Hey Art, thanks for taking the time to stop by and leave a comment! I'm glad that you enjoyed reading my reviews.
I think us voting the Margules room as best of show has a lot to do with the instant gratification factor. Their room had a unique and stunning sound that was unlike any other room at the show. In this format, that really served to "wow" us.
In terms of longevity, who knows if I would feel that same way living with the system day to day. It's impossible to say. I do feel like hearing the Destination Audio setup at a show probably isn't the best environment for it to really strut it's stuff. Like I mentioned to you, I would like to spend several weeks listening to those horns in order to really learn what they are capable of. The Destination Audio system seems like one that you buy for life, and then you get to finally stop searching. Hence the company name I suppose.
I did vote for the horns as the "Ultimate Component" regardless of price!
Thank you for the offer to help me in my job search. I'll shoot you an email at your sbcglobal address.
Edit: Something else that I forgot to mention in my comments about the DA room! After the last two tracks that Art played to close out the show, Sam mentioned that we had just been playing them at 95db! I definitely would not have guessed that. Although the sound was "loud", it was in no way fatiguing to me like other rooms were when they played at/around this volume. My ears seemed to get along well with the horn's method of audio reproduction! For someone like me with extremely sensitive hearing, it was nice to be able to listen at higher levels without any hint of ear pain or fatigue. Very cool!
Drew, what a great show report! Rookie? Hmmmm, maybe ringer... :-)
Seriously, It was really great to meet and spend time with both you and your wife, and thanks so much for all your kind words about our setup, they are truly appreciated, and inspire more than you know. I’m super proud of my buddy Sam and what he’s done with our setup.
As much as we’d love to be your best of show, hard to argue the Margules room, genuinely nice people with a truly righteous and deserving setup. I think like you (at least one takeaway I get from your notes, hopefully not wrong) I found myself more drawn into the rooms where you interacted directly with the designers and builders. Hard to match their passion and attention to every detail of the sound and setup.
Enjoyed the time and sharing tunes buddy, hope to see you again next year!
All the best,
Art
I really liked what I was hearing coming out of these Zu Audio speakers. If these are a good representation of the Zu house sound, then I'm a fan. This is the system that I keep thinking about, it's still lingering in my head. I could see myself chasing this level of performance and not being satisfied until I reach it.
Specifically what struck me the most was the extraordinarily palpable and cohesive stereo imaging that they presented. Quite possibly the most pleasurable stereo imaging effect out of the entire show.
As well as the "live" quality that the sound had to it. Obviously we were only listening to recordings on vinyl, but the sound had a quick and fast "live performance" type of characteristic to it. This attribute made the sound exciting, and kept your interest locked on what that next note was going to sound like. I did not experience this "live sound" sensation in any of the other rooms I heard. I really liked it!
The Zu sound is an acquired taste. Some folks like it while other hate the sound . I am with you about the sound. I have previously owned 3 different set of Zu's and all of them were excellent. I wish I had not sold the Druid V but the agreement with the better half is that if I get something I have to get rid of something. Wanted to try out the Spatial M3 Turbo S so the Druid V had to go .
Also, special recognition to Sean Casey from Zu Audio who was running the room. He was doing a great job of engaging the attendees, striking up conversations, and in general keeping things light and fun. He seemed like less of an audiophile and more of just a plain old music lover. He also was happy to play the record I brought and honestly I was blown away with how amazing it sounded on this system. Definitely the best I've ever heard this song sound!
I have to agree. Sean is very easy to get along and when he came over to my place for a house party he did not go into any sales pitch but if an attendee asked for information he provided the information without any of the high pressure sales push. I am hoping to see him when Zu comes to the east coast for Capital Audio Fest.
The Zu sound is an acquired taste. Some folks like it while other hate the sound . I am with you about the sound. I have previously owned 3 different set of Zu's and all of them were excellent. I wish I had not sold the Druid V but the agreement with the better half is that if I get something I have to get rid of something. Wanted to try out the Spatial M3 Turbo S so the Druid V had to go
Not to derail but I'm in the market for efficient speakers to use with my Unison Simply Italy int, did you prefer the Zu's over the Spatial's?
Not to derail but I'm in the market for efficient speakers to use with my Unison Simply Italy int, did you prefer the Zu's over the Spatial's?
