View Full Version : Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2018
Going today. Will post some pics and deluded rants in due course.
I've not been for 10 years - the last time I was there I remember only being interested in the sound from one demonstration room (World Audio Designs I think) and so stayed away. I was thinking about it this weekend though, so will look forward to your feedback.
Enjoy!
Going today. Will post some pics and deluded rants in due course.
Cool, be interested in your thoughts/observations - I plan on going tomorrow.
The wilson benesch resolutions sounded rather good but were £36k. I liked the dynaudio special 40's which were a snip @£2.5k. I know which I'll be buying.
All the other speakers were a bit 'meh'.
First off if you go and arrive in the morning I recommend going straight to the top floor. The masses start at the ground floor before moving up, and if you do what I say by the time you get to the bottom there'll be far less human infestation - the whole show will be a better experience.
So, before I go for a swim and then undo all the good by cracking open a bottle of wine, then assert my hi-fi is far superior to anything there today by the time I have drunk the entire bottle...
There were a few rooms turning in a decent sound. There usually is, but as usual, take everything I say with a pinch of salt. The same rooms vary a lot simply depending on what is being played and at what volume.
So to Von Gaylord - a curious name indeed. Playing a couple of vocal tracks when I was in there, really not bad at all. The 6550 based amps and speakers turning in a very pleasant result. The amps are obviously very decent, as are the speakers. Quite pricey, but good.
The amps are a claimed 130 Watts triode mode, at $8500 a pair. I reckon they are really quite good indeed. Speakers are 91DB and $10,000.
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brian2957
23-02-2018, 18:21
That gear looks rather nice Justin . Thanks for taking the time to post the pictures :)
rigger67
23-02-2018, 18:29
They must surely be taking the piss with that name ??
Commercial suicide, isn't it ?? :mental:
I thought these Fyne F-1 speakers were pretty competent too. Info here (http://www.fyneaudio.com/moving-along-just-fyne/).
That said, I found I didn't get on with how they looked. And they do look weird to me, although very nicely made. Driven by Rega kit the match seemed really sympathetic. You could tell from the talk and vibe in the room I wasn't the only person who thought these things were good.
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walpurgis
23-02-2018, 18:38
Looks rather like a Tannoy Kensington drive unit, the cone and surround particularly. The 'post box' looks are a little unfortunate.
They must surely be taking the piss with that name ??
Commercial suicide, isn't it ?? :mental:
They've been around for a good long while, and do a crazy liquid cooled valve amp, so you can only conclude it isn't as bad a name as you might think:D It probably appeals to an obvious market sector.
Looks rather like a Tannoy Kensington drive unit, the cone and surround particularly. The 'post box' looks are a little unfortunate.
Yeah I immediately thought Tannoy. So will most. Tis a good clean sounding drive unit, I think, from what I heard. I'll slip a video in at some stage to give a vague vibe but they did do the drums in the flesh much better than the video plays back on my 2nd system.
OK let's do a quick bloody dreadful. Mission. As confirmed by an old acquaintance by the name of George, just shite. If anyone hears this room sounding anything better than rubbish, let us know:D
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And hear is another candidate for rubbish. What the hell was going on I don't know but surely the cartridge was damaged or something. It just sounded like it was mis-tracking dreadfully. At least I hope that was the case. It's the first time I have heard this Michell cartridge. Either that, or the record was a complete mess.
I own a Michell deck and like their kit, BTW. Hopefully the problem will be fixed by tomorrow.
Don't worry there is more "good" to come, but that is it for today. More tomoz.
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First off if you go and arrive in the morning I recommend going straight to the top floor.
Top tip, will do and great pics too - I'll be sure to check out the Fyne F-1 speakers :)
Ammonite Audio
23-02-2018, 19:31
I am at the show tomorrow, at the Timestep stand on the ground floor. Please drop by to say hello, and to see my new Technics armboards, as well as a rather exciting new tonearm from Timestep (it’s very lovely indeed and I will be selling it alongside Glanz.
Here’s a photo of the new arm https://photos.app.goo.gl/uQcIb0yMwoeEbfqI2
rigger67
23-02-2018, 19:42
They've been around for a good long while, and do a crazy liquid cooled valve amp, so you can only conclude it isn't as bad a name as you might think:D It probably appeals to an obvious market sector.
Yeah, like Pink Triangle before it.
The only person I ever knew who bought one of them was .. er .. also "one of them" :D
Sorry for the puerile gag but I couldn't resist !
hifinutt
23-02-2018, 21:32
great show . the ram speakers room pretty good with the little l3/5a falcon speakers causing quite a stir . their sudgen amps looked good . the new spendor a7 sounding very natural and the audionote e`s were just utterly fantastic . if only , if only they would turn the volume down in that room !!
well worth a visit
pure sound
23-02-2018, 21:46
The new SP10 was worth a look.
"high-spirited, boistrous"
montesquieu
24-02-2018, 00:59
Well I’ll be there tomorrow but can only do the afternoon ... had decided to, then not to go but chAnged mind again at the last minute.
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
paul(555)
24-02-2018, 07:23
I'll be heading up the M5 shortly, so thanks for the impressions so far.
Pete The Cat
24-02-2018, 09:03
I love threads like this. Great pics and succinct commentary - looking forward to more.
Pete
brian2957
24-02-2018, 09:53
I love threads like this. Great pics and succinct commentary - looking forward to more.
Pete
+1 Justin does this very well IMO :)
I'm convinced the Rega P10 (http://www.rega.co.uk/rp10.html) is fine turntable. Heard one in someone's home system with an AN Io, and sounding good again here with the Apheta 2 cartridge and the MF Nu-Vista phono stage, which looks to be a fairly serious piece of kit. That ceramic platter appears to be a great material to rest vinyl on from a sonic perspective.
Powered by an MF Encore 500 (http://www.musicalfidelity.com/products/encore/m8-encore-500). Better in here than I expected given speakers I'm not generally fond of.
What I really like about the P10 is that it looks so unassuming and non-over the top yet does the job so well. Do you really need anymore than this in a TT? A good two fingers at the over the top designs from the likes of clearaudo and Transrotor, for instance.
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The new SP10 was worth a look.
Totally missed it - decent in the flesh? Did they have the matching plinth?
+1 Justin does this very well IMO :)
Absolutely...He is da man! :youtheman:
Keep 'em comin', Justers :cool:
Marco.
Moving up in the TT design complexity stakes, here's a few Kronos shots. Single (£16,995) and double platter (£24,995) variants. They do two tonearm variants - a 10 (Helena) and a 12 (Black Beauty) incher at 8 an 10K respectively.
According to the price list they also do what they call a full analogue source at £115K. Hm.
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Absolutely...He is da man! :youtheman:
Keep 'em comin', Justers :cool:
Marco.
Aw, dude:o
:lol:
great show . the ram speakers room pretty good with the little l3/5a falcon speakers causing quite a stir . their sudgen amps looked good . the new spendor a7 sounding very natural and the audionote e`s were just utterly fantastic . if only , if only they would turn the volume down in that room !!
well worth a visit
Nah, it was about right when I was in there - pretty loud.;)
I think there's something good about this slate veneered blue coned AN E variant. It stiffens up the cabinet a bit I think.
This room was doing the Audio Note thing well this year. It presented tonality and sense of acoustic space in a way nothing else in the show got close to. But there's a price to pay with it, in that you become aware that it is coloured really quite quickly. And quite heavily so. If you don't give a damn about this, it is a real winner. If you do, it isn't. You just have to make a choice, I guess. Lots of people love it but ultimately I just couldn't live with it. What it does really well with is the sort of music I just don't really listen to.
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Aw, dude:o
:lol:
Word, bro :smoking:
Marco.
