Bouquet de Nerfs English Version

Music Hall Paris X: Part II

I am tempted to tell you to quickly run into the "cour des petites écuries in Paris X", to cast your prejudices to the dogs and let you bring by the magic of the music.

But also to warn you, because if you wait that you brush in the direction of the hair go your way, the anger and wrath are close.

This is an area whitout compromises where we must come humbly. Enjoy this chance to share a moment of history, history of high fidelity with these devices as old as me for some.

Because it is about life. These objects talk to us, if only they would have a soul attached to our soul and the strength to love. They tell us a time when hope is not vain, where the possibilities are there, the imaginary festive, joyous, generous: a musical history ...

The stereo accurately reflects our society and its expectations, fears, anxieties. It is listed today in the analytical logic, mechanical, pure, perfect... illusory.

The hi-fi beginnings may be light years away from these considerations. It is sharing, warmth, friendliness, human after all.

That is what Music Hall is, a space "humanized", with its contradictions, its passions, its emotions, dislikes, pleasures, weaknesses, graze, all that makes us so special in the end.

I see sceptical pout, mocking smiles, and the bards of the performance scolding me of the glance, questioning the improbable result.

And many an interim system I just fell in love, and my old McIntosh roused Vulcain.

Music!

to be continued ...

Music Hall Paris X: part I

Life is not worth living without ... music.

Putting into practice this new saying here I am on this beautiful spring Saturday near the courtyard of small stables in the Xth.

Small reminders Opening: my Air Tight ATM2 has found his twin brother and my Avalon in the hallway of departure. Finally my wanderings "high end" so far allowed me to touch closer to the famous principle of reality, in the financial area. Everyone knows what is unattainable is highly desirable. I discovered in this case that my desire could have limits, I know this can be treated easily, not very fast but very easily, no offense to Michel Onfray. My introspective job is not finished yet, some frustrations are still unbearable. Result?

A quick round trip to Lyon to retrieve a pair of Vulcan Aida and the last mission if you accept it will find a power amp. All tracks are invested, but it is urgent: I want to listen to music this Saturday night!!!

Call it whim if you want, wheteher you like it or not, I don't care.

10:30. Call at Music Hall Paris X to assess the feasibility of buying an amp McIntosh pure juice, big time. The contact is very "complex" or even a bit difficult, but the famous years of work mentioned above allow me not to fly off the handle anymore.

"Aside 1: I'm listening to what you see on the right picture but the most important is the "Presto agitato" from Beethoven Sonata No.14 'Moonlight' by Paul Lewis it is beautiful. Actually it's very beautiful. Actually it is sublime. Beautiful recording at Harmonia Mundi: grace, virtuosity? Actually simplicity, fairness, humility ... "

14.30. Arrival at Music Hall Paris X

How to say this? Life has this wonderful thing that it always surprises you when you take the time to question, to invest, to provoke. And this Saturday I made a surprising discovery: simple, exciting, fully in the person of Benoit Lafitte the master of the place. Yes I know some of you will call me crazy sweet, reached by I do not know how acute syndrome of sudden blindness ... No matter again.

Whole people fascinate me. Passion is beautiful when it is sincere and I met it that day. Passion is also very annoying, because exclusive, authoritative, unique, subjective ...

To be continued

B&W 800 Diamond

Audio Synthese: Paris XII

I left out the 802 diamond after the second time I've listened to it. The final feeling with these speakers was measured. The sound signature is too "boomy", too abrupt even tiring, despite a Radiohead anthology!

My interlocutor raises the possibility of a demo model not finally succeeded?

So put on top of the range with the 800 and still the same system in full Linn.

The difference is astonishing. Get out the invasive low-pitched of the 802, yet the crew is "rich". Lovely sitting in this register, we can find on this model, the signature sound precious to B & W and that so far had not convincing me. Note the image is superb, the mastery is there, but listening is as "remote". It's clean, maybe too much ... I do not know, I just go down aircraft and my own "hearing" is very affected. I put an end to the session without regret.

My host later recalled for a new trial. I've agreed, we'll see ...

Audio Synthese: Paris XII

I left out the 802 diamond after the second time I've listened to it. The final feeling with these speakers was measured. The sound signature is too "boomy", too abrupt even tiring, despite a Radiohead anthology!

My interlocutor raises the possibility of a demo model not finally succeeded?

So put on top of the range with the 800 and still the same system in full Linn.

The difference is astonishing. Get out the invasive low-pitched of the 802, yet the crew is "rich". Lovely sitting in this register, we can find on this model, the signature sound precious to B & W and that so far had not convincing me. Note the image is superb, the mastery is there, but listening is as "remote". It's clean, maybe too much ... I do not know, I just go down aircraft and my own "hearing" is very affected. I put an end to the session without regret.

My host later recalled for a new trial. I've agreed, we'll see ...

No Comment!

Fabrication d'une lampe triode
envoyé par F2FO. - Vidéos des dernières découvertes scientifiques.

Affirmative, Paris XV

Changing course at Affirmative.

Appointment made at 11:00, that is to say at the opening of the shop. I arrive late, which does not bother especially my host who also just arrived and, who had probably forgotten.

Young trade, it happened to me I confess to forget a client in a busy day after a dozen of appointments or more.

Finally, the stereo is not doing so badly.

Closing parenthesis.

Under these conditions, you can well imagine that nothing is heating up. And here we face a mathematical problem of the first order : equation in 4 unknowns.

I do not know about you, but for me this kind of resolution is far enough now.

Well here is a pair of Tannoy Kensington which will do, a block Air Tight ATM2 which is lying on the shelf, a preamp in test just below (brand unknown) and finally an ART Chinese driver. We connect the whole, a few seconds of heating and we are launching the first disk. Contrary to what its name indicates the CD doesn't do the ... sort (it was too tempting), and boasts a message at least confused. A cold ATM 2 is not a very good companion and the acoustics of the place leaves me "dreamer".

We had decided early on to put in "running" Air Tight ATM3 blocks for later, and we take rapidely ostracism measures counter to the Middle Kingdom, after having musically "wallowed" between Charybdis to Scylla, between Radiohead to Testa.

New equation quickly resolved with a set Dac + Drive from Audio Research. Ignition Air Tight ATM3 blocks and firing of all, it is not exactly the same, you can imagine.

I like the tubes you know, I also like Air Tight as you know. These blocks are really excellent and deliver their power with strength and delicacy. You'll tell me that the Kensingtons are not either "the gates of hell" with driver.  Here is a set that has the look, the preamp still unknown does not seem to penalize the group gathered here. And we find the characteristics of this beloved British brand: of life, of presence, a very beautiful tone quality, a sound stage promising if we consider the place where we listen (a long hallway without background) . I am actually very pleasantly surprised by the dynamic quality of Tannoy, which in my memory sounded music but a little bit too wise, or nice. No doubt the Tight blocks are one of the reasons of this revival. I can also say that the low is not the absent subscribers' with a beautiful structure, without being either ultra demonstrative and finally quantities of details bring a sophisticated note to the whole.

There is plenty to keep refining a good system around these speakers and the blocks ATM3. On the other hand the prices of the set make us deal with high quality products, or even higher. I will not express myself either on esthetic criteria. I walked last weekend at the Orsay Museum, the British would not have denoted in an Art Nouveau interior, the tone on tone still has followers ...

Finally at the risk of making me few more friends and without calling into question the sympathy of the person who welcomed me that day, I can not understand how can we hope to attract new generations towards stereo and/or especially clients with the means to invest in a system like the one described above (several tens of k€) without even a dedicated room.

There is all the ambiguity of this job.

Good evening.

Audio Synthèse: B&W 802 Diamond + Full Linn

New listening to this set which included:

Speakers B&W 802 Diamond

Linn Klimax Kontrol Preamp

Linn Klimax mono blocks 500 solo

Linn Player Unidisk or Akurat I've suddenly lost my memory and to finish the Linn Klimax DS source.

As you all know, when I was at Audio Synthesis for High-End Days I was so surprised by the new B&W and I decided to make an appointment for a particular listening with my records.

Here I am comfortable sat at the 8 Prague Street, I use this to make me explain the technology deployed by the DS source (you can find details by following this link: Linn DS )

1. Regina Spektor: Oedipus and Consequence of Sound and Daniel Cowman. The first sensation is the same as last Sunday.  It is a listening in which one must enter. The low-pitched is very present, the high-pitched flies quickly and as I expressed the other time the veil rose on the medium. It is a physical listening, the details are there, the picture is accurate, the scene is not huge, very "centered" in fact.

2. Katia Labèque (featuring Sting)

3. Benjamin Britten (Cello Suites by Jean-Guilhen Queyras)

3. Radiohead (2 2 = 5, Where i end and you begin)

4. Anthony and the Johnson's (The Crying Light)

5. Gianmaria Testa (I know, I still know the same thing ...)

Actually, strange sensations at the beginning of the session, the CD follow one another, I have lost the enthusiasm of the first time. Would I be hit by the second visit Syndrome???

(Small text analysis: all real estate agents will confirm that the second visit of an apartment, a house is often the most difficult to manage. The first time, the novelty, the love at first sign, but especially the lack of reference tend to idealize a place, a space. When we come back we retain this ideal reference in mind and we are disappointed, it is smaller, less bright and the so nice real estate agent finally has a big nose and a small IQ. Please, don't see any sexual connotation. Finally, I invite you to repeat that experience during your second date, your second night of love, your second job interview, your second appointment to the garage, you know when you just find your car ... From now on you will not see life as before!)