Both have their pluses and minus. I my mind the Zu's have a slight edge but that edge might decrease based on your room dimension. If you have the space both in height/depth/width the Spatial's would be wonderful option and would definitely narrow the edge. About 18+ months ago I had hosted a GTG at my house where we had the Spatial's M4 turbo in our family room (vaulted slanted ceiling (10' to 18'), 21' wide and 18' deep the sound was excellent. I just wish that I could leverage that room as my 2-channel room but the room is general purpose which makes it difficult.
If you go the Spatial route look at the Triode Master version, which are more tube / low watt amp friendly compared to the normal Spatial.
Both Zu and Spatial have in house trial period. Zu's is 60 days and I believe Spatial's is also 60 days.
@Clipdat excellent reviews and comments and hopefully I did not derail your review thread.
Hey Joe. The Zu speakers were some of my favorite speakers at the show! They're FAST! Music sounds quite quick and zippy, and they sound great with vocals. I also think they had great stereo imaging!
I will say that I strongly believe you would need to audition them first before buying, they might not be for everyone. I liked them, and my wife hated them! She literally couldn't stand them and left after one track. So I just mean that they may not appeal to everyone's tastes.
[quote="shadowlight;but the agreement with the better half is that if I get something I have to get rid of something.
Oh boy o boy, I should not let my wife read this, I will not let my wife read this,
I cant let my wife read this! Doh
Denon AVR X4200W
Parasound A23 amplifier
Parasound A23 amplifier
LG 65" Ultra HD4k
LG 4kBR - UP970
Denon DVM 4800
Denon DP 3000 turntable
Saec 308sx tonearm w/
Dynavector 10x5 cart
Vincent PHO 701 Phono Preamp
MIT Avt3 Speaker c's
Audio Quest Big Sur ic's
Polk SDA 1C's modded
Polk LSim 707
Polk LSiM706c
Polk RTiA 3's
Polk 80F/X-RT
Polk DSW PRO 440wi sub
Infinity bu2 sub
"The early Klingon gets the Gagh"
A 69-year-old Arkansas woman has been accused of fatally shooting her 65-year-old husband in a disagreement over pornography.
Jefferson County Jail records indicate Patricia Hill was booked for murder Saturday and is being held without bond. The records don’t indicate if she is represented by an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Sheriff’s Maj. Lafayette Woods Jr. says Patricia Hill is accused of fatally shooting her husband, Frank Hill, shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday.
Patricia Hill waived her rights and agreed to speak with investigators, Woods said in the news release. She said she and her husband had never had any "physical altercations," but that they had a disagreement over pornography.
"Mrs. Hill stated that she disagreed with her husband’s purchase of video pornography via the television guide, which she canceled upon discovering the purchase, but Mr. Hill managed to place a subsequent order," Maj. Lafayette Woods, Jr. wrote in a statement. "Mrs. Hill stated that she entered the shed and asked her husband to leave but he refused."
That's when Patricia Hill allegedly retrieved a .22-caliber pistol and shot her husband in the leg and head.
Authorities say Frank Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.
"She's the last person I'd thought would've ever done something like this," neighbor James Pierce told KATV. "I'm really quite shocked this happened because she was a really wonderful lady. "
Pierce called Patricia Hill a spiritual woman who taught Sunday school and was always willing to help out.
"When people were gone, she'd go and pickup their mail for them and stuff like that. She was a very trustworthy person," he said.
Schiit Audio got back to me and let me know that the headphones that I heard were the Beyerdynamic DT 880, and I'm pretty sure they were the 600ohm versions. @msg take note.
This room was crazy because the sound did not seem to be coming from the speakers at all. I kept looking behind/around them because of the crazy sensation. It was just like the sound was floating/hanging in the air and originating out of nowhere. Absolutely wild.
That is what we all want speakers that get out of the way and disappear. So now you know what to listen for.
Interesting how he seemed to really like the Joseph Audio and Zesto Audio rooms, whereas I thought those rooms were nothing special and didn't impress me.
I was looking through some of the paperwork/flyers I got from the show, and I found this page of information from Whammerdyne (I can't get over that company name! I keep wanting to read it as "Warhammer" for some reason) that I thought was interesting. Thought you guys (@DSkip@mhardy6647@F1nut@heiney9) might like reading it too so I'll type it out here. This was the system where I've heard the most realistic recording of classical music I've ever experienced. All of the detail and emotion was there - I closed my eyes and I was transported to the hall. It was great.