George47
24-02-2018, 17:29
As confirmed by an old acquaintance by the name of George, just shite
Less of the old :)
The Fyne Audio company consists of the better engineers from Tannoy who left when they were taken over by the Chinese. They developed this speaker using the Tannoy dual concentric speaker unit. It must have had a lot of work done whilst they were still at Tannoy. Did they realise what talent they had? But at £15-20K a fair amount of money.
The Von Gaylord(?) speakers really played music well and had great 3D sound-stage with a currently very unfashionable valve, compared to the KT120/150. They have no UK distributor but are hopeful. Prices were interesting. I like them.
Malvern Research were producing a really nice sound with a non-honking horn on the tweeter and a very interesting looking power amplifier. It looked like a Luxman (more blingy) with 805 valves....
So George gets us onto Malvern Audio Research, who I visited and documented here (http://theartofsound.net/forum/showthread.php?55894-A-Visit-To-Malvern-Audio-Research). The FP15 (bigger brother to the FP10 here) is a fine speaker and these share similar traits, obviously. The FP15 adds some pretty serious bass into the equation, though. My kind of box speaker - for its size it is a great performer I think.
One of the better rooms. Mark's Chelva 4 valve preamp/DAC and Nuvistor (https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nuvistor)phono stage.
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The 805 single ended Cavatina Scatola (WTF?) Minging amp. An integrated and it seems to sound pretty good TBH.
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JBLs seem popular on this forum, so it's nice to be able to report that these JBL 4312SE speaks and some Primare kit were sounding alright when I was in there. Probably not going to break the bank, either.
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Whole heap of AVM kit and PMC speakers. Looking inside the clear boxes I didn't see any recognisable foo, but there seemed to be a few bespoke AVM branded bits in there.
Seems like OK gear with the actual system sounding alright but I'm of the view it isn't going to blow anyone's mind. I moved on pretty quickly.
In all honesty the lower down the hotel floors I got the less interested I became until I really got completely disinterested. So much so I left. It's the smaller less mainstream brands that typically produce the more interesting gear.
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montesquieu
24-02-2018, 19:34
Highlights for me were:
- The new Timestep tonearm - Groovemaster descended but with some tweaks that should make it even better. Tempted by the 12in version. Also saw the new Glanz arm in the metal and it's very nice (if one that will need saving up for).
- Teac R2R playing somewhere can't remember - made the vinyl that followed sound a bit rubbish. Bad move I suspect
- New SP10 - looked and sounded great. Actually the Technics gear was sounding fab all round and I loved the nods to their 70s & 80s styling. Prices are high but it all seems well done.
- The Focal room which was all up and working together to my ears and sounded good even though I'm not a fan of Focals generally.
- The new Atacama and Apollo bamboo-shelved stands which looked great!
- New Cary KT150 PP integrated. Very nice and I guess 'reasonably priced' as these things go (if not quite 'affordable' unless it's used in the same sense as the oxymoron 'affordable houses) at around 5000 Euros.
Not so good:
- Sorry to disagree with Justin but for me, the Audio Note room was sounding a bit pants today - E's of any stripe are often a bit bloomy/fruity/even boomy in the bass thanks to the cabinet which is kind of designed to sing along and when placed in the corners gives the effect of low bass, but in this room the whole thing was overdone and the nice mids and airyness/detail couldn't really disguise the fact there was too much low-end resonance happening. The string bass-heavy recording used just seemed to me the worst way to demonstrate this.
- Record choice - appalling selection mainly of stratospherically priced old potboilers. I didn't see too many sales either maybe people are fed up being taken for mugs.
- As usual not a single exhibitor playing classical music, this year it was the usual soft rock or GWG, interspersed with electronica. Ho hum.
Wish I'd looked in the Fyne Audio room but time was limted this afternoon and I didn't go in everywhere - if I'd know this was a bunch of ex-Tannoy people I'd have gone in. (I've only read the thread properly since I got in tonight. Tannoy were missed this year and Quad only seemed to be demoing their standmounts any time I looked in which disappointed as I'd like to have heard the 2912 in action.
As promised, Fyne F-1 video. Caught at an inopportune moment really but arguably better than nowt. You'll need some patience to get through the interlude...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iGI9tD-YkYw
Sorry to disagree with Justin but for me, the Audio Note room was sounding a bit pants today - E's of any stripe are often a bit bloomy/fruity/even boomy in the bass thanks to the cabinet which is kind of designed to sing along and when placed in the corners gives the effect of low bass, but in this room the whole thing was overdone and the nice mids and airyness/detail couldn't really disguise the fact there was too much low-end resonance happening. The string bass-heavy recording used just seemed to me the worst way to demonstrate this.
Sounds about right and that's were the bulk of the colouration I was complaining about was coming from.
Does anyone know if that slate looking veneer on the AN Es is actually slate?
rigger67
24-02-2018, 20:35
... it was the usual soft rock or GWG
What's GWG ?? :scratch:
Funnily enough, when I met Rob today buying some speakers from him he said every time he hears kit at shows it seems to be Rumours playing, while I added "Or Dark Side Of The Moon" :rolleyes:
montesquieu
24-02-2018, 20:36
What's GWG ?? :scratch:
Funnily enough, when I met Rob today buying some speakers from him he said every time he hears kit at shows it seems to be Rumours playing, while I added "Or Dark Side Of The Moon" :rolleyes:
'Girl with guitar'.
I heard Steely Dan Gaucho in two rooms and Donald Fagan's Nightflight in another one. I love those albums but hate to hear them in that sort of setting.
rigger67
24-02-2018, 21:10
Thanks, mate.
Didn't even know that was a thing, to be honest.
Must have been a "Me too" moment for all the women in attendance ..
montesquieu
24-02-2018, 21:30
Thanks, mate.
Didn't even know that was a thing, to be honest.
Must have been a "Me too" moment for all the women in attendance ..
GWG definition: 'technically and musically undemanding genre popular at hifi shows'. See also 'plinky plonk jazz'.
The TEAC system Tom was on about...
I've no comments on it as I just took the snaps whilst nothing was playing at a significant enough volume to pass any judgement when I was in there. Always nice to see an R2R deck around, though.
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After walking around a few rooms I was starting to worry a bit as I hadn't heard any treble in a lot of the rooms. Had it gone out of fashion? Was warm, less detailed sound the new treble? Maybe. Just maybe. Until the antidote appeared in the form of the Cary room. At last, some HF!. Passé, obviously, old school even, but nonetheless resurrected here.
Fortunately the presence of HF was also discovered in other rooms later on:D Another show observer noted that it was because I was deaf, and that only one of the two coffees he'd tried from the source I had recommended actually tasted like coffee.
Mind you, he actually owns some of those coloured AN E things:D
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brian2957
24-02-2018, 22:10
Cracking photos and some beautiful kit Justin . I'm really enjoying this thread , thank you sir :)
topoxforddoc
24-02-2018, 22:19
The TEAC system Tom was on about...
I've no comments on it as I just took the snaps whilst nothing was playing at a significant enough volume to pass any judgement when I was in there. Always nice to see an R2R deck around, though.
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Justin,
Glad to hear that you liked the R2R, even if the music may not have been to your taste. The TEAC A330SX is in fact a pretty standard consumer R2R machine - nothing fancy at all. If you thought that was good, then you'd love a proper studio machine :)
Charlie
walpurgis
24-02-2018, 22:19
I find the businesslike looks of the Cary KT150 integrated amp rather appealing. No frippery or frills and it's in black. I don't do silver. The radial arrangement of components on the top plate is interestingly unusual. Bet it sounds decent too.
Nah, it was about right when I was in there - pretty loud.;)
I think there's something good about this slate veneered blue coned AN E variant. It stiffens up the cabinet a bit I think.
This room was doing the Audio Note thing well this year. It presented tonality and sense of acoustic space in a way nothing else in the show got close to. But there's a price to pay with it, in that you become aware that it is coloured really quite quickly. And quite heavily so. If you don't give a damn about this, it is a real winner. If you do, it isn't. You just have to make a choice, I guess. Lots of people love it but ultimately I just couldn't live with it. What it does really well with is the sort of music I just don't really listen to.
