skaloumbakas

June 18, 2002 1. To be up-to-date, please visit http://aca.gr/ once a week. 2. Send this post address to a friend who might be interested. ___________________________________________ JUNE 2002 update from ACA.GR Dear Fellow Audiophiles Hello, Here we are with the latest about web-site updates and Club's activities: ___________________________________________ A. LAST WEB-SITE ENTRIES & UPDATES (19/5 - 18/6) **** New & updated A.C.A. systems, 18 Jun **** Updated Club Mettings Schedule, 18 Jun **** New Club meeting (Listening to ProAc 5 & Lowther speakers, driven by DIY valve amplifiers), 17 Jun **** New items for sale, 14 Jun **** New turntables (from 'S p j', 'Progressive Engineering' & 'Rockport'), 12 Jun **** New & updated world systems (directory a), 12 Jun **** New turntable (from 'Transcriptor'), 07 Jun **** New turntable (Designer's version of 'Aura'), 04 Jun **** Updated World system (directory , 03 Jun **** Visit the TOP 10 T/T's of last month!, 02 Jun **** Unbelievable web-site circulation! (11,500 visitors during past May!!!), 01 Jun **** New entries in High End FORUM, 30 May **** Audio... paper updated ('Low frequencies vs. room dimensions' updated w/incredible info...), 28 May **** 'Goto' & 'ALE' horns! (Incredible pictures & comments on top horn designs!), 27 May **** New Club meeting (Listening to Unity & Vienna speakers driven by McIntosh & DIY triodes), 27 May **** New T/T's Central Page (More directories for our incredible T/T collection!), 26 May **** Dealers updated ('Location Sound'), 25 May **** New A.C.A. Member (Vangelis Goudanis), 23 May **** Turkish Audiophile visits Athens (T. Gulsoy's impressions about Hi-End in Greece), 20 May **** New World system from USA (Kharma Exquisite, driven by OTL using Rockport TT!), 19 May All links above are included in the "last month's navigator" of our web-site, which is the first you should check out when you enter the site. It refreshes at least 15 times per month and to locate it, go to left NAV-BAR ( http://aca.gr/ ), choose "Visit the latest!" and select "Last month's entries". ___________________________________________ B. UPCOMING EVENTS Next Club meeting will be a double one, on 7 July 2002 (Sunday afternoon) at Manos Kodos & Yannis Tryfonidis listening places. ____________________________________________ C. CLUB's WEB-SITE NEWS Please note that, ACA.GR web-site contains a very useful and effective in-site search tool. (Take a look at the top NAV-BAR of the web-site!) ___________________________________ That's all for this month... KEEP IN TOUCH - SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr/ e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm

Talking about ROCKPORT and TECHNICS T/T's, in our Club's site I have a personal Hi-End page of a guy having the (small !!) Sirius II and a club member having a Technics SP10 MkII. Click the pictures below to see their profiles (comments & interesting photographs): After some weeks, may be I will have a surprise for you... Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr/ e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 06-14-2002 at 07:36 AM

I have the impression that many people here are thinking of analogue like they are thinking of Louis Armstrong or Maria Callas; they discover old and dusty t/t's from their father's (trying to put them to work again). Well, it is not like that. Analogue has improved since 1984 A LOT, (possibly much more than digital...). There are Turntables in the market you would never imagine (do not overlook some Exotic DIY designs too!!!). So, do not compare digital of today with analogue of the past (although even this comparisson leads to analogue superiority most of the times too!) Enjoy the music Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr/ e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm

HornEd, Thanks, you are wonderful and the topics you choose for your posts raise the level of this FORUM (humble opinion) Cheers Christos

quote: ... I think you attached the number "58" that time to your ID name if I recall, a few were ticked to say the least... boomer9911, Please, explain... Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr/ e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 06-07-2002 at 12:31 AM