"Whammerdyne "The World's Finest 2A3 Amplifiers"
Introducing our newest member to the expanding Whammerdyne family of single ended amplifiers. The model DAA3+ RAM (Damn Awesome Amplifier + Remote Advanced Magnetics). The world's first remoted audio output transformers with three available transformer options.
Benefits of remote output transformers?
Moving the transformers away from the main amplifier chassis has many technical benefits. No magnetic coupling interactions with power supply transformers and other sources of magnetic fields and noise. Even in the best of conditions with careful spacing and orientations the output transformers are part of the amplifiers chassis and assembly this presents many unfavorable limitations, resulting in induced magnetic coupling and an increase in the levels of measured hum and noise. This results in a higher noise floor. For example, our "Truth" model and flagship of the Whammerdyne offerings has a world renowned low hum and noise level at under 33 micro volts. (That's millionth of a volt!) While the DAA3+ RAM with the remote transformers is below 3 microvolts wideband, that is over 150db down!
What is achieved by this even lower wideband hum and noise? The lowest levels of the delicate music signal are revealed and reproduced without loss. In many cases (well most all) of other designs having higher noise floors, fine details, harmonics, spatial information, and phase information is burned and masked/lost in the high noise floor. Most manufacturers of amplifiers will not give you a noise floor or hum and noise measurement. Even if they do, it's usually a weighted or narrow band of measurement that hides the fact that their designs lose low level information or alter it with the interactions of the noise floor and the signal.
While benefits are many with our topology including the ability to offer three options of output transformers, a smaller footprint size and weight of the amplifier chassis and power supply. Another benefit of remoted transformers, your speaker cables become very short, minimizing DC series resistance losses and this low impedance and low reactance connection eliminates these loses, and you do not have to buy expensive/exotic speaker cables, you can put your money into what really counts: the amplifier's quality and transformer quality.
Hear the "Truth", the world's finest 2A3 single ended family of amplifiers all DC coupled and no capacitors in the signal path. Saving the audio world one amplifier at a time.
www.whammerdyne.com Proudly hand crafted in the USA right here in the beautiful NW rainforest. Wilsonville, Oregon"
I didn't really touch on this in my closing thoughts, but I have to say, my first audio show was an extremely humbling experience for me. I learned that I don't actually know nearly as much as I thought I did about this hobby.
My entire perspective has changed, and I'm now seeing things differently. It was truly an enlightening experience to hear firsthand what is possible in terms of high end audio reproduction.
In a few ways, I felt that my current system out performed some of the megabuck systems I heard at the show. However, in A LOT of other ways, I heard exactly what's possible that my current system is NOT doing. Again, talk about a very humbling experience.
I used to think that different speakers and setups would give you a fuller vs smaller sound, more treble vs. more bass, different soundstaging and imaging. The basic things like that.
What I learned at the show, is that it goes beyond these things into territory that is difficult to describe and put into words. "Hearing is believing" is the best way to put it. Some of the setups at the show had such an impressive "immediacy" to the sound, and a speed and effortlessness that was mind boggling. Other setups drew out huge amounts of emotion, or put me into a zen like trance after just a few minutes of listening. These are the types of things that I didn't know were possible with high end audio.
Anyway, I'd like to formally apologize to those who I've butted heads with on the forum (you know who you are), and had foolish arguments with that I refused to back down from. Those only served only to prove my own lack of understanding.
Suffice to say, I've definitely got a lot to learn, and I'm excited about the journey.
Anyway, I'd like to formally apologize to those who I've butted heads with on the forum (you know who you are), and had foolish arguments with that I refused to back down from. Those only served only to prove my own lack of understanding.
Suffice to say, I've definitely got a lot to learn, and I'm excited about the journey.
Interesting how he seemed to really like the Joseph Audio and Zesto Audio rooms, whereas I thought those rooms were nothing special and didn't impress me.
Perhaps, but your comparison of the 1963 split-window Corvette and the old Volkswagon were spot-on. That is the exact reason why I prefer the 1964-1967 Corvettes.
