Hello from Austria

[Werner Berghofer]

Ever since my childhood I have a big passion for music. I loved to thump around on a piano, but as I went to school I lost any interest in learning how to play an instrument – which I regret a lot.

At the age of twelve or thirteen I got my first turntable. At younger years I worked free-lance for the Austrian radio, recording and producing features and documentations. Field recording at that time was done with Uher Report and Nagra tape recorders, AKG and Neumann dummy head microphones. Final editing took place on Studer machines.

During the years I owned Thorens turntables, Revox A77 and B77 tape recorders and Nakamichi tape decks. For tuners, amps and CD players (in 1994 I purchased my first one) I always preferred Yamaha. Stationary and portable DAT recorders I owned were manufactured by Sony. I loved the Sennheiser HD-414 headphones a lot.

Seven years ago I completely switched to computer based playback. In my flat’s living room a pair of Triangle Esprit (http://www.triangle-fr.com/english/gamme-esprit-ex.php) floor-standing speakers is driven by a Yamaha AX-592 integrated amplifier. In my office I use an iTube valve amp (http://www.fat-man.co.uk/docs/product_07/iTube_ValveDock.shtml) from Fatman, connected to a pair of Q Acoustics bookshelf speakers (http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/compact_bookshelf_speaker/) and a Q Acoustics subwoofer (http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/active_subwoofer/). The headphones of my choice are AKG K701 (http://www.akg.com/personal/K_701,pcatid,4,pid,1,_psmand,1.html) and K271 (http://www.akg.com/site/products/powerslave,id,1064,pid,1064,nodeid,2,_language,EN. html) models.

Music in mostly Apple Lossless or AAC 256 format is streamed from a Mac mini running iTunes, wirelessly connected to three Airport Express stations in the living room, my office and the Behringer headphone amp in the bedroom. I use my iPhone to remotely control the Mac mini music server located in my office.

Currently I hope to improve my digital chain’s playback quality by a Beresford TC-7520 DAC which should arrive within the next days.

My professional background is photography, graphic design and typesetting; more than twenty years ago I worked as trainer for Linotype phototypesetting equipment. Since 1995 I have been working as self-employed graphic designer, software trainer (layout, design and image editing software) and software developer (database driven browser applications for Internet and Intranet use).

My personal hobbies are music, literature, movies, photography and bicycles.

Werner Berghofer (I use my real name whenever this is possible).

[Beechwoods]

Welcome Werner, from another fan of open reels, Naks and DATs! Thank you for a very interesting and thorough introduction. Do you still have any of your old gear or have you moved on to computer based playback completely?

It sounds like your Gallery posts will also be very interesting, given your dual interest in photography and hi-fi!

Glad you've decided to join us here at AOS. I hope you enjoy getting involved elsewhere on the forum :)

[Spectral Morn]

Welcome to AOS Werner.

Enjoy the forum.


Regards D S D L

[Werner Berghofer]

Do you still have any of your old gear or have you moved on to computer based playback completely?

Five years ago, as I moved from Vienna to Tyrol, I sold my Thorens turntable, my Revox A 77, my DAT recorders and my complete vinyl collection.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/flat/flat03.jpg

My analogue photo equipment was also sold at that time:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/flat/flat13.jpg

For me the analogue aera definitely has ended.

Many thanks for welcoming me that friendly in this forum,

Werner.

[Beechwoods]

:( that's a shame! All those reels in the corner of your room too! It looked like a nice setup. It's funny how some of us discover the old stuff just as others move on to the new! It's great that there is a place for all of us (I have a Mac G5 by the way, and a big FLAC collection too - I have a foot in both camps, as it were!).

Cheers, Werner!

[Werner Berghofer]

It looked like a nice setup.

It certainly was a nice setup! However, since I completely switched to digital I did not miss any moment of manually changing LPs, manually cutting and pasting tapes or taping favourite music for friends.

The very comfort of being able to browse my entire music library anytime from everywhere in the flat via the iPhone and to easily route the music to any location got me hooked. I simply can’t imagine anymore to leave my desk looking for a certain LP or CD upstairs in the living room.

I frequently travel between Tyrol and Vienna. It’s very convenient to be able to carry my beloved music on a small disk with me. In my opinion computer based playback already does sound very good and is on par with the most advanced analogue technology.

Of course I’m missing certain haptic aspects which I got used to since my early years, and the culture technique of album sleeve has changed dramatically, but change is the only thing which is certain in life.