I have "POMP & PIPES" (Reference Recordings RR-58) in a double LP since May 1995 and I agree it is one of a few. In fact I was using it a lot when I was playing and modifying my arm since this is really quite a test for an arm/cartridge combination (as it is for tracking, Tchaikovsky's "1812 overture" with the Cincinnati Orchestra conducted by Kunzel, recorded in Music Hall-Cincinnati September 6-8 1978 by Telarc, I can tell you it has nothing to do with the CD version which lacks in dynamics etc...). Another record I would suggest (unfortunately I do not have it in vinyl) is the Wilson Audiophile WCD-806/8419 CD "Discovery & Christmas Music", James Welch organist (especially track 11 if I recall) where it goes down deep... really down!!!. And a third, which to me is the best, as far as recording goes as well, is "CANTATE DOMINO" (Proprius PROP 7762). THIS I have it in vinyl and I am looking desperately for another copy since I use it A LOT!!! All these recordings above, are used frequently in our Club's meetings and reviews. Last but not least, as far as "low frequencies in relation to room dimensions" are concerned, I have written a paper in the Club's web-site and I give you the direct link ( http://aca.gr/paper23.htm ). Please read this, it will take you some time but it is worth it (to my humble opinion...) Regards Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr/ e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 06-06-2002 at 10:37 AM

Max, I think we are planning a double Club meeting to you and your friend's house soon, if this is the one we are talking about. quote: I know many others that cite the accuracy and detail of digital over analogue as a major driving force for their listening choice When you try to fit a stepped-up curve to an analogue curve, you will never exceed the accuracy of the original ... Aim for the accuracy not the musicality (what does this mean?). Musical instruments can be musical, not machines. Cheers Christos Skaloumbakas

Max, I will try to comment on your findings if you allow me: _____________________________________ quote: 1. All of his records played with accompanying hiss. Even where he has the same disk as I do (for example a direct to disk version of Wild Child Butler) there were levels of hiss I do not get in my listening (I get no hiss whatsoever on the above album). Comment: This is because your friend's system is more revealing. _____________________________________ quote: 2. When the motor of the TT is turned on and the needle swept towards the center (even in the raised position) the needle picks up hum. This never happens on my system even when volume level is set to maximum on the pre-amp. Comment: Probably due to some electrical (transformer nearby ?? or...) interference - your friend should find a way to get rid of it!!! _____________________________________ quote: 3. At one point we switched from the TT to a CD player (top end Pioneer player with a very thick CD tray in which the CD is inserted upside-down), To my amazement this did not sound harsh, digital and compressed as I normally associate with CD (in relation to the vinyl). Maybe it did not sound as good ultimately but it was a lot closer than I was expecting. Comment: You compared a top digital with a (well calibrated??) not so expensive analogue. _____________________________________ quote: 1. Matching of TT to tubes serves to mask the hiss of vinyl to the point that you can claim "zero hiss" on even moderate vinyl (i.e. non-audiophile titles). Comment: Never choose equipment to mask things but to reveal things. To be honest, I love when I listen to hiss, hiss is inherent in the master tape and if you get that, you get musical information as well... On the other hand you are right, tubes mask some harshness but that is inherent to digital, not to a well-set analogue source. _____________________________________ quote: 2. Very revealing systems (the Quads and Accuphase are Known to be brutal in this respect) show less benefit from vinyl over CD and other digital formats. Comment: Strongly opposed to that!!! I always say that a good analogue set-up should be accompanied by a good transistor type amplification because it is more accurate to reproduce the 'analogueness' of the sound. This may come to a surprise to many, but more and more people discover the truth of this statement, comparing analogue to digital (my system for example is transistor based. What have you thought about vinyl vs. CD reproduction). Differences are getting bigger in favor to vinyl, having good transistor than having good valve amplification. Valves mask the harshness of the digital, this is why they got popular again in these digital times, simply because they sound sweeter with the digital. But analogue DOES NOT NEED THAT... _____________________________________ quote: "...Now I am reversing that position and saying choose your source first and work outwards..." Comment: No Max, first priority of a sound reproduction chain is and always be: a. Speakers and room or Room and speakers rather. b. Source. c. Amplification (more related to speakers than to the source). d. Cables and the rest... _____________________________________ Max, It seems to me, this was not a strange weekend of findings but a weekend of strange findings... Christos Skaloumbakas _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 06-03-2002 at 06:22 AM

