A visit to chateau Firebottle

[Marco]

Yeah big bloated ballsy Tannoys vs Etheral transparent Quads! Quite different but I am sure they both create their own magic. I know which I would prefer!

Bloated? Defo not! The rest, yes. Form a proper opinion when you visit - and in that respect, we really need to nail down a date. We'll discuss that at MiBO

Marco.

[CageyH]

It was actually nice to meet Alan, play records for a day on a superb sounding system, and come home without having spent any money.
The first meet at Gordon's Gaff was very expensive for me. I don't regret it as I have a better sounding system now.
This time I have a feeling that Alan is the one who will be spending the money. It will start off with the cartridge....

I was impressed by the mono blocks and quad combination. However, I won't have exposed valves in my house due to a very inquisitive 16 month old daughter. Alan mentioned plans to build them into different boxes with enclosed valves.
Yes, I won't see the magic glow of the valve but that is a minor price to pay. They are a very tempting proposition.

I really would not say that the system was "loud" when we were listening to it as it did not show signs of being pushed in any way, but the volume was wound up quite a long way round!

[Jimbo]

Bloated? Defo not! The rest, yes. Form a proper opinion when you visit - and in that respect, we really need to nail down a date. We'll discuss that at MiBO

Marco.

I was only teasing , I'm sure they are not bloated but expect they do have a big ballsy sound. Yep it would be great to sort a date with you at Chateaux Marco and bring along the VPI + Decca and maybe the 2M Black? Could be an interesting session?

See you at WiBO

[Marco]

Yup, defo, on all counts. The low-end presentation alone, and sense of scale, between Quad statics and big 15" Tannoys is akin to comparing a Beaujolais Nouveau with an Amarone!

Which you prefer is simply down to personal taste, and with different types of music.

I still remember Alan, at my place, turning round and telling me that on a familiar recording we both own (I forget which one), he hadn't noticed a particular bass line/instrument before, which was completely absent on his system....

True, Alan?

Marco.

[struth]

I would have thought them incomparable as they are so far apart in their presentation. I like the fact you can can get different shades from differing speaker types. Everyone is different afterall.

[Jimbo]

Yup, defo, on all counts. The low-end presentation alone, and sense of scale, between Quad statics and big 15" Tannoys is akin to comparing a Beaujolais Nouveau with an Amarone!

Which you prefer is simply down to personal taste, and with different types of music.

I still remember Alan, at my place, turning round and telling me that on a familiar recording we both own (I forget which one), he hadn't noticed a particular bass line/instrument before, which was completely absent on his system....

True, Alan?

Marco.

Like the wine analogy. I think Alan beefed up his lower registers with a sub if I am not mistaken?

I always think scale / bass is necessary to produce a more realistic representation of live music and micro detail isn't everything. If you listen to live music the acoustic of the environment and the mixing and amplification can do all sorts of sonic nasties to the music. Often much micro detail is lost in the general wall of sound but it is the scale that is always present which gives you that full fleshed out sound of the instruments.

My system doesn't have scale but in a 14 foot by 14 foot room it is difficult to push this aspect without loosing control, hence the SP2,s do there thing but in a much smaller envelope. However what they do do is very good indeed.

[Jimbo]

Firstly I'd really like to thank Kevin for driving all that way to provide a top notch source to play through the system.

To say I was impressed is a total understatement. For those that have heard Marco's system, this was better (IMO).

I have never heard music through 'statics so good, it lacked nothing. Depth, air, slam, micro-dynamics to die for, imaging, volume!
Yes volume, the sound was so clean we could turn it up without any strain.

I know where my system upgrade needs to be now. I joked about pinching Kevin's AT33, looks like I'll have to get one.

I think the AT33 sounds like it would suit my tastes as well Alan?

[CageyH]

Just make sure it's the PTG/II. I would like to compare it to the SA.

[CageyH]

Yup, defo, on all counts. The low-end presentation alone, and sense of scale, between Quad statics and big 15" Tannoys is akin to comparing a Beaujolais Nouveau with an Amarone!

Which you prefer is simply down to personal taste, and with different types of music.

I still remember Alan, at my place, turning round and telling me that on a familiar recording we both own (I forget which one), he hadn't noticed a particular bass line/instrument before, which was completely absent on his system....

True, Alan?

Marco.

To be fair to Alan, the only MC he has used before is an entry level Ortofon (a salsa or Samba).
The AT33PTG/II is not the best cartridge out there, but yesterday in that system I did not see the need for anything more.
It gets to the point where you have to spend stupid amounts of money to get any minor gains.

If I were Alan, I would be very proud/chuffed with what I have achieved with the Firebottle range.
Hopefully, if there are no power issues at MIBO, then you guys will get to hear it. Just make sure that someone takes a decent vinyl front end.

[Firebottle]

Actually Marco, whilst agreeing that self praise is no honour , the similarity of the two systems was quite staggering.

I am using a very well integrated sub along with the '57s. The similarities were, in no order:

Scale. The Lockies major on it, but there was no lack here.
Frequency range. Both fantastic.
Clarity. What can I say, superb on both counts.
Slam or impact. Lockies brilliant, Quads surprisingly brilliant.

Reality. Perhaps an odd choice of word but when the male vocalist came in on a couple of track from the Yello albums it was almost frightening.
I turned to Kevin and asked 'who invited him in?'.

Perhaps the biggest plus for both systems is the synergy between components allowing for such wonderful sound.