You pretty much nail it there. Audionote should use that in their brochures :)
I find the businesslike looks of the Cary KT150 integrated amp rather appealing. No frippery or frills and it's in black. I don't do silver. The radial arrangement of components on the top plate is interestingly unusual. Bet it sounds decent too.
My fave Cary of all time is the red topped Cary SLP98 preamp. Think red lipsticked tart in black suspenders. Who cares what it actually sounds like?:D:lol:
https://www.stereophile.com/images/archivesart/204cary.jpg
You pretty much nail it there. Audionote should use that in their brochures :)
I'm betting your no salesman, Martin:);) The truth in advertising blurb? Nope, no way.:nono:
montesquieu
24-02-2018, 22:47
Justin,
Glad to hear that you liked the R2R, even if the music may not have been to your taste. The TEAC A330SX is in fact a pretty standard consumer R2R machine - nothing fancy at all. If you thought that was good, then you'd love a proper studio machine :)
Charlie
I'm really scared to go down the R2R route as I know Id spend a fortune on tapes.
What was really evident was how compressed the (admittedly very basic) record deck + phono stage sounded by comparison.
I'm really scared to go down the R2R route as I know Id spend a fortune on tapes.
What was really evident was how compressed the (admittedly very basic) record deck + phono stage sounded by comparison.
It's just one of those things. I'm sure most would love a decent R2R but then get stopped because of the list of impracticalities.
Anyway Charlie, it was Tom that made the positive TEAC R2R comment, not me.
Bad boy bass and AV time with the JL Audio g213v2 don't you know. Playing the movie Unbroken, cos that's got guns and bombs in it that go boom! and bang!:guns:
Great salesman in here, I thought, passing around a 213 driver so people could feel its weight. He just had a good, enthusiastic attitude.
And for a 360 degree sonic assault the room did well, with the 213 performing boomlessly and in a controlled manner. Whether you could actually stand and hour or two of constant banging and dynamics is something that crossed my mind, but it is certainly quite thrilling to begin with.
Good sub I reckon.
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That is a cool looking sub. What are they asking for it?
That is a cool looking sub. What are they asking for it?
Google sez $12,000 so £12,000 I expect.
:D
walpurgis
24-02-2018, 23:17
Google sez $12,000 so £12,000 I expect.
:D
I wonder how much they'd be charging to replace those monster foam cone surrounds in about five years when they fall apart? :) Probably a 'new driver' situation.
Google sez $12,000 so £12,000 I expect.
:D
A little bit spendy. Not surprising it was good then.
OK let's do a quick bloody dreadful. Mission. As confirmed by an old acquaintance by the name of George, just shite. If anyone hears this room sounding anything better than rubbish, let us know:D
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I popped in this room twice, as I had to double check because it sounded so bad the first time. If a loudspeaker could ever catch a cold, that's how they sounded, bunged up, nasely with no definition or anything - I don't even know what they were playing in there, as the life had been sucked right out of the music!
Very disappointing as a previous all Mission/Cyrus system owner with fond memories. Nobody in the room either, in fact on the second visit, not even the Mission staff were there, I guess they gave up too - not sure what the heck they got wrong, but it was pants.
Those JBL's in the Primare room were great, loved the sound they were producing and thanks for the tip about the top floor, no-one there when I arrived at 10:30 :)
Really good day, not been for around 10 years - superb sound in the Nordost room, with all Moon Audio gear and ProAc D30R speakers. Both Spendor rooms were producing the goods too, very impressive sounds from needle floor-standers (D7 & D9).
Off to bed, might post more later . . .
Oh, I love GWG music :ner:
Almost forgot, those Quad ESL-2912's . . . . OMG :drool:
Could have spent a few hours listening to them, just gorgeous in every way and all driven by a small 75W all-in-one amp/CD/DAC/streamer box serving up file based audio. Even I was surprised at how capable it sounded
http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/upload/images/product/img/artera-solus_20180201190019_992.jpg
Artera Solus (http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=44)
hifinutt
25-02-2018, 05:08
if any lovers of tannoy are there today there is a separate event
this weekend at the Future Inns Hotel Bristol.
PaulBarnett
25-02-2018, 07:20
Almost forgot, those Quad ESL-2912's . . . . OMG :drool:
Could have spent a few hours listening to them, just gorgeous in every way and all driven by a small 75W all-in-one amp/CD/DAC/streamer box serving up file based audio. Even I was surprised at how capable it sounded
http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/upload/images/product/img/artera-solus_20180201190019_992.jpg
Artera Solus (http://www.quad-hifi.co.uk/product-detail.php?pid=44)
I heard them too, on Friday, and thought their room was one of the best sounding. And, astonishingly (to me), source was a mobile phone, via bluetooth
Yes Paul, that Quad Solus All-In-One System was probably the most impressive new product I saw regarding sound for pound - £1,500 for one box seems astonishingly good value.
The acid test would be what does it sound like paired with other equipment? I suspect it would continue to impress, however, paired with those Quad ESL's you had a 10K system that sounded wonderful and punching way above it's cost. I think they could have a killer product there - I liked it a lot.
http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/quad-solus-all-in-one-system-silver if anyone is curious to know more and can't believe the price - there were cables and equipment stands that cost more ;)
The tannoy event finished yesterday. It was mainly for press and distributors. But anyone was welcome. The new autograph mini GR was released.
montesquieu
25-02-2018, 12:57
Bummer wish I’d known that
Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
Bummer wish I’d known that
Sent from my iPhone using TapatalkThe Fynes and now that. Double whammy!
Nevermind.
Yes Paul, that Quad Solus All-In-One System was probably the most impressive new product I saw regarding sound for pound - £1,500 for one box seems astonishingly good value.
The acid test would be what does it sound like paired with other equipment? I suspect it would continue to impress, however, paired with those Quad ESL's you had a 10K system that sounded wonderful and punching way above it's cost. I think they could have a killer product there - I liked it a lot.
http://www.audioaffair.co.uk/quad-solus-all-in-one-system-silver if anyone is curious to know more and can't believe the price - there were cables and equipment stands that cost more ;)
nice low impact system that.
For my money a nice looking Unison Research S6 integrated in the Klipsch room. Sound wasn't what I was expecting from Klipsch speakers I have heard in the past. Very warm sound indeed when I was in there with rolled off top end etc.
This amp doesn't look anywhere near as substantial on their website but there's nothing to compare relative scale wise in their pictures. They should pay me for these.
Oddly enough the Lampizator site is using a video I shot at Munich. Pay me royalties (yes - I am joking).
https://ughuiw.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mAgm0GBS0827w2IyaqVuUoqCu73Edk-cWTgDQtnG-M2RhuQ1Ys17_GZvq7isFMYsO4_ARN-A-wNKG1FfUnKkRMkf20qytXv6gocXMHXSBb9b2klO-5T4hu7HUdQLSRUO9iI_pPMftDyvAQk0A6guJARpPpOy1rahXSi hdxi_pMoMhqjwlMPRLX1Wczr0dTz5XAP2vwEL2g7uSbfU5-9h3Ng?width=1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
https://uwhuiw.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mn5zJz6T67g6gfOMrYcYTDVC9N9KdQ817cJ3_FBOa7Y3qJzY RV_1JqvuyhQy8VE3ihVCL4_hv-WyBvB6K0ghWblL65mivuI83dguFjJJpt7GRKe7X2zyX_iekRPt FL1dZvjj2RByUPipH0u3RsvfA9TSTu7n6zXV4gSC85r-gc914DZZv_Ozk_IPoHQZp5WixPMvyxzNxIQiZ7njMPvuxvg?wi dth=1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
https://umhuiw.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mBcOwLWZB9JVxySIJOReInz_CTCQph_cmPTsxtvARkYA-kE6Sy9CtrqxgQfL8qmlwXFnPRk1PTxTKD7tMF3zdnxAfeZO41D SpHZ4jzJ8ZFTXMQ4X4otcXHIkcQwJujxqo_14DQKNRjYRgdD1T cc2JKrLluyECW_BLQyULNRDIDjXGAnhLGspdsuxCjiSv-ean4udJHtIqm9UNlHG-NByAwA?width=1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
Von Gaylord system covered earlier... camera mic seems to be emphasising sibilance in a manner than just wasn't heard in room.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=redLDknPJvg
Mission acquitted themselves here as the Blades sounded OK. Popular room it was packed when this sub-par shot was taken. I'm not mad on Blades myself, but I do think the LS50 is good value.
