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Jeff, I appreciate the display of the very interesting picture of what appears to be a mini sledgehammer with unique ground head and oak handle, but would you please explain how this tool would be used to fine tune a circuit? In my view, and this is only my opinion, this device would not be the best for uncovering circuit anomalies. I know you have done some fine work in the past and am just trying to understand your methodology. Thanks for the input.

Strange, the most miserable I have ever heard you was after you did something with a soldering iron. The most amusing I have ever heard you was after drinking two bottles of 97 Brunello di Montalcino. Wait a minute.... ah yes, it was after I had consumed 2 bottles of Brunello di Montalcino. Nevermind. Erik, have you been letting the dog post again? kh

Some bias is more true than others....heh. Personally, I like the bias set pretty high into Class A.... kh

I knew that cat was wise but it still doesnt forgive the Poutchy.... kh

Good lord, Erik. No person has the right? I think we ALL have the right to say what we feel/think are standards. Of course, some or more informed than others and everyone's experience/conditions/bias is available for all to judge, as it should be. This should be weighed in when analyzing the statements (along with motive etc).But to say one has NO RIGHT to weigh in on a opinion giving a subjective "good or bad" and stating it as a standard is overstepping it. Hopefully, everyone can deduce that these ARE opinions based on the personal experience. The tricky part is uncovering which seem to hone more on the truth and where that constantly moving line of truth is at any given moment. The variables are endless but those that take in the most when using an argument tend to get the furthest (although not always). Besides, this place would be pretty dull without all the variety of opinions/judgments along with the debates reagarding the merits of the same.

There is extensive info on this in the archives here with detailed posts outlining ways to test this both with a VOM and with the original "polarity tester" that was available from Audio Advisor since the late 80s (I posted on it a few years back but it appears the search feature is about as productive as a cell phone in underwater). This is not only viable for a two prong cord but also a 3 prong as there is no gurantee that it will still produce the correct AC polarity (use a cheater plug for the 3 prong variety). I have found that testing all your gear individually and getting this correct on each component will result in an improvement in lowering the noise floor. On another note, this is definitely a "tweak" and if there are other more gross problems in your playback chain, it can mask this tweak. Just how much it helps will be up to the individual's system and conditions. Also, remember when marking your cable, it's only good for this outlet. There is no guarantee that the outlets are wired correctly as well, nor the gear. While the ribbed side of a two prong cable marks the cable, I wouldnt be sure of it marking anything but the distinquishing sides. Over the years of messing with this little tweak, I have learned to expect the unexpected between gear samples. Check out this link for some info on using the VOM with an additional mention of the latest "dedicated" device. http://www.gcaudio.com/resources/howtos/acpolarity.html kh ps- Danny, just saw your post.... For those that have messed with their system to the nth degree, this is a viable tweak, especially when you add in the sum of all gear.

I've exchanged a slew of mail with Ed and he's basically a good guy. There are some classic exchanges with Ed and others via the Audio Asylum HE Speaker Forum where one can observe the car wreck in slow motion in the privacy of one's own home. The speaker looks interesting but cant work miracles. It's basically a little Fostex avoiding Xover smear placed in his so-called "Horn" cabinet.One amusing person to ask within this forum is Tom Brennan (TBrennan) who has some very definite opinions on this very speaker. Dont count on ole Tom to be too reticent regarding The Horn either. I think he might prefer it to a concrete post but only if used to hold up a plant, and preferably not of the dentist office variety.... In other forums and on his old site, Ed used to get some milage trying to compare The Horn to a set of LaScalas. Again, the exchanges at the Audio Asylum hold some beauty.

See Sunnysal Tony's excellent, well-put answer to this quandry. Finding an absolute sound per say is a lesson in false hope (even within that mag), but you can use everything you can gather from specs, opinions, reviews and sift it through your own perceptions/experience to possibly hone in on something that you might want to TRY OUT. Ultimately, this is the final answer. If really wanting to know how you like the gear, you probably need to try the component in your own system, in your own room, with your own music. Still, we try to wade through the experiences and opinions to hone in on attributes of the gear (the more variables we can include, the better). As for the forums, you get to know the people via their writing, their tastes, perceptions, and experience. And it helps to see their systems and what they might be comparing it to, as well as the music, room, and what they hold important. You take all of it with the proverbial grain of salt and jump in. kh

It's not. Actually, at the moment, I'm enjoying a Denon DL-103D from ole Edmond. See page 4 of this thread in the post with the pic of the VPI. Good to see you and some of the ole loons here. Wish I were in Greece right now on the water!

