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michaelwjones

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Posts posted by michaelwjones

  1. 1 hour ago, richieb said:

    You’re kidding, right? Power cords and IC’s have a period of break-in in order that the virgin wire(s) become better acquainted with the new electrons they’ll soon be passing. They need to play nice otherwise it’s nothing more than a scrabbled mess of unidentifiable “noise” you hear. Maybe orientation is a better term - like the first day of school .

     

    OMG: I didn't believe you until I read this 6 Moons' review:

     

     

     I was intrigued enough by the Tesla Series description to pay a visit to the Synergistic Research factory. On arrival, the affable Eliott Nomensen, assistant engineer and head of technical support, gave me the tour of the facility. Elliot really piqued my interest when he informed me of Synergistic's patent-pending conditioning process called Tesla quantum tunneling. To demonstrate its effect on cable performance, we first listened to a pair of untreated interconnects in Synergistic's ambitious in-house music system. The sound was unusually open, detailed and spacious. We then entered a small room where I thought I might be witnessing a bit of mad science. In front of me stood a six-foot tall Tesla coil topped with a reflective metal sphere the size of a basketball. The untreated interconnect was then suspended by clamps which held one RCA connector in close proximity to the sphere and the other end close to a huge copper grounding rod planted in the concrete floor. Elliott offered me protective ear covers and then flipped a switch. A deafening crackle ensued and 2 million volts arced like lightning to the RCA connector, through the cable and into the grounding rod. We returned to the listening room to reinstall the treated interconnects and listen for changes in sound quality. The sound was still lovely but obviously more open, three-dimensional and liquid. I was dumbfounded. Quantum tunneling works.

     

    • Haha 1
  2. How about a category for mysterious add-ons which transform the acoustics of any room, interconnect, or component merely by their existence in your listening environment: magic dots, stones, disks that balance close proximity electromagnetic fields, etc.?

     

    One I just discovered is the $3000  "HighEnd Novum PMR Premium Mk.II - Room Acoustic Resonator Extraordinaire;" the brass dish on top of the stand. While it just sits, "It sweetens and clarifies the sound with more focus and definition." And its endorsed...

     

    I can [cautiously] buy into cables and interconnects, but mysticism for my setup isn't going to cut it.... Plus I'm pretty sure I can get one at Pier 1 for less than $3K.

     

     

     

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  3. Question for the technically literate: I know a ratio of 5:1 ratio of pre to amp impedance is acceptable and 10:1 is "preferred." What might happen with a pre's output impedance of 100 Ohms connected to an amp with an input impedance of 100K Ohms? These are both tubed, BTW. Is this something I should care about?

     

    Thanks in advance.

     

    Mike

  4. 8 hours ago, Rolox said:

    That's certainly not Paul McGowan's fault and certainly not a reason for bashing the man, when his opinion is shared by so many in the industry. You guys are just being childish now.

     

     

    "You know he has a $28K set of loudspeakers to sell now, right?"

     

    That's a fact, not bashing.

     

    Childish is making a personal or non-fact based comment directed at impugning his character. My comments are neither.

  5. 2 hours ago, ka7niq said:

     

    Here is another video from this butthole saying it is "Generally Accepted" that Horn Speakers just don't sound as good as other speakers, and that is why we do not see more of them.

     

     

     

    You know he has a $28K set of loudspeakers to sell now, right?

     

    Of course the other reason we don't see more of them is the movie screen hides them 🙂

     

    Mike

    • Like 1
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  6. 48 minutes ago, Schu said:

    I was looking at those. I want a pair... but I am not sure I want to pay more than they were for sale from the factory.

     

     

    There is a pair for sale in Belgium for 1400 euros ($1475+/-). HiFi shark will take you there. Or use it for bargaining. 😉

    • Like 1
  7. As we all know on the forum, equalizers are either an absolute necessity or the worst thing you do to the sound from a Heritage loudspeaker. No middle ground. This is for the former group. The 9010 is from the "Flat Group;" Technics' first foray into high end audio equipment. Technics designed the SH-9010 with variable frequencies; by turning the control knob below each slide pot, the center frequency can be moved up or down by as much as 1.6 octaves. The five slide pots per channel cover the following ranges:

     

    Center Frequency variable between:

     

    60Hz 20Hz-180Hz

    240Hz 80Hz-720Hz

    1kHz 333Hz-3kHz

    4kHz 1.3kHz-12kHz

    16kHz 5.3kHz-48kHz

     

    As adjustment is continuous, center frequencies can be set accurately at the desired points. What's more, settings are independent for each stereo channel.

     

    "Q" (or  slope or bandwidth) adjustment is also independent for each band of each stereo channel. Thus the SH-9010 offers an infinite combination of three adjustments:

     

    1. Boost or attenuation up to 12dB at five points in the frequency spectrum

    2. Precise adjustment of those five bands by more than an octave overlap between adjacent bands

    3. Adjustment of "Q" for each frequency band between the range of Q = 0.7 to 7

     

    Very good condition. Unit is silent; all pots and sliders were cleaned and lubed this year. No scratching or sounds when making adjustments. All lamps work. The unit has minimal scratches from normal use; rack mount face plate and top cover look nearly new.

     

    Includes copy of owner’s manual and service manual.

     

    SOLD.