I open myself to my host (not about the IQ of the estate agent, you follow?) who feels the same as me (phew!). We Sorry "He" is moving the speakers 10cm forward, and we certainly gain in homogeneity, the low is suddenly less omnipresent, the whole is more accurate, less aggressive in the high-pitched, so far nothing very unusual.

I ask the server to pass on DS because the sound stage proposed by the Linn CD player really bothers me, and it's "day and night!" Yes, yes I swear.

Immediately it is more spacious, the scene opens, the sound levels are more accurate, more defined, I can find the same thing as in the High End Days. We have "ripped up" the Regina Spektor on the server and we continue our musical ballad.

Very nice presence of the Oscar Peterson quartet, a Black Desire living on Marlene, Anthony and the Johnsons wonderful of details and sharpness etc. etc. etc..

Final result:

I am less enthusiastic than my first listening, you'll understand.

I think that the Linn Klimax DS server is an absolute source, almost perfect, and more "controllable" from an i-phone. I wish I saw a complete configuration with a touch screen and a management interface of the convivial content. I still have the nostalgia of the record sleeve or CD.

B&W 802 Diamond with their own price (14000 €) would undoubtedly deserve a listening before purchasing in this price range according to the established formula. They may bury a lot of people in their class and even a little above.

But a thought came to haunt my mind at the end of the session. Given the price of the whole (stratospheric), I didn't feel the same variety of restitution with the Magico Mini.

And if the very high fidelity was nothing but the ability of a system to restore the music in all its differences. And if the truth which our ears are kept repeating was it. So people would need a holy dose of openmindedness to accept that all pianos do not sound like we like they sound, the voices do not all have the tone that enchants us. And here I guess, I must admit that the only system to date has demonstrated this ability I have listened at Sound & Colors on the Magico + Ayre + Soulution.

A final example to conclude this chapter with this live of Masekela (Stimela The Dowry Song), of which I am not a fan for many reasons that I have no plans to deal with tonight. It happened one or more of its push far enough on many systems. It often happened to write that at indecent level, that this speaker, this amp, this system could handle a difference.

I know now that I was light years ahead of what is achievable. I discovered unexplored areas, distant lands in some ways inaccessible by others. I know that a system can be transformed into the majestic smuggler, discreet, only delivering the music and not a partisan interpretation. I have felt this magic with the Magico+Ayre system and not with the B&W+Linn one.

Good night

HIgh End Days: Part I

I almost titled this note: "But what are the High End Days for?"  It was four hours ago leaving the famous hotel in the Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore in Paris. I had just spent 15 minutes in the listening room (listening?) Goldmund + Focal. Walking through the wealthy and middle class halls of this high rise hotel and food, perfect setting for the stereo very high quality, I met the General Director of the famous French acoustic brand. The Focal Grande Utopia III were associated with a full Goldmund set with a sneak preview of the Telos blocks 350 and apart from that I have nothing to say. For we were not there to listen to anything, right? Exhibitors who keep discussing (the names here are not used for anything) drinking without discretion, a young man loudly tapping on a laptop computer (e-mail to his family? database of attendees to fill in faster? filling the new Facebook profile "I love Focal"?) and the paroxysm of that show : a door open leaving the sounds of the drill from the big hotel (yes I swear)

Who are we kidding there?

is this the High end days? 6 "Pekin" (including myself) in a Parisian palace with material equivalent in euros to a Aston Martin concession ...

In this case Shame on the organization of this event unable to implement a worthy marketing plan to promote the high fidelity in France, and I do not even talk about selling the products.

I recently read on the internet an attempt of compared segmentation of the speaker and of the car industry market by the person that I met more above. I deliver it to you gross

In the Home Audio, we distinguish three segments:
1 - Classic in which there are three sub-segments Competition Target B&W:

a) Edg <1000 € design-Traditional speaker Low tech, high sound quality (/ / car segment <30 € k)

b) Hdg <5000 € Sophisticated design speaker with high-perceived value, high tech, very high sound definition (/ / car segment <100 k€, German sedan)

c) Thdg> 5000 € extreme-Design speaker-Innovation Technology (4 patents)-Custom finishes and ultimate sound-quality (/ / car segment> 100 k€, Aston Martin, Bentley)

2 - MDI Thumbnail Lifestyle for Miniature, Design, Integrable, competition target Bose
3 - Computer and iPod Multimedia -Prosumer solution- Competition Target Bose & Genelec... With stereo and home theater solution for the first two and Stereo for the third one

And in this case Shame on the equipment manufacturers to believe that just ask the plethora of "hanging scrolls" in a prestigious location with some biscuits and orange juice in crystal decanters to attract potential buyers. In fact, make a dash for BMW, Audi or American Express to kidnap a "marketer" ...

And finally Shame on those who spend their time on the forums to discuss products they never listened. Where were you during these three days. Not in the auditorium because I felt sometimes in place of my host, the solitude of the runner.

Returning to the system presented: this did nothing, a non-existent image, noise escaping from two terminals equipped with speakers that is all, how boring ...

You will tell me that I have a sharp tongue with the French, but the previous evening at Presence Audio Council was even worse with Stella Utopia. A random and calamitous image, a serious and gross low-pitched. I can not believe that it only comes from the speakers.

So why is a Devialet amp necessary to power these monsters???

Why use a listening room shielded by loudspeakers probably causing resonance problems?

Yes Why?

to be continued ...

Yannick Betis on April 11, 2010 in High Fidelity | Permanent Link | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

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I almost titled this note: "But what are the High End Days for?"  It was four hours ago leaving the famous hotel in the Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore in Paris. I had just spent 15 minutes in the listening room (listening?) Goldmund + Focal. Walking through the wealthy and middle class halls of this high rise hotel and food, perfect setting for the stereo very high quality, I met the General Director of the famous French acoustic brand. The Focal Grande Utopia III were associated with a full Goldmund set with a sneak preview of the Telos blocks 350 and apart from that I have nothing to say. For we were not there to listen to anything, right? Exhibitors who keep discussing (the names here are not used for anything) drinking without discretion, a young man loudly tapping on a laptop computer (e-mail to his family? database of attendees to fill in faster? filling the new Facebook profile "I love Focal"?) and the paroxysm of that show : a door open leaving the sounds of the drill from the big hotel (yes I swear)

Who are we kidding there?

is this the High end days? 6 "Pekin" (including myself) in a Parisian palace with material equivalent in euros to a Aston Martin concession ...

In this case Shame on the organization of this event unable to implement a worthy marketing plan to promote the high fidelity in France, and I do not even talk about selling the products.

I recently read on the internet an attempt of compared segmentation of the speaker and of the car industry market by the person that I met more above. I deliver it to you gross

In the Home Audio, we distinguish three segments:
1 - Classic in which there are three sub-segments Competition Target B&W:

a) Edg <1000 € design-Traditional speaker Low tech, high sound quality (/ / car segment <30 € k)

b) Hdg <5000 € Sophisticated design speaker with high-perceived value, high tech, very high sound definition (/ / car segment <100 k€, German sedan)

c) Thdg> 5000 € extreme-Design speaker-Innovation Technology (4 patents)-Custom finishes and ultimate sound-quality (/ / car segment> 100 k€, Aston Martin, Bentley)

2 - MDI Thumbnail Lifestyle for Miniature, Design, Integrable, competition target Bose
3 - Computer and iPod Multimedia -Prosumer solution- Competition Target Bose & Genelec... With stereo and home theater solution for the first two and Stereo for the third one

And in this case Shame on the equipment manufacturers to believe that just ask the plethora of "hanging scrolls" in a prestigious location with some biscuits and orange juice in crystal decanters to attract potential buyers. In fact, make a dash for BMW, Audi or American Express to kidnap a "marketer" ...

And finally Shame on those who spend their time on the forums to discuss products they never listened. Where were you during these three days. Not in the auditorium because I felt sometimes in place of my host, the solitude of the runner.

Returning to the system presented: this did nothing, a non-existent image, noise escaping from two terminals equipped with speakers that is all, how boring ...

You will tell me that I have a sharp tongue with the French, but the previous evening at Presence Audio Council was even worse with Stella Utopia. A random and calamitous image, a serious and gross low-pitched. I can not believe that it only comes from the speakers.

So why is a Devialet amp necessary to power these monsters???

Why use a listening room shielded by loudspeakers probably causing resonance problems?

Yes Why?

to be continued ...

I almost titled this note: "But what are the High End Days for?"  It was four hours ago leaving the famous hotel in the Rue du Faubourg Saint Honore in Paris. I had just spent 15 minutes in the listening room (listening?) Goldmund + Focal. Walking through the wealthy and middle class halls of this high rise hotel and food, perfect setting for the stereo very high quality, I met the General Director of the famous French acoustic brand. The Focal Grande Utopia III were associated with a full Goldmund set with a sneak preview of the Telos blocks 350 and apart from that I have nothing to say. For we were not there to listen to anything, right? Exhibitors who keep discussing (the names here are not used for anything) drinking without discretion, a young man loudly tapping on a laptop computer (e-mail to his family? database of attendees to fill in faster? filling the new Facebook profile "I love Focal"?) and the paroxysm of that show : a door open leaving the sounds of the drill from the big hotel (yes I swear)

Who are we kidding there?

is this the High end days? 6 "Pekin" (including myself) in a Parisian palace with material equivalent in euros to a Aston Martin concession ...