What Hi-Fi's best loudspeakers of the show video actually includes the little Missions. Hm.
https://vdywow.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mdDsEX1GCBo1SgZvqn43SJp2jwe9CnQLsTLcx4KbHu-39EywK4xtvBhcwMGZtt7TAdVC7oEHJOaHSpFPoMsYOBScH_qh7 lepgd_OZvtbFJUjNQV4qSe5kLy3JoiUP7NsqhblyNWULUq3syJ p3-rjqvn9-w6FqkpZ6GNwNF9usSmnhGKEptSpcpo4CpgBsDbdCZb1gmc4WiS SbdwvmVvn_Gg?width=1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=watkwa0N9CE&t=154s
Mission acquitted themselves here as the Blades sounded OK.
I thought Mission and Cyrus parted ways? Aren't Mission part of the IAG group now and Cyrus Audio their own Ltd company?
I also liked those Klipsch Forte speakers and weren't what I was expecting either - rather good.
Great pictures too, you should be on commission ;)
I thought Mission and Cyrus parted ways? Aren't Mission part of the IAG group now and Cyrus Audio their own Ltd company?
I also liked those Klipsch Forte speakers and weren't what I was expecting either - rather good.
Great pictures too, you should be on commission ;)Tim yeah I was thinking I might have got the Mission / Cyrus thing wrong. Thanks for clearing it up.
Von Gaylord system covered earlier... camera mic seems to be emphasising sibilance in a manner than just wasn't heard in room.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=redLDknPJvg
Sadly, more sleep-inducing 'audiophile pap', posing as music! Nice pics though, as usual :)
Plus, I'd no sooner own gear from a company called 'Von Gaylord', than I would from one named as 'Big-Boned Arse Bandit'!
Marco.
I only knew as I used to be a customer Justin, so was shocked by the Mission room - what did they do in there :scratch:
Hey daftee, I've just ordered some Von Gaylord speakers thank you very much!
I only knew as I used to be a customer Justin, so was shocked by the Mission room - what did they do in there :scratch:
Hey daftee, I've just ordered some Von Gaylord speakers thank you very much!Me too. Break on through to the other side...:D
Hey daftee, I've just ordered some Von Gaylord speakers thank you very much!
Enjoy, ducky - I hear that they come with some free butt-plugs, used for bunging up the bass ports! :D
Marco.
Apparently Von Gaylord is a real person, if you believe their marketing blurb. You really have to think about the business acumen of some people :mental:
montesquieu
25-02-2018, 20:32
For my money a nice looking Unison Research S6 integrated in the Klipsch room. Sound wasn't what I was expecting from Klipsch speakers I have heard in the past. Very warm sound indeed when I was in there with rolled off top end etc.
This amp doesn't look anywhere near as substantial on their website but there's nothing to compare relative scale wise in their pictures. They should pay me for these.
Oddly enough the Lampizator site is using a video I shot at Munich. Pay me royalties (yes - I am joking).
When I went into the Unison room the S6 was off to the side and a little single ended thing (one tube each) was playing didn't regognise it I thought it might have been a Prima Luna till I listened to it. I though the Klipshes souned rubbish with this and wasn't sure whether to blame the amp or the speakers - just as you describe, tops rolled off and also (I felt) compressed in the mids. Lower registers were ok. They were playing a Yes album I know pretty well and it came out all a bit of a mush. Four grand for the Klipshes and I felt the little Quad standmounts left them for dead.
I have to say my experience with Unison hasn't been great, I had an S8 (845 single ended) which was the most utterly pants amp I've ever owned.
When I went into the Unison room the S6 was off to the side and a little single ended thing (one tube each) was playing didn't regognise it I thought it might have been a Prima Luna till I listened to it. I though the Klipshes souned rubbish with this and wasn't sure whether to blame the amp or the speakers - just as you describe, tops rolled off and also (I felt) compressed in the mids. Lower registers were ok. They were playing a Yes album I know pretty well and it came out all a bit of a mush. Four grand for the Klipshes and I felt the little Quad standmounts left them for dead.
I have to say my experience with Unison hasn't been great, I had an S8 (845 single ended) which was the most utterly pants amp I've ever owned.
No they were rubbish with the S6 too. To be fair for some reason I am being far too nice and tolerant on this thread.
The highlight of the show for me was a chat with Van Den Hul. It was absolutely so fucking unbelievable I couldn't possibly repeat it here. I might PM you about it but prolly not today. Genuinely amazed.
montesquieu
25-02-2018, 20:57
No they were rubbish with the S6 too. To be fair for some reason I am being far too nice and tolerant on this thread.
The highlight of the show for me was a chat with Van Den Hul. It was absolutely so fucking unbelievable I couldn't possibly repeat it here. I might PM you about it but prolly not today. Genuinely amazed.
Sounds intriguing!
pure sound
25-02-2018, 21:00
We had the full 15 minute talk about the virtues of vdH's 'extender' which basically went along the lines of...
"…But, this system works also with animals and plants (trees). I am able to to ‘’measure’’ trees. On invitation of the Community of Milano (Italy) I have been there to advise why so many trees suffer from cancer.
It is practical all situations: Pollution is collected in the wood of this tree. Sounds logical but it is not proven. I can show even which chemicals do create this cancer.
I can also control the quality of food with the same system. Like the pollution by insecticides and/or other chemicals. Reason not to consume this food to avoid the same risk of collecting cancer…"
https://www.stereo.net.au/news/van-den-hul-extends-the-notion-of-musicality
montesquieu
25-02-2018, 21:11
We had the full 15 minute talk about the virtues of vdH's 'extender' which basically went along the lines of...
"…But, this system works also with animals and plants (trees). I am able to to ‘’measure’’ trees. On invitation of the Community of Milano (Italy) I have been there to advise why so many trees suffer from cancer.
It is practical all situations: Pollution is collected in the wood of this tree. Sounds logical but it is not proven. I can show even which chemicals do create this cancer.
I can also control the quality of food with the same system. Like the pollution by insecticides and/or other chemicals. Reason not to consume this food to avoid the same risk of collecting cancer…"
https://www.stereo.net.au/news/van-den-hul-extends-the-notion-of-musicality
Sounds like he's gone a full David Icke ....
Saw these at Munich but no-one there seemed prepared to attempt to explain what they were.
pure sound
25-02-2018, 21:27
All the best nonsense.
Tesla discovered this
Russian scientists
Talk to trees
I’m a healer
I can diagnose 700 ailments
Intuition
Medical professionals
it was a thing to behold. Jaws were on the floor.
I like AJ, precisely because he's always been 'out there' and not scared to be different (an innovative thinker who likes to push boundaries).... Well, in this instance you certainly can't say he's afraid of doing precisely that, and applying a goodly dose of, erm, 'lateral thinking'!:D
As they say, there's a fine line between genius and insanity.....
Here he is in a less 'left-field' mode: https://positive-feedback.com/interviews/a-j-van-den-hul-interview/
Marco.
I didn't realise the cat was out of the bag.
