darthlaker Posted May 23, 2017 Author Posted May 23, 2017 @pdot just saw the legendary Jean-Michel Jarre in Chicago AND got a photo with him! Very jealous!!! Well done dot!! 5
pdot Posted May 23, 2017 Posted May 23, 2017 [mention=122560]pdot[/mention] just saw the legendary Jean-Michel Jarre in Chicago AND got a photo with him! Very jealous!!! Well done dot!! Well what to do when your favourite music artist EVER is touring North America for the first time and is likely to never perform in Australia... You take 2 weeks holiday and fly to the US to see his concert of course! So yesterday I met up with a few fans from the Rendezvous-Vous facebook group, made some great new friends, and went to a concert by this Godfather of Electronic Music. He's almost 69 and still going strong. Jumping around while playing, lots of stage energy, connecting well with the audience. Apparently this tour is in generally smallish theatres (compared to enormous stadiums) and that planning shone through last night. After the show a group of around 15 people waited around the side of the theatre (where tour trucks were being loaded from the stage) hoping to meet the Master. After about 1.5 hours waiting a security guard came out and told us he had left. Yes he had, but his car must have come around the block and stopped in front of the truck being loaded. I saw his PR/minder get out and check all was good and then Mr. Jarre himself jumped out to greet us with a big smile on his face. He was generous with his time, signing many items, including worn tour shirts, an arm, and a back (with added skull sketch as requested by the fan). One fan had a stack of albums, wanting to get them all signed... not cool, he was told "no more" by the minder. Jarre also let us all get photos with him during the almost frantic energy of some in the group. This man cares about his fans. This is a regular occurrence at his concerts apparently. He continues to give his time and energy, even after 2 hours straight of performing. I am stoked. This trip was very worthwhile. And Friday I will watch him perform again in an outdoor amphitheatre in San Francisco! Audio comment on the night - incredible sound. Not ear damaging, just loud and perfectly clear. With bass that at times vibrated your whole body, including through the neck! (One initiate in the group I was with had to step out for a moment doing the concert because she was unfamiliar with those sort of concert sensations). I was maybe 20m from the stage, could see everything so clearly. Just about in the centre so I could hear everything so clearly. If you want to see pics from the concert, check out his FB page the are great official photos from last night, and a video of the crowd from his iPhone. So if you ever get the chance to see some good live music, just do it! The experience is worth so much more than buying an album, but it will add to the album listening experience as well! Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk 8
darthlaker Posted May 23, 2017 Author Posted May 23, 2017 That is VERY cool, dot! And you get to see him again! I had a look at some videos posted of the concert......amazing lighting and beautiful music. Enjoy the rest of your dot travels! 1
darthlaker Posted May 23, 2017 Author Posted May 23, 2017 5 hours ago, pdot said: So if you ever get the chance to see some good live music, just do it! The experience is worth so much more than buying an album, but it will add to the album listening experience as well! So true. Get off your computers jacking off to SNA and LISTEN TO LIVE MUSIC. Also, get out and listen to other peoples systems. Their fave music may one day be your fave music (and vice versa). 1
Guest Karl Rand Posted May 24, 2017 Posted May 24, 2017 On 10 April 2017 at 4:44 PM, andyr said: Mmmm, a Stuart & Sons piano wouldn't have cost them any more ... but of course, an Aussie-made job must sound crap, right? So they chose the Bösendorfer. Sad. Andy Are you serious? Stuart and Sons pianos are totally different instruments to any Bösendorfer even having a keyboard with notes no 'traditional' piano ever had. Not that you can't play older repertiore on a Stuart but if you're thinking along the lines of something like romantic German Lieder a Bösendorfer is the way to go. However, having said that we should pay attention to Elizabeth Schwarzkopfs' warning about them. " Never allow yourself to be accompanied by a Bösenderofer, they will outsing you'
pulinap Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 17 hours ago, Karl Rand said: Are you serious? Stuart and Sons pianos are totally different instruments to any Bösendorfer even having a keyboard with notes no 'traditional' piano ever had. Not that you can't play older repertiore on a Stuart but if you're thinking along the lines of something like romantic German Lieder a Bösendorfer is the way to go. However, having said that we should pay attention to Elizabeth Schwarzkopfs' warning about them. " Never allow yourself to be accompanied by a Bösenderofer, they will outsing you' Phew, for a a moment I thought you've gonna contradict @andyr over cartridge loading..... I do apologise for the interruption, back to normal transmission folks