In this case Shame on the organization of this event unable to implement a worthy marketing plan to promote the high fidelity in France, and I do not even talk about selling the products.

I recently read on the internet an attempt of compared segmentation of the speaker and of the car industry market by the person that I met more above. I deliver it to you gross

In the Home Audio, we distinguish three segments:
1 - Classic in which there are three sub-segments Competition Target B&W:

a) Edg <1000 € design-Traditional speaker Low tech, high sound quality (/ / car segment <30 € k)

b) Hdg <5000 € Sophisticated design speaker with high-perceived value, high tech, very high sound definition (/ / car segment <100 k€, German sedan)

c) Thdg> 5000 € extreme-Design speaker-Innovation Technology (4 patents)-Custom finishes and ultimate sound-quality (/ / car segment> 100 k€, Aston Martin, Bentley)

2 - MDI Thumbnail Lifestyle for Miniature, Design, Integrable, competition target Bose
3 - Computer and iPod Multimedia -Prosumer solution- Competition Target Bose & Genelec... With stereo and home theater solution for the first two and Stereo for the third one

And in this case Shame on the equipment manufacturers to believe that just ask the plethora of "hanging scrolls" in a prestigious location with some biscuits and orange juice in crystal decanters to attract potential buyers. In fact, make a dash for BMW, Audi or American Express to kidnap a "marketer" ...

And finally Shame on those who spend their time on the forums to discuss products they never listened. Where were you during these three days. Not in the auditorium because I felt sometimes in place of my host, the solitude of the runner.

Returning to the system presented: this did nothing, a non-existent image, noise escaping from two terminals equipped with speakers that is all, how boring ...

You will tell me that I have a sharp tongue with the French, but the previous evening at Presence Audio Council was even worse with Stella Utopia. A random and calamitous image, a serious and gross low-pitched. I can not believe that it only comes from the speakers.

So why is a Devialet amp necessary to power these monsters???

Why use a listening room shielded by loudspeakers probably causing resonance problems?

Yes Why?

to be continued ...

High End Days: Part 2

Presence Audio Conseil Paris III:

Let's come back on my Saturday listening. I could not resist in the footnote to express my annoyance, or worse. Evenif on this blog freedom of tone is the rule, I always tried to promote my experiments, always tried not to do in the pointless "shooting gallery", which at the end does not do much.

I am sincerely really disappointed by the results of my listenings with the Focals. I have nothing against this course mark, which is French actually. I even had not long ago a pair of speakers by the manufacturer of Saint Etienne. So I spent Saturday afternoon in Presence Audio Conseil.

Firstly because this place is one of the rare quality space dedicated to the stereo in Paris. Here we breathe the High Fidelity, here you make choices, you bring them and defend them. It's rare enough to mention it.

Second, because I like whenever I have time to read the personal page or the blog of the owner, David Blecher. His anger affect me and are always fair, I like his vision of this job, his passion is all intact.

Thirdly because Stephane Even there at Présence with his brand Neodio, had sharpened my curiosity by telling me about new Leedh speakers.

That's how I found myself on the first floor of the Rue des Filles du Calvaire, facing this Neodio NR 1200 amplification set, NR22 with CDs play and these speakers with an unlikely look : I named Leedh by Acoustical beauty.

A disturbing experience. Firstly because it must go beyond the dimension "emotional" ending up in front of such an object. An object which doesn't match the canons of traditional premium on loudspeakers. And this aspect is crucial in the apprehension of a product towards the market that it is about to attack. I can already hear the "Ayatola" of the blind test vomit on me, but whatever. Like it or not, and whatever the qualities of a product, if not the image that goes with its market segment, there is no hope.

So, are the speakers Leedh Are the new false good idea of the moment (I think back to that moment at the tailpipe of Haliaetus Technologies) or the genious and absolute creating, who will bury the miscreants involved in the error for so long?

The listening?

A multitude of emotions come immediately: a beautiful scene, a stable and realistic image. This dimension is really impressive, both in depth and in width, with a staggering realism and fluidity. Then the specialists who were present all spoke of the utter absence of distortions related to the boxes, Inevitably here 'There is no more ...

A refund of live very close, with a presence of the vocals and the instruments bluffing, no aggression.

Yes of course the low-pitched is a bit short and we are not facing an ultra demonstrative. But what it does, it doess it so homogeneous, consistent and in tune and that's a real pleasure. I am, to be honest, rather impatient to hear the above models with a low-pitched vitamin section as in the diagram on the right.

Nothing to add on the electronics and wiring Neodio.

Still perfect.

Actually yes, just one thing, just an idea : to be able to play these electronics in France with the grown-ups. I wish I could feed a pair of Stella with Neodio just to see, sorry to hear. Note that I do not share in Neodio.

Sound objects:

Quick passage to listen one of my "darling" brands Avantgarde.

In demonstration, the Trio Classico accompanied by Basshorn brand, powered by a 2x35-watt amp Avantgarde and in playing a Weiss Jason + Medea set.

Well, well, well, what could I add ? I have not found the magic of high performance, heard on Duo Omega for example. Lack of control and clearly of keeping, with a gravel low-pitched, the whole light years behind what can such a system do. Whose fault? (The noisy air conditioning does not help either). Even Gianmaria Testa (per acompagnarti) yet built for this kind of monster appears flat. The tones have been conspicuously absent, the piano has lost his trunk, the low has a cold. It is time to leave.

To be continued

High End Days: Part 3

Audio Synthèse Paris XII:

End of my Sunday trip in Prague street in spite of the obstructions and my lack of enthusiasm to find B&W.

The listening room is empty, a single passenger on board and the seller.

The system is in place:

802 Diamond Bowers & Wilkins

Linn Klimax DS Source

Linn Klimax Kontrol Preamp

Linn Klimax 500 2 solo blocks

 

 

I pretty like to surprise people and frankly often be where they do not expect me. I aloso pretty like to be surprised by bold choices.

Here the point of audacity. Than the sure value of the "so British" tradition, the custom of calibrated for the "market" world. So I came with prejudices, supported for some of them by many unsuccessful experiences on the proud speakers.

Once the cirsunstances "concerto" done because "Brandenburg" (I know it is very bad) it's time for serious matters. By way of introductory remarks it is worth noting the almost systematic presence in those days, of servers, wireless and other devices able to read "paperless music", that is to say audio files.

    This is the case with the Linn Linn Klimax DS set, that we fly (music server) with an i-phone (as a remote control): it's magic. Atomic on HD files.

Well you should know that I'm still under the spell of this listening. So much that I took a new appointment to come and listen to my records.

Where to start?

This new version only bears little resemblance to the previous one, in the whole thing in my opinion. The qualities of the low-pitched have been increased to tears, I had not heard anything like that for a very, very, very long time. Abyssal would be an understatement to describe the low frequency of the new 802 Diamond. The medium that I found "concealed" on older models flew away to let the light appear. Finally the high-pitched is still crystalline. Today I found what I had glimpsed at the exhibition on "Signature Diamond", but with much more density and strength.

We listened all the pieces with the same greed, Herbie Hanckock, Oscar Peterson, Peter Gabriel, classical, vocals, piano, violins, and even the "15 Step" by Radiohead: amazing, never heard before. At this high level is a butchury for many speakers and amps. The Klimax Kontrol are frightening, the sound levels are returned intact, everything is heard clearly with evidence and a crazy power. All remaining consistent, it is really deeply moving actually.

Great happiness.

And as the saying goes, only fools never change their mind. Here I am reassured.

Good night.

Magico Mini II + Ayre KX-R & MX-R

Sound & Colors Paris VIII:

Speakers Magico Mini II

Ayre KX-R Preamp

Blocks Ayre MX-R Mono

Soulution 745 SACD Player

The magic was so developed that it made me waver in my decision. Here I am now pretty embarrassed with the Rockport Mira associated with the full Pass on one side and on the other this outstanding set.

I let myself be seduced from the first notes by this elegant and refined coupling. Ayre blocks are solid jewelry and what to say about the preamp? The esthetic question is also a determining factor in my choice. I don't have place anymore to put a "bodybuilder" block in my living room.

But to return to the music and what a music:

1. Gianmaria Testa "Per accompagnarti"

It's fluid. It's bright. It is marked with calm and serenity. It is voluptuous. It's such an obvious accuracy. I know that the objectivists will pounce with as many "feelings". But as rarely as it is since I'm interesting in high fidelity I was enshrouded by the music. An immediate feeling of well being, in musical harmony.

The image of this speaker is amazing, clear, bright yet. It's like moving through the Sistine Chapel, not for size issues but for the evidence of art. It is a graceful light which, far from falling on you, lifts you in the highest heavens. This is a Luberon sky late in the day in August. Here we are, you could sense the ground up, invading your body, the smells cradle you, the soft wind make vibrate the pins and caress your skin. No need for big marine horizons to imagine the infinite magnitude, the space, the range of possibilities, that sweet feeling of freedom.

The Ayre set brings in my opinion a little more life, tone, dynamism than soulution at least on the Mini. The sound levels are well defined in a set of consistency rarely heard. The quality tone is exceptional, maybe not as perfect as the Avalon Indra, but this does not hinder the overall refund. The low-pitched is present, articulated, in tune.

