[Challenge: Amateur vs. Stereophile "Gods"]

To follow up on my original post, I've given another listen and my

impressions are essentially the same. Regarding imaging, as I said,

#1 is close and so yes, huge piano. But I don't think #2 is all that much

better; there is more ambient sound helped by the lower registers

in the Chopin, but the piano is stll pretty big.

My main preference for #1 is that it sounds more like a piano. On

my speakers and my ears, something isn't right with #2. In my first

post I said #1 was natural sounding. I should have said the timbre

was natural sounding if not the overall recording.

Someone also brought up the issue of the Debussy vs Chopin,

and how _that_ might influence people's opinions. I prefer Chopin

myself, even if I'm familiar with the Debussy.

[Challenge: Amateur vs. Stereophile "Gods"]

Hello Mallette -

Thanks for posting this - very interesting... here's what I heard on my system...

#1 - Closer recording and natural sounding.

#2 - Phasey. Maybe more distant than #1. Not bad at reduced volume.

As far as the engineering goes, I'd say #1 is a far better recording than #2.

Steve.

[Musical, clinical, dry...(speakers)]

The speaker and gear I want is the one which sounds the most like actual music when the system is translating bits from a CD, or the translation of motion on an LP.

What if the recording (ie the source) is poorly done? Should your system still

make it sound like music? And if it does, what will it do to a recording that

was done right to begin with? Do you want your system to sound like

"actual music", or have it sound like the recording?

I don't think you can have it both ways.

I'd love to respond, but since you addressed Mark will button it. I look forward to his reply.

Dave

Well, you have responded. So feel free... :-).

[Musical, clinical, dry...(speakers)]

The speaker and gear I want is the one which sounds the most like actual music when the system is translating bits from a CD, or the translation of motion on an LP.

What if the recording (ie the source) is poorly done? Should your system still

make it sound like music? And if it does, what will it do to a recording that

was done right to begin with? Do you want your system to sound like

"actual music", or have it sound like the recording?

I don't think you can have it both ways.

[Solid-state amp power]

Or it has a high output impedance - which would mean variations in the frequency response and all sorts of other nasties.

What are the two amps that you're looking at?

Mike,

One amp is a Bedini, the other a Boulder. Both have very high damping factors.

Steve.

[Solid-state amp power]

Hi All,

I've got a question about power specifications for solid-state amps.

Amp A doubles it's power output from 8 ohms to 4 ohms, let's say 75W to 150W.

Amp B doesn't: 75W at 8 ohms, but only 125 at 4 ohms.

Is it correct to say that the reason amp B can't double its power output
when the impedance halves, is that it can't double its current output?

Thanks,
Steve.

[Choosing an amp on the basis of tone.....]

Old Buck,

Why drive a Porsche when any old car will get you down the road? Driving is the fun part, having a car just let's you do it.

You mean, like this one?

[Underappreciated/unknown Klipsch models?]

Off topic, sorry, but...

AFTER BATHING AT BAXTER'S

Wow. One of my faves in high school!
Haven't listened to it in many many years
(near 30?). But I still have it.

Steve.

[Another year-end LP opportunity!]

Thanks Allan -

Don't know Edwards' music, but given the recommendation, I'll
give it a try.

Steve.

[Here's a great record that will sell cheap . . .]

Artist's House was a tiny NYC label that lasted only about 2 years, but ALL of their releases were excellent and this is one of the best:

Thanks Allan.

[installing cartridge into SME 3012 headshell]

i would post your question on audio ayslum on the vinyl thread

Danny - thanks for the tip!

Steve,

[plinth for Thorens TD-124]

Hi All -

I got my new Thorens TT running, which will replace

my Garrard 301 while it gets a servicing (still haven't

heard back from Loricraft in England, though).

The TD-124 came with a nice 3012 arm, and I added

a Denon 103. The plinth though is on the lightweight

side and I'd like to eventually replace it with something

more substantial.