Sierra Nevada Audiophile Society / Quicksilver Audio / Bernhagen-Porter / Syncopation
Bernhagen Porter Model 10/12 speakers ($50,000/pair)
Funk Firm Turntable Vector V with FX3-9″ captive ($4,895)
Transfiguration Phoenix Cartridge ($6,000)
Quicksilver Moving Coil Stage ($695)
Quicksilver Phono Stage Preamplifier ($1,595)
Quicksilver Line Preamp ($995)
Quicksilver V4 monoblocks ($6,495/pair)
Quicksilver Interconnects ($150/ft)
Heed Abacus 5 Input DAC ($1,395)
Heed Thesis Delta Transport/Player ($4,200)
Quadraspire Modular Equipment Rack Q4 Evo Veneer ($876)
Genesis Component Interface 1.5 meter single-ended RCA interconnect ($3,500/pair)
Genesis Loudspeaker Interface 3 meter Loudspeaker Cable ($7,200/pair)
Genesis Power Interface 1.5 meter Component Power Cord ($3,300)
Genesis Power Interface 1.5 meter Amplifier Power Cord ($3,300)
Rough total: $94,596
This is the room that wowed me the most yesterday, but today it was just OK. Perhaps the room is way too small for these speakers.
I did like how these $50k speakers sounded with female vocals. There was a certain realism to them that I enjoyed. The voices had a great texture coming through, and this is something unique to these speakers that I did not notice on other speakers that I heard.
I think there was a little disagreement at times in regards to controlling the volume. The main rep would go start a track at a certain volume, and then the other one sitting in the back row would say something like "down slightly" and he'd then he'd turn it down. I thought it would've been more thoughtful if they instead asked the room how the volume levels were and we could've asked for increases/decreases as necessary. This was one of the most quiet rooms I heard, and I don't think playing these speakers at lower volumes was doing them any favors.
Yesterday I had asked one of the reps if they'd be willing to play a record I brought and they said yes. So I went to their room today around 5:30pm as the show was winding down and asked again and the same rep said that unfortunately they were having "issues" with the turntable. I noticed earlier in the day that it hadn't been used. So I said "Oh ok, well maybe tomorrow then?", and he gave me an uneasy look that was something like a cross between "What the hell is wrong with you?" and "Will you please go away?" and then replied "Well the issue seems to be with the speed controller..." So I took the hint and just said "Ah, ok, well that's too bad" and then left. Maybe they were actually having technical difficulties, or maybe he didn't want to play something that could potentially demonstrate the system in an "unfavorable way". I'm not sure. All I know is my record won't be getting played in this room!
Comments
Keep in mind that between Nov-Feb hiring slows down due to ending budgets and ramp up of new budgets for the following year.
Holidays don't help either as big wigs take elongated breaks around Xmas
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
Drop me a note and let me know what kind of role you’re looking for. May be able to help.
Art
I think us voting the Margules room as best of show has a lot to do with the instant gratification factor. Their room had a unique and stunning sound that was unlike any other room at the show. In this format, that really served to "wow" us.
In terms of longevity, who knows if I would feel that same way living with the system day to day. It's impossible to say. I do feel like hearing the Destination Audio setup at a show probably isn't the best environment for it to really strut it's stuff. Like I mentioned to you, I would like to spend several weeks listening to those horns in order to really learn what they are capable of. The Destination Audio system seems like one that you buy for life, and then you get to finally stop searching. Hence the company name I suppose.
I did vote for the horns as the "Ultimate Component" regardless of price!
Thank you for the offer to help me in my job search. I'll shoot you an email at your sbcglobal address.
Edit: Something else that I forgot to mention in my comments about the DA room! After the last two tracks that Art played to close out the show, Sam mentioned that we had just been playing them at 95db! I definitely would not have guessed that. Although the sound was "loud", it was in no way fatiguing to me like other rooms were when they played at/around this volume. My ears seemed to get along well with the horn's method of audio reproduction! For someone like me with extremely sensitive hearing, it was nice to be able to listen at higher levels without any hint of ear pain or fatigue. Very cool!
The Zu team are also known to leverage Peachtree Audio gear as part of the so, along with Pass/FirstWatt gear.
The Zu sound is an acquired taste. Some folks like it while other hate the sound
I have to agree. Sean is very easy to get along and when he came over to my place for a house party he did not go into any sales pitch but if an attendee asked for information he provided the information without any of the high pressure sales push. I am hoping to see him when Zu comes to the east coast for Capital Audio Fest.