Guest Karl Rand Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 (edited) Phew! For a moment there I thought you were a One Nation supporter. As to cartridge loading I would never dare argue with anyone knowing from painfull experience even manufacturers recommendations can be wrong using some phono preamps and arm wiring etc. In fact I've encountered two apparently identical cartridges from the same manufacturer, that to my ears, required different loading. Go figure! We could solve any argument by all running phono-pre-amps that match loads 'automatically' (Clearaudio Absolute Phono Inside is one of them if I remember correctly) but any such device would make me twitchy always thinking I wasn't getting the best out of my silly money temperamental moving coils. Sometimes I miss the old days of Shure V15's. Edited May 25, 2017 by Karl Rand
andyr Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 (edited) 4 hours ago, Karl Rand said: Phew! For a moment there I thought you were a One Nation supporter. As to cartridge loading I would never dare argue with anyone knowing from painfull experience even manufacturers recommendations can be wrong using some phono preamps and arm wiring etc. In fact I've encountered two apparently identical cartridges from the same manufacturer, that to my ears, required different loading. Go figure! We could solve any argument by all running phono-pre-amps that match loads 'automatically' (Clearaudio Absolute Phono Inside is one of them if I remember correctly) but any such device would make me twitchy always thinking I wasn't getting the best out of my silly money temperamental moving coils. Sometimes I miss the old days of Shure V15's. AIUI, a "current amplifying" phono stage - as distinct from the more usual voltage amplifying phono stage - does not require special loading, to sound at its best. But there are not many of them around. And at USD15K, I'm not likely to be trying the Clearaudio Absolute Phono anytime soon. Andy PS: You yearn for a Shure V15 - gimme a break!! Edited May 25, 2017 by andyr
andyr Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 23 hours ago, Karl Rand said: Are you serious? Stuart and Sons pianos are totally different instruments to any Bösendorfer even having a keyboard with notes no 'traditional' piano ever had. Not that you can't play older repertiore on a Stuart but if you're thinking along the lines of something like romantic German Lieder a Bösendorfer is the way to go. However, having said that we should pay attention to Elizabeth Schwarzkopfs' warning about them. " Never allow yourself to be accompanied by a Bösenderofer, they will outsing you' Speaking of pianos which have "notes no 'traditional' piano ever had" ... AIUI, a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand has extra keys on the left - below the range of a 'normal' grand piano. I've always wondered how they are ever used ... as, presumably, composers never wrote such notes down on the score (if they can't be played by a normal grand)? Andy
Guest Karl Rand Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 (edited) 3 hours ago, andyr said: AIUI, a "current amplifying" phono stage - as distinct from the more usual voltage amplifying phono stage - does not require special loading, to sound at its best. But there are not many of them around. And at USD15K, I'm not likely to be trying the Clearaudio Absolute Phono anytime soon. Andy PS: You yearn for a Shure V15 - gimme a break!! Not for the sound but for the simplicity of loading and the ability to replace styli without having to have an expensive MC re-built. I've had too many nasty experiences with MC's self-destructing without me having been rough with them to be totally in love with the things. OK, apart from a few exotic moving magnets built by Garrot Bros moving coils are usually a superior listen but they still make me nervous every time I go near them. I have to confess though I'm very impressed with the latest stylus replacements for top of the range Shures made by JICO. https://www.jico-stylus.com/product_info.php?products_id=1701 On the other hand though is the nasty fact most manufacturers of phono pre-amps put little effort into trying to design a MC stage to the highest standard considering all moving magnets to be necessarily inferior therefore not worth the effort. Anyhow, I getting to the age where I'll soon be too clumsy to care for expensive, temperamental moving coils. I'm just glad digital recording and replay has finally reached a stage where I can forget I'm listening to digits so I'm committing my LP collection to hard drive and disks. Trouble is I've got so many of them I'll be dead before I finish the job and sure as hell gone before I ever get to listen to all of them again. How did we get here from the original topic? What was it again? Edited May 25, 2017 by Karl Rand
Guest Karl Rand Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 56 minutes ago, andyr said: Speaking of pianos which have "notes no 'traditional' piano ever had" ... AIUI, a Bosendorfer Imperial Grand has extra keys on the left - below the range of a 'normal' grand piano. I've always wondered how they are ever used ... as, presumably, composers never wrote such notes down on the score (if they can't be played by a normal grand)? Andy Composers across the planet are writing new works for the things.