Dean, I was joiking too... Mike, Thanks for your invitation and your encouragement. You see, making or updating HTML files for the Club's web-site leaves me very little free time to catch-up with you and you guys write a lot! (as we Greeks talk a lot...) The most I can do is read you and learn, but I will try to make some 'contributing efforts' in the future. I use to say that this is a 'family type FORUM' and I really enjoy it... THANKS. Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr/ e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm

quote: ....No, this pollution is the work of the evil entity -- SKALOUMBAKAS.... Dean, After your remark, I feel like "Osama Bin Laden" !!! (click for system's details...)s> ... no hard feelings though .... This forum is great. I also read every post of all the names you mentioned (and some others too...) Christos Skaloumbakas _____________________________________ My System: http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 06-01-2002 at 07:49 AM

Thanks for your informative e-mails. The page looks more accurate and complete now . Christos Skaloumbakas http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm

Hi, Just to warm-up a bit your appetite for horns, here is a link included in A.C.A.'s web-site (world systems directory A) with incredible pictures!!: http://aca.gr/pop_goto_ale.htm In case you know something more about these pictures (or you see something wrong in the description or anything...) please reply to this post. Thanks. Enjoy the music Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr/ e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ (My Rig @ http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm )

Max, German and Swiss made TT's are to be trusted. I have 4 pictures of Acoustic Solid in the TT Gallery (directory A to F at http://aca.gr/turntable_AF.htm ). Also I would check the AURA TT in the same page, just a bit below, from Dave Whittaker - N. Zealand ( http://aca.gr/pop_whittaker.htm ), with more or less the same price (US$2750 plus freight without arm I think). Feel free to e-mail him. C. Skaloumbakas http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 05-17-2002 at 11:20 PM

May 16, 2002 1. To be up-to-date, please visit http://aca.gr once a week. 2. Send this post address to a friend who might be interested. ___________________________________________ MAY update from ACA.GR Dear Fellow Audiophiles Hello, Here we are with the latest about web-site updates and Club's activities: ___________________________________________ A. LAST WEB-SITE ENTRIES & UPDATES (15/4 - 15/5) **** A Turkish Audiophile visits Athens (T. Gulsoy's impressions about Hi-End in Greece) 15 May 02 **** New Club meeting (Listening to Unity & Vienna speakers driven by Mcintosh & DIY triodes) 14 May 02 **** New entries in High End FORUM 13 May 02 **** Updated A.C.A. systems 13 May 02 **** New turntables (f/ Technics & Transrotor) 13 May 02 **** New Meetings schedule 10 May 02 **** New item for sale 09 May 02 **** New World system 09 May 02 **** New Hi-End Systems Central Page (World Systems Page split in 2 directories) 08 May 02 **** Visit last period's TOP 10 systems! 30 Apr 02 **** Visit last week's TOP 10 T/Ts! (New table, sorting T/Ts' pictures of our Gallery) 30 Apr 02 **** New World systems 29 Apr 02 **** New World system from Mexico (incredible 5-amplification horn analogue system!) 29 Apr 02 **** New Hi-End system from Istanbul 29 Apr 02 **** New turntables (f/ Linn & Michell) 29 Apr 02 **** New turntables (f/ Alphason & a.a.s.) 25 Apr 02 **** New ribbon for Genesis 300 (Extra info entered regarding ribbon's specs) 22 Apr 02 **** Analogue exercises (Presentation of a top notch pick-up updated) 20 Apr 02 **** New turntables (f/ Pro-ject) 19 Apr 02 **** New World system from Holland (JM Lab + sub driven by Monarchy) 18 Apr 02 All links above are included in the "last month's navigator" of our web-site, which is the first you should check out when you enter the site. It refreshes at least 15 times per month and to locate it, go to left NAV-BAR ( http://aca.gr ), choose "Visit the latest!" and select "Last month's entries". ___________________________________________ B. UPCOMING EVENTS 1. Next Club meeting will be a double one, on 16 June 2002 (Sunday afternoon) at Yannis Vlahos & Ionas Sakkis listening places. 2. Last month (3 days ago) we had the pleasure to have Mr. Tuncel Gulsoy as a guest. He is a fellow Audiophile from Istanbul, past President of ihifi and honorary Member of A.C.A. 3. Next month, we will have the pleasure of Mr. Adnan Arduman's visit here. He is a past ihifi President as well, and well known from his Audio web-site 'Nuance and Fluence'. These visits will be covered extensively in the web-site. ('High End Events' section - preliminary notes and very interesting pictures from the past visit are shown in the first file on top of the above list of updates) ____________________________________________ C. CLUB's WEB-SITE NEWS 1. Please note that, although an Audio web-site, ACA.GR contains also some useful files regarding: Greek & International News Market Watch (domestic & international with very interesting on-line features) Great Stats Page Various Services & Utilities Rotating Polls etc. Take a look at the top NAV-BAR of the web-site!) ___________________________________ That's all for this month... KEEP IN TOUCH - SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ (My Rig @ http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm )

