John Zimmerman of the Audio Connection in Seattle in the early 80’s introducing me to Cary tube amps and pre amps, Sota turntables, Benz cartridges, and ProAc speakers.
What was your first big eye opener with regard to audio?
Hello friends,
what was the most fascinating thing you did with the compilation or optimization of your system in terms of SQ or performance, that really got your attention in either a good or bad way?
what was it that actually impressed or surprized you once it was in place?
or what DIY project was it that once done really gave your audio system a big shot in the arm SQ-wise?
maybe it was simply finding out just how much some items could cost
something always seems to take place that changes our philosophies or understandings and maybe even our approach to arranging a fine audio system.
what was your’s?
Perhaps it was buying a quality rack, platform, or maybe a pr. of amp stands?
rolling tubes? adding iso footers?
biting the bullet and bringing in a decidedly more expensive or merely a different electronic component? DAC? Line stage? Mono blocks? Speakers?
what amazing things could be done with as little as 8wpc?
for example, my ‘eye opening’ events came two fold. adding power line conditioning and using upscale wires/cables, or power cords.
which of these came first I’m not sure but all of them came with a huge amount of prejudice on my part as to them doing anything positive to the quality of the sound, but indeed they did!
other things came along with nearly the impact or mind altering impact but those were the initial items that paved the way for me to keep an open mind with respect to building an audio system and preserving its synergy.
what was or has been your epiphany? your most surprising ‘move’ in audio land?
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Ah, yes. Circa 1978, I was already going good with Acoustat X speakers up the chain to an Ortofon MC20 moving coil cart in a Luxman turntable. Then I walked into Peter's Sound Components in Coral Gables, Fl. I instantly heard pure tones that I immediately tracked back into the store recesses. Making these sounds, rich tones if you will, was a Koetsu Rosewood cart. Wasn't familiar with it. Never heard anything like it. I remember nothing about the equipment associated with this Koetsu except that it was good but not top shelf. My bad. Regardless I bought it. Yep, right out of the arm. I wanted THAT one. Never regretted it to this day. |
Anthem Room Correction (ARC). DSP for optimizing stereo sound and Bass management has gotten a bad rap over the years, IMO (I think that's changing). IME, ARC is incredibly effective and musical (and it seems to me to be underrated among the audiophiliacs out there). There are a pair of great, thorough older "reviews" of ARC on the "Secrets" site testifying to its effectiveness and how it is implemented. Here is a link to one of them: http://https//hometheaterhifi.com/technical/technical-reviews/anthem-room-correction-arc-system-part-2-including-a-subwoofer/ As far as I can tell the software just keeps getting better. FWIW/Cheers. |
I think what surprises me the most about my system, is how how one day it sounds very clear and balanced and then the next day I find myself wondering what sounds wrong. I have an original pressing of Brubeck's "Time Out,", which has very clear cymbol in the initial grooves (useing my recently retiped Grado Statement). The bass is very clean and sounding like a string bass ought to. And then another day the cymbol is somewhat muffled, the bass less clean. So. I've come to realize that rather than saying to myself: this is a phono preamp issue or some other thing like: oh oh, my crossover tolerances are changing with age, that in reality, this is a humidity issue in the room. I mean, how many thousands have been (happily) spent rather than aquireing a little patience regarding the local atmosphere. |
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