2. Regina Spektor: The consequence of sound

Again it is all about perfect balance between voice and piano. No aggressive highlighted everything is in the refinement, the touching, the excellence. I rarely listened to this disc with so many natural and fluid. The sound levels are still obvious, ventilation is miraculous around the various instruments and voice.

3. Katia Labèque featuring Sting

Always the same balance for this recording all in suave nuances.

titles keep follow one another with great pleasure ..

4. Antony and the Johnsons

5. Bojan Z

6. Masekela live 1 and 2

What an image, what a scene, what an energy, what a control, what a speed, what a perfect command, what a airing, pure magic.

9. Madredeus and many others ....

I listened to the disks one by one with a greedy pleasure, without hearing the time passing, without any aggressiveness, a real delight, obviously I forgot everithing to feel the music inside.

The most skeptics will think that I finally an irrevocably fall in dark side.

Return on Earth after more than half past one hour of pure magic, with the price of the set...

The price of passion and pleasure, because I had perfectly on my mind the price of the material. In agreeing to come listen to this set I knew I was taking a risk. The dilemma between reason and madness. And tonight this issue is still unresolved.

Finally, how not to insist eather on the quality of reception in tune with this listening: softness, sensivity, balance and passion.

To be continued ...

Volumes: Paris VIII

Continuation of my listenings at: Volumes.

This is my first time in this auditorium with modest dimensions. Also change of philosophy, because here we prepar e the dish in front of you.Note that the scales proposed will still allow this game of musical chairs that is much less complex to implement with devices approaching the quintal.

Let's return to the place it, with its listening rooms in the basement in a vaulted cellar, does this remind you of something?

The his--torical area of the stringed-instrument maker and other instruments makers accounte until recently three hifi stores through 200 meters (Music Hall, Volumes 4 and Opus) and if you go a little further 5 with Acoustic and Sound and Colors & Gallery but we do not play in the same playground as one approaches the Parc Monceau.

Here the listening "cellar" brings this small "unusual" side of Paris but also its stream of acoustic imperfections (problem in the restitution of the low-pitched for example). The important presence of equipment (speakers and electronics) could make faint the strong supporters of listening with only one pair per auditorium (follow my eyes to the streets of Prague and Cambronne). The staff is courteous and unfeigned simplicity. When I arrived the system had been heated for several hours.There is still significant to note that the appointment made the previous week was not useless and it is always heartwarming to be welcomed.

System 1:

Speakers: isophon Vescova
Brinkmann Electronic : Marconi preamp + Mono Blocks
Ear Acute CD player

Over-all the top of the spectrum is present, fluid without reanching

summits, we guess we recognize the hand of Acute Ear no doubt with its great musicality but also its boudaries.

A beautiful tone quality, but a confused and draft low pitched and finally a lack of dynamism of the whole, we will see later, after several tests that the head is without a doubt Marconi preamp that tends to play "soft". Plugging directly the player on the blocks provide a more indisputable sound.

System 2: This softess very annoying invites us to the first changes.Replacing the coupling Brinkmann and direct attack of a NAGRA MSA block, more fluidity and clarity in the message without touching the overwhelming either.

System 3: Transfer to the Verity Audio Rienzi + Brinkmann and Acute. Quick passage, anemic result, the association does not work at all: next.

I'll spare you the bold test and sometimes horrible like this unlikely association (Icos Drive + Dac Reymio + Nagra MSA on isophon).

System n:Brinkmann electronic but with the Isophon Cassiano

The Cassiano are the model "known as former" without the diamond tweeter heard on the little sisters. There is immediatly more extent, more material. The sound is more consistent, the low-pitched is better articulate but perfectible. The Brinkmann preamp is still discriminating, the EAR Acute attacking, mono block provides greater nervousness to the whole but the finesse is the shortcoming.

In short this speacker is a nice esthetic high sounding object, a coherent and reasonably well toned. Association is to rework and we take an appointment for soon.

Objectives: To a full Nagra test with less marked player?

Good night.

Paris, High Fidelity Exhibition 17 & 18 October 2009: Part II

Step Four: Fusion Pass Labs Acoustic / Emm Labs / Rockport Ankaa

Last week I fell in love with the Rockport Mira associated with the XA100.5 blocks from Pass Labs and the last drive EmmLabs XDS1. So I made an appointment today to listen to the Ankaa, with the same feeling of impatience that one feels at a first "rendez-vous". So I found the very kind importer of the brand at the Marriott, and then disappointment, I was told that the room was not that great (I can confirm: a cube, very obscure). One discouraged me to listen, I left disappointed obviously. I stopped by later in the day anyway.

Yes the room is without doubt one of the most inappropriate of the site, but still what a listening. They say that love is blind, not deaf? I certainly think that today Rockport is one of potentials of return most fabulous of the market, not to say the Reference.

The Mira is already a miracle, the euphoric high end results, an energy starts to flow into your veins when the first notes rang out.

And I can not wait to be able to listen to the rest of the range until the Arrakis why not. New CR in perspective.

To be continued ...

Step Five: B & W and Classé Audio

There you expect all the minute "chopped", being laughing that I show up my Colt 45 at the mere mention of the two initial blasphemous ... Well no you failed. The most malicious will ramble on my mental state, the use or not of prohibited substances or whatever.

As you know, the 800D serie is not my cup of tea, with the exception of the 801D, which stays in my eyes an anachronism at the midth of the range mentioned above, but whatever.

Strange and not dogmatic I push the door of room B & W Group, Mr. Muller will officiate at the end of the afternoon.

The set is modest, in relation to the means usually implemented by The Group, with a pair of Signature Diamond still, a CD player integrated Classé Audio CD202 y an amp integrated still Classé Audio CP2100, in-se-pa-ra-able.

A recording at that moment is played and it is a real discovery, a strange sensation, on the whole very jazzy rhythmic, attacks are stunning, speed and power, a truck moving like a butterfly: Does it remind you of anything? The sound is majestic, all registers are returned with homogeneity, even the low-pitched gives interesting signs of vitality. And it is indeed 2 votes. I marvel again at both vitality and joy. I was just passing by, I decided to stay. Now, a bit of organ. It is indeed a 2 voices, we can not ask the moon.

A nice listen undoubtedly to deepen.

Step Six: Aphrodite's Melody & Nagra

Again it s a big deal (not Demis Roussos, sorry I could not help myself) for this demo beautifully orchestrated around a full Nagra composition associated with Verity Audio Lohengrin II. It was the day of Switzerland today at the Marriott. Nagra and his miniature bias, which settle with the "giant" choices of the majority of actual designers (Vitus, Soulution, Pass, Chord, Goldmund and so on). It is amazing to see the new tiny blocks tame the majestic animals, and their 38 cm low-pitched.

The stature is impeccable, the whole is very subtile, the listening has a great class. Respect of the sound levels and very large image. Beautiful tone quality, low-pitched articulated. In a word of mastery.

Step Seven: Vitus Audio Marten Design

One of my biggest expectations of this exhibition and my greatest disappointment. I could not listen to this system in good conditions. I fell in late afternoon on the "Tonton" flingueurs who had decided to use vynile. I also have vynils at home and I am very pleased that it allows the industry to invest in "new" fields of growth. But to be stubborn to want to use a rotten vynil of Cannonball Adderley (somethin'else for not citing it) on a hifi which costs 300000 € is a bit like trying to listen to a CD of Prince on the same system. It will always be sh... Another time maybe.

Last step: the others

Naim: a full Naim with Ovator S600 speakers. You wake up in there. How boring.

Erra, Strad Audio and KR Audio: A beautiful room, a true presentation of products, Czech amps with owners tubes, more phallic it's nor possible, and a depressing listening. Who to question? Probably not the CD player. The Strad speakers?

Brinkmann, isophon: still a listening with neurasthenic vynil. Too bad because the Isophon Cassiano had left me good memories, like Brinkmann.

Duevel, CEC, Van Medevoort: stratospheric prices, many people in the auditorium for a result more than ordinary. The omnidirectional speaker: a revolutionary concept, or a false good idea?

Dynaudio: bad taste to find his étandard. A flashy aesthetic and an anemic sound.

Elipson: same equipment and same award at Pullman.

Esoteric, JBL: A little bit of slack in this day, I came in to be kicked in the butt, as usual with JBL. 30 seconds of listening later I came out without the desired effect (I mean the kick). The debauchery of the most inefficient way of the exhibition.

For the rest I would have to come back tomorrow ...

Good night.

Paris, Salon Haute Fidélité 17th&18th October 2009: Part I

Good evening.

After the Pullman, here we are at the Marriott for the second step of the "State of the Art Tour in Paris.

In short, the disappointment of last week can be compared to the pleasure taken today.

Very high level this afternoon Boulevard Saint-Jacques, the numerous and accomplished implementation, very acceptable conditions of listening with rooms more adapted and more comfortable than at Pullman, anyway a great moment of audiophilia.

Fasten your seat belts, the vertiginous, the enchanted is for now.

First step: Kelinac + Néodio.