andyr Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 Comments below. Andy 1 hour ago, Karl Rand said: Not for the sound but for the simplicity of loading and the ability to replace styli without having to have an expensive MC re-built. I've had too many nasty experiences with MC's self-destructing without me having be rough with them to be totally in love with the things. OK, apart from a few exotic moving magnets built by Garrot Bros moving coils are usually a superior listen but they still make me nervous every time I go near them. I don't think an MM cart is any easier to load optimally than a LOMC? With an MM ... you certainly need to make sure the total cap load (headshell wires, arm wires, phono cable plus default phono stage loading) is in the right ballpark but, sometimes, you have to adjust the R-load as well. (Grados are supposed to sound better at 35K than 47K!) With a LOMC, it's chiefly about getting the R-load right. Unfortunately, so many LOMC phono stages don't offer much of an option here. 1 hour ago, Karl Rand said: Anyhow, I getting to the age where I'll soon be too clumsy to care for expensive, temperamental moving coils. I'm just glad digital recording and replay has finally reached a stage where I can forget I'm listening to digits so I'm committing my LP collection to hard drive and disks. Trouble is I've got so many of them I'll be dead before I finish the job and sure as hell gone before I ever get to listen to all of them again. How did we get here from the original topic? What was it again? I have the same (age) problem! And a lot of LPs! But the problem, IMO, is not caring for so-called 'temperamental' LOMCs ... it's not having the visual acuity to align any cart optimally! So my next project is digitising my vinyl. I have bought a kit for a 192K ADC ... all I have to do is build it ... then start the process. Oh - and buy a NAS, of course! Andy
Guest Karl Rand Posted May 25, 2017 Posted May 25, 2017 36 minutes ago, andyr said: Comments below. Andy I don't think an MM cart is any easier to load optimally than a LOMC? With an MM ... you certainly need to make sure the total cap load (headshell wires, arm wires, phono cable plus default phono stage loading) is in the right ballpark but, sometimes, you have to adjust the R-load as well. (Grados are supposed to sound better at 35K than 47K!) But here's the trap. Nearly all phono pre-amp manufactures do not provide the input flexibility moving magnets may require. Hence part of their reputation as inferior comes down to being used with inappropriate loading and I sure as hell don't expect anyone, apart from the insanely dedicated, to go re-wiring headshells, arms and phono cables on a hit and miss basis to hopefully improve things. This is going to sound like heresy but I'm at the stage where decades of fighting the good fight to get the best out of analogue and obscene amounts of expenditure have made digital, which I once loathed, more and more attractive. OK, I still love the whole ritual of playing an LP and especitally the album artwork and notes but more and more it's all too much effort.