I'd like to have one but the froot in charge of my web site is too expensive!What? Man, that's a damn shame. Sure is a nice site!EDIT: HOLD IT! Did you just talk to the froot? Seems something's been CROWNED! http://pantheon-audio.com/crown_d75_sale.htm kh

I've heard that Crown's Stategy rulez!Whar's the BUY ONE NOW button on your site?

Good point. Indeed, I Think this is a point that has been stressed here, at least by me, in this thread. Also, it's interesting to see people's tastes and perceptions and point of view change over the years, just in this very forum. An opinion and "truth" held in 01 might be considered questionable in 05, this by the very same person. It's what makes that first point above seem even more appropos. On the other hand, judgements and the comparisons of them can be interesting...this place wouldnt be as fun without it. On another point, I agree with the last paragraph of the post as well, but I would suggest that some might have a change in heart and learn to appreciate gear they shunned at an early time. See the point of "change" over time.

I dont know, Tony. I dont think I have EVER heard someone describe huge studio monitors (dont seem to be as many huge ones around either) as boring flat sound.... Speaker wise, most of the pro gear seems to be anything but boring if looking for a fault. Actually, in my experience, a lot of the basic so-called pro speakers sold seem to be more tipped up and hotter than real life. This seems to hold more for the mid range stuff you see at the average station/town studio. I've been more disappointed with PRO audio than anything else and when I had a small studio, tried to find other alternatives. And much of the pro gear made for abuse that we carted around for sound amplification sounded pretty aggressive when trying to move to an in home enviro. I was in a band in the early 80s that had a band house where we attempted to combine all our gear into a studio/practice room/ and music system. Sonically, it was a far cry to what I would prefer now 90% of the time.

I ran my own studio for some time in the 80s and played in bands since early teens. Also was the engineer/music director at a radio station. And I couldnt disagree more with 90% of your post, including this sentence above, not to mention the assessment of pro vs home audio and the goals around each. Distortion over accuracy? I find it amazing we are still seeing phrases like this anymore. One man's accuracy is another man's bombast. Accuracy is one of the most misused words in audio and a mobias strip.Some of the worst recordings known to man were BECAUSE of the sorry gear used and the EQ/compression brought into the equation. Multitracking out the yin yang..... etc Some of the best recordings out there are moving away from this trend that hit a peak in the 80s, which was much to the detriment of the music behind the mic. This is why live recordings, carefully setup up, seem to have more of a chance sonically. Insert thy generic studio engineer and you get mediocre results too many times to count, sadly enough. As for this turntable and tubes thing, wondering why a lot of the gear is moving to tubes in the pre stages with tube mics etc... Even mags like TAPE OP are seeing the light. On the other hand, at least digital is getting a lot better than it was just five years ago, both in the studio and out. Still, this is a huge can or worms with many waypoints to plot. I dig LO-FI recordings as well. Sadly Pt II, some of the BEST recordings are or some of the most vacuous music... Not to mention one person's "Vacuous" is another person's "depth". kh ps - "But give me a tube amp for guitar anyday - man I love that distortion" Man, are you talking apples and oranges... On a guitar tube amp note, I'm involved with a small cottage company that is doing some EXCELLENt work and getting raves. Check out Swart Amplifiers... the new Swart Atomic Tone and the little Space Tone are amazing amps.

Good lord. This is an interesting statement. We are ALL talking about opinions and perception but are also making judgements. I think we have different levels of experience, different tastes, and different goals for audio when assessing worth. It's all subjective when we are talking TASTE. On the other hand, when talking about how well an amplifier can handle certain areas and the attributes of an amplifier (or any component), then countless variables weigh in, some of which involve a person's experience and exposure. It's a tough situation when you add in the myriad of variables. Still, we can pass judgement on the piece, but in reading someone's judgement, it's up to the reader to be able to ascertain the validity or worth of the statements and where/how taste, bias, and experience weigh in. Duke, good points on your use. Also, you have a lot more experience with various horns in the home than I do. I had a lot of horns around but experience with horns in home audio is severely limited (in the old days, possibly on purpose, but now I would like to try other samples that seem intriguing and dont need 400w). In my opinion, it's a lot harder to make a high wattage amplifier sound they way I like with a wide variety of material. One of the things that got me into horns again, and I'm VERY glad it did, was trying to find speakers for lower and lower powered amplifiers. I sold my last 200w monoblocks about five years ago or so, this when I couldnt continue to ignore that a 14w lowly $100 tube integrated seemed to actually make more music than $2000 worth of quality SS monoblock, this one of the amplifiers I had held as a price point reference...