April 17, 2002 1. To be up-to-date, please visit http://aca.gr once a week. 2. Send this post address to a friend who might be interested. ___________________________________________ APRIL UPDATE from ACA.GR Dear Fellow Audiophiles Hello, Here we are with the latest about web-site updates and Club's activities: A. LAST WEB-SITE ENTRIES & UPDATES (19 Mar - 17 Apr 2002) **** New Club meeting (Listening to Montana speakers, driven by Cary V-12 and analogue) 15 Apr 02 **** New dealer (VPI, CAT, Cary, Montana etc.) 14 Apr 02 **** Voce Divina, driven by Atmaspheres, using Verdier Platine & Colibri! 12 Apr 02 **** Updated world systems! 12 Apr 02 **** New turntables (f/ Verdier & VPI) 12 Apr 02 **** Effective treatment of a cubic room (interesting pictures & additional comments have been entered... more to come...) 10 Apr 02 **** New & updated A.C.A. systems 08 Apr 02 **** New Club Members (T. Pothitos, MaxG, N. Hatzis & G. Toufexis joined the Club...) 08 Apr 02 **** Crystal's Prisma 2 active spcs, driven (& corrected) by TacT digital (updated) 06 Apr 02 **** New turntable (from a.a.s. Gabriel) 02 Apr 02 **** Klipsch 'Heresys' w/ valves & analogue 01 Apr 02 **** New entries in High End FORUM 31 Mar 02 **** New turntable (from Nottingham Analogue) 31 Mar 02 **** New turntable (from Pro-ject) 31 Mar 02 **** How a SACD owner, decided to get an analogue source (updated!) 28 Mar 02 **** ATC 50 active w/ VPI TNT 27 Mar 02 **** New items on sale 20 Mar 02 **** First Club's Board meeting (Listening to AudioSpectrums w/ NorthStar digital) 19 Mar 02 **** New pictures in PHOTO CENTER 19 Mar 02 **** Extra info available in T/T gallery.. (links w/info added below thumbnails) 19 Mar 02 All links above are included in the "last month's navigator" of our web-site which is the first you should check out when you enter the site. It refreshes at least 15 times a month and to locate it, go to left nav-bar ( http://aca.gr ), choose "Visit the latest!" and select "Last month's entries". ___________________________________________ B. UPCOMING EVENTS 1. Next Club meeting will be a double one, held on 12 May 2002 (Sunday afternoon) at Tasos Syrigos & G. Hatziminas listening places. 2. Next month and the month after, we will have the pleasure to accept visits from fellow audiophiles from Istanbul just across the Aegean Sea. These visits, although on a personal basis, will be covered extensively in the web-site. ____________________________________________ C. CLUB's WEB-SITE NEWS 1. Everything is back to normal as far as circulation problems. 2. Apart from the usual stuff, we have placed 12 rotating Poll Questions in various pages. Please make use of them, it will be great help for us and the Hi-End community... ___________________________________ That's all for this month... KEEP IN TOUCH - SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens __________________________ web address: http://aca.gr e-mail: http://aca.gr/email.htm _____________________________________ (My Rig @ http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm ) This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 04-17-2002 at 05:12 AM

Paul, I have different experience. During a Hi End Show in Athens a couple of years ago, the magazine sponsoring the Show had organized a blind test. This was taking place each hour, with random listeners using the same recordings in a test disk, between SACD and normal CD. A Sony SACD player SCD-1 (can play both formats) and Sony SS-M9ED hi end speakers incorporating a super tweeter were used. It was interesting to note that: 5 out of 7 listeners during a session (the Secretary of the Club and myself being there), preferred the normal CD sound. To your information only 2 out of the 47 members of the Club have a SACD player in their wardware (and I am not 100% sure they prefer it all the way). But I am glad you feel happy with what you've got. Cheers This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 04-05-2002 at 04:46 PM

