Jay - first, I agree and learned long ago not to comment on pieces I haven’t heard. The first revelation was my first listen to Apogee speakers (in The Listening Room, in Scarsdale, NY - owner Ron Mitz). I was amazed at the time - and the experience was exasperated because most everything I read about them lead me to have a very different expectation of how they would sound.
Second - I’ve posted this on your thread before, I prefer neutral components that recreate the illusion of the live performance as best as possible.
While I haven’t heard the Boulder amplifier, I explained my impression after listening to Momentum mono’s (in a system and with music I was very familiar with) to another respected audiophile, and how they were very clean, precise and articulate (and had slightly better bass then the amplifiers I used) but that they didn’t have all the natural harmonics that accompanied a live performance and he stated that Boulder started that "sterile" type of sound movement. Now - please don’t criticize me - that’s not what I stated. And this is being VERY critical (but at this level of equipment, I believe we all have the right to be VERY critical).
What I’m trying to convey is there’s much more to reproducing the illusion of a live performance then neutrality, though neutrality is certainly a necessary part. A system has to be engaging and be able to convey the emotion of the music - and for me, that’s what keeps me listening for hours (literally!). And, at the same time, my system ruthlessly exposes poor recordings. I prefer this because with well recorded music - the experience is unmatched.
This is just my preference with my own system - and my system isn’t at the level your system is (Meridian 861v8, 800 Transport, Pass XA-200.5’s, Sasha I’s, Sound Application TT-7).
Another aspect (for me) regarding a system’s performance is imagining. After the "preliminary" system performance aspects are met (frequency response, dynamics, speed, transparency, etc.) imaging is super critical for me. If a system doesn’t provide that reach out and touch it 3D lifelike image (with lifelike proportions, width and depth), then it’s not convincing (to me).
I found cabling makes a DRASTIC difference in system performance and I hope one day to visit and get to listen to your system and switch in the cables that I prefer and get your feedback. What I’d like to find out is: 1 - do we value the same performance characteristics (as you just previously stated - that we all have our own preferences) and 2 - how well do the cables I found to be the best performing ever compare to the cables you found to be the best performing ever.
Like the Gryphon electronics, the cables I use are RUTHLESSLY revealing - and I think that’s a positive trait but it exposes recordings for just what they are - both good and bad.
And - so everyone knows, I became a dealer for the cables I use. I first purchased them and liked them so much I became a dealer for them. But, after attempting to educate and offer these cables to fellow audiophiles, I no longer promote them, because it seams everyone values something different and so few of use apparently use live music as a reference and strive to create the illusion of a live performance.
I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone - I’m just trying to share my own experiences and gain insights from other’s experiences (so we don’t have to do all the trials ourselves).
Keep up the good work Jay - while I haven’t been able to follow your forum daily, I do my best to keep current and catch up whenever possible. Your forum is unmatched - and it’s length and duration is a testament to that! We’ve all gained so much from it ! ! ! !
Second - I’ve posted this on your thread before, I prefer neutral components that recreate the illusion of the live performance as best as possible.
While I haven’t heard the Boulder amplifier, I explained my impression after listening to Momentum mono’s (in a system and with music I was very familiar with) to another respected audiophile, and how they were very clean, precise and articulate (and had slightly better bass then the amplifiers I used) but that they didn’t have all the natural harmonics that accompanied a live performance and he stated that Boulder started that "sterile" type of sound movement. Now - please don’t criticize me - that’s not what I stated. And this is being VERY critical (but at this level of equipment, I believe we all have the right to be VERY critical).
What I’m trying to convey is there’s much more to reproducing the illusion of a live performance then neutrality, though neutrality is certainly a necessary part. A system has to be engaging and be able to convey the emotion of the music - and for me, that’s what keeps me listening for hours (literally!). And, at the same time, my system ruthlessly exposes poor recordings. I prefer this because with well recorded music - the experience is unmatched.
This is just my preference with my own system - and my system isn’t at the level your system is (Meridian 861v8, 800 Transport, Pass XA-200.5’s, Sasha I’s, Sound Application TT-7).
Another aspect (for me) regarding a system’s performance is imagining. After the "preliminary" system performance aspects are met (frequency response, dynamics, speed, transparency, etc.) imaging is super critical for me. If a system doesn’t provide that reach out and touch it 3D lifelike image (with lifelike proportions, width and depth), then it’s not convincing (to me).
I found cabling makes a DRASTIC difference in system performance and I hope one day to visit and get to listen to your system and switch in the cables that I prefer and get your feedback. What I’d like to find out is: 1 - do we value the same performance characteristics (as you just previously stated - that we all have our own preferences) and 2 - how well do the cables I found to be the best performing ever compare to the cables you found to be the best performing ever.
Like the Gryphon electronics, the cables I use are RUTHLESSLY revealing - and I think that’s a positive trait but it exposes recordings for just what they are - both good and bad.
And - so everyone knows, I became a dealer for the cables I use. I first purchased them and liked them so much I became a dealer for them. But, after attempting to educate and offer these cables to fellow audiophiles, I no longer promote them, because it seams everyone values something different and so few of use apparently use live music as a reference and strive to create the illusion of a live performance.
I certainly don’t mean to offend anyone - I’m just trying to share my own experiences and gain insights from other’s experiences (so we don’t have to do all the trials ourselves).
Keep up the good work Jay - while I haven’t been able to follow your forum daily, I do my best to keep current and catch up whenever possible. Your forum is unmatched - and it’s length and duration is a testament to that! We’ve all gained so much from it ! ! ! !