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The Next Level

What I am about to write is going to sound familiar to a lot of you in AudiogonLand. Let me first set the stage.

My wife and I both had another stressful, crazy work week under our belt and we settled in for a quiet, ‘ lock the doors and chill out with a great steak, a bottle of Bordeaux, and just kick back and enjoy the music ‘ night. Everything seemed excellent. Filet mignon wrapped in bacon, steamed asparagus lightly pan fried with bacon and garlic, then lightly covered with a dash of fresh Parmesan grated cheese accompanied with a nice bottle of a very smooth bottle of French Bordeux that didn’t cost us an arm and a leg. Great conversion and we were both laughing and enjoying each other. Wonderful night.

We were listening to my newly reconfigured tube system in the basement listening room. As favorite pieces played, we occasionally closed our eyes and caught each other smiling and swaying with the rhythm of the music. It was the first time that we had both sat down to listen to the new combination of tubes and cables that we had recently purchased.

Then we put on Beth Orton’s Pass in Time and entered the next level…

Moving 3 dimensional sounds shot at us from all angles. This was much more than sound stage… we were IN THE MUSIC. I have never experienced anything like this with music in my life. Beth’s lyrics were very beautiful and her band was extremely hypnotic. I wanted to grab and hug the beautiful sounds that were totally filling our room. The pluck of guitar strings was right in front of me, the hidden texture of so many of the electronic effects revealed itself to me in the most crisp, clear, gentle, touchable, growing, moving …. words fail me now. We were on an indescribably pleasant trip for about 45 minutes.

I thought I had a great system before last night. I enjoyed it every day and never got tired of it. I always seem to be analyzing where I could make the next improvement. I have finally evolved to a new level where all I could do was let the music come and take me away and I was no longer in control, and I loved every minute of it.

Does anyone else have that memory of realizing that your system was everything and more than you had ever hoped for? For me, it was very punch in the nose obvious. I’d like to hear of anyone else that can remember reaching their next level.
128x128mattzack2
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Mattzack2 - I thought you were done? I'm so dissapointed ;-) I love Beth Orton (with an "o" by the way).

For your MacMini>DAC you may want to look into an re-clocking interface such as an Empirical PaceCar if you do choose to use Toslink. I would definitely choose to take the SPDIF conversion outside of your MacMini (don't use Mac Toslink>DAC). Plenty of decent USB DAC's out there though - the asynchronous technology employed by Wavelength, among others, is compelling. Plenty of threads here on that subject too, so I won't hijack this one any further. I have to go take down your effigy off my Audiophile-Hero pedestal now.
mattzack2's avatar
mattzack2 OP
175 posts
 
LOL...

I have a NOS Valab with toslink, coax and usb inputs. I just ordered a Ridge Street Audio Design Poiema USB From Robert Schutz, so I am walking dowm the music server highway right now also.

I am going to try to make my files sound as good as my CDs do, but I am just beginning down that path. Keep in touch on other threads. I could always use some great advice.

Your pedestal, huh ?
mattzack2's avatar
mattzack2 OP
175 posts
 
Thanks for the advice Schipo. I agree with you on the bacon. we just finished the last of it this morning .. bacon and eggs with potato pancakes.
jax2
3,031 posts
 
Good wires! I use a pair of RCA's going from my MW Transporter to my pre. I have no experience using his USB or any premium USB so could not comment directly on that one. I'm not familiar with your DAC either, but given your enjoyment of it sounds like there is not much to complain about.

It is possible to make your PC audio sound better than a transport IMO and IME. So stay on that music server highway...maybe hitch a ride, or be careful of those crazy Audiophile drivers if you keep walkin'.

Now lets not get any further into my pedastal. Believe me, you don't want to go there, my friend.

Marco
martykl
3,578 posts
 
Mattzack,

Since Bill had a wine suggestion (Burgundy vs. Bordeaux, not bad advice with your beef - and, BTW, it needn't be La Tache), and Schipo handled the protein (No bacon...No bacon? What's life without Bacon?!), I'll handle the veggies. Asparagus is tough on wine. Next time, you might want to consider green beans, instead.

Marty

PS If you must eat asparagus with wine, try it cold as a salad course with lemon vinaigrette and chopped tomato. You can pair it with some Austrian Gruner Veltliner - not perfect, but one of the few wines asparagus won't reduce to mush.

PPS The Beatles' Savoy Truffle might be a good soundtrack for your next listening session with the little woman.

PPPS The Cambridge Audio DacMagic is a very fine, low cost USB DAC.

I continue to enjoy this thread. Simple pleasures. Simplicity, it appears, may indeed be the key to happiness in the dining room, the listening room, and...errr, maybe on Marco's pedestal as well.
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