OK Arco, I follow up. I proudly present MaxG's latest edition: Klipsch Heresy signature

Congratulations!!! She is very pretty pretty pretty !!! Christos

Paul, You might be right, but most of us at the A.C.A. are mainly music lovers and - as such - we rarely feel the urge to adopt new technology, not yet backed by sufficient software. Moreover there are two more SACD (or DVD-A...) related issues that seem annoying, at least for the time being: The first has to do with the ongoing format war. We have lived many similar format wars in the past (last one was between DCC and Minidisk) and two things are for sure: a. You don't really know who will be the winner and b. Past experience, shows that the winner might not be the best format sound wise! The second relates to the ever-growing interest of the record companies to protect them selves from piracy. This has led up to date to numerous unacceptable (audiophile-wise...) solutions such as watermarking, or the inability for the consumer to use 24/96 digital outputs to better the so-so DAC performance of most integrated SACD players (or to use digital room correction, why not?).All the above, plus the fact that record companies do not want to "discard" normal CD so early, lead the SACD issue away from massive software support and away for serious audiophile use. What is left for the hardware companies (cannot wait any longer!) is the "democratisation" of the format, i.e. its adoption from the general public, hence the lowering of prices. Problem is that the general public is even more "difficult" than audiophiles. This public will not switch to SACD, unless convinced of its superiority vs. CD and unless cheap and plentiful software is available. We are not talking about first adopters here, a role usually reserved for audiophiles or technology freaks. And one should never forget that, more than ten years after its launch, Minidisk has yet to throw cassettes out of the market! As a result, "wait and see" will continue to be the motto of most of us at the A.C.A. Christos Skaloumbakas http://aca.gr/pop_skal.htm President of A.C.A. http://aca.gr This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 04-05-2002 at 08:38 AM

Max, You have all the time in the world to think about equipment upgrades. Right now concentrate on this beautiful thing you are expecting and from now on choose soft music to play... And when you will have your first photograph of her, do not forget to send a digital copy to me. We always keep these first pictures in the web-site (Profile page) for a month or so. This tactic increase WAF after all... I wish you all the best C. S.