     

    Mike

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  8. To me, today’s “open concept” family room - kitchen - dining room is an acoustic nightmare. I enjoy music in the background, but given the acoustics, I knew I could not have ultimate fidelity in this area. So I started looking for a [relatively] inexpensive integrated for the family room. After perusing the usual suspects, I came across this forlorn Separo SE-300I integrated with lots of tubes and a flashy gold front end. Since I never heard of it, I did my research and discovered its had a interesting back story but only about two reviews in its short life. One was unfavorable and the other gushed. After reading the specs, my hunch was it would be closer to the gush. What sold me was it weighs 65 pounds! Its all transformers!

     

    So for the munificent sum of $649 including shipping from the west coast (!), the family room now sports 10 watts of class A power. With the no name tubes, it sounds terrific. Depth, soundstage, midrange; its quite lovely. Even the 300Bs glow blue. I had to reinforce the table it rests on because it weights every bit of 65 pounds. Now that I know it works very well, I’ll roll the good stuff in. Even a blind pig…

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  9. I have way too many tubes in the tube drawer. Please read the small label to id the tube (the box indicate the brand if noting maker is otherwise noted). The four Tung Sold are in fact matched 6SN7GTBs. "Green" sticker means “good.” "Yellow" means the tunes are more than three years old. "Orange" means I had the tubes several years and don't recall how much use it had. But they all work as intended. All are in good shape with no issues other than I replaced them with NOS. In fact, the three 6922 probably have less than an hour combined  (I was trying to get a Conrad Johnson to not hiss through La Scalas- a losing effort). The Tung Sols, about 100 hours. These 17 tubes just need to move from my tube drawer to your’s. $100 for all plus shipping to you.

     

    Please email any questions.  Thanks.

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    • Like 1
  10.  

    If you have an iPod, this dock allows you to integrate it into your system.The Wadia 170iTransport was the first dock letting you bypass the iPod's built-in digital-to-analog converter so you can run your own DAC for better sound. The 170iTransport also features one component video output, a pair of RCA outputs and one S-video output.

     

    • compatible with all 30 pin docking iPods, including the 120GB iPod classic, curved screen iPod nano, and second generation iPod touch
    • bypasses iPod's built-in digital-to-analog converter (DAC)
    • analog stereo RCA output
    • S-video and component video output
    • powder-coated cast aluminum chassis
    • remote control
    • 8"W x 2-3/4"H x 9-11/16”D

     

    The remote is the all metal unit from the higher end Wadia dac/amps. But in all candor, I can’t read the type from across the room…

     

    Works great; I just don't need another back up. $75 plus shipping to you. Please email any questions.

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  11. From when Bob ruled the audio world. In his words:

     

    The Phase Linear 1000 is a dynamic range recovery system. Recording studios and record processing companies employ a number of necessarily evil techniques brought about by the state of the recording art. Taken together, these techniques may be described as processes which serve to limit and restrict the dynamic range of recorded material.

    Unfortunately, their use is necessary in order to put the tremendous range of live music onto the surface of modern phonograph discs and tapes.

    When used properly, the Phase Linear 1000 will significantly correct these shortcomings inherent in the recording process.

     

    Long ago and far away when I used an original AR turntable with an M91ED cartridge through a Marantz 2230B, it improved playback of records. It had a similar effect as a DBX 3BX. The audible impact on CDs is negligible in my opinion.

     

    Clean unit with no particular issues; it works as Bob intended (no clicks, pops or hiss) and comes with a copy of the owners manual and service manual.  $75 including shipping to you in the lower 48. 

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  12. 3 hours ago, wstrickland1 said:

    For $5000 I will BRING you a pair of Walnut LaScala 2s and a LaScala LSi (one piece model). The LSi is in St Pete anyway and I really need to get it out of my buddy's spare bedroom. The 2s are (were) A Stock and have all the original packaging etc. Again this is hand delivered by me.

     

    That's a steal, IMHO. And delivered!

  13. 1 hour ago, sputnik said:

     

     Since they stole the design, I wonder if the sellers of these counterfeit chairs would object if you paid them with counterfeit money.  😕

    LOL; wish I had thought of that.

     

    Not to justify or debate the concept, I find it interesting the knock offs, which are nearly 100% of the original design, can be retailed for well under $2000 while after 65 years of production, Herman Miller still retails the originals for $5500 or so.  'tis a puzzlement.

  14. 4 hours ago, RobertB said:

    I'm 5'8". Might be a little less slouching for someone of my height.

    Perhaps, but for me its the tilt of the low back and seat cushions that induce the "relaxing" angle. I spent some time in an Eames chair before purchase and knew what to expect. For me, it's just it really doesn't mate well with La Scala. (I could adjust the height on my other stand mount speakers.) Interestingly, the chair was a good match for my Forte IVs. It's all in the tweeter/ear match.

     

    Even if you "just" use it for headphones, its a very comfortable and relaxing chair. Good luck!

    • Like 1
  15. 22 minutes ago, RobertB said:

     

    Michael,

    I was wondering how tall you were and how that works with not having a headrest?

     

    6'    I found myself slouching in the Eames chair to fully recline into the headrest. Must better for headphones IMHO.

     

    The back of the club chair comes to about 4" below my shoulder. Plus with a sold side, Benny can sleep next to the chair. :-)

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