darthlaker Posted May 31, 2017 Author Posted May 31, 2017 Had my photography mate over for a listen the other day and he took some quick snaps - this time with the new additions (Lyra Atlas cartridge, Ayre Twenty Pre-amp and Ayre Twenty Monoblock amps). The Beatles apple in the photos is actually a USB version of all their albums in 24 bit! I love it! System details below and anyone is welcome to pop over for a listen (located in SA), just send me a PM. Stereo: Equipment:Vandersteen Model Seven loudspeakersdCS Puccini SACD/CD player & DAC dCS Puccini U-Clock dps 3/Ayre Turntable with balanced tonearm cable Lyra Atlas cartridge Ayre KX-R Twenty Pre-amp Ayre P5-xe Phono stage Ayre MX-R Twenty Monoblock amps 2 X Ayre L5-xe power filters 13' Apple MacBook Pro 2.7 GHz with OCZ VERTEX 2 Series (MLC) 120GB SSD J RIver music software with JRemote used with Apple iPad Oyen Digital MiniPro RAID V2 FW800, USB 3.0, eSATA 2-Bay RAID Enclosure with 2 X 3 TB 2.5" Toshiba MQ03ABB300 HDD Audioquest Jitterbugs Cables: Audioquest Eagle Eye 72V DBS BNC 75 Ohm digital cable Audioquest Everest 72V DBS speaker cables in bi-wire configuration Audioquest WEL William E Low Signature Cable balanced interconnects 72V DBS Audioquest Diamond 72V DBS USB cable Audioquest Wild Blue Yonder 72V DBS 75 Ohm digital cable Audioquest Diamond 72V DBS FireWire cable Richard Gray Power Company High Tension Wire power cables Misc: Solid Tech Rack of Silence equipment racks with suspension shelves Solid Tech Feet of Silence isolators under SACD/CD player Finite Elemente Pagode turntable wall shelf Ayre myrtle wood blocks used under other equipment and also under interconnect and power cables to ensure they are raised above floor Silent Running Audio "Ohio Class" Audio isoBASE custom made amp stands for the Ayre MX-R Twenty Monoblock amps Cardas XLR and RCA caps on unused inputs/outputs Furutech Rhodium power receptacles Sine and Furutech power cover platesHome Theater (in addition to above): Equipment: Denon AVR-3312 surround sound receiver Panasonic DMR-BW750 Blu-Ray player/recorder XBOX ONE JBL in ceiling surround loudspeakers Pioneer PDP-LX509A Plasma monitor (ISF calibrated) Cables: Audioquest King Cobra balanced interconnects Audioquest HDMI cables, rear speaker cable 10 1
DoggieHowser Posted May 31, 2017 Posted May 31, 2017 WOW did he bring his lighting gear? Or was this all corrected in post? 1
darthlaker Posted May 31, 2017 Author Posted May 31, 2017 1 minute ago, DoggieHowser said: WOW did he bring his lighting gear? Or was this all corrected in post? Just cam and flash. Not sure if he did some post correcting......
DoggieHowser Posted May 31, 2017 Posted May 31, 2017 Love the way it captures the aluminium finish on the Ayre R20 gear. If I got him here, all he'd capture on my gear is dust 2
darthlaker Posted May 31, 2017 Author Posted May 31, 2017 1 minute ago, DoggieHowser said: Love the way it captures the aluminium finish on the Ayre R20 gear. If I got him here, all he'd capture on my gear is dust Get the feather dusta out!!!
Grumpy Posted May 31, 2017 Posted May 31, 2017 ah! at last your system has some style Mark - BEATLES 2
darthlaker Posted May 31, 2017 Author Posted May 31, 2017 1 minute ago, Grumpy said: ah! at last your system has some style Mark - BEATLES LOL! Thanks....of course!!! BEATLES on vinyl and digital! 1
darthlaker Posted May 31, 2017 Author Posted May 31, 2017 Some comments from a friend of mine who manufactures Hi-Fi equipment in regards to The Munich High End Show. Food for thought. Nonsense as always and even worse. Systems for billionaires sounding like systems for the totally deaf. My last hifi show ever. It was such a nonsense that I not even wanted to hear anything. Standing in the door was horrible enough. The racks are now bigger than the speakers. I have no idea who should buy this stuff. It gets every year bigger, heavier and more expensive. I think the High End Industry will die sooner or later. It is to crazy now. But this is only my personal point of view.
darthlaker Posted June 1, 2017 Author Posted June 1, 2017 2 minutes ago, Lazz said: i luv a big rack . lol Playing analog!
darthlaker Posted June 1, 2017 Author Posted June 1, 2017 3 minutes ago, Lazz said: Doesn't matter if the rack is good quality. But ya gotta have that natural analog "feel"!! 1
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