Werner.

[Spectral Morn]

Five years ago, as I moved from Vienna to Tyrol, I sold my Thorens turntable, my Revox A 77, my DAT recorders and my complete vinyl collection.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/flat/flat03.jpg

My analogue photo equipment was also sold at that time: For me the analogue aera definitely has ended.

Many thanks for welcoming me that friendly in this forum,

Werner.

What a nice looking set up you had. I have recently got a R to R machine and finding somewhere to put it has proved to be a challenge. At the present time its on its back(which defeats the look of it in a system) on the top of one of my Clearlight audio RDC tables. Nicks right about some of us back tracking. I for one embraced digital early on but decided that analogue had much to offer that IMHO digital doesn't quite do. For many years I have wanted to try R To R and so have taken the plunge (though very much on the cheap and having to sell items to finance this).

Perhaps Werner you can in the future offer help to myself and others who want to dip our toes into open reel machines. Every make has quirks, Nick knows about Pioneer, Tandburg, Nagra, and you know about Revox.

Can you tell us what kind of music you like and would you like to share some photos of your current set up ?


Regards D S D L

[The Grand Wazoo]

Hi Werner,

What a great introduction!
I'm sure you'll find plenty of interest here, especially useful to you, I guess may be the many Beresford orientated threads - but I suppose that may be how you found this (usually) happy band of folks!

To comment on Nick's remark:


It's funny how some of us discover the old stuff just as others move on to the new!

It's a good job for all that there are people offloading their old analogue gear for us vintage casualties to buy - you sell & we buy so you have the cash to invest in the new........& the world keeps turning!!

Welcome!!

[Werner Berghofer]

Neil,


Perhaps Werner you can in the future offer help to myself and others who want to dip our toes into open reel machines.

I’ll be more than glad if my experience can be useful to any member of this forum. And please excuse if my written English may sound strange to you, but it’s not my native language.


Can you tell us what kind of music you like

Of course; this is a quite important and interesting topic which I completely forgot in my original introduction. I’m not a tech person; my interest in Hi-Fi equipment was and is caused by the desire to hear recorded music in the best quality, with all the subtle details which were uncovered each time a little bit more whenever I changed a part of equipment.

Well, currently I’m listening to the album “Dreamland” by Madeleine Peyroux. Born 1956, of course I was socialized by rock music. The first 45 rpm single I purchased was “The ballad of John and Yoko” by The Beatles. My first (thick and heavy vinyl at that time!) LP was “Tons of sobs” by the British Blues-Rock band Free, which had its roots in the crowd around the Blues lover and collector Alexis Korner.

At the age of 19 I visited an exhibition of a painter where a Free Jazz band was performing. I never had been deeply touched like this by any music before, and I was shaked and surprised, because until this moment I physically could not stand the sound of any brass instrument. After this unexpected experience I changed my mind about Pop and Rock music.

I liked the experiments of Brian Eno which let me get in touch with the works of John Cage, Steve Reich, Terry Riley and Philip Glass. On the other side I discovered the British Folk group The Pentangle and the solo works of John Renburn and Bert Jansch, playing music I still love to hear, or the Penguin Café Orchestra. Of course I like The Beatles, Cream, Grateful Dead, Jimi Hendrix, Incredible String Band, King Crimson, early albums of Pink Floyd, Rolling Stones, Roxy Music, Neil Young – just to name a few.

Emotionally most touched and at home I feel when listening to Jan Garbarek, Bill Evans, Ali Farka Touré, the Tord Gustavsen Trio, the Esbjörn Svensson Trio, Paul Bley, piano works of Eric Satie, Maurice Ravel and Franz Schubert. I love listening to female vocalists and instrumentalists like Tori Amos, Patricia Barber, Kate Bush, Sandy Denny, Marianne Faithfull, Billie Holiday, Diana Krall, Loreena McKennitt, Joni Mitchell, Meredith Monk, Madeleine Peyroux, Rebecca Pidgeon, June Tabor, Cassandra Wilson, Liz Wright, Suzanne Vega and Sophie Zelmani. I respect and like the work of songwriters like Fabrizio de André, Leonard Cohen, Bob Dylan, Lou Reed and especially Tom Waits, who is a genious in his own league.

Werner.

[The Grand Wazoo]

Werner,


Of course; this is a quite important and interesting topic which I completely forget in my original introduction. I’m not a tech person; my interest in Hi-Fi equipment was and is caused by the desire to hear recorded music in the best quality.......