Painful Reality has a WEB SITE link at the bottom of every post. You could even SEE Painful Reality via the links within. Contacts are there as well, as painful a reality as it is, and sometimes it can be painful. Think he's asking $200. It's a deal for an amp with specs like that.Duke, I think we're talking more than system synergy with this piece but get your drift; you're right though, SYSTEM SYNERGY and setup is one of the most under-valued aspects. On another note, I might like some of your amps for pro use, ie the Phase Linear 400 (Ive used Phase linear at times in bands I've was involved in), but when inserting this beast into a 2 channel home system, I find it rather fatigue inducing, especially via 100dB speakers. I have different taste in 200w amplifiers and what they should bring to the table. Indeed, this probably holds true for a 10w-50w amp as well. Which brings up one of the problems in comparing, contrasting, and assessing worth to audio gear. If anyone's interested in ole Jeff's Crown D-75, throw him a mail via his website. kh

If only that were the case. You've been quoting them for a quarter of this thread in defense of the amp's sonics. I have to say that I care about most specs even less than you do, especially the usual specs quoted in ad literature. After the spec wars of the 70s, where the SS amps ramped up the "my THD spec is lower than yours" barrage, people began to get wise and actually start listening to the gear. I couldnt count the number of amplifiers with stellar specs that sounded like dreck, especially in the 70s/80s. We probably dont have the same perception as to what constitutes "high resolution" either. The Crown D-75 of 91 yore, if I can summon my audio memory, which is only strong for this piece because I forced the sale of three of them at our radio station, was more of the type of solid state that had an accented TREBLE with more etched outlines, this masquerading as an extended top end, while real resolution, or the quality of an open, natural extension without any exaggeration or etching, was MIA. Perhaps this Crown does better with horns, but from my experience with horns, amps like this tend to disappoint even more than normal. All this is just my opinion and preference, obviously. How do I explain the almost 100% love for this amplifier within the Klipsch forums? Maybe there is a synergy. As for Leo's experience, and he is someone that I know from personal discussions s pretty sensitive to these same problems, I can only think he might have found the D-45 to be a great match. I've seen stranger things. But in talking to Jeff, he seems to feel the same way I did about the D-75 in 05 as I did in 90-91. Solid state, when not done well, tends to lose some ground in the midrange and open top end with some glare & etching; meanwhile, quality tube amps seem to bring the better mids and open/natural top end to the table when matched in the right system. To be honest, I would take an up to snuff EICO, Fisher, Scott, or Pilot for recreation of music and not sounds... You're right though....we're beating a dead horse here, even with DeanG's weighty "Neverminds" in play. I mainly am adding to this endless thread to apologize to my good friend Jeffus, who is only trying to pass the ole Crown to someone that might appreciate what it has to offer, which is surely buttoned up, turn it on and leave it, sound.... And probably results that many would love like a babe in swaddling clothes...

Mission of Burma - Dirt Dinosaur Jr. - The Lung Guided by Voices - I am a Tree

And that's a BIG nevermind, in this instance. kh

The Rega Incognito RB-300 is currently on the Progressive-Engineering table which lost it's power supply awhile back when it had to be used for a rush client. So that table is down. But I had plenty of time with the Incognito wired RB-300. It's a great arm for the ducats, especially when you have the Michell VTA adjustment sleave so you can do away with those swine washers. I dont have the Michell counterweight but have only heard very good things about this. There are supposedly a few counterweights that do a good job. Michell's stuff gets high marks (many love their tables as well). The Rega RB-300 is such buttoned up, fine sound. It's not a super arm or anything but it's hard to do better for the money. I got a very nice VPI HW-19 Mk III for a song that needed some care in setup as the motor assembly had been mounted poorly in the past. Once these issues, along with one prob with the AQ PT-6, were taken care of, the table really started to shine. I have to admit, I've had a few tables in here and the VPI HW-19 is the absolute easiest to use I've seen. The Linn is the most finicky and the exotic PE table is harder to cue after some fine beverages as the arm floats in space with no hand support when the shakes take hold. I had the Mk III springs and some Navcom and Sorbathane pucks to compare and I think the Sims Navcom pucks win out. Edmond "jazman" sent me an extremely nice Denon DL-103D. The "D" version of this MC cartridge doesnt seem to disappoint anyone as it's always musical and very smooth. It does not jump out at you with "wow" factor but sounds "right". It exhibits the kind of big, bold, involving sound that gives vinyl a good name. The AudioQuest PT-6 does a credible job with keeping this MC on the mark but I really want to try it with the Incognito Rega RB300. On the KT-88 front, it's still not my favorite tube but a mod to the ASUSA to use it was easy and the PT can handle it. The amp is currently on loan to the Swart Amps loon to power the build room when putting together the Atomic Space Tone (this thing has taken off like gangbusters despite the name...). I remember when the SOTA Star Sapphire were really big in the 80s with their vacuum platters. They are trying to make a comeback but pricing the tables $$$$ doesnt help. You like the SOTA better than your MMF7?