To be honest, the frequent posting of MaxG in this FORUM impresses me. I still cannot say if it is better the time spent writing and answering posts, to be devoted in listening more music, or listening more systems and gaining experience (I think you started heating me again...). From what I heard in his place it seems I am wrong. I think you will all agree that nobody expects from a 37 year old fellow who was 16, when the digital era begun, to understand and use analogue. And it is interesting indeed the fact that this guy one day starts buying vinyl records like crazy after a visit he made to an old friend of mine ARCO. This is the reason I decided to include this part of Max's life in a paper in http://aca.gr web site with a title including the phrase "transformation to a vinyl addict" but later on, changing that to a "softer" description. From there on, I started to watch MaxG carefully and I was curious to what he was saying here about differences between the 3 main source formats of today. After all, no matter what we, (the older ones), believe about analogue source superiority, if we do not have (or if we do not create) examples to prove that, it seems we like to live within our own paradise, but blocking the others to join and share. I was also curious to listen with my own ears. Some people say (me included) that small to medium priced digital sources are in favour vs. analogue of equal price and only going to expensive gear, analogue sources start to show their teeth, overtaking any digital format whatsoever... As I am spoiled by the fact that I am in the high category (not used to be though some years ago) and also many fellow members of the Club are not far behind, I really did not have the opportunity lately to make such comparisons with low to medium end gear. So this was a chance I did not want to miss. Pretending that I am interesting to a record shop in Glyfada MaxG recommended to Aristidis, I joined their company and arrived at Max's place on a Saturday morning March the 30th, with ARCO. Everybody seemed to be interesting in records but I should confess everybody wanted to listen. Me for the reasons I described, ARCO obviously for the same (he had listened to Max's system before Max acquired his Pro-ject) and Max wanting to show his new girlfriend (I shouldnt say that) to us and express our opinion (I see you are smiling). This is why I had brought with me my Shure SFG-2 scale (to check the vertical tracking force) and my Ortofon test record (to make the tracking ability test and correct the tracking & the anti skating, if needed...). To my surprise although the Pro-ject 4 was seated on a DVD player, the cartridge was tracking up to the deeper cut groove and the player seemed levelled. Tracking force was right for this type of cartridge at 2gr. and everything else was OK. And we started the show. To my surprise again, the system sounded relaxed and balanced. Although speakers were seated on wooden cabinets (opening their doors was the immediate response of ARCO), sound was coming from behind and it was later on that I realised Max was using a subwoofer too - and not in the middle but at the far left side!! Meaning he had managed to melt it's sound with the Heresys... His listening room I should say is serving very well (above the average of a typical audiophile room I have seen) and I do believe Max's remark that taking away the carpets just a few days ago caused some sound deterioration (always does). That was the general impression regardless of source. Coming to the specifics, although Max was preferring SACD over the normal CD, that was not ARCO's feeling or my feeling when we compared 2 recordings of Rachmaninoff's "Piano Concerto No3". (Marantz CD 6000 and Sony DVP NS900 SACD/DVD competing) The one with Martha Argerich in normal CD (Decca - Philips) sounded to us more natural with the Piano more focused and clearly in front of the orchestra at the back. The other one in SACD was a different recording (I am sure Max will give you the details) but to ARCO and me seemed flat, without atmosphere, a sort of line-up instruments instead of filling the space (may be it was the recording I don't know, but it is one of Max's favourites). A second comparison was between some choral recordings. Normal CD (HDCD this time) was a FIM recording "Hush! The Angels are singing" track 6 and the SACD was something equivalent. Again CD was better. Then we turned to vinyl. Conclusions?? Well, I wouldn't think such a big difference could exist between equipment of this price range. In fact, after the digital recordings (carefully selected though) an EDITION PHONIX by AAA record seemed simply full of Authority and Grace (I wish I could speak German). Voices coming towards you and going back again and to the left and to the right violins at the back Soundstage! Soundstage! Soundstage! (Something I know Max is proud off... and he is right.). And at the end - Oh at the end...I kept THE record at the end, "CANTATE DOMINO" by Proprius - side II "JULSANG", when feelings and beliefs of years collapsed. Tony Pothitos (he was there too!!) was asking me if this record was still available, he was ready to run 30 Km. away to the local Proprius representative (I told him I was interesting for a second copy myself if he finds it). Max commented: This is a feeling I had never had before; this is the best record I have ever heard in my life... This was the best time to stop and rush to the Vinyl shop nearby. We bought almost 100 records. And when we got back, we heard some more... I insisted. Max, my friend and fellow member, thank you for the experience and thank you also for all the flattering posts you have entered the last days about me. You must know one thing. After 3 years I had been dealing with Hi-Fi (22 years ago) your present system was a dream for me... and believe me. You got potential and good friends... (and your system has better value for money than mine). Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 04-04-2002 at 04:31 AM

