Too new, too excited!!!

[CentraL]

Well, it’s always nice feeling new!

I have been a music lover since I can remember… I met HiFi in the face of my father’s all Dual separates system in the late 70’s. My first record ever was a Scorpions collection and then I got the monumental – phenomenal – traumatical Highway to Hell. Still got this one in great shape.

I have been always willing to follow new twists in HiFi, so I got on the CD wagon real soon, I had a DAT recorder, a mini disk recorder later, tubes, and so on…

Well It’ been a long way – and a lot of money (that I worked hard to earn). At some point though I got a grip on things and I managed to compile this system of mine that really makes me smile. I have been loyal ever since…

One turning point (and a major milestone) has been the first time I returned home after many hours in the yearly “Hi End” exhibition in Athens when I really enjoyed my system more than the ones there! Never went back to the exhibition again. That saved me a lot of money as well…

A great wife and three sweet kids later I still like this hobby, but time is so scarce…

My first piece of kit in years is the Caiman (thank you forum for that)!

So at this point I’ just be holding my breath… (I hope it arrives quite soon)

I already feel cozy here and I like the level of the discussions. In my age I don’t enjoy know-it-alls or coq fighting.

Nice to meet you all, and hope meeting you in these pages…

[Spectral Morn]

Welcome to AOS Lefteris.

Nice system you have there Passlabs and Marantz :)

If you were to post some photos of your systems in the Gallery section of the forum that would be brilliant.

Enjoy yourself and have fun.


Regards D S D L

[John]

Welcome to AOS Lefteris
What music do you enjoy

[Alex_UK]

Hi Lefteris, and welcome to AoS!

I am sure you will find the Caiman a great addition to your great system if my experience is anything to go by. :)

Enjoy the forum.

[Reid Malenfant]

Hi Lefteris, welcome to AoS :) In certain ways it's a pity you don't live in the UK as you'd have loved the Scalford show a good few members frequented recently ;) I agree, general hifi shows are dire :eyebrows:

All the best & i hope you enjoy your stay :cool:

[Barry]

Yes, welcome to AoS Lefteris.

A perfect introduction, and you have a great audio system.

What sort of music do you listen to (apart from the Scorpions)? Don't be shy, we listen to just about anything and everything here!

Καλώς ήρθατε και πάλι στο φόρουμ

Regards

[CentraL]

Thank you guys!

This is a great place to be and I already enjoy it!!!

Music tastes (you' re right they' re important!):

I grew up with Rock and metal and still enjoy these so much!

I enjoy classic rock and even more progressive bands - Yes, ELP, Uriah Heep, Marillion, AsiA, and so forth...
Peter Gabriel, Genesis, Phil Collins are top of the cream for me, and I like some (melodic mostly) mainstream albums.
There have been periods I listened to a wide range of Jazz, I enjoy Bill Evans, I really admire Charlap (solo on piano and the Charlap trio) and I relly love old big bands and swing...

I LOVE female voices. Alison Krauss, Susan Tedesky, Patricia Barber, Diana, Emma, Celine, and the rest of the Gals... I find each one of them unique and inspiring...

Then I have always liked Classical, but never found the time to get into it. I think when I will, it will be the end stop of my long quest!!! (Beethoven is my magic carpet).

For the time being, I buy some good quality recordings whenever I can without having a grip though (almost by chance).

Then, in this phase of my life being a proper dad is too high of a priority!

I currently have two daughters and expect a son soon (in a month at most)... so please sympathise with me. Time is getting less and less!!!

I will try for the photos, I always wanted to do this, but I am really ashamed about the cheap piece of furniture that hosts the system. I said I would change it 5 years ago... well guess what... time just flies!

Let's enjoy it as much as we can!

[MartinT]

Hi Lefteris, you have a Pass X2 so I'm immediately impressed. Not may owners of Pass equipment here, so we're in a minority. How do you find it? I went from an X2 to an X1 and now my third Pass preamp an XP-20. I love their focussed design, great build quality and fabulous performance.

[CentraL]

Hi Lefteris, you have a Pass X2 so I'm immediately impressed. Not may owners of Pass equipment here, so we're in a minority. How do you find it? I went from an X2 to an X1 and now my third Pass preamp an XP-20. I love their focussed design, great build quality and fabulous performance.

Hi Martin!

It’s nice to meet you!

As far as the sound of the Pass, I would say he’s … well … absent!

It’s the least colored piece of kit I have encountered to be honest. I use it’s balanced outputs to feed the TacT and the two of them make a great duo. Add the Maranzt and get a great trio!!!

This is why I kept them so long (and have no plans replacing them) they work wonders together. So I let the Spendors give a flavor to the end result. They are good at it!

Last night, I remembered a Susan Tedeski album I like (on cd). The marantz was disconnected since last week when I tried to clean the cables, and so I threw the disk in the Panasonic. My wife was feeding our little daughter some yogurt. As the sound emerged, she said: why is this lady yelling? – I said who SUSAN, YELLING ???

…But she was! Everything was thrown right there in the middle of the sitting room making a mesh of a performance!

Well, needless to say the maranz was connected back some milliseconds later. Cold as it was, our ears relaxed, and we enjoyed the next few songs. Then we were forced to endorse… Little people took the stage (and the Panasonic a great revenge) and we all had a great time!

[MartinT]

I'm not surprised the Marantz beats the Panasonic! Surprising how many people still think most players sound the same.

I hope the 'little people' didn't take too much revenge on the Panasonic :eek:

[CentraL]

I'm not surprised the Marantz beats the Panasonic! Surprising how many people still think most players sound the same.

I hope the 'little people' didn't take too much revenge on the Panasonic :eek:

I also know some of them!

Even my wife said it was much better the second time (Marantz performance) and she is not famous for her listening skills or sympathy for equipment...

[John]

Good wide taste in music, lots of people with similar taste

[CentraL]

Good wide taste in music, lots of people with similar taste

Thank you John!

What an interesting picture in your Avatar!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

I would love to know some things about the set-up...

[John]

The speakers are Hawthorne open baffles with Duel Concentric compression driver and dipole bass speakers (both 15)
The duel concentric are powered by a SAC Glowmaster KT88 and the bass speakers are powered by 2 sub plate amps
Sources: Trans Fi Salvation (rim drive TT) with Terminator parrell Tracking arm Decca Gold Cart and Willams Copper DAC
Its keeps me pretty happy Lots of scale, very open sound stage and clean extended bass that is very musical
Please ask any questions

[CentraL]

The speakers are Hawthorne open baffles with Duel Concentric compression driver and dipole bass speakers (both 15)
The duel concentric are powered by a SAC Glowmaster KT88 and the bass speakers are powered by 2 sub plate amps
Sources: Trans Fi Salvation (rim drive TT) with Terminator parrell Tracking arm Decca Gold Cart and Willams Copper DAC
Its keeps me pretty happy Lots of scale, very open sound stage and clean extended bass that is very musical
Please ask any questions

Wow!

Interesting indeed!

Have you posted any more photos or a review of your system' s sound?

I would be interested in both!

[John]

A few links
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=6143&highlight=open+baffles
http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=9466&highlight=john+open+baffles

[pwood]

I joined for the same reason OP the cock fighting gets in the way elsewhere. welcome to sanity

[Labarum]

Greetings from Cyprus.

[CentraL]

Greetings Pwood & Labaroum!

Nice to meet you!