.....Madeleine Peyroux.
The Beatles.
“Tons of sobs” by the British rock band Free,
Alexis Korner.
Free Jazz
Brian Eno
John Cage,
Steve Reich
Philip Glass.
“The Pentangle”
Rolling Stones
Pink Floyd,
early albums of Roxy Music,
Grateful Dead, Cream,
King Crimson,
Jimi Hendrix
Jan Garbarek,
Bill Evans,
Ali Farka Touré,
the Tord Gustavsen Trio,
the Esbjörn Svensson Trio,
Eric Satie,
Maurice Ravel
Franz Schubert.
Patricia Barber,
Diana Krall,
Rebecca Pidgeon
Bob Dylan,
Lou Reed,
Fabrizio de André
and especially Tom Waits,



You're our man!!

[Spectral Morn]

Great taste in music and you are so right about music...it is what it should be all about not the gear.

Your written English is very good, much better than my German (which is non-existent).

I look forward to your future contributions. If you need any help just ask.


Regards D S D L

[StanleyB]

Welcome Werner. Those Nikon cameras bring back some great memories.

Stan

[Barry]

Hello Werner,

Wow - I admire you tastes in music; at least 24 of your choices are the same as mine!

To repeat what Neil (DSDL) and Chris (The Grand Wazoo) have already said - 'Willkommen zu Forum AoS'. I think you are going to fit in well here.

[Werner Berghofer]

Neil,


would you like to share some photos of your current set up ?

here are two photos of my desk, where I spend most of my days:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/audio_desktop.jpg

From left to right: computer mouse (yes, I’m left handed), Fatman iTube (http://www.fat-man.co.uk/docs/product_07/iTube_ValveDock.shtml) valve amplifier, Beresford TC-7520 DAC (http://www.beresford.me/UK/Stereo_Audio_Digital_to_Analogue_Converter_USB2FCO AX2FTOSLINK.html), Apple cinema display and Apple keyboard, display power supply, Apple Mac mini (http://www.apple.com/macmini/), Iomega harddisk (one terabyte). The bookshelf loudspeakers (http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/compact_bookshelf_speaker/) as well as the subwoofer (http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/active_subwoofer/) (below the desk, visually not really interesting) are from the UK based company Q Acoustics. The track currently being played is ”Jack Orion“ from Pentangles’s album ”Cruel Sister“ (1970).

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/itube_amplifier.jpg

Fatman iTube valve amplifier on top of my Beresford TC-7520 DAC which I received just today. In front of the amplifier you might catch a partly view of my face, although this image in no ways is considered a serious self portrait ;)

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/musik_schlafzimmer.jpg

The Behringer headphone amp (http://www.behringer.com/EN/Products/AMP800.aspx) and the AKG K701 headphones in my bedroom. I plan to purchase a second Beresford TC-7520 DAC to use as a dedicated headphone amplifier, replacing the Behringer.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/musik_wohnzimmer.jpg

The living room upstairs from my office: Lower part of my Triangle Esprit (http://www.triangle-fr.com/english/gamme-esprit-ex.php) floor-standing loudspeakers, Yamaha CDX-890 CD player (rarely used, most of the time I stream music wirelessly via Airport Express (http://www.apple.com/airportexpress/)), Yamaha T-550 analogue tuner (more than 25 years old, still working fine), Sony DTC-790 DAT deck, Yamaha AX-592 intregrated amplifier (below). The Buddha statue was added by my girlfriend to balance the energy in this corner.

Sorry for the varying image dimensions; the photos from the living room were taken a few months ago, the photos in my office are from today.

Kind regards,

Werner.

[Spectral Morn]

Neil,



here are two photos of my desk, where I spend most of my days:

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/audio_desktop.jpg

From left to right: computer mouse (yes, I’m left handed), Fatman iTube valve amplifier, Beresford TC-7520 DAC, Apple cinema display and Apple keyboard, display power supply, Apple Mac mini, Iomega harddisk (one terabyte). The bookshelf loudspeakers as well as the subwoofer (below the desk, visually not really interesting) are from the UK based company Q Acoustics. The track currently being played is ”Jack Orion“ from Pentangles’s album ”Cruel Sister“ (1970).