Dear Audiophile friend Hello, Here we are with our latest about Club's activities and web-site updates: A. LAST WEB-SITE ENTRIES & UPDATES (22 Feb - 20 Mar 2002) Latest entries of the month below are taken from the last month's navigator of our web-site: **** New items on sale, 20 Mar 02 **** First Club's Board meeting (listening to AudioSpectrums w/ NorthStar digital), 19 Mar 02 **** New pictures in PHOTO CENTER, 19 Mar 02 **** Extra info available in T/T gallery.. (links w/info added, below thumbnails), 19 Mar 02 **** New turntables (from Klaungstrum, Kuzma & Michell), 18 Mar 02 **** New turntables (f/ Project), 17 Mar 02 **** Awesome new DIY world systems!, 14 Mar 02 **** New turntables (f/ Teres & VPI), 14 Mar 02 **** Dealer updated (Crystal Audio), 11 Mar 02 **** Crystal's Prisma 2 active spcs, driven (& corrected) by TacT digital, 10 Mar 02 **** New & updated A.C.A. systems, 10 Mar 02 **** New Hi-End system from Istanbul, 09 Mar 02 **** Listening to Tannoy & Avid 'Volvere' (great photos great comments!), 03 Mar 02 **** Systems sorting table (visit the TOP 10 Hi-End systems of Jan-Feb), 01 Mar 02 **** Low frequencies vs. listening room dimensions (DO visit!), 28 Feb 02 **** We mention our Ex-Members too!, 25 Feb 02 **** New world Hi-End system (Nestorovic system 16 sps, using exotic analogue), 22 Feb 02 http:aca.gr ), choose "How to navigate" and select "Last month's entries] B. UPCOMING (and PAST) EVENTS 1. Next Club meeting will be held on 14 April 2002 (Sunday afternoon) at a member's house (G. Giannakopoulos). 2. Our 3-year Club Elections took place on 17 March 2002 and associated info and BOARD of DIRECTORS elected can be found in some of the above files of the month. (remote ballot - form has been used for our international members. They voted through their e-mail boxes!) C. CLUB's WEB-SITE NEWS 1. We have taken out the splash page (annoying to some of our esteemed visitors), so access to the main framed site is now straight and quick. 2. From 02 to 10 March we had Bravenet Services suspended, so we were unable to offer LINKS, FORUM, GUESTBOOK, access to EXTERNAL HI-END PROFILES etc. to our visitors. Now everything is back to normal... That's all for this month... KEEP IN TOUCH - SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. Christos Skaloumbakas President of the Audiophile Club of Athens

Max, I think you are too analogue for me now!! (I see you coming...). Nevertheless, your new toy is already included in the A.C.A. web-site's turntable gallery. Christos Skaloumbakas President of Audiophile Club of Athens This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 03-16-2002 at 08:55 AM

February 22, 2002 Dear Audiophile friends Hello, We offer you here-below, our latest web-site updates, taken from the last month's navigator page. LAST WEB-SITE ENTRIES & UPDATES (22 Jan - 22 Feb 02) 01. New & updated world systems 22 Feb 02 02. New world Hi-End system (Nestorovic system 16 spcs, using exotic analogue, from Switzerland) 22 Feb 02 03. Audio... Paper follow-up 21 Feb 02 04. New world Hi-End system (B&W matrix 800, driven by AR, from Netherlands) 20 Feb 02 05. New turntables (from Aura, Avid & EMT) 20 Feb 02 06. New items on sale 19 Feb 02 07. Listening to Tannoy & Avid 'Volvere' (only pictures for now but DO visit them) 19 Feb 02 08. New Hi-End system from A.C.A. (Mordaunt-Short, driven by valves & Krell, from Greece) 18 Feb 02 09. New Board of Directors for A.C.A. (Skaloumbakas-Valleras-Mitsionis-Syrigos-Veronis) 18 Feb 02 10. New & updated A.C.A. systems 18 Feb 02 11. Updated Hi-End system from Istanbul 16 Feb 02 12. New entries in FORUM (Are low frequencies dependent on LR dimensions?) 14 Feb 02 13. Systems sorting table (visit the TOP 10 Hi-End systems) 12 Feb 02 14. Why Balanced Rooms sound better (listening in magazine's new studio) 02 Feb 02 15. Balanced Room theory (Lecture excerpts ...) 02 Feb 02 16. New turntable (from Teres) 02 Feb 02 17. Updated Club Meetings schedule 24 Jan 02 18. Wadia 15 DAC equipped with ClockLink (Review on ultimate antijitter weapon) 22 Jan 02 http://aca.gr), choose "How to navigate" and select "Last month's entries"> KEEP IN TOUCH - SEE YOU NEXT MONTH. Christos Skaloumbakas President of A.C.A. e-mails: skal@aca.gr cpskal@whoswhosociety.net Fax: +30-10-8095303 ( AUDIOPHILE CLUB of ATHENS _________________________ We are experiencing lately some server problems. In case of difficulty, please try later. This message has been edited by skaloumbakas on 02-22-2002 at 09:44 AM

Well, With 2 comments in a row, it seems.. YOU ARE defending. At least you put some logic in your comments and you have signed with your full name too - that's good. As a gift I give you only one link this time. ** http://aca.gr/index1.htm ** Using the horizontal and vertical navigation frames, you can access to all 200 files of this notorious web-site... Christos Skaloumbakas