I assiduously cultivated my "candid" side and I still marvel at being able to meet, exchange, share the musical experience with the creators of machines that make us dream. I know quite few areas where designers still dare to come to confront reality. It is obviously the case with Stephane Even (Néodio) and Patrice Nicoleau (Kélinac). No jargon in these places, the technology of course, spontaneity, life and love of music. So I listened to real discs with them, no such audiophile compilations "bling bling" that could presents a complete chin of "Aïwa" as ... beep .... the flagship

No, no quarrels tonight.

Music then, energy as if it was rain and the presentation of the new Néodio range with Essential Series (a CD player and integrated amp) using the same format as the NR range with a milky façade of the most beautiful effect for a softer price. Also new an original presentation of the electronics of the NR range in their "gloss clockwork orange" dress, which caused a sensation at the last CES in Las Vegas. Never mind the dress to focus on the background and the listening of the new CD player NR22 in its integrated version. It was associated for the occasion with an NR 600 amp (I hope I am not wrong) and alternatively fed a pair of biblio Kelinac 111mg and the top of the Kelinac range, the 811mg.

I know well the latter for having owned a pair myself, I will not come back on the qualities of spontaneity, vivacity, energy deployed by this model, the last listening of the day on a Michel Polnareff's live, a level close to the concert which certainly left some traces in the audience. No real surprise comes from the 111 that have fooled everyone with their ability to fill the space with a rigor, an extraordinary vigor for a speaker of this size. Behind, Néodio does the job, like on the groundbreaking "Also sprach Zarathustra" by Strauss: stature, mastery, power, details, a marvel.

I already hear about my bias against the two French manufacturers ...

Yes, and I assume, because I know quite a few competitors which at this price are as well. For the listenings that follow, any idea of comparison is pointless because we deal with systems with more than six figures in € or $.

Second step: Goldmund by Jefferson

There are few brands in the area of the stereo very upscale, which generates as bitterness and jealousy. Their creator, their country of origin, Switzerland and their price crystallize all the critics.

But unless you are totally deaf or bad faith, or two at a time, the demonstration of Mr. Jefferson had an excellent level this afternoon. What a breathtaking presence of these small cubes in this vast hall. Tunes, sound, homogeneity of registerss, everything was in there even the low-pitched if you keep your eyes wide shut. Just kidding.

It is beautifully produced, is monstrously expensive, it is exclusively dedicated to the happy few, and I love that.

Third step:Sound & Colours:Soulution & Magico

I had a sharp tongue against Guy Boselli last week on its system built around the aging Kharma. I have to admit that today the deal had changed with in listening the Magico M5 powered by a Chinese wall amp Soulution (4 blocks 700 mono if I'm right). The aesthetics very ... Switzerland may surprise again. In my opinion I find this metallic machine side so trendy, very attractive, with its red liquid crystal display. It's like we came back to the good old days of the first quartz watches.

But back to the listening itself, great art, a very careful implementation and a result whiwh measures up.. This was not the most moving listening of the day, but what a class. Genuine high end audio, with all the ingredients in terms of speed, huge sound expent and natural, an incredible precision. Homogeneous surgical .

Soulution 

Magico Loudspeakers

to be continued ...

Salon Hifi Home Cinema: October,10th-11th 2009 Paris

A trip by the Pullman hotel this afternoon to try to sniff the "high end" a little more closely. No specific expectations for that kind of event, for the conditions being at least folk. Doors open, doors slamming, people talking, and talking louder, a wonderful demonstration of the Lombard's reflex even when a listening just started. And always the same excuse served here and there: the pitiful quality of the rooms and listening lounge. Really? And then? So if you are not able to get a decent sound out with 100 000 € (sometimes more) of material at the Pullman hotel when you're a pro, what can we expect in the lounge Hausmann style lounge in a Parisian apartment?

But nevermind. My snobby side and lack of time obviously led me to neglect the listenings of the small systems, and I must apologize, maybe. In short, I heard many things very ... heard. And for once I am giving these scared Christians to the lions:

Advance Acoustic and its full THG system: of course it is!!

Elipson in the concourse DEA: but how can we disrecpect that much the old people (yes it's true it was written on it: since 1938). So our old "balls" are are making sound effects for the senior citizens. A thought for B&W though (how creative talent...).

It is always better than the Triangle that by wanting to wake up them (the old people) will eventually kill them, with his flagship, which in that case suits well its name. It's pigeon shooting, what a violence.

KTR labs, which had a speaker problem (oh it was theirs, sorry ..).

Davis Acoustics, or La Fontaine's fable and the famous frog ... yes you know the rest. Karla, in preview, and we are entitled to ask questions about the opportunism of the surname of Venus Callipyges(euphemism).  No comment on what it sends, I'm still seeking my words.

Icos: a table, an ampli, a corridor... I thought it was forbidden to make people people at the corner, the corporal punishments in stereo come back.

And what about JCT, Mister Câbles left under the stairs with her its speakers. There's no more respect I tell you ...

Metronome: it was so beautiful. The whole family with Kalista who makes eyes at me. But what a catastrophic system, and that habit of playing fake music (I stay polite), these Japanese "audiophile" CDs without souls, these Karri Bremnes and Diana Krall again and again .... Here a Japanese quartet with a piano that sniped at WP7?, A shooting gallery. I stayed 15 seconds.

Goldmund: Jefferson that I appreciate, however, had to apply for Swiss citizenship while I'm speakking. Too many notables in the area, some JMLab, no listening, inapropriate chattering and again the Lombard's reflex.

To finish with the nabobs, Kharma is going to celebrate soon the 100th anniversary of his "Great Exquisite. It is a bit old if I can say so, very expensive and above all be careful not to push grandma where you know. Does it work? Tones, stage, aeration, material, low-pitched, but magic???

Let us now turn to things more positive, with a beautiful blind but not deaf room at Audio Note. Yes I know 22 watts of tube (Baby Ongaku), 98dB cases but a fu.... realism, energy, life, soul. Otherwise wonderful tones and an incredible scene. With a soft welcome.

A room to dig at the ground floor with Martin Logan and Sonus Faber, which I'm not usually very fond of, but something obviously happened.

And then and then THE Room, the Surprise, THE Listening:

Rockport Mira

Preamp Pass Labs XP 20

Blocks Pass Labs XA 100.5

CD player EmmLabs XDS1

For the pipes I haven't taken the references but it was bigger than the fire hose of a New York fireman.

In one of the smaller rooms, the most incredible thing. An energy, a vitality, a size rarely seen before. It's Mike Tyson for the grip, in three seconds I was knocked out. But luckily I have not been transported to the hospital. Here the only transport is a kind of drunkenness, stupor before so much facility ro unroll the music. Is a magical combination. Acoustic Gallery thank you for having brought these brands in one place. The EmmLabs player gives everything to hear, the Pass blocks in Class A allow a constant held low-pitched, a shattering impact, a breathtaking articulation, a material in fusion and dynamics rarely equaled. The preamp orchestrates this with a naturalness that requires no comment. Finally the welcome was simple, fun and not fussy at all. Thank you.

I look at Avalon oddly tonight. I'm expecting next week to listen to the Rockport Ankaa at the exhibition of High Fidelity and we'll see ...

Good night

A trip by the Pullman hotel this afternoon to try to sniff the "high end" a little more closely. No specific expectations for that kind of event, for the conditions being at least folk. Doors open, doors slamming, people talking, and talking louder, a wonderful demonstration of the Lombard's reflex even when a listening just started. And always the same excuse served here and there: the pitiful quality of the rooms and listening lounge. Really? And then? So if you are not able to get a decent sound out with 100 000 € (sometimes more) of material at the Pullman hotel when you're a pro, what can we expect in the lounge Hausmann style lounge in a Parisian apartment?

But nevermind. My snobby side and lack of time obviously led me to neglect the listenings of the small systems, and I must apologize, maybe. In short, I heard many things very ... heard. And for once I am giving these scared Christians to the lions:

Advance Acoustic and its full THG system: of course it is!!

Elipson in the concourse DEA: but how can we disrecpect that much the old people (yes it's true it was written on it: since 1938). So our old "balls" are are making sound effects for the senior citizens. A thought for B&W though (how creative talent...).

It is always better than the Triangle that by wanting to wake up them (the old people) will eventually kill them, with his flagship, which in that case suits well its name. It's pigeon shooting, what a violence.

KTR labs, which had a speaker problem (oh it was theirs, sorry ..).

Davis Acoustics, or La Fontaine's fable and the famous frog ... yes you know the rest. Karla, in preview, and we are entitled to ask questions about the opportunism of the surname of Venus Callipyges(euphemism).  No comment on what it sends, I'm still seeking my words.

Icos: a table, an ampli, a corridor... I thought it was forbidden to make people people at the corner, the corporal punishments in stereo come back.

And what about JCT, Mister Câbles left under the stairs with her its speakers. There's no more respect I tell you ...

Metronome: it was so beautiful. The whole family with Kalista who makes eyes at me. But what a catastrophic system, and that habit of playing fake music (I stay polite), these Japanese "audiophile" CDs without souls, these Karri Bremnes and Diana Krall again and again .... Here a Japanese quartet with a piano that sniped at WP7?, A shooting gallery. I stayed 15 seconds.

Goldmund: Jefferson that I appreciate, however, had to apply for Swiss citizenship while I'm speakking. Too many notables in the area, some JMLab, no listening, inapropriate chattering and again the Lombard's reflex.

