What makes a system compelling?

In one word Naim!

Quite simply a top of the line Naim olive series 52 pre, CDSII cd player (a huge factor), 250 amp with high quality full range speakers. You'll feel the depth, timing, bass, dimension, rythm, and articulation immediatly...In the store or at home...very engaging! and you won't need no stinkin subwoofer either.

The answer lies between a person's ears, and in their heart and soul!

For each of us, it is a different thing. Some want excitement, some want liquidity. Some want bass, some want treble, and others want midrange. The answer is reflected in the variety of systems that we all have here. If there was a simple cookbook answer, Pete's speakers, with John's amplifier and preamplifier, with the ABC turntable, a big number of people here would own that system. But no, we use solid state and tubes, electrostatics and dynamics, vinyl and CD.

Just like the famous Stereophile cover with the Krell and the Cary amplifiers which stated, "If one of these amplifiers is right, the other must be wrong." Not true, otherwise one of those companies would no longer be in business. There are enough proponents of each to keep both companies not only viable, but thriving.

Slappy is so silly...ya gotta love him! I'm not sure, but I think he knows my gear has included a who's who list of the top brands both tube and solid state. That being said, tubes done well sound completely natural, dynamic and palpable with deep bass and extended highs. Anyone who keeps up with the industry and or knows a musician or two will tell ya...tubes make music!!

IMHO, much of the _magic_ in a _magical_ system is due to accurate retrieval and accurate reproduction of minute low-level details that are frequently obscured with lower resolution systems.

This is frequently accomplished more cheaply ane easily thru lower power tubes matched with high efficiency speakers - hence tbe current revival of SET and horns.

I don't mean to say it cannot be done well with other methods, and I'm not saying it's cheap if done where you frequently get goosebumps - I am saying it's a good bit less expensive _big grin_

As to slappy's "distorted ass-tubes" comment _grin_, hey Slappy, you either think maybe you're measuring the wrong things? _big grin_ IMHO most measurements are little more than marketing tools.

Caveat - when I grew up, if you listened to reproduced music, you were listening to tubes, SS wasn't on the market.

Tubes sound "right" to me. If digital or whatever eventually sounds "righter", I'll go digital or whatever _grin_

I am inclined to believe it is a fleeting happening. I have frequently had it on the introduction of something new, but I think you become accustomed to it quickly and are less impressed the next night. Unfortunately often you might be impressed only to change back and think you were crazy to think it was an improvement. The real question is to avoid retrogressing.

I think I recall years ago having such a compelling experience, but I am certain that my system now is far superior. This would suggest that I could find Rectolinear IIIs compelling, so it need not be after much equipment and experience.