I had a one on one with him for about 10 minutes. I kept looking at one of the salesman who was overhearing, He had an absolutely deadly serious look on his face as we chatted. Was he concerned for the man's sanity, I thought, or believing what was coming out of his mouth?
He told me the Extender had components in it, but seemed to have some real fear that the Chinese were trying to copy it, and that I shouldn't have any ideas about doing the same. I also got much of the contents of Guy's link regurgitated to me. I found some appropriate exit words and left.
Mr Hul apparently has the ability to "read" the health and history of people merely by being with them.
Being with him for any length of time is probably beyond a couple of hundred micrograms of the finest lysergic acid you can lay your hands on. Or is it simply that Mr Hul has probably consumed more than a grams worth in one go, causing irreversible re-routing of his neural net?
https://ttz05w.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mjM2mWUyfk4J1JHWjkRU9tsgamF0oXH0G6Rie2PC-MDb6e6OS9mOLWymmokRFHnO9k10nXuLnSwBEfUd7zEZ3FPJzn_ 0L0SG4NLf66zn-pIWqTPXGEt93NZv9Z9j5ZSjlHUx0fQEqJeD5H6NC-_8SZd_2TdV5pWZ12kRtTgi4hTZxZLagTDNa12q_GgcitW38pIi qL8SxMaCzmWr2NW0e2w?width=1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
walpurgis
25-02-2018, 23:01
Very odd idea placing bowl like lamps (I assume that's what they are) in front of working speakers. They will produce a cup/cavity resonance and also act in a similar way to parabolic reflectors. In other words, the demo sound will be coloured.
George47
25-02-2018, 23:05
Apparently Von Gaylord is a real person, if you believe their marketing blurb. You really have to think about the business acumen of some people :mental:
True. He founded Legend Audio but the company changed to his name Von Gaylord Audio. I suspect his name is less of an issue in the US/China than it is here.
I suspect his name is less of an issue in the US/China than it is here.
Actually yes, that's a good point. Sounds like something from Monty Python, but that's very British and only for a certain generation too. Old gits like me!
southall-1998
25-02-2018, 23:43
Was the Neat Acoustics show room any good?
S.
Was the Neat Acoustics show room any good?
S.
Can't comment, I had a hit list of about 20 locations to visit and appraise and did all those, overstaying in some. I went into all the rooms apart from KEF, (long lines) but for many stayed a very short time and can't recall them unless I saw/heard anything to pique my interest - sorry.
I just looked and they were in Room 116, the lower floors I found less interesting.
EDIT: Just looked at their website and do now recall those small funny looking speakers, appeared novel and would appeal in modern rooms, but staying in there about 2 minutes, can't say I remember anything about how they sounded. Looked nice in white though.
https://www.fanthorpes.co.uk/images/thumbnails/681/681/detailed/2/iota-alpha_pair_white-600px1.jpg
I didn't realise the cat was out of the bag.
I had a one on one with him for about 10 minutes. I kept looking at one of the salesman who was overhearing, He had an absolutely deadly serious look on his face as we chatted. Was he concerned for the man's sanity, I thought, or believing what was coming out of his mouth?
He told me the Extender had components in it, but seemed to have some real fear that the Chinese were trying to copy it, and that I shouldn't have any ideas about doing the same. I also got much of the contents of Guy's link regurgitated to me. I found some appropriate exit words and left.
Mr Hul apparently has the ability to "read" the health and history of people merely by being with them.
Being with him for any length of time is probably beyond a couple of hundred micrograms of the finest lysergic acid you can lay your hands on. Or is it simply that Mr Hul has probably consumed more than a grams worth in one go, causing irreversible re-routing of his neural net?
So, apart from that, did his system sound any good?:D
Marco.
True. He founded Legend Audio but the company changed to his name Von Gaylord Audio. I suspect his name is less of an issue in the US/China than it is here.
Good point, and as far as China is concerned, you're right. However, how are gay people referred to in America - isn't it by using the word "gay"? If so, the connotations (with a name like 'Von Gaylord') are exactly the same there, as here....
And yes, I get the Monty Python thing.
Marco.
jandl100
26-02-2018, 08:36
Looks like the Brizzle Show has picked up a bit since I last went a few years ago - back then it was mostly mid-market crapola in badly set up rooms with very little of interest as far as I was concerned. But even then the upper floors were better and I did use the start at the top trick.
There was a lot of poking my head in a room and not even bothering to go in, it was that bad.
I recall that after 90 minutes of touring all the rooms I thought "what would I like to hear again?". Nothing, was the answer, so I left having expected to spend the day there.
But I might well give it another go next year.
Looking at the array of good pictures I am struck by the seeming emphasis on finishes, and this worries me because it may just be a shift towards bling rather than the audio itself being advanced.
I loved the rather dry, reserved, and and plain looks of the Quad of old, understated and very good functionally for the time.
Same here, and my thoughts precisely, Dennis. I hate bling with a passion, and even more, paying for it in equipment, when the money could have been better spent instead 'under the hood', where it matters most! ;)
That high-end hi-fi these days is more about looks than ultimate sonic performance, is the main reason why, aside from the (often unjustified) exorbitant price tags, it turns me off.
In that respect, long live the concept of achieving the highest 'SPPV', and the quality vintage gear and well-made but functional looking, bespoke equipment from 'one-man band' manufacturers with low overheads, which facilitates that, and who can build sensibly priced equipment, able to compete sonically with any blingy, overpriced 'badge-fi'!
:exactly:
Marco.
P.S Only loudspeakers have a valid reason for 'looking pretty'.
. . . Quad of old, understated and very good functionally for the time.
Well from what I saw, they are still doing it - nothing too fancy (or over priced) in their room, apart from a very good sound from affordable Hi-Fi. They impressed me - I would say they have moved from 'rather dry, reserved and plain looks' to understated elegance, but still with an identity of their own.
For me, considering sound per pound I didn't hear anything on Saturday that bettered them for my musical tastes. There were a few other rooms that I liked, but the gear cost significantly more, often 4/5 times more.
It was a good day out Jerry, it was surprised having given up about 10 years ago. It was only an afterthought as I was going to Bristol Saturday night for a gig, so thought I'd pop in. More to see a friend who was demonstrating, but I actually enjoyed the day and learnt quite a bit too :thumbsup:
One high-end manufacturer currently bucking the trend for 'bling-fi' is Thoeress:
http://www.thoeress.com/en/preamplifier/
Check it out, Dennis...
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/KeJkJN.jpg
Now *that* is how high-end hi-fi equipment should look: purposeful and professional, with rather 'sober' aesthetics, like something out of a 1950s science lab!! :cool:
No crass-looking gold bling there, for tasteless 'key-janglers'....;)
Marco.
Beobloke
26-02-2018, 12:46
I've been going to Bristol for nigh on 30 years, both as a punter and in a trade capacity. I had worried that it was losing its mojo over the last few years but I felt this one was one of the best for a long time. Lots of enthusiasm, the Friday was packed out with visitors and there were lots of interesting new items to see and hear. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As to my favourite thing of the show, obviously it was the new Technics SL-1000R. Does anyone know what the going rate for a moderately alcohol-abused kidney is, these days...? :D
rubber duck
26-02-2018, 12:51
True. He founded Legend Audio but the company changed to his name Von Gaylord Audio. I suspect his name is less of an issue in the US/China than it is here.
I don't quite get what the issue is here. Are we saying some people will avoid this brand because they are homophobic? Is the G word a no-no when it comes to marketing?
montesquieu
26-02-2018, 12:54
One high-end manufacturer currently bucking the trend for 'bling-fi' is Thoeress:
http://www.thoeress.com/en/preamplifier/
Check it out, Dennis...
https://imagizer.imageshack.com/v2/xq90/924/KeJkJN.jpg
Now *that* is how high-end hi-fi equipment should look: purposeful and professional, with rather 'sober' aesthetics, like something out of a 1950s science lab!! :cool:
No crass-looking gold bling there, for tasteless 'key-janglers'....;)
Marco.