Not to derail but I'm in the market for efficient speakers to use with my Unison Simply Italy int, did you prefer the Zu's over the Spatial's?
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
Both have their pluses and minus. I my mind the Zu's have a slight edge but that edge might decrease based on your room dimension. If you have the space both in height/depth/width the Spatial's would be wonderful option and would definitely narrow the edge. About 18+ months ago I had hosted a GTG at my house where we had the Spatial's M4 turbo in our family room (vaulted slanted ceiling (10' to 18'), 21' wide and 18' deep the sound was excellent. I just wish that I could leverage that room as my 2-channel room but the room is general purpose which makes it difficult.
If you go the Spatial route look at the Triode Master version, which are more tube / low watt amp friendly compared to the normal Spatial.
Both Zu and Spatial have in house trial period. Zu's is 60 days and I believe Spatial's is also 60 days.
@Clipdat excellent reviews and comments and hopefully I did not derail your review thread.
Thank You for such great feedback and coverage for us here.
HT - Panasonic BDP/Tivo Bolt - Marantz SR5013 - Def tech C and In ceiling - Sony XBR 75"
Really, Drew, fantastic!
Vinyl: Fluance RT82 * Nagaoka MP-110 * Bottlehead Reduction + Integration Upgrade * KAB RF1
Video: Hisense 55H8F * Panasonic DMP-UB200 * ROKU Streaming Stick + * Z-line Designs Elektra
Oh boy o boy, I should not let my wife read this, I will not let my wife read this,
I cant let my wife read this! Doh
Parasound A23 amplifier
Parasound A23 amplifier
LG 65" Ultra HD4k
LG 4kBR - UP970
Denon DVM 4800
Denon DP 3000 turntable
Saec 308sx tonearm w/
Dynavector 10x5 cart
Vincent PHO 701 Phono Preamp
MIT Avt3 Speaker c's
Audio Quest Big Sur ic's
Polk SDA 1C's modded
Polk LSim 707
Polk LSiM706c
Polk RTiA 3's
Polk 80F/X-RT
Polk DSW PRO 440wi sub
Infinity bu2 sub
"The early Klingon gets the Gagh"
You should never let the wife catch you looking at an audi0p0rn site
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
PINE BLUFF, Ark.
A 69-year-old Arkansas woman has been accused of fatally shooting her 65-year-old husband in a disagreement over pornography.
Jefferson County Jail records indicate Patricia Hill was booked for murder Saturday and is being held without bond. The records don’t indicate if she is represented by an attorney who could speak on her behalf.
Sheriff’s Maj. Lafayette Woods Jr. says Patricia Hill is accused of fatally shooting her husband, Frank Hill, shortly before 3 p.m. Saturday.
Patricia Hill waived her rights and agreed to speak with investigators, Woods said in the news release. She said she and her husband had never had any "physical altercations," but that they had a disagreement over pornography.
"Mrs. Hill stated that she disagreed with her husband’s purchase of video pornography via the television guide, which she canceled upon discovering the purchase, but Mr. Hill managed to place a subsequent order," Maj. Lafayette Woods, Jr. wrote in a statement. "Mrs. Hill stated that she entered the shed and asked her husband to leave but he refused."
That's when Patricia Hill allegedly retrieved a .22-caliber pistol and shot her husband in the leg and head.
Authorities say Frank Hill was pronounced dead at the scene.
"She's the last person I'd thought would've ever done something like this," neighbor James Pierce told KATV. "I'm really quite shocked this happened because she was a really wonderful lady. "
Pierce called Patricia Hill a spiritual woman who taught Sunday school and was always willing to help out.
"When people were gone, she'd go and pickup their mail for them and stuff like that. She was a very trustworthy person," he said.
https://theaudiobeatnik.com/california-audio-show-2018-show-report-1-the-3-best-rooms-on-the-first-floor/
https://www.whatsbestforum.com/showthread.php?26002-Cas-2018
It's a good one!!
That is what we all want speakers that get out of the way and disappear. So now you know what to listen for.
Interesting how he seemed to really like the Joseph Audio and Zesto Audio rooms, whereas I thought those rooms were nothing special and didn't impress me.