Seems like I was a member here back in 75.... Time flies when you're having fun, eh? Yeah, and if you consider all the pictures and crap I posted, I could probably have a second business from the time spent. As for gear, I had most of that stuff before I was in here and I still have most of it; the main system is pretty much the same while the office system has rotated with various sources/amps. I've cycled in the usual assortment of interesting things from clients and friends but, by and large, the system has stayed pretty consistant. The tube amps that rotate are EL-84 | EL-34 (KT-88) | 2A3 triode based while the non tube amplification is only Leo's Waltham Integration P6D Tripath, which comes into duty in the summer when it's hot as a fiend here. I've been more into listening to music and less messing with gear although it's still just below the surface, perculating. I'm still waiting on a project from Jeffus that was discussed about a year ago and perhaps this might be the year. Of course, it will have changed by the time it rolls around. Been sailing as much as possible this summer when not locked behind this sorry screen. Never too far away from listening to music...

Yep, it's been awhile since wandering into this place. I stopped by a few times when French Loon Jeff would point me to something amusing or when Edmond would get banned but I will say it's easier to get work done without trying to keep up with the old guard's posting! You guys have more posts than I thought human(e)ly possible! See the VRDs have taken off; quite a few of those beasts in people's sigs. And Mr Dean is making some CW xovers! Scary. You guys still burning caps in? heh... Tom, the hurricane that skirted us was Ophelia; it sat on us like a lead balloon (or should I say Zeppelin). All the boats near me that werent taken out were either sunk or battered to all hell. I was lucky as a freak and got the Beneteau into a marina that was far more protected. Still some stuff meandering around out there. Cant complain compared to the sad state of affairs in the Gulf... Man, that was a horror. Didnt mean to downgrade Sir Jeff's Crown sale. It's probably a fine sample and would make many smile like sitting knee deep in Whiskey. Poor Jeff just didnt know how to hook up the 1/4" adapter! kh

I know one station that has three less than it did... Dont bother ole DeanG... He's now at the level where "glib" is where it's at. Besides, a one word "nevermind" gets so much done with so little, a good thing in audio sometimes as well. Even ole Craig is reticent! Fancy cables? They are actually something patterned after an internet project by ole Jon Risch that anyone can do. The whole thing is online. I'll tell you one thing, for the Zip Cord "It's what Paul would have wanted" contingent, it's surely a step up. But who wants to wade in this mindfield, especially in the ole Klipsch forum. Dr. Who, you need to buy Jean-Francois' Crown D-75! Why wait?

My apology. Since I was the only one specifically criticizing the amplifier and making gear comparisons, your response seemed targeted. Actually, I have yet to read a single bad comment about this amplifier within this forum athough I rarely read it, certainly only a few times in the last few years, usually when someone points to something amusing. I still dont agree with your statements really. I dont think this amp has a problem compared to exotic gear. I didnt happen to like it compared to good sounding gear that fell into the bargain bin section.Then again, as I admittted in my post, I havent heard the D-45 EVER nor the D-75 since '91. I will agree with one thing...the room plays a HUGE role. But so does one's tastes, perceptions, and experience. In my own opinion, that's where I found this amp lacking. However, I would love to hear the D-45 that Leo likes so much.

I asked the same thing until he sent me to Leo's rave about the D-45. Hell, I respect ole Leo ears as well and almost wanted to drive up there myself to hear what he was talking about... It was so opposite my experiences, I thought the earth had rotated on its axis!Love the Cary bashing. I will admit, I've heard some Cary gear that sounds somewhat mediocre. On the other hand, I've put my preamp which is not exactly stock, against quite a few and it's still one of my favorites. Still, there's a lot of good stuff out there and tube preamps tend to be overachievers. As for the "resolution" comment, I'll let that one go. That's a whole other can of worms. Ironically, I thought the Crown was not particularly resolving, at least when I heard it. AGain, compared to the B&K, it as far less open sounding and more mechanical. I didnt think resolution was its strong point. AGain, havent heard one in 15 years. kh