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I admire you guys... I don't think I could judge differences with such a difference in kit/room in comparison to your own personal space.
I certainly couldn't make a decision between which bit of kit was best but more like have an overall opinion that 'it sounded good/different'
Coming out of your comfort zone needs to be handled carefully with huge amount of discipline.
Great write up btw, Marco..
Cheers, matey. That's a very good point. I've never been afraid of that (or in being subjected to learning curves), as in reality, it's the only way of knowing how well your kit stands up to scrutiny in the real world - i.e one outside the confines of your own ears and room.Quote:
Originally Posted by The Black Adder
In that respect, it's easy to kid yourself on about how good the stuff you use actually is. However, quite often during these events, one can take something positive from them (even if things don't quite work out as planned), which perhaps you wouldn't have discovered, had you not stepped out of your comfort zone :)
Marco.
Just want to say a big thanks to everyone for the kind words about the Linkwitz LX521.4 speakers and associated gear - credit goes to Siegfried Linkwitz for an excellent design that can be created for a reasonable cost. He's 80 next week and still contributing his knowledge to the hifi world.
I agree best NEBO yet, with some great gear - would have loved to have heard more from the 300B amp - the bit of jazz vocals before the mains voltage problem was discovered (thanks Jez) was just sublime. Have to agree with Marco - this was the most solid bass I've heard from a 300B amp.
As usual some great new music to go out and buy - Snark Puppy was right up my street - thanks Rich. And Ali - that direct to disc big band LP sounded wonderful.
Steve- thanks for the mug (will post a picture of your artwork). And thanks most of all for organising another great get together.
Gordon
I thoroughly enjoyed the few hours that I got to spend at NEBO and it was good to meet people and put faces to names. Vinyljunky didn't seem to be put off enjoying the day despite his troubles. I had a good chat with most people but particularly appreciated the discussion with Gordon about his experiences in Jamaica and as a Reggae DJ in the US. I have to agree that his system sounded wonderful, after the live Jeff Beck track I stopped short of applauding (although one person did).
I really enjoyed the Edingdales too and when it came to the passives my preference was for Colin's, whichever one that was, although all of them sounded excellent and I would have been happy to own any of them if I was in the market for one.
Wasn't the KIN hooked up in Kens system? although I only think it was used for a short time while I was there so not long enough to assess it properly. I think it was used for the first play of the "specialist music" which I enjoyed btw, I didn't get the Hump with it anyway (thanks to Steve Vinyljunky for the pun). Listening to Ali's 2 box firebottle just confirmed to me that, if I had the money I would go for a Firebottle + as Alan's phono stages do seem produce a sound that I like.Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco
I'll definitely be back in the future :)
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Here's a couple of motley pics of that jumble table lash up which led to the air guitars and middle aged moshing we witnessed....
Ken's Sugden A21 CD player and Proton power amp with the luvverley big green VU meters, Steve's Mission 752 floor standard and a Firebottle KIN preamp. Dunno about the speaker cables but the interconnects were Macca's SSC.
That's what I love about NEBO, surprises like these!
The speaker cables in the lash up were Van Damme Blue 6mm.
The Firebottle KIN performed really well in the lash up, line stage used for CD, thrown together with a mixture of items for sale on the jumble table, it all just, worked, when used together! Got those little Mission floor standers rocking with a very respectable bottom end. Lots of smiley faces said it all about this set up.
I did the three track session on my system with a Croft Micro 25 Pre/Phono, but it is a zero gain model and it needed more. I swapped this out for the KIN which has higher gain and things improved a lot, Steves Camel track (vinyl) was on this set up and the following few tracks on the Stello CD transport, which I inserted into a couple of slots, while folks were swapping out gear on the main sytem being reviewed. I have the KIN on loan to assess it further in my system, so if anyone in the NE wants to audition it, drop me a PM and you can either hear it at mine, or I will bring it to your place and drop it into your system.
I will be voicing the Yammies using the KIN and hopefully have the speakers sorted, to my taste, for the next get together.
On the day, I did like those NVA monoblocks Rich and that Pioneer turntable Steve. Gordons system I know quite well, it allways hits the spot for me. Liked Ali's and Marcos passive Pre Amps, I thought the best sound from those stand mounters of Colins came using Ali's Transformer based Passive Pre, I liked that sound a lot, or was it the Eddingdales that were hooked up? Either way very nice.
There was really so much good stuff going on that it can't all get a mention.
It was good chatting to you too, Paul. I should point out that I wasn't a club DJ - don't have the skills for that - hosted a weekly reggae radio show on KUOR 89.1FM, in Redlands California. At that time it was a community radio station with an ecletic mix of music programmes all hosted by people who were passionate about the music they played. Technics turntables (of course) with flat wooden Grado tonearms and Stanton cartridges that could take the abuse from cueing. The late David Manley generously donated some gear to the studio which was funded by twice yearly fundraising events. A wonderful place - monthly meetings were held in a local bar - a good time had by all ......a bit like NEBO actually! :lol:Quote:
Originally Posted by rossman
If you like American radio you might like to try KCRW out of Santa Monica - IMHO the best radio station in the US - has a companion online station called KCRW Eclectic 24.
Gordon
Recall you mentioning KCRW Gordon. Their YouTube channel is worth a subscribe as well.Quote:
Originally Posted by Halfway Tree
Indeed! The *fun/boogie factor*, joie de vivre, that system produced is what Ken needs to inject into his own (main) system, and you need to get from your JBLs, presuming that the 'suck out' effect we heard wasn't mainly down to the room :)Quote:
Originally Posted by RichB
Marco.
+1 I even checked out my phono stage today after what I heard... I'm happy to report that it is ruler flat in frequency response from the 10Hz to 22KHz my Bruel & Kjear liner sweep oscillator can cover.. (via a high accuracy reverse RIAA network and buffer amps). Probably from less than a Hz to >100KHz but it seemed pointless to look any further outside the audio band! It's now connected to my hot-rodded Leak Stereo 20 which is back in action after GZ34 rectifiers donated by me marra after NEBO and it's all sounding simply sublime :eyebrows:Quote:
Originally Posted by Marco