I had a long chat with Reinhard Thoress at Munich, I had been pondering this kit before I got the EAR 912. I did get to hear it there with his own-design speakers and amp, but I wasn't overly impressed with the speakers and anyway you can only come away from shows with a limited impression - just the big picture, no subtleties.
Thoress is still an avenue I might pursue at some stage, what I'd really like is the opportunity to do an extended comparison with the EAR, into Radford + Tannoys. I must admit I'm attracted to it at least in part for its 50s-60s lab equipment looks, perhaps retro-chic is just another kind of bling!
The ideal for me would be his three input phono preamp (with all the equalisation options), with one linestage input for a DAC. He prefers active MC over SUTs though so I'd be tempted to have all inputs set to MM, and run one or more SUTs into the other inputs. I'd miss the Swiss Army Knife flexibility of the EAR though.
I think you are over thinking it Jeff, or taking it a tad too seriously - it is (on my part) rather tongue in cheek.
Just a bit of fun with an unusual name - it wouldn't stop me buying it if I liked it, in fact I'd play on it, like Schiit Audio ;)
Sophistry
26-02-2018, 13:04
I must admit I'm attracted to it at least in part for its 50s-60s lab equipment looks, perhaps retro-chic is just another kind of bling!
I don't blame you, Tom - it looks lovely, and would look brilliant with your td124.
No UK distributor I note...
I don't quite get what the issue is here. Are we saying some people will avoid this brand because they are homophobic? Is the G word a no-no when it comes to marketing?
Not at all, and I'm surprised you should even consider that. The issue is simply one of appropriateness. I suspect that the majority of heterosexual men in the western world would no sooner drive a car called a 'Gaymobile', than own hi-fi equipment from a company called 'Von Gaylord'...
Much the same as I'd imagine the majority of gay men would be unlikely to own equipment from a company called 'Hetroman Hi-Fi' ;)
Marco.
montesquieu
26-02-2018, 13:06
I don't blame you, Tom - it looks lovely, and would look brilliant with your td124.
No UK distributor I note...
Greg at G-Point had a relationship with Thoress for a while, if not stated its possible that may have gone by the board.
I think you are over thinking it Jeff, or taking it a tad too seriously.
+1 :)
Marco.
Not at all, and I'm surprised you should even consider that. The issue is simply one of appropriateness. I suspect that the majority of heterosexual men in the western world would no sooner drive a car called a 'Gaymobile', than own hi-fi equipment from a company called 'Von Gaylord'...
Much the same as I'd imagine the majority of gay men would be unlikely to own equipment from a company called 'Hetroman Hi-Fi' ;)
Marco.
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Von Gaylord is actually the bloke's name. I mean it sounds unlikely to us but then this is America we're talking about. There are quite a few people with the surname 'Wanker' there too; regrettably one of them has yet to start a hi-fi company.
But you can hardly blame the bloke for calling the company after his actual name, ridiculous though it may be.
But you can hardly blame the bloke for calling the company after his actual name, ridiculous though it may be.
Lol, indeed, but not if he has even the remotest clue about marketing, and the impact naming his products so will have on sales in many areas of the world!
Marco.
I've been going to Bristol for nigh on 30 years, both as a punter and in a trade capacity. I had worried that it was losing its mojo over the last few years but I felt this one was one of the best for a long time. Lots of enthusiasm, the Friday was packed out with visitors and there were lots of interesting new items to see and hear. I thoroughly enjoyed it.
As to my favourite thing of the show, obviously it was the new Technics SL-1000R. Does anyone know what the going rate for a moderately alcohol-abused kidney is, these days...? :DTuppence [emoji39]
Lol, indeed, but not if he has even the remotest clue about marketing, and the impact naming his products so will have on sales in many areas of the world!
Marco.
I think using the name is a deliberate marketing decision, much like Shiit. This is expensive high end kit (£10K for some rinky-dink little 2-way standmounters!) so the target market (yourself excepted) is not the sort of people who would be put off by the name. It has got us all talking about it, after all.
I think using the name is a deliberate marketing decision, much like Shiit. This is expensive high end kit (£10K for some rinky-dink little 2-way standmounters!) so the target market (yourself excepted) is not the sort of people who would be put off by the name. It has got us all talking about it, after all.
I totally understand where you're coming from, but disagree with the bit in bold. Most of my hi-fi friends could afford said speakers, but much like me, I also know that they would be very unlikely to buy them because of their name - and my gay (non-hifi) friends would completely understand!;)
If VG made cars, would you (as a straight male) drive one around town, with a shiny badge at the back that said 'Von Gaylord'?
I suspect not, and neither would most men of our straight sexual persuasion, regardless of whether they could afford the car or not, much as I suspect (for the very same reason) the majority of straight male hi-fi enthusiasts in the western world wouldn't buy a pair of speakers, emblazoned with the name 'Von Gaylord'.
As I've said, it's simply a matter of appropriateness. If it was a deliberate marketing decision to name the company so, then it was a poor one IMO, if the intention was to target the west for sales.
If the designer in question, however, is mainly targeting China, Japan, etc, as his potential customer base, then I'd expect him to be rather more successful there - and good luck to him! :cool:
Marco.
rubber duck
26-02-2018, 14:20
I suspect the majority of straight male hi-fi enthusiasts in the western world wouldn't buy a pair of speakers emblazoned with the name 'Von Gaylord'.
Hmm, do straight men in the UK not buy Fairy dishwashing liquid? I once had a (gay) friend visiting from the US who thought this was hilarious.
Lol - the difference is that washing up liquid is a disposable product, and not one placed on prominent display that others are liable to see, unlike a pair of high-end loudspeakers - or a car!
Would you wear a t-shirt with 'Fairy' written on it? ;)
Anyway, let's get back on-topic :)
Marco.
Beobloke
26-02-2018, 14:45
I seem to recall reading somewhere that Von Gaylord is actually the bloke's name. I mean it sounds unlikely to us but then this is America we're talking about. There are quite a few people with the surname 'Wanker' there too; regrettably one of them has yet to start a hi-fi company.
But you can hardly blame the bloke for calling the company after his actual name, ridiculous though it may be.
Indeed. In fact, the UK isn’t immune either, given that famous British manufacturer of electronic test equipment, Wayne Kerr...
Was the Neat Acoustics show room any good?
S.
As I went in a couple just leaving the room were saying 'Didn't that sound awful?' They were right. Easily the worst sounding room in the show, IMO.
Indeed. In fact, the UK isn’t immune either, given that famous British manufacturer of electronic test equipment, Wayne Kerr...
In Spain it's branded Juan Kerr....
Neat IOTA Xplorer. For the chap that asked, these just fell into the category of walk into the room, hear no action or volume, take a snap and walk out quickly. They might be OK given a chance, but they weren't giving them a chance at that time. This happens in a lot of rooms, and it makes you wonder whether the staff
1) Care less.
2) Could be arsed to do anything.
3) Have any enthusiasm.
If you can't be arsed to play music at a reasonable volume and be enthusiastic, just what the hell are you doing at the show? Wasting someone else's money is the truth of it. Sad.