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/itube_amplifier.jpg

Fatman iTube valve amplifier on top of my Beresford TC-7520 DAC which I received just today. In front of the amplifier you might catch a partly view of my face, although this image in no ways is considered a serious self portrait ;)

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/musik_schlafzimmer.jpg

The Behringer headphone amp and the AKG K701 headphones in my bedroom. I plan to purchase a second Beresford TC-7520 DAC to use as a dedicated headphone amplifier, replacing the Behringer.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/wp/2009/musik_wohnzimmer.jpg

The living room upstairs from my office: Lower part of my Triangle Esprit floor-standing loudspeakers, Yamaha CDX-890 CD player (rarely used, most of the time I stream music wirelessly via Airport Express), Yamaha T-550 analogue tuner (more than 25 years old, still working fine), Sony DTC-790 DAT deck, Yamaha AX-592 intregrated amplifier (below). The Buddha statue was added by my girlfriend to balance the energy in this corner.

Sorry for the varying image dimensions; the photos from the living room were taken a few months ago, the photos in my office are from today.

Kind regards,

Werner.

Hi Werner

Thanks for the images. The Fat man is actually a Dared MP5 without the USB internal DAC. UK distributor Henley and another company (can't remember who) bring the Dared in but labeled as Fat Man. I was involved with the UK company that brought Dared into the UK, but when Fatman branded Dared appeared we stopped(what was the point of doing it, when you could buy it branded as Fatman). Any way bottom line its a very nice amplifier, with all its sins being those of ommission rather than commission.

Thanks...regards D S D L

[Werner Berghofer]

Neil,


The Fat man is actually a Dared MP5 without the USB internal DAC.

many thanks for this information which was new for me. I always believed that the Fatman amplifier was designed and produced by TL Audio (http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/) as it is claimed on the Fatman website (http://www.fat-man.co.uk/).

It’s a fine sounding, nice little amplifier which fits perfectly on my desk. Sound quality has improved a lot by including Stan’s TC-7520 DAC to the playback chain.

Kind regards,

[Spectral Morn]

Neil,



many thanks for this information which was new for me. I always believed that the Fatman amplifier was designed and produced by TL Audio (http://www.tlaudio.co.uk/) as it is claimed on the Fatman website (http://www.fat-man.co.uk/).

It’s a fine sounding, nice little amplifier which fits perfectly on my desk. Sound quality has improved a lot by including Stan’s TC-7520 DAC to the playback chain.

Kind regards,

Sadly the whole Chinese audio experience can be a very bad one for any retailer or distributor...all sorts of nonsence goes on. Fatman is not made by TL audio. More than likely they have suggested some spec/cosmetic changes to Dared who have accommodated Tl Audio by altering some of their products to meet the TL Audio ideas. That is all, they are still Dared products. The annoying thing is Dared is quite good...a bit cheap in the fit and finish but solid enough (we had them checked out fully before starting to distribute them all be it in a low key way and there were no issues, bar the cheap valves...worth upgrading yours IMHO/E)....suddenly Fatman, and all the European distributors of Dared go through the roof. Whats the point, typical Chinese manufacturing stunt so we dropped Dared. Real shame but there you have it.

Link to Dared Tube products(look familiar) http://www.daredtube.com/

Link to the Review of the Dared MP5 (which I see Dared have dropped from their website)http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazine/equipment/0306/dared_mp5.htm


Regards D S D L

[slate]

Grüss Gott Werner

I just spotted in another thread that you live in the Innsbruck area.

My first memory of the Inn and Ziller valley is from my youth. Driving to Italy in the summer we would make a stop for breakfast; buying brötchen in a small town and sit by the Inn gathering strength for the last stretch to Lago di Garda.

Sometimes we would take the old roman road back north via Seefeld and Garmisch

Later it became skiing at various locations; I must admit that I prefer cross-country and hence in my adult life I prefer going north to Norway. But last time all of my dad's family gathered for skiing in Zell am Ziller I did a bit of Alpine once again.

I have also played golf in Rinn, Lans, Igls. For the golfers I have to warn that it is not the usual 10 km of walking during a round of golf; it is not only the score that goes up and down ;)

Speaking of walking; we took a day of from golf and did the mountain trail from Tulfes to Patsch? We took the lift up, walked the ridge and when we came to the end my dad suggested that we walked down instead of taking the lift down.
argh the pain of walking down wards; about 10 km of constantly braking your steps on the small gravel forrest roads and paths.
We came down at Rinn and stumbled back to Tulfes.
Besides the pain, I remember standing on the ridge looking down on a small Airbus from Austrian that was approaching the airport in Innsbruck.

