The Vain Pursuit of Excellence - Discussion.

[StanleyB]

In defense of Jerry, I would like to point out that he is the Egon Ronay of the HIFI world. He has the time and enjoys listening and commenting on various pieces of equipment from first hand experience, which saves the rest of us a lot of money. And he funds it all out of his own pocket. These are not freebies as the ones that the likes of me have to part with when sending samples to magazines for review.

Of course that can easily develop a fair bit of unexpressed jealousy in certain circles, and a total lack of understanding in others.

Stan

[Marco]

Hi Varun,

Well, I've got a spare transport mechanism should the original one fail in the X-777ES (although I get the impression that it'll outlast me! )

As far as the DAS-R1 DAC (and the X-777ES) are concerned, in terms of modification, there are numerous further component upgrades I can have carried out by Audiocom before things are completely maxed out, and indeed these will be implemented in due course. Then it'll be job done in that area for the foreseeable future.

Therefore, I honestly cannot see me ever changing the Sony. It's quite simply the best CDP I've heard. The only item I intend to add to my digital replay is some form of computer streaming set-up (used in conjunction with the DAS-R1), but as yet I'm not sure what that will be.

The Techy is 'finished', but will eventually be swapped for one of Dave Cawley's refurbished SP10s. The Croft is almost done (I just need to upgrade the coupling caps), the Copper amp is going nowhere, nor does it need anything upgraded in it (short of perhaps a brand new set of GEC KT88 valves, which Anthony TD has put aside for me), and the Lockwoods are finished, short of having them re-veneered in a nice real wood finish. My cable loom and mains set-up is also 'done and dusted', although I may consider some new equipment supports to house the much larger SP10 (with new 12" arm).

Therefore, I envisage that by around this time next year I'll have 'ticked all the remaining boxes', as it were, and will simply be adding to my ever-growing music collection

Marco.

[Clive]

Hehehehe...

Obtain high quality kit you like the sound of, and then 'race-tune' its ass until you've got something that's pretty much unbeatable. That's what I do

Marco.

I'm in total agreement on this Marco. Box swapping may fix a perceived issue (eg bass control or whatever) but so often the new box introduces all sorts of other issues which are noticed later....

Also I would suggest that a single system will never 100% anyone due to mood changes. Sometime I want edge-of-seat raw listening, other times I want mellow because that's how I feel. Sure the type of music I play partially works in line with my mood but not totally. You could say a transparent system should just play what's recorded faithfully but sometimes I want a laid back sound and other times I don't.

So....either live with the fact you'll never have exactly the sound you want ALL the time and be content or have multiple systems.

[Marco]

I'm in total agreement on this Marco. Box swapping may fix a perceived issue (eg bass control or whatever) but so often the new box introduces all sorts of other issues which are noticed later....

I completely agree, Clive. How true!

However, I also understand and appreciate why Jerry does what he does

Marco.

[Clive]

I completely agree, Clive. How true!

However, I also understand and appreciate why Jerry does what he does

Marco.

I also understand Jerry's PoV, especially as I'm a part time reviewer and have been since the early 80's. If people are interested in the technology to produce musical pleasure then work as a reviewer or retailer rather than spend a fortune on making manufacturers rich. Just my opinion!

[Marco]

Yup. He buys second-hand, though I understand, mainly from private sellers

Marco.

[Spectral Morn]

I also understand Jerry's PoV, especially as I'm a part time reviewer and have been since the early 80's. If people are interested in the technology to produce musical pleasure then work as a reviewer or retailer rather than spend a fortune on making manufacturers rich. Just my opinion!

Chance would be a fine thing...done the later (made redundant) only done the former within the context of AOS and not in print.

Who do you write for?


Regards D S D L

[Spectral Morn]

I'm in total agreement on this Marco. Box swapping may fix a perceived issue (eg bass control or whatever) but so often the new box introduces all sorts of other issues which are noticed later....

Also I would suggest that a single system will never 100% anyone due to mood changes. Sometime I want edge-of-seat raw listening, other times I want mellow because that's how I feel. Sure the type of music I play partially works in line with my mood but not totally. You could say a transparent system should just play what's recorded faithfully but sometimes I want a laid back sound and other times I don't.

So....either live with the fact you'll never have exactly the sound you want ALL the time and be content or have multiple systems.

Exactly why I have two systems, one downstairs and one upstairs...though this was not my original intention but happened by accident in part, but also being a collector who does not sell on kit but holds onto it, has meant I have acquired enough kit to have a number of systems. I envy Jerry's ability to change, and sell and not, or so it seems regret doing that, but this is what makes Jerry unique and me who I am.


Regards D S D L

[John]

Chance would be a fine thing...done the later (made redundant) only done the former within the context of AOS and not in print.

Who do you write for?


Regards D S D L

Clive writes for Enjoy the music
http://www.enjoythemusic.com/magazin...rs/meakins.htm

[Marco]

I agree that having more than one system can have its benefits. I'd love to own a genuine top-notch all-vintage system housed in a separate room, as well as my current system - purely because I love the look and 'feel' of vintage gear, regardless of any aspects relating to sound quality.

However, I would not run more than one system simply to provide me with different types of musical and/or sonic presentation, as suggested by Clive. Each to his or her own of course, but as my current system does both 'edge-of-the-seat' and 'laid-back', depending on the type of music played, and also how loud I choose to listen, I have no need to seek either type of effect.

I understand what Clive means, of course, but if I'm listening to, say, some throbbing rock or thrash metal then I have the system (and particularly speakers) to create very serious SPLs and the most 'physical', visceral, 'edge-of-the-seat' sound you could possibly imagine outside of a live gig, when of course it is played at the appropriate volume.

The problem is, most systems can’t play seriously loud (thereby creating the desired 'edge-of-the-seat' excitement) and also sound fantastic at the same time by staying controlled and not losing the plot. I am fortunate that my system does this with relative ease. Similarly, it has the subtlety, finesse, delicacy and overall resolution to present more 'delicate' types of music in a highly relaxing and informative matter, again when played at the appropriate volume; thereby achieving the best of both worlds

Returning to Jerry's method, I think it's important to remember that he's not box-swapping to 'fix' problems or chase some unattainable goal, but rather to hear his favourite music reproduced in a different way and in turn unlock hitherto unheard information which provides him with greater insight into recordings that he's intimately familiar with.

If one is unperturbed by the 'hassle' this involves on a number of levels, I find his a laudable approach - and one that can potentially be highly rewarding

Marco.