Does anyone on the forum know someone who builds

nice plinths for the 124?

Thanks,

Steve.

[installing cartridge into SME 3012 headshell]

I'd leave the plate off altogether, but it looks like I'll need

it to be able to balance the arm. The counterweight on

this arm is quite heavy and a Denon 103 isn't heavy

enough without the plate.

I just rearranged the two counterweights on the 3012

in a "non-standard" arrangement that will let me balance

the arm without the plate.

I'm still interested in knowing the answer to my

original question though....

[installing cartridge into SME 3012 headshell]

Hi all.

I'm getting ready to install a cartridge into an SME

headshell and there's a (detachable) plate in the

headshell against which the top surface of the cartridge

will rest. That plate is ferrous, ie, the magnet in the

cartridge attracts the plate. Will that affect the operation

of the cartridge? I don't know whether the plate is an

original part. If someone can verify that it is, then that

would answer the question.

I'd leave the plate off altogether, but it looks like I'll need

it to be able to balance the arm. The counterweight on

this arm is quite heavy and a Denon 103 isn't heavy

enough without the plate.

Thanks for any help.

Steve.

[MD/DC/NO. VA Kilpsch/Musicfest Cancelled]

Larry -

Very sorry we won't get to meet next weekend.

We'll do it another time!

Best wishes for a solid recovery.

Steve.

[Planning on selling your VRD's ?]

Ok, probably a stupid question.

But if you are, please contact me at sf@nih.gov.

Cheers,

Steve.

[Agenda, dinner menu, attendees, & 2 available Strathmore tickets for the MD-DC-NoVA fest]

Larry & Gary,

I plan on being around both for lunch (at Gary's) and

the dinner at Momma Lucia's.

Look forward to meeting you,

Steve.

[JBL's new Mt. Everest Speaker System]

$60k for the pair.

[maintenance on Garrard 301]

I found a couple of places mentioned in a thread about DC area turntable service.

Thanks for the reference but I very much doubt SoundWorks could do it.

The Garrard "experts" are in England and they charge a real premium but I'm sure the results are perfect. Shipping to England though... ugh.

Thanks for this! Yes, it would be costly, but it looks like a way of getting

it done right!

Thanks again,

Steve.

[maintenance on Garrard 301]

That's a pretty 301 and nice tonearm too. Black nameplates on a cream body. Unusual. Is it a grease or oil bearing? I'm in Ohio, so I can't help you with a DC turntable specialist. What kinds of problems are you having? I've rebuilt a couple of these for my own use, maybe I can help?

Hi Scott -

The arm is an SME 3012R. The TT is an oil bearing model.

The main problem is that I've noticed that it's starting to make

noise. I think I can hear the motor spinning. Not loud, but audible.

Maybe it just needs to be replenished with oil? I'm not going to

use it further until I know what's going on.

Thanks for any info you can provide,

Steve.

[maintenance on Garrard 301]

Hey everyone -

I have a vintage Garrard 301 turntable that has

begun to show signs of problems.

Does anyone know of someone in the

Washington DC area who knows these turntables

well and is able to do maintenance on them?

Thanks,

Steve.

[getting the most out of violin recordings]

Hi Leo,

Can you recommend specific Manze recordings?

I don't know this artist and could use a few pointers.

Do you know any of the details that Harmonia Mundi

uses to give his sound the richness to which you

refer?

Thanks,

Steve.

[FS: BEC E-type xovers for Hersey I]

I sold my pair of Heresys recently and so now

have a pair of Bob Crites' E-types available.

Less than a year old. PM me if interested.

Steve.

[tube preamp driving SS amp]

Thanks everyone.

[tube preamp driving SS amp]

Hi Shawn,

"Or if the pre-amp doesn't pass DC (including on/off

transients) it isn't a problem then either."

So that was my original question: a preamp can pass DC on on/off transients,

even if it's got a cap on its output? (other than a failed cap).

Steve.