Collecting Within One Brand

Martlet..... THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH for linking us to the ABC story about Eva Cassidy. It is a wonderful piece of TV journalism about a truly fantastic singer. My eyes are moist with tears and my heart is full of joy after watching it. I've been a big fan of Eva's for quite some time now, and her "Live at Blues Alley" disc is one that I play over and over again, more amazed with each listening session. She was quite a talent, taken from us at far too young an age. Rest in peace Eva, and thanks for the tunes. Bravo.

I should sell off a bunch of these but I have the following Fried loudspeakers:
1) A/6
2) Beta
3) Valhalla (C satellites with O subwoofers) - Bud's own pair
4) Valhalla - home made
5) Subwoofer

I can likely bundle 1, 2, and 5 as some sort of HT package.

Likewise, for Jadis integrated amplifiers:
1) Orchestra Reference
2) DA30
3) DA60

Should sell 1 and 2

Adam18 - Glad to know you liked the ABC piece. In more than one way I can truthfully say Eva's music has pushed by pursuit of better audio solutions.

The pure sound of her voice was something I wanted to get closer to. I wondered if there was something about her technique that I would learn as I upgraded speakers. In this pursuit, her voice did become fuller and truer to life.

Ultimately the better equipment does disclose something about her talent. The greater amplification and better speakers magnify the smallest flaw in her performance. Someone I thought was a perfect vocalist turned into someone I respected even more. I learned that she was human and whatever flaws I found were just of the moment, something every singer should be afforded.

There are a number of ways for audiophiles to hear the highest quality recordings from Eva. The are several selections on a single SACD, a full album (Songbird) on XRCD and vinyl (the US version pressed by by Steve Hoffman on HQ 180 vinyl). Finally her original releases which have long been praised for their audio quality (as noted by "Live At Blues Alley").

The link in my last post shows a picture of her latest album atop some of the newest audiophile equipment. "Simply Eva" is all acoustic - just Eva and her guitar. It offers (imho) the best version of her original arrangement of "Over The Rainbow." It has been reviewed well and achieved "Gold Record" status in the UK.

To clarify my language..."flaws of the moment" was intended to mean things like turning away from the mic a moment early. Cassidy to my ears is never off key or suffers any other major flaw. There must be a better wording to describe a slight recording imperfection done in a live recording which only the keenest of listening will disclose - unfortunately I can't think of it.

I'm a Mirage addict. I bought my first pair, M5si's, in Oct. 1996. Over time I've turned that pair into a 7.1 surround system including a 400w 2x8 subwoofer. In the living room I have a stereo pair of OMD-15 floorstanders augmented by an MM8 sub (a 9" cube) and I'm tempted to get a second one before they're gone. I also have a couple more Mirage subs that I don't use anymore (LF-150 and LF-100) that I plan to consign.

I've been wearing (figuratively) a black armband ever since Klipsch bought Mirage and dismantled its high end lines, leaving only their "lifestyle" product line, which is nevertheless very good. I'd love to get a pair of OMD-28s before they're all gone.

If I had the money and started over with another brand, it would probably be two brands--Magnepan plus JL for the subwoofers. Or maybe GoldenEar, but I'd have to audition the Triton Two's more thoroughly to decide.