To finish with the nabobs, Kharma is going to celebrate soon the 100th anniversary of his "Great Exquisite. It is a bit old if I can say so, very expensive and above all be careful not to push grandma where you know. Does it work? Tones, stage, aeration, material, low-pitched, but magic???

Let us now turn to things more positive, with a beautiful blind but not deaf room at Audio Note. Yes I know 22 watts of tube (Baby Ongaku), 98dB cases but a fu.... realism, energy, life, soul. Otherwise wonderful tones and an incredible scene. With a soft welcome.

A room to dig at the ground floor with Martin Logan and Sonus Faber, which I'm not usually very fond of, but something obviously happened.

And then and then THE Room, the Surprise, THE Listening:

Rockport Mira

Preamp Pass Labs XP 20

Blocks Pass Labs XA 100.5

CD player EmmLabs XDS1

For the pipes I haven't taken the references but it was bigger than the fire hose of a New York fireman.

In one of the smaller rooms, the most incredible thing. An energy, a vitality, a size rarely seen before. It's Mike Tyson for the grip, in three seconds I was knocked out. But luckily I have not been transported to the hospital. Here the only transport is a kind of drunkenness, stupor before so much facility ro unroll the music. Is a magical combination. Acoustic Gallery thank you for having brought these brands in one place. The EmmLabs player gives everything to hear, the Pass blocks in Class A allow a constant held low-pitched, a shattering impact, a breathtaking articulation, a material in fusion and dynamics rarely equaled. The preamp orchestrates this with a naturalness that requires no comment. Finally the welcome was simple, fun and not fussy at all. Thank you.

I look at Avalon oddly tonight. I'm expecting next week to listen to the Rockport Ankaa at the exhibition of High Fidelity and we'll see ...

Good night

Avalon Indra

It's late. I had a busy day and despite the exhaustion I can not resist the temptation to write these few lines on the latest arrivals. A picture taken in a rush (it's late, I already said), an installation which combines urgency, excitement and fury, a pair of Super Maxitrans cables recovered at Mr. Tornior's place this afternoon, noon between 2 appointments and there is the result (see photo).
But first I must tell you about the epic arrival of the box made in "Pirates of the Caribbean" or a "Cold War" period's James Bond . At the opening (long opening, various protections and slabs of wood to loosen) I was expecting for a moment to see appearing a lot of AK47s, soil air missile or some else festive element.... but I digress.
So what to say?
First, first, are the tones. Those who grab you deep into the flesh. Those who melt the eardrums. Those who tickle the neuronal connections and give off those little electric shocks under the skin. I'm here in my chair, stunned, dazzled by so much beauty as the child on the morning of December 25th, with tired eyes by waiting so long finally opens the door of the room to see his gifts.
And suddenly I feel that my favorite songs are too short, I wish that the end never came to interrupt the magic of the moment. I ran to get new disks, I put them on the truck and I have to get up again already.

In a row, Gianmaria Testa and her "Solo dal Vivo", live recording, which takes an unknown hitherto depth, magic of voices, tension, articulation and low-pitched, yes I swear, and not a bodybuilder, as in some beautiful Americans.
Maxence Cyrin and his Modern Rhapsodies: The record is already finished .... no comments.
The Creep by Radiohead in "acoustic" on My Iron Lug, "that's so fu... great" I woke my wife to share this moment timeless. What power, what tones and over again, what sensuality, what realism (here we go again), what music.
I continue with Mirwais and Production, the track No.1 Disco Science just woke up the building and I still feel ... no aggression except from my neighbors.
Take cover, track 5 "Junkie's Prayer": "... we want drugs, we want sex, we want exchange, we want something new ..." I tore my shirt, I am rolling on the floor, the ambulance arrives, they take me ....
And then there is the grand finale, the bouquet of nerves ... it comes back to my familiar memories, of homeric listenings, sensations forever etched in the marrow.
All this without optimizations ...
Good Naaayyyt ...

It's late. I had a busy day and despite the exhaustion I can not resist the temptation to write these few lines on the latest arrivals. A picture taken in a rush (it's late, I already said), an installation which combines urgency, excitement and fury, a pair of Super Maxitrans cables recovered at Mr. Tornior's place this afternoon, noon between 2 appointments and there is the result (see photo).
But first I must tell you about the epic arrival of the box made in "Pirates of the Caribbean" or a "Cold War" period's James Bond . At the opening (long opening, various protections and slabs of wood to loosen) I was expecting for a moment to see appearing a lot of AK47s, soil air missile or some else festive element.... but I digress.
So what to say?
First, first, are the tones. Those who grab you deep into the flesh. Those who melt the eardrums. Those who tickle the neuronal connections and give off those little electric shocks under the skin. I'm here in my chair, stunned, dazzled by so much beauty as the child on the morning of December 25th, with tired eyes by waiting so long finally opens the door of the room to see his gifts.
And suddenly I feel that my favorite songs are too short, I wish that the end never came to interrupt the magic of the moment. I ran to get new disks, I put them on the truck and I have to get up again already.

In a row, Gianmaria Testa and her "Solo dal Vivo", live recording, which takes an unknown hitherto depth, magic of voices, tension, articulation and low-pitched, yes I swear, and not a bodybuilder, as in some beautiful Americans.
Maxence Cyrin and his Modern Rhapsodies: The record is already finished .... no comments.
The Creep by Radiohead in "acoustic" on My Iron Lug, "that's so fu... great" I woke my wife to share this moment timeless. What power, what tones and over again, what sensuality, what realism (here we go again), what music.
I continue with Mirwais and Production, the track No.1 Disco Science just woke up the building and I still feel ... no aggression except from my neighbors.
Take cover, track 5 "Junkie's Prayer": "... we want drugs, we want sex, we want exchange, we want something new ..." I tore my shirt, I am rolling on the floor, the ambulance arrives, they take me ....
And then there is the grand finale, the bouquet of nerves ... it comes back to my familiar memories, of homeric listenings, sensations forever etched in the marrow.
All this without optimizations ...
Good Naaayyyt ...

They're coming...

"Because what every man or animal fears in this time when human walks at the same height as the animal and when any animal runs at the same height as every man, it is not the suffering, because the suffering can be measured, and the capacity to inflict and endure the suffering can be measured and what he dreads above all, is the strangeness of the suffering, and to be brought to endure the suffering not familiar. Thus the distance that always will be maintained between brute and damsel who inhabit the world doesn't come from the assessment of the respective forces, because then the world would be divided very easily between brute and damsel, all rows would pounce on any damsel and the world would be simple; but what keeps the brute, and will keep it for eternities, away from the damsel, is the infinite mystery and the infinite weirdness of weapons, such as those small bombs that they carry in their purse, with wich they project the liquid in the brute's eyes to make them cry, and suddenly we see the brute crying in front of the damsel, dignity all shattered, neither man nor animal, to become nothing but tears of shame in the earth of a field. That's why, brute and damsel are afraid of eachother and distrust eachother too and as much, because we inflict the suffering that we can endure, and that we worry about the suffering that we are not capable to inflict."
Bernard-Marie Koltes
In the Solitude of Cotton Fields

"Because what every man or animal fears in this time when human walks at the same height as the animal and when any animal runs at the same height as every man, it is not the suffering, because the suffering can be measured, and the capacity to inflict and endure the suffering can be measured and what he dreads above all, is the strangeness of the suffering, and to be brought to endure the suffering not familiar. Thus the distance that always will be maintained between brute and damsel who inhabit the world doesn't come from the assessment of the respective forces, because then the world would be divided very easily between brute and damsel, all rows would pounce on any damsel and the world would be simple; but what keeps the brute, and will keep it for eternities, away from the damsel, is the infinite mystery and the infinite weirdness of weapons, such as those small bombs that they carry in their purse, with wich they project the liquid in the brute's eyes to make them cry, and suddenly we see the brute crying in front of the damsel, dignity all shattered, neither man nor animal, to become nothing but tears of shame in the earth of a field. That's why, brute and damsel are afraid of eachother and distrust eachother too and as much, because we inflict the suffering that we can endure, and that we worry about the suffering that we are not capable to inflict."
Bernard-Marie Koltes
In the Solitude of Cotton Fields

Fidelity

"At the root of every form of fidelity is a commitment. Whether it's friendship or love - marital fidelity is a typical example here - or in the oath of allegiance of a vassal to his lord, one only can strictly say that a person is faithful, or unfaithful, if this person has previously committed to a promise or a certain consistency. It may be that this commitment is implied, such as friendship, which can also be a source of misunderstanding.

The fidelity commits to the future, so it may take the form of a promise or an explicit oath, that is to say things which by definition may be, as we say, betrayed. Note carefully that this is not a secondary characteristic or "accidental" fidelity: it is precisely because we can never be absolutely sure that it will respected that the commitment of fidelity have its own meaning. Fidelity is constantly to be confirmed and can permanently, or at least regularly, be broken, and one misstep is enough here: fidelity is total or is not.

Therefore, fidelity in its original form, that is to say when there's fidelity to a person, is based on thetrust of this person and, as trust, is usually reciprocal, at least "officially". Some push it very far actually : in the New Testament, Jesus says that "whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed in his heart, adultery with her. "(Gospel of Matthew, 5, 28). In another sense, the so-called "faithful" to a particular religion commits himself, to himself that he considers as a person to what he regards as a person, except that the "person" in question is a deity. Note that "infidelity" takes a peculiar shape.

