparate recordings: a superior soprano, with minimal vocal or orchestral accompaniment singing an aria because so few systems reproduce the sheer beauty of tone; a short excerpt from a high energy large orchestral performance for resolution and dynamics; an energetic rock number simply because I rock and I want to be thunderstruck; and finally something like a cut I like from Deadmau5 4x4=12 which I picked up for the one cut that has very deep synth bass without the usual boring rhythm of every other cut on the album. Ten minutes with such a mix will pretty much tell you all you need to know as to listen further or not bother.
Imagine my surprise at accusations of being overly critical and judgmental.
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I detest Diana Krall. There, I said it.Comment
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Guess I am a party of one. I am pretty open and tolerant to most music. Dianna Krall is fine in my book and I rarely hate anything. It's bad sound, however, that drives me out the room faster than you can say Elvis. Especially anything bright or glarey e.g. bad digital. There are times I've gone into rooms, asked the exhibitor to play a cut from a favorite record, and the sound horrible. So bad that I debate would it be impolite to leave in the middle of the track or do I have to stay for the whole track? Particularly when I had my own magazine and manufacturers would drag me in from the hall to hear their gear.Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
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-Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
-Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
-Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
-Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
-VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
-VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
-Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
-Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
-Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
-Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.Comment
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I agree with Dave - designers and manufacturers would not create something to intentionally sound bad, and they certainly won't set up a demo system that way. However, different people have different preferences. What I think is warm, rich and extended may not be to the preference of someone else who may think that it is cold, lean and muffled. -
Exactly. Though while many do not intentionally set up a bad demo, sadly many do. Too big of a speaker for the room, not set up for the dimensions (try diagonal if the room is oddly dimensioned), too loud, not loud enough...
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I think sound quality of a system can be broadly categorized when initially listened to. Just plain bad and makes my ears bleed. Bad, not for long term listening (defined as more than 10 minutes). Adequate but has flaws. Good, no egregious faults but could be better. Better, very minor faults that you can live with long term. And lastly a system that is clearly superior in all respects, a Budweiser six pack system, that is it would take six of the Budweiser Clydesdales to tear you away weeping.Comment
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I have no patience for sonic jewelry with no soul or substance:
Lyn Stanley
Vanessa Fernandez
Anne Brisson
Also burnt out on hearing:
Louis Armstrong - St. James Infirmary
Nils Lofgren - Keith Don't Go
I remember my one visit to RMAF. I literally heard St. James Infirmary in 3 consecutive rooms.
Kudos to Gary Koh. He always brings something interesting that sounds great.
PROGRESSIVE SOUNDS FROM AROUND THE WORLD
www.lasercd.com
www.lasersedgegroup.com
Rockport Aquila, Boulder 2010, Boulder 2008, Boulder 2060, Transparent Audio Reference XL, Nordost Quantum QBase8, TW Acustic AC Anniversary, TW Acustic Raven 10.5 arm, Lyra Atlas, Bricasti M1 Special Edition, SRA Scuttle3 rack + various SRA/Symposium standsComment
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I like all kinds of music, an eclectic taste. I'm like Myles, bad sound will drive me out. But anymore I'm looking for great sound, so even very good to excellent sound will drive me out as they are just "average" now. Life is to short for mediocrity.Speakers/Amps: Genesis G2.2 Jr with Powered Servo-Sub Bass, Genesis GR1440 Mono Amps, 5,000 watts total power
Preamp: SMc Audio VRE-1C Preamp (fully balanced inputs and output)
Analog 1: VPI Signature 21 Belt-Drive Turntable w/ 10” 3D Printed Fatboy Gimbal Arm and Ortofon MC Windfeld Ti Phono Cartridge driving Lehmann Silver Cube Phono Preamp
Analog 2: VPI HW-40 Direct-Drive Turntable w/ 12” 3D Printed Fatboy Gimbal Arm and Ortofon MC Anna Diamond Phono Cartridge driving Genesis Gold Phono Preamp
Analog 3: VPI Avenger Reference Rim Drive Turntable w/ 12" 3D Printed Fatboy Gimbal Arm and Ortofon MC Verismo Phono Cartridge
Analog 4: Second 12" Fatboy arm on Avenger with Ortofon 2M Mono SE Cartridge
Analog 5: Studer A810 R2R tape w/ Bridge Console. Using built-in tape preamp
Digital: Lumin Network Player with Lumin NAS
Cables: Genesis Advanced Technologies/Absolute Fidelity Interface Interconnects, Speaker, Phono and Power
A/C Power: Extensive System Upgrades, Sub-panel w/hard-wired power cables, and IsoTek Super Titan Passive Power Conditioning for Amplifiers
Accessories: Custom Acrylic Equipment Stands, Klaudio Ultrasonic RCMComment
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Opera and Country Music!!Comment
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Myles B. Astor, PhD, Administrator
Senior Editor, Positive-Feedback.com
________________________________________
-Zellaton Plural Evo speakers
-Goldmund Telos 440 and 1000 Nextgen mono amps
-Goldmund Mimesis 37S Nextgen preamplifier
-Doshi EVO and Goldmund PH3.8 phonostage
-VPI Vanquish direct-drive turntable
-VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy dual pivot tonearm, VPI 12-inch 3D Fat Boy gimballed and SAT LM-12 arm
-Lyra Atlas SL Lambda, vdh Colibri Master Signature, Mutech Hayabusa,
-Technics RS1506 with Flux Magnetic heads, Doshi V3.0 tape stage (balanced)
-Assorted cables including Skogrand, Kubala-Sosna, Audience FrontRow; Audience FrontRow, Genesis Advanced Technologies , Goldmund and Ensemble Power Cords
-Accessories including Stillpoint Aperture panels, Cathedral Sound panels, Furutech NCF Nano AC receptacles; Silver Circle Tchaik 6 PLC, Symposium ISIS and SRA Craz 3 racks, Audiodharma Cable Cooker, Symposium Ultra and assorted SRA OHIO Class 2.3+ platforms.Comment
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Ah, but how often do you hear any of your top line at any audio show (I have heard Chet Atkins once or twice, I think). Alison Krauss and Bonnie Raitt, not as unusual I don't think, and I also think they are not really country or western (I would say bluegrass and blues/rock/pop, respectively) -
Chet Atkins because his albums were on HP's list?
