Now, finally, just the music

Amandarae,

I know someone else who is very particular about sound and music that thinks the Linkwitz Orion project speakers are really something special. I'd love to hear them sometime. I think the fellow I'm speaking of will be building his in the near future, so maybe I will be able to listen to his once they're finished. They definitely have a unique look, due, in part to their design.

Up until recently, I've been striving for accuracy, low distortion, transient speed, and dynamic capability -- basically a reference quality system that would quickly tell me all I wanted to know about a given recording or component. I believe I have found that with my Benchmark/NuForce/VMPS system, which is all solid-state. Surprisingly, in spite of its high resolving capability, it is not harsh or irritating (unless it's in the recording). So this system has become my true reference.

But within the last couple of weeks, during a review of other speakers in a second system, I got the chance to try a set of the Aural Ersatz TAD-803 (single-driver mod) speakers.

I was immediately struck by how smooth, musical, and immediate they sounded. Yes, they were a little rolled in the bass and the extreme treble, but they provided a truly eye-opening and most satisfying musical experience. I'm finding there's really no substitute for great midrange reproduction. I can literally sit there for hours, pouring through old favorite recordings with a grin on my face, even dozing off at times, because it's just so relaxing.

Presently, I'm using a Parasound belt-drive transport into a Monarchy M24 tube DAC, which feeds a Kavent A210 tube/MOSFET hybrid amplifier. Cabling is mostly SignalCable Silver Resolution. It's pretty impressive sound for the dollar, IMO.

All the above adds up to me saying, "I can definitely relate."

I don't know about you guys,but when I purchase a new addition to my rig, my first few months of listening is so ridiculously critical, that I'm not enjoying the music. It has become evident to me, after a little over three months of listening to my Zu Definition 1.5s, that I'm finally enjoying my tunes and nothing but the tunes. I've accepted my Zu Definitions into my rig and (love them, btw) have found these past couple of weeks or so, to be just been the music experience. I realize, now, what I have and how special the sound is. I always find that my first couple of weeks (months depending on the component) of listening to anything new in my system to be more of a critical reviewer/listener relationship with my rig. Not fun until the music comes back. It has, and it's a beautiful thing. Can anyone relate? peace, warren :)

It always put a smile on my face when I read someone arriving at his "destination" in our audiophile world. I can relate since I've been in the roller coaster ride so many times and been doing so for 3 years.

I too, have been quiet since November when I finished my Linkwitz Orion project. No more daily "New Today" hunting and reading enormous text about new speakers that are currently getting the rave. The Orions satisfy me and continuing to do so every session wether its critical listening or use for background music when doing some office work. Although I admit, it is very difficult to finish my take home task without slipping to a 5 to 10 minute serious listening mode. Because the Orions startle me and gives what I was looking for daily, I began to accumulate a lot of LP's and CD's as if no tomorrow. Even my iPOD sounds so good with my current speakers. I am very happy!

Enjoy your stay, but be careful! Once the bug bites, remind yourself that a nicely configured, tweak, and great sounding synergistic system is a terrible thing to waste.

I feel for you. Life is good!

Let's try this again ;^)

It's sad, I think about it all the time. It's been well over a year for me and my system has not been stable for more than a month at most. I can't even get through a whole CD. I haven't even bought a new CD in years because I don't want to introduce a new "variable" into the experiment. : ^(

All I do is listen to the transients, the attack, the discreet voicings, soudstage, etc.

I even tried to get kicked off HeadFi this weekend.

If I get hunkered down in critical listening mode, and want to break away from that trap, I put on something with a driving rhythm. ZZ Top, Diana Ross and the Supremes, most any Motown for that matter, that sort of thing.

Well, I haven't been able to give up the audio pubs, Audiogon and the like. I think it would be easier to give up coffee, but I am really grooving with the music, more than ever (it seems)--maybe it's not only the Defs, but the combination of SET, as well. It's so nice to sit back and be taken away by what I love most....

Warren, Enjoy it while it lasts. You've just described the disease which afflicts most all audiophiles. They have become so attentive to the sound of their stuff they can no longer just relax and get absorbed in the music.

If you think this is not so, just see how happy you will be by listening to your new system in mono and not sit in the sweet spot. I bet if you do you'll miss all that 'audiophile stuff' like soundstage for example as well as infinite detail.

Also, see how long you can resist reading a mag, hard copy or internet, or reading the want ad's or postings on the audio sites.

As I said, enjoy it while it lasts!

I've had my Tylers now for about a week. They sounded pretty good out of the box. I am excited to hear what they end up sounding like after break in. It's a great feeling when you KNOW your system sounds fantastic. In addition to that it's amazing how much different music you end up becoming interested in!

I guess the music comes as #1. When I bought my brand new speakers in late Jan I knew not to expect too much till they get some miles on them. So,--me-- I'm in the relaxed mode.(and paitent) New speakers r always fun!!