It is therefore required, to be faithful to what we pledged. Some couples - some would say modern, depraved would say others - agree on a mutual consent of adultery, a sort of "polygamy" mutually consented, and no one can be therefore be described as infidel, whatever that we also think of their conduct. There is infidelity if there's a break-up of commitment, and a betrayal of trust given by the person to whom it has been promised to be faithful.

It's different for the second form of fidelity: the one which is not wpmmited to a person but to values, morals or politics, for example. What, then, in this case, the infidelity? It can be either the recognition of a mistake or of a bad choice in the initial commitment of fidelity, and sometimes is done in favor of a commitment towards new values, either a "lurch" which should then be regretted. The first case can be illustrated by the political activist who leaves his party for another, the second by an ecologist who, through laziness and for once, throws his glass in a bin not provided for this purpose. If this second case can be compared to someone's infidelity, although perhaps less severe, the first shows that there is little sense to commit to be faithful forever to a cause or values. That would mean to give up the freedom to think - and more specifically to change mind - and if one wants to be faithful no matter what happens, the risk of one day being so, without sincerity: if one must be consistent in his values, not because they committed in the past to be faithful to them, but because they are worthy of being followed.

We can then note that "being faithful to ourselves" may not really mean anything else than having a life, a behavior entirely coherent with his thoughts, even if, because of changes of mind, coherence involves changes in life or behavior, including frequent. Thus the member of a sect that, in an unguarded moment, or after careful consideration, has pledged to be faithful to his guru forever and who, become lucid, regrets and breaks this commitment can be considered unfaithful to this guru, but not to himself, on the contrary, it's by staying faithful to his guru that he would have become unfaithless to himself. Here appears again the delicate problem of the relationship between fidelity and freedom: how to commit to be faithful, in any way, without abdicating freedom? Who can say he will never think that the commitment of allegiance he took was a mistake, even a "mistaken identity"? But if we admit that we are wrong about people as on values to whom we have pledged to be faithful, can we not conclude that the only fidelity that we should engage to, and the only one actually, is fidelity to ourselves? "

From http://philo.pourtous.free.fr/index.htm MA

"At the root of every form of fidelity is a commitment. Whether it's friendship or love - marital fidelity is a typical example here - or in the oath of allegiance of a vassal to his lord, one only can strictly say that a person is faithful, or unfaithful, if this person has previously committed to a promise or a certain consistency. It may be that this commitment is implied, such as friendship, which can also be a source of misunderstanding.

The fidelity commits to the future, so it may take the form of a promise or an explicit oath, that is to say things which by definition may be, as we say, betrayed. Note carefully that this is not a secondary characteristic or "accidental" fidelity: it is precisely because we can never be absolutely sure that it will respected that the commitment of fidelity have its own meaning. Fidelity is constantly to be confirmed and can permanently, or at least regularly, be broken, and one misstep is enough here: fidelity is total or is not.

Therefore, fidelity in its original form, that is to say when there's fidelity to a person, is based on thetrust of this person and, as trust, is usually reciprocal, at least "officially". Some push it very far actually : in the New Testament, Jesus says that "whoever looks at a woman lustfully has already committed in his heart, adultery with her. "(Gospel of Matthew, 5, 28). In another sense, the so-called "faithful" to a particular religion commits himself, to himself that he considers as a person to what he regards as a person, except that the "person" in question is a deity. Note that "infidelity" takes a peculiar shape.

It is therefore required, to be faithful to what we pledged. Some couples - some would say modern, depraved would say others - agree on a mutual consent of adultery, a sort of "polygamy" mutually consented, and no one can be therefore be described as infidel, whatever that we also think of their conduct. There is infidelity if there's a break-up of commitment, and a betrayal of trust given by the person to whom it has been promised to be faithful.

It's different for the second form of fidelity: the one which is not wpmmited to a person but to values, morals or politics, for example. What, then, in this case, the infidelity? It can be either the recognition of a mistake or of a bad choice in the initial commitment of fidelity, and sometimes is done in favor of a commitment towards new values, either a "lurch" which should then be regretted. The first case can be illustrated by the political activist who leaves his party for another, the second by an ecologist who, through laziness and for once, throws his glass in a bin not provided for this purpose. If this second case can be compared to someone's infidelity, although perhaps less severe, the first shows that there is little sense to commit to be faithful forever to a cause or values. That would mean to give up the freedom to think - and more specifically to change mind - and if one wants to be faithful no matter what happens, the risk of one day being so, without sincerity: if one must be consistent in his values, not because they committed in the past to be faithful to them, but because they are worthy of being followed.

We can then note that "being faithful to ourselves" may not really mean anything else than having a life, a behavior entirely coherent with his thoughts, even if, because of changes of mind, coherence involves changes in life or behavior, including frequent. Thus the member of a sect that, in an unguarded moment, or after careful consideration, has pledged to be faithful to his guru forever and who, become lucid, regrets and breaks this commitment can be considered unfaithful to this guru, but not to himself, on the contrary, it's by staying faithful to his guru that he would have become unfaithless to himself. Here appears again the delicate problem of the relationship between fidelity and freedom: how to commit to be faithful, in any way, without abdicating freedom? Who can say he will never think that the commitment of allegiance he took was a mistake, even a "mistaken identity"? But if we admit that we are wrong about people as on values to whom we have pledged to be faithful, can we not conclude that the only fidelity that we should engage to, and the only one actually, is fidelity to ourselves? "

From http://philo.pourtous.free.fr/index.htm MA

Truth

The truth (from the Latin veritas) is a philosophical term that expresses the quality of what is true.It is the conformity of the idea with its object, conformity to what we say or think with what is real.

The diversity of interpretations of the word has been in the past and until now much controversial. And the thoughts of thinkers and philosophers over the centuries, constitute all different schools.

Problem of Truth

Sometimes truth means reality. But it is better to understand by the word "truth" : knowledge, and knowledge only. This meaning, whose error is the opposite, already belongs to the ideas, representations, or it only can reside in the judgment, that is to say in affirmation or negation? An idea can be called false, if it doesn't correspond to anything real or possible (for example, ideas of chimeras, centaurs, etc..), or truebecause it corresponds to real things (for example, ideas of human or horse ). But it's only in the judgment that error and truth reside. There's only error for the one who affirms the existence of the chimera and the centaur, and there is only truth for the one who denies their existence, or for example, affirms the existence of men or horses. Such a theory of truth is based on the idea that it should be in accordance, or in correspondence with a real state of things.

We can say that truth is the affirmation of what exists, or the negation of what doesn't exist, so finally the agreement of our judgments with reality . This definition seems clear and satisfactory, surely for common sense. But if we takes the point of view of the criticism or of the idealism, we will be able to find little philosophy.

• On behalf of the first one, we will object that the metaphysical and absolute reality is not accessible to knowledge. To what we can safely answer that most of our judgments have nothing to do with the absolute and metaphysical reality, but only the different creatures and phenomena that are for us our objects of experience, that is to say of perception.

• But, the idealist will object, the different objects and phenomena are reducible to our representations and those of other conscious subject, truth does not consist in the agreement of our judgments with an reality outside our minds, but in the agreement of thought with itself, thus with his own perceptions and the perceptions of other minds. Without doubt, we can answer, but the perceptions which necessarily oppose themselves to me and any conscious creature like me being in the waking state and normal state, this is what I call reality ...

Then we can, obviously, accept this definition of truth: "The agreement of our judgments with reality. "

It is necessary to avoid personifying the truth, to do who knows what special purpose and objective entity. The truth is a quality. According to William James, there is in one part the reality, on the other judgments which are in agreement with it, there is no third thing which would be the truth. Truth is the character that take certain decisions, and nothing more. Then, truth is not a ready made thing, it's built, it is the fruit of an effort and a research.

"What is true is what is useful," said Nietzsche. Has pragmatism managed to modify fundamentally alter the idea of truth? This is doubtful. It seems difficult to reduce fully the idea of truth and usefullness. Some beliefs of Greek religion and Roman religion was beneficial to the ancient city, but we do not find them "true".

Good night

Realism

Formed with the word "real" realism was born before 1850 and developed after that date. It is characterized by the willingness of certain painters and novelists to represent reality without changing it.

Origin of Realism

It is difficult to date precisely the "birth" of Realism. This term appears in the years 1843-1840. It is then regularly used by critics, from 1845, for example to characterize the way courbet paints when he represents a rustic interior without trying to embellish it. And, it is not an isolated trend but a movement closely connected with the evolution of mentalities and social data. The Industrial Revolution, the growing importance of the proletariat, the workers' movements, identify new sources of interest for artists. The progress of the sciences, the discovery of photography, first strict reproduction of reality, also have a significant influence when the Revolution put an end to romantic illusions.

Characteristics of Realism

Realism finds its themes in the observation of the contemporary, social and historical world: it is interested in things, people and situations which were not considered as artistic until now. Thus, from 1835, Balzac, in Le Pere Goriot, described an interior where everything is dirty, smelly, dilapidated and disgusting. The pictorial and literary creation is also dedicated to those who live in these poor places: workers, artisans, prostitutes, marginalized, often represented in the most sordid aspects of their lives. When Flaubert evokes a scene of looting of 1848, he insists without lyrism or epic totality on all the bestial fury of an angry crowd. The willingness of the realist writers to imitate the real and present it as it is, involves not only observation but also a true documentation. We must go there, as do Goncourt and Zola, accumulate notes, learn from experts: Maupassant and Flaubert moved in medical circles. This constant desire for real also explains that the psychological study of individuals loses its importance in favor of analyzing the environment and the highlighting of social types. It is in this extent that realism opens the way to Naturalism, which extends it in a form that is more scientific.