So not only directed at Neat, and indeed this comment may be unfair to them - it might have just been bad timing. But it just happens far too often for there not to be some truth behind what I am saying.
https://u9zfrq.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mXFoUBhuYc2KByPgYgkOueNFRhJMpMtDhN0VytKcV98MyCBb Ay_dODqr2dFNx5U_nOZwgb-MPk8HRclhMijfwoniM7kFHAOdaxhRgfxXmlmWkaEZSJzEkKSl-D9v2wSH96WZeDfZ3fexnXTJ3xtpt4vU1HHPbUYB03jO_GMQvml D80iqVs04cJbW9czWUXjXdjNW-rldDyLH0IoQok89wrw?width=1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
You're right Justin, you see it all the time. I'd love to have a doss-around job touring hotel venues demoing hi-fi equipment. These people want a right kick up the arse.
brian2957
26-02-2018, 16:53
Agreed . Shame though , they look quite interesting ( to me anyway ) Great photos again Justin :)
I think using the name is a deliberate marketing decision, much like Shiit. This is expensive high end kit (£10K for some rinky-dink little 2-way standmounters!) so the target market (yourself excepted) is not the sort of people who would be put off by the name. It has got us all talking about it, after all.
They're good standmounts, Martin, but I wouldn't touch them with a barge pole at the price. A no bass £10K speaker has no useful function as far as I am concerned.
I love the way you can add the $100,000 liquid cooled amp (http://www.vongaylordaudio.com/store/p10/The_Uni_Sea-_Liquid_Cooled_Mono_Amplifier.html) to your basket and presumably proceed like it was a grocery item. Has anyone ever done it one wonders? Hm.
Agreed . Shame though , they look quite interesting ( to me anyway ) Great photos again Justin :)
Thanks Brian. Keep feeding me +ve vibes it does the ego a world of good;)
brian2957
26-02-2018, 17:10
As someone who couldn't make the 800+ miles round trip I'm pleased that someone took the trouble to take some photos and vids ( again ) mate :)
All you zombies - tweet, tweet, tweet.
https://s2huiw.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mZKxOvZEqJH6p_iki5YPnKcDd54PK3hUcWlsNrKrAM69Ntsk uORRx_c_oj3TR6PlqMyeoYxn6VStRyBPImoHFGzWOof0tTnkmu Blecu5H0B7M730E3M-kytCx0VIfIHeBXN7BLby9gcTAFvs7rBbqtksZo6cq2UQRKUpdS 2wrLkDdA-XJ-VufI1suEd4riCrhq85P1as3BmKiCfIbA-GC4w?width=1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IH4Mqqelc4E
Excuse the abstract nature of my previous post...:D
Anyway, anti-bling Nain and Focal. There was a whole group of Naim appreciatives inspecting the anti-bling boxes in a section next to these pics. But no music above about 50 DB when this was taken.
https://vtaq0a.ch.files.1drv.com/y4mHvlIwknAzKB9eXlAV8IhULGTXpdNlNdBV3y7rXQxBnhUhOS 1n8wuj5RRPn5PUtHaSMVrSDaa8Pcynp3KiiM2Ah5mUaqV1ZY1B qZVpdEI1rbXewDtsWCzNzC-fSOakOtYQqSe50QABdRQGOEQD0vRDc44tZ6gaKlGSCLoNK4EVI OuPOeR9PAm4riDceky_ArWtKdL4mzm98G8u8jDuLia6Q?width =1920&height=1080&cropmode=none
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The Cary setup made a bit more real...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=40qB82wDgN0
I had a long chat with Reinhard Thoress at Munich, I had been pondering this kit before I got the EAR 912. I did get to hear it there with his own-design speakers and amp, but I wasn't overly impressed with the speakers and anyway you can only come away from shows with a limited impression - just the big picture, no subtleties.
Thoress is still an avenue I might pursue at some stage, what I'd really like is the opportunity to do an extended comparison with the EAR, into Radford + Tannoys. I must admit I'm attracted to it at least in part for its 50s-60s lab equipment looks, perhaps retro-chic is just another kind of bling!
The ideal for me would be his three input phono preamp (with all the equalisation options), with one linestage input for a DAC. He prefers active MC over SUTs though so I'd be tempted to have all inputs set to MM, and run one or more SUTs into the other inputs. I'd miss the Swiss Army Knife flexibility of the EAR though.
Lol - no 'retro chic' is cool (as is understated, but purposeful looking hi-fi), and true bling is boxes adorned with shiny gold knobs, etc... That shit just makes me feel ill.
I've not had the opportunity of listening to any Thoeress equipment. I simply admire the looks and (some) of its design principles. If it ticked the right boxes, in terms of its musical abilities, I'd happily use it at home.
I'm with you on the MM/SUT (or head amp) combo, over active MC, and the EAR is great. The other phono stages I really rate are those from Allnic Audio. Have you seen and/or heard any?
A friend of mine has one. If you weren't aware, Allnic Audio phono stages feature the use of built-in SUTs, which with the removal of any interconnecting cables (hardwired directly to the circuit) is surely the ideal way of implementing such devices - and they sound stunning! :)
Marco.
Pieoftheday
26-02-2018, 18:37
I've never been to a Hifi show, what's the point if manufacturers arn't playing music through their gear?
I very nearly ordered a $20,000 Allnic preamp going for $7,500 the other day - brand new unused but an old model. Lotus have (or had haven't checked) a nice Allnic DAC on ebay. Pretty tempted to just buy it, keep it for a bit and pass it on... but went for some of Jerry's cheapo recommendations instead:D
There are some caveats with Allnic kit - the DAC got the worst ever Stereophile tech report for a DAC, and the preamp I was looking at uses some microphonic STC valves (but you can subs a KR which apparently is OK).
Here is that preamp (https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8e2db-allnic-audio-h5000-dht-class-a-preamp-tube). Nice hunk of metal. Note you can make an offer on the $7500 but you'd have to blag him into UK shipping.
montesquieu
26-02-2018, 19:10
other phono stages I really rate are those from Allnic Audio. Have you seen and/or heard any?
A friend of mine has one. If you weren't aware, Allnic Audio phono stages feature the use of built-in SUTs, which with the removal of any interconnecting cables (hardwired directly to the circuit) is surely the ideal way of implementing such devices - and they sound stunning! :)
Marco.
Can't remember the model number of the Allnic phono stage I heard, but I thought it was very good and comparable at the time to the Aurorasound Vida I was using - which for all that it doesn't use tubes is still a very good phono stage (I think I had mine for three years which was something of a record). That is actually quite a recommendation as I liked the Vida a lot - not sure the Allnic was any better despite being more expensive - I didn't feel the need to rush out and buy one.
There are some caveats with Allnic kit - the DAC got the worst ever Stereophile tech report for a DAC, and the preamp I was looking at uses some microphonic STC valves (but you can subs a KR which apparently is OK).
Here is that preamp (https://www.audiogon.com/listings/lis8e2db-allnic-audio-h5000-dht-class-a-preamp-tube). Nice hunk of metal. Note you can make an offer on the $7500 but you'd have to blag him into UK shipping.
It's really only the phono stages I rate.
Marco.
Can't remember the model number of the Allnic phono stage I heard, but I thought it was very good and comparable at the time to the Aurorasound Vida I was using - which for all that it doesn't use tubes is still a very good phono stage (I think I had mine for three years which was something of a record). That is actually quite a recommendation as I liked the Vida a lot - not sure the Allnic was any better despite being more expensive - I didn't feel the need to rush out and buy one.
As ever, context is everything, so much depends on how well it suits the partnering system, and also which cartridge(s) you hear it with, but from your description you didn't seem to find it too shabby;)
I also rate the Vida, and indeed had an opportunity to buy one (as Guy sent me a unit to home demo). I was suitably impressed to recommend it to Martin T (of TAS), who after hearing it for himself subsequently bought one.
However, ultimately for me, I found it lacked the beguiling midrange lucidity, vocal texture and 'airiness', I get in spades, from my (heavily modified) Croft and Paul Hynes MC head amp.
Marco.
It's really only the phono stages I rate.
Marco.