And Classic reissued that album? Actually I bought most of Chet's early RCAs and like many of them. Maybe he deserves a thread!?!? Some great stuff there.
I used to bring a live Don Williams because Top Music did a great reissue on CD about twenty years ago. But most don't know who he is. I've heard Krauss on occasion but the one MOFI reissue I liked is long OOP and goes for bongo bucks. Patsy Cline because Chad reissued one of her albums.
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Agreed! Most of the audiophile favorites. I won't sit through Hotel California, Keith Don't Go, Friend and Fellow's Light My Fire, any boring jazz, Diana Krall. At least no one plays Jazz at the Pawnshop anymore.
I probably won't sit through any demo that won't play at least something that I bring in myself.
I'm not kidding, we have filled otherwise empty exhibits by cranking up Sublime really loud on 180 gram LP and leaving the door open. Wonderful album.Steve Lefkowicz
Senior Associate Editor at Positive Feedback
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Analog 1: Linn LP12 (MOSE/Hercules II), Ittok, Dynavector 10X5 MK.II Low, iPhono2/iPowerX; Analog 2: Pro-Ject RPM-1 Carbon, Talisman S, iFi iPhono.
Digital: Geekom Mini PC (i5, 16GB RAM, 512GB SSD, JRiver Media Center 29, Tidal HiFi, Qobuz Studio), iFi NEO iDSD, iFi iUSB3, iPurifier2, Audioquest Jitterbug FMJ.
Electronics: Khozmo Stereo Passive with AMRG Ladder Attenuator and "NewClassD" Active Stage, Antique Sound Labs MG-SI15DT-S, Burson Timekeeper Virtuoso
Speakers: Tekton Perfect SET 15, Tekton Lore, Magneplaner .7, GoldenEar BRX
Interconnects: Morrow Audio MA1, Vermouth Audio Black Pearl, Audioquest Evergreen
Speaker cables: Morrow Audio SP4, Vermouth Audio Red Velvet, Audioquest Type 5
Digital cables: Aural Symphonics USB, iFi Gemini twin-head USB.
Accessories: Sound Organization turntable shelf, Mondo racks, Pangea Audio Vulcan rack, AV Room Services EVPs under the speakers, Pi Audio Group Über BUSS, Monster HTS2000 power conditioner, Kinetronics anti-static brush, Pro-Ject VC-S record cleaner, Spin Clean record cleaner.
Headphones: Schiit Valhalla amp, Burson Conductor Virtuoso Amp, Meze Audio 99 Classic and 99 Neo, Beyerdynamic DT770Pro 600 ohm, 1More Triple Driver Over Ear, 1More Triple Driver IEMComment
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Can't say there is any music that would make me walk out of a room. Crappy sounding stereo would, though. If say I walked into HiFi Spectacular Inc's room and Famous Blue Raincoat was on and sounding bad I wouldn't stick around too long as I know the audio quality is pretty good. Would also/and have walked out of rooms that are too loud!
BeauFairchild 750 in OMA slate plinth, Miyajima Kansui, AprilSound RIAA, EMIA step-up, Bent Audi TAP-X pre, Ayre C5x SACD, Innuos Zen Mini, CAD 1543 MK II DAC, AntiCable Level 1 loom. AprilSound 50 monoblocs, or Shiit Aegir or Museatax MTR-101 monoblocs.Comment
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I'm pretty tolerant as well and that includes rap and country although I do gravitate heavily to electronica for non-critical listening like when I'm on the road. That said there are tracks that I think should be retired or at least suspended for a while. Already mentioned was Please Don't Go. I don't want to hear The Hunter, Here's to Ben or the drum track from Paramita anytime in the immediate future. Rodrigo y Gabriela's Stairway to Heaven is nudging into the land of the over played and I also don't think I want to hear JATP for a while. Gaucho has also been played too much IMO.Comment
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Daft Punk - Get Lucky is the latest addition to detestable show tracks in my book ...Comment
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Different strokes. Why there is so much diversity out there in nearly everything. -
I thought Random Access Memories was fantastic - the vinyl anyway. The CD and high-rez downloads sounded more compressed and had some of the life sucked out of it. My current fav Daft Punk is the vinyl re-issue of the soundtrack to Tron. I haven't brought it to demo, but something I listen to a lot.
On the same vein - Touch: Yello, and their latest, Toy -
It sounds ab fab I'm just sooo tired of hearing it again and again and again ...
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