Music, High Fidelity, Truth and Realism.

An intense professional activity coupled with a lazy good stuff, push me to deliver you in bulk to the following considerations on Realism, Truth and High Fidelity. We're really talking about music don't worry.
I'll try withpretention to make at last a synthesis, and attempt the feat of reconciling the music lover(I like as much as I hate that term too exclusive in some mouths) and the audiophile who live in me. Already doubts are coming.
Well more probably, find a way out to my manic-depressive* tendency from the moment someone talks about music and high fidelity.

[A manic-depressive person will have episodes of depression alternating with episodes of exaggerated euphoria.

The depressive episodes are marked by symptoms that we found in other forms of depression: extreme and permanent sadness, loss of interest in anything, irritability, sleeping disorders, lack of energy, memory or concentration disorders, appetite disorders, thoughts of death and suicide...

  

The manic episodes are characterized by euphoric mood, permanent and excessive energy, a very energic activity or a big bustle, overstating of his capabilities, a sleep reduced to few hours without causing tiredness, an increasing of sexual appetite, a misjudgment of reality]

Sorry to my audiophile friends who at this moment were finally able to diagnose their problem.
See you soon ...

An intense professional activity coupled with a lazy good stuff, push me to deliver you in bulk to the following considerations on Realism, Truth and High Fidelity. We're really talking about music don't worry.
I'll try withpretention to make at last a synthesis, and attempt the feat of reconciling the music lover(I like as much as I hate that term too exclusive in some mouths) and the audiophile who live in me. Already doubts are coming.
Well more probably, find a way out to my manic-depressive* tendency from the moment someone talks about music and high fidelity.

[A manic-depressive person will have episodes of depression alternating with episodes of exaggerated euphoria.

The depressive episodes are marked by symptoms that we found in other forms of depression: extreme and permanent sadness, loss of interest in anything, irritability, sleeping disorders, lack of energy, memory or concentration disorders, appetite disorders, thoughts of death and suicide...

  

The manic episodes are characterized by euphoric mood, permanent and excessive energy, a very energic activity or a big bustle, overstating of his capabilities, a sleep reduced to few hours without causing tiredness, an increasing of sexual appetite, a misjudgment of reality]

Sorry to my audiophile friends who at this moment were finally able to diagnose their problem.
See you soon ...

New topic: "tubes! but where? "

Looking for tubes? Find in this section any links to online ordering and stores "physically".

Looking for tubes? Find in this section any links to online ordering and stores "physically".

Here they are....

And I like it ...

A full report will follow shortly, but what to say already about the instant happiness, moving to rehear the music that way. 

The tube retains the magic, the incomparable grain . It's like finding on an old picture the familiar face of a beloved person, the memory of a smell, the warmth of a fire burning with languor. Matter, a coat of light like this song by Sigur Ros "Ara Batur" played again and again. The thrill, the overwhelming emotion, the carnal presence... I go back there... See you later

A full report will follow shortly, but what to say already about the instant happiness, moving to rehear the music that way. 

The tube retains the magic, the incomparable grain . It's like finding on an old picture the familiar face of a beloved person, the memory of a smell, the warmth of a fire burning with languor. Matter, a coat of light like this song by Sigur Ros "Ara Batur" played again and again. The thrill, the overwhelming emotion, the carnal presence... I go back there... See you later

He's back...

It's back, the great sound ...

And I went all the way. I have at home for two weeks this "Made in France" set (except the deck of course) that I have already chronicled here in this blog and in great detail.

So you have recognized on the picture a pair of Kelinac 811mg, a Neodio NR300 amp, the Neodio NR One player and the Pro-ject RPM 10 deck, with its IT ground deluxe base and a Sumiko Blue Point EvoIII cell (pre phono Fidefity Musical ).

Life, dynamics, space, to be short a radiant energy, and whatever the level of listening. This is what continues to bluff me after 15 days with them.

A great posture but also and above all this natural aeration which finally gives meaning to the word as used in "stereo": R E A L I S M.

Tribute to the alive music , thank you ...

Waiting for better days ...

A moving house, a new space, a new life and a new system, waiting for better days.
Get out the Avanti V, that I have actually never adopted. I now keep a fond memory of my Virgo III, which remains in my "ears" marvels of finesse and elegance, but I'm rambling. And then there is the listening of the Calderas at Audio Physic : my best musical moment spent until now. Therefore I think that the Avanti speakers could be seen only as a substitute, a solution by default, out of pique...

A return to basics in a way, with the Meridian / Jadis association, listened here a few years ago at Adagio. The EAR blocks come to help with authority and grace this duo.

Finally dealing with speakers some "biblio" Focus Audio. The most assiduous readers of this blog will think that this choice is quite strange, considering the listenings little accomplished made on the big sisters of the Reference range. I was looking for something homogeneous with an ascetic extend, having regard to my new "listening room".

Focus Audio FS 688
Meridian G06 CD Player
EAR 509 MkII amp (the last resisters)
Jadis JPL preamp
Wiring: Audioquest, Auditorium 21, Shindo, Hifi Cables and Co., Nordost ...

Finally and fun an original marriage, far from the Himalayan peaks. But the Alps and the Pyrenees can be beautiful too...

A moving house, a new space, a new life and a new system, waiting for better days.
Get out the Avanti V, that I have actually never adopted. I now keep a fond memory of my Virgo III, which remains in my "ears" marvels of finesse and elegance, but I'm rambling. And then there is the listening of the Calderas at Audio Physic : my best musical moment spent until now. Therefore I think that the Avanti speakers could be seen only as a substitute, a solution by default, out of pique...

A return to basics in a way, with the Meridian / Jadis association, listened here a few years ago at Adagio. The EAR blocks come to help with authority and grace this duo.

Finally dealing with speakers some "biblio" Focus Audio. The most assiduous readers of this blog will think that this choice is quite strange, considering the listenings little accomplished made on the big sisters of the Reference range. I was looking for something homogeneous with an ascetic extend, having regard to my new "listening room".

Focus Audio FS 688
Meridian G06 CD Player
EAR 509 MkII amp (the last resisters)
Jadis JPL preamp
Wiring: Audioquest, Auditorium 21, Shindo, Hifi Cables and Co., Nordost ...

Finally and fun an original marriage, far from the Himalayan peaks. But the Alps and the Pyrenees can be beautiful too...

Bulk Hi-Fi part 1

    I'm coming here, right now, before you, settle my last months of hifist wandering and shilly-shallying. We agree, it could be worst for an ideological liquidation or an idealist break. I come back to my way of the Cross where I left it: at Music Hall in the 8th arrondissement (are of Paris). That day I had been able to hear/listen to the Sonus Faber Elipsa on a full Audio Research configuration: CD7, LS26 and a Ref 110 stereo block for what I remember. It was better, much better than with smooth Accuphase set (ouch), but we had not reached eternal heights nor heights snow-capped by grace.

    No I was disappointed and then we must admit that the smallness of the place leaves pensive about the hifi world. I never cease to question me, ask myself about these models that defy everyday most rudimentary laws of "Business" trade, who no why is able to sell and sell again. I finely turn to you, dear customers, you my "brothers in arms" (I dared), you who quibble the coquetry in the high-pitched of this famous brand whose name won't be said, you who quibble on the "drawl" aspect of the low-pitched with this Soviet NOS tube you who detects this bump in the 300 Hz because of the high source of light, badly placed in the auditorium, and you strange but obviously so fascinating.

   To conclude this digression slightly acid we must admit that the prices charged by the brand of Plymouth (Minnesota) are inversely proportional to the size of the Kid from the nearby town, Minneapolis.

    But I digress. It's summer and I think back to those paths of garrigue that we rode when we were children. The din of cicadas, the smell of the pine trees dried by the furnace, the resin dripping down the bark, our attention captured by the slightest noise in the vastness of Provence. Is this where I "learned" to listen, to hear, to probe the unspeakable ... let's close the parenthesis.

   (My audiophile life) or How I Got Into an Argument and I ended up buying my "used" Reference III. And then the immensity (?) splits into two. On one side the "followers" who welcomed me at this moment in the hall of "fame" of the Hifi. I can feel their moved eyes, the weight of history, the heritage shared, this great fellowship and the feeling of accomplishment ... On the other, giggling, mockery, people jeer, scoff, try to confuse the gentrified audiophile, the affluent hifist, conservative music lover.

I then brought home the "beast", and then the drama ...

It does not fit in my cabinet, so beautiful, sought for a long time for its discretion. I plugged it in and it's horrible.

I try to remember the little sentence of this test with "Stereo & Image". I quote: "...indeed it must also take into account the good adaptation of impedance of the Ref III..."

Fu... impedance

Impedance, impedance, do I have a face of impedance.

And what's impedance (I apologize to my physics teacher, for this unfortunate forgetting).

The streigth of progress that lies in me, decided to sell it as quickly as possible, confirming by the way the adage that trade and streigth of progress do not mix.

to be continued ...