That's the common wisdom. BTW I never rated the EAR 868P's phono stage much. Trichord Diablo is quite a bit better IMHO. Tom's has a better SLUT in though.
montesquieu
26-02-2018, 19:40
As ever, context is everything, so much depends on how well it suits the partnering system, and also which cartridge(s) you hear it with, but from your description you didn't seem to find it too shabby;)
I also rate the VIda, and indeed had an opportunity to buy one (as Guy sent me one to home demo). I was suitably impressed to recommend it to Martin T (of TAS), who subsequently bought one. However, ultimately for me, I found it lacked the beguiling midrange lucidity, vocal texture and 'airiness', I get in spades, from my (heavily modified) Croft and Paul Hynes MC head amp.
Marco.
Actually I bought my Vida after Martin brought his round. I thought it was fab - chopped in a custom-made Nick Gorham two input MM valve phono stage for it (which wasn't too shabby to start with)
The Vida is a funny beast, it can be spectacular but I found two things 1) the MC input really isn't the best, a good step-up can lift the performance significantly. I used quite a few different ones into it with various catridges, from a Kondo-era AN-S6c (silver coils - used with an Io) to S&B TX103 and a Hashimoto HM7 - all of them smoked the MC section. (Used mainly with SPUs and Miyajimas).
The other thing is that its output impedance and possibly its gain structure seem to be a bit strange - I found that it's not great with passives of any stripe (pots, TCVs, light-operated, or buffers, tube or FET), and I concluded it needs a really good active preamp with a decent amount of gain and the right impedance characteristics to get the best out of it. Do that though and it's spectacular.
I can easily see that on a quick dem with imperfectly matched components, it might underwhelm. Get it right though and I'd put it up with anything I've heard.
Lol, so I've indirectly ended up selling the Vida to two people! :eyebrows:
I agree with your observations, as I found the same thing, and much preferred it in MM mode, via the use of my head amp, something at the time Guy was rather surprised about. I also agree about the gain thing, although there were no issues in that respect with the Croft.
However, much as I liked it (and I knew it would shine in Martin's system and appeal to his sonic proclivities, both of which at the time I was rather au fait with), it lacked that 'magical musicality' obtained, and which you'll be entirely familiar with, when valves get it *so very* right, which is why I stuck with the Croft, although the influence of the superb PH head amp in the overall equation is not to be sniffed at.
You should try listening to one (Paul's a great guy), optimised to suit your main cartridge, whatever that is these days lol, instead of your usual SUT :)
Marco.
That's the common wisdom. BTW I never rated the EAR 868P's phono stage much. Trichord Diablo is quite a bit better IMHO. Tom's has a better SLUT in though.
Lol - nice deliberate typo!:eyebrows:
If I were to have a bespoke valve preamp, with MM phono stage, built from scratch, I'd have it done with hardwired SUTs. The detrimental sonic effect caused by interconnect cables (even the shortest ones), with SUTs, shouldn't be underestimated.
Marco.
montesquieu
26-02-2018, 20:12
Lol, so I've indirectly ended up selling the Vida to two people! :eyebrows:
I agree with your observations, as I found the same thing, and much preferred it in MM mode, via the use of my head amp, something at the time Guy was rather surprised about. I also agree about the gain thing, although there were no issues in that respect with the Croft.
However, much as I liked it (and I knew it would shine in Martin's system and appeal to his sonic proclivities, both of which at the time I was rather au fait with), it lacked that 'magical musicality' obtained, and which you'll be entirely familiar with, when valves get it *so very* right, which is why I stuck with the Croft, although the influence of the superb PH head amp in the overall equation is not to be sniffed at.
You should try listening to one (Paul's a great guy), optimised to suit your main cartridge, whatever that is these days lol, instead of your usual SUT :)
Marco.
To be fair to the Vida I found it did have its magic moments.
On the PH head amp, Hugo has consistently sold its praises too .. it's definitely something I'd like to try.
On top of the Miyajimas and SPUs, I have an Ikeda 9C on the way ... the Decca principle (no cantilever), but moving coil, in the hands of a Japanese master. Should be interesting at least. I'm expecting some similarities to the Fidelity Research MC-702 I've had on loan - its it's direct ancestor.
Lol - nice deliberate typo!:eyebrows:
If I were to have a bespoke valve preamp, with MM phono stage, built from scratch, I'd have it done with hardwired SUTs. The detrimental sonic effect caused by interconnect cables (even the shortest ones), with SUTs, shouldn't be underestimated.
Marco.
Kind of like the EAR 912 then ... :)
If that's what it's got, then cool! :)
I reckon you lose around 20% of the effectiveness of an SUT, as soon as you strap a set of interconnects on the end, and it's what can make them sound 'soft' and lacking in dynamic alacrity, in comparison with the best head amps.
Marco.
George47
26-02-2018, 21:36
I heard the Thoress amplifier at the Wam Harrogate Show and it sounded really good. Whether that was the amp or the speakers I am not sure but they worked together well. And the Tannoy speakers sounded really good there with their Legacy looks. I wonder.....Thoress and Tannoy??
I had an Allnic integrated amp here and for me it was as good (better) than the ARC equivalent but at a much hlower price. The phono stage is exceptional and has a 'quie't look unlike a lot of Korean products.
The Bristol Show was very well attended and I was told they had sold over 600 advanced tickets for Friday, which was well up on last year. Last year there was only 1-2 rooms I re-visited. This year far more. Some big disappointments as well.
I haven't really got much more to say of interest.
So here's a download link to 107 show photos (everything I took, no emissions) in original file sizes. That way you can zoom in an discover things with the best quality possible, which can be helpful but some shots are more "in focus" than others.
They are all hand held flash shots and the camera does move when you shoot. Unavoidable.
Even so, better quality than you see here. And a lot more shots.
Here's the link (https://1drv.ms/u/s!ApUl1xxOUo0liSa8HTveGqFl7j9C).
cyclopse
27-02-2018, 22:03
First off if you go and arrive in the morning I recommend going straight to the top floor. The masses start at the ground floor before moving up, and if you do what I say by the time you get to the bottom there'll be far less human infestation - the whole show will be a better experience.
So, before I go for a swim and then undo all the good by cracking open a bottle of wine, then assert my hi-fi is far superior to anything there today by the time I have drunk the entire bottle...
There were a few rooms turning in a decent sound. There usually is, but as usual, take everything I say with a pinch of salt. The same rooms vary a lot simply depending on what is being played and at what volume.
So to Von Gaylord - a curious name indeed. Playing a couple of vocal tracks when I was in there, really not bad at all. The 6550 based amps and speakers turning in a very pleasant result. The amps are obviously very decent, as are the speakers. Quite pricey, but good.
The amps are a claimed 130 Watts triode mode, at $8500 a pair. I reckon they are really quite good indeed. Speakers are 91DB and $10,000.
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An attendee at the show purchased these actual amps in the picture. I saw him loading them into his car after the show.
An attendee at the show purchased these actual amps in the picture. I saw him loading them into his car after the show.
I don't blame him, probably got a good deal. Those Russian Tung-Sol 6550s are good. As were the Tung-Sol KT150s in the Ayon Orthos I had. Surprised by both TBH. One up for Russia.
I heard the Thoress amplifier at the Wam Harrogate Show and it sounded really good. Whether that was the amp or the speakers I am not sure but they worked together well. And the Tannoy speakers sounded really good there with their Legacy looks. I wonder.....Thoress and Tannoy??
I had an Allnic integrated amp here and for me it was as good (better) than the ARC equivalent but at a much hlower price. The phono stage is exceptional and has a 'quie't look unlike a lot of Korean products.
The Bristol Show was very well attended and I was told they had sold over 600 advanced tickets for Friday, which was well up on last year. Last year there was only 1-2 rooms I re-visited. This year far more. Some big disappointments as well.
Which models, George?
George47
27-02-2018, 22:51
Which models, George?
The integrated was the T2000 Anniversary (KT150). The phono I am less sure H300?. It was big and expensive.
Thanks for taking the time to do this Justin, I'll have a peruse through the photos as it is of interest having been there.
:cool:
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