We stayed at Geisler in Tulfes - recommended

Besides the obvious features of the nature, I can also recommend western Austria for the hospitality, a good appfel strudel... and the beer for those so inclined

Cheers
Jan

[Werner Berghofer]

Jan,


I can also recommend western Austria for the hospitality

a big part of that hospitality has rather trivial reasons: tourism is very important for Tyrol’s economy. I’m not sure if the locals really are that open, friendly and hospitable. Quite on the contrary, even people originating from another near-by valley often are considered threatening strangers.

Nearly seven years ago, at the age of 47, I moved to Tyrol. I was born and spent most of my life in Vienna, located in the far east of Austria. Believe me, there are huge differences in the mentality and the way of living between urban Vienna and rural Tyrol.

I’m glad that you have nice memories of the time you spent in here; surely Tyrol is a wonderful place for the holidays. For me, the hospitality and warm welcome I experience everytime I visit Italy is unmatched.

[webby]

Greetings Werner,

I have noticed your posts here before and thought that although I don't share the same taste in music I do have some interest in some of the equipment you are using.

I have an iMac myself, with ALAC files in iTunes. I use this with an Airport Express connected to my Audiolab 8000s and Dynaudio Audience 42's in my spare room/office upstairs.

I would like to also distribute music to the lounge downstairs where I have no gear at all at present. I would want small speakers and a small, discrete amp which I could feed with another Airport Express. I notice you are using the Q Acoustics speakers, but I'm afraid your links are broken at this time so I don't know which model they are. Could you advise on the model and performance of these and what kind of difference the sub woofer makes, ie do you feel it is essential? What size room is this set up in? My lounge is around 18ft by 12ft. What about the valve amp?

Many thanks,

[Werner Berghofer]

Hi, Lee.


I notice you are using the Q Acoustics speakers, but I'm afraid your links are broken at this time so I don't know which model they are.

My system with recent pictures is described in detail in the thread titled “Werner’s system (http://www.theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?t=11546)”. All links are up to date and working.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/desk4.jpg

My Q Acoustics are 1000i, but this model is not available anymore. The new version is called 1010i (http://www.qacoustics.co.uk/1000i/1010i.htm), but as far as I can tell there seems to be not much difference between the speakers I use and their successors.


[…] what kind of difference the sub woofer makes, ie do you feel it is essential?

Yes, in my opinion the seperate subwoofer absolutely is essential. Without it I would miss a lot when listening to music, especially when returning back to my office from the rather big floorstanding Triangle Esprit speakers I use upstairs in the living room.

http://www.berghofer.com/photos/gear/living_room1.jpg


What size room is this set up in?

2.71 × 3.53 m or 8.89 × 11.58 ft.


What about the valve amp?

http://cdn.head-fi.org/8/88/886d9c7a_fatman_itube_amp.jpg

A sweet little hybrid amp, originally manufactured by Dared (http://www.daredtube.com/products.htm), a Chinese company specialized in valve amps, but sold under the “Fatman” label by TL Audio (http://www.fat-man.co.uk/docs/product_07/iTube_ValveDock.shtml). Luckily I was able to purchase it without iPod dock and remote control, since I have no need for this options. To my ears it sounds pretty good, the distance between the bookshelf speakers and my listening position is approximately 4 ft, and the amp’s volume knob usually is in the 8 and very rarely above the 9 o’clock position. The amp also works surprisingly good as headphone amplifier for my AKG K701 cans.

Werner.

[webby]

Werner,

Many thanks for the redirection.

You have a beautiful home and some great kit.

May I ask what you do for a living?

[webby]

Kindly ignore that. I'm being lazy.

Just checked your profile instead :)

[Alex_UK]

Now we all want to know and will scuttle off and do the same! ;)

(Hope you're well Lee and the world is good with you - been a while since we've seen you.)

[webby]

Now we all want to know and will scuttle off and do the same! ;)

(Hope you're well Lee and the world is good with you - been a while since we've seen you.)

I am well thank you Alex. I am sorry I haven't been around AOS much recently despite posting a while back stating that I hoped to frequent the place a little more often. Unfortunately, life and work kinda gets in the way.

However, whenever I ponder over the state of my hifi or digital music in general, this is the place I come to. Sadly, I don't listen to music anywhere near as much as I'd like to and that may not change until I change my system, or rather add one into my lounge. When that time comes I may add spotify premium too.

Hope you and yours are well too. She's really growing up eh?

[Alex_UK]

Good to hear you're well, Lee. All good here - and yes, they grow up so fast!