It was like they slid the reviewer a hundy under the table
Some these rooms we beat up badly with our own music, we were wanting them to sound good, but never happened
Desktop rig: LSi7, Polk 110sub, Dayens Ampino amp, W4S DAC/pre, Sonos, JRiver
Gear on standby: Melody 101 tube pre, Unison Research Simply Italy Integrated
Gone to new homes: (Matt Polk's)Threshold Stasis SA12e monoblocks, Pass XA30.5 amp, Usher MD2 speakers, Dynaudio C4 platinum speakers, Modwright LS100 (voltz), Simaudio 780D DAC
erat interfectorem cesar et **** dictatorem dicere a
I was looking through some of the paperwork/flyers I got from the show, and I found this page of information from Whammerdyne (I can't get over that company name! I keep wanting to read it as "Warhammer" for some reason) that I thought was interesting. Thought you guys (@DSkip @mhardy6647 @F1nut @heiney9) might like reading it too so I'll type it out here. This was the system where I've heard the most realistic recording of classical music I've ever experienced. All of the detail and emotion was there - I closed my eyes and I was transported to the hall. It was great.
"Whammerdyne "The World's Finest 2A3 Amplifiers"
Introducing our newest member to the expanding Whammerdyne family of single ended amplifiers. The model DAA3+ RAM (Damn Awesome Amplifier + Remote Advanced Magnetics). The world's first remoted audio output transformers with three available transformer options.
Benefits of remote output transformers?
Moving the transformers away from the main amplifier chassis has many technical benefits. No magnetic coupling interactions with power supply transformers and other sources of magnetic fields and noise. Even in the best of conditions with careful spacing and orientations the output transformers are part of the amplifiers chassis and assembly this presents many unfavorable limitations, resulting in induced magnetic coupling and an increase in the levels of measured hum and noise. This results in a higher noise floor. For example, our "Truth" model and flagship of the Whammerdyne offerings has a world renowned low hum and noise level at under 33 micro volts. (That's millionth of a volt!) While the DAA3+ RAM with the remote transformers is below 3 microvolts wideband, that is over 150db down!
What is achieved by this even lower wideband hum and noise? The lowest levels of the delicate music signal are revealed and reproduced without loss. In many cases (well most all) of other designs having higher noise floors, fine details, harmonics, spatial information, and phase information is burned and masked/lost in the high noise floor. Most manufacturers of amplifiers will not give you a noise floor or hum and noise measurement. Even if they do, it's usually a weighted or narrow band of measurement that hides the fact that their designs lose low level information or alter it with the interactions of the noise floor and the signal.
While benefits are many with our topology including the ability to offer three options of output transformers, a smaller footprint size and weight of the amplifier chassis and power supply. Another benefit of remoted transformers, your speaker cables become very short, minimizing DC series resistance losses and this low impedance and low reactance connection eliminates these loses, and you do not have to buy expensive/exotic speaker cables, you can put your money into what really counts: the amplifier's quality and transformer quality.
Hear the "Truth", the world's finest 2A3 single ended family of amplifiers all DC coupled and no capacitors in the signal path. Saving the audio world one amplifier at a time.
www.whammerdyne.com Proudly hand crafted in the USA right here in the beautiful NW rainforest. Wilsonville, Oregon"
My entire perspective has changed, and I'm now seeing things differently. It was truly an enlightening experience to hear firsthand what is possible in terms of high end audio reproduction.
In a few ways, I felt that my current system out performed some of the megabuck systems I heard at the show. However, in A LOT of other ways, I heard exactly what's possible that my current system is NOT doing. Again, talk about a very humbling experience.
I used to think that different speakers and setups would give you a fuller vs smaller sound, more treble vs. more bass, different soundstaging and imaging. The basic things like that.
What I learned at the show, is that it goes beyond these things into territory that is difficult to describe and put into words. "Hearing is believing" is the best way to put it. Some of the setups at the show had such an impressive "immediacy" to the sound, and a speed and effortlessness that was mind boggling. Other setups drew out huge amounts of emotion, or put me into a zen like trance after just a few minutes of listening. These are the types of things that I didn't know were possible with high end audio.
Anyway, I'd like to formally apologize to those who I've butted heads with on the forum (you know who you are), and had foolish arguments with that I refused to back down from. Those only served only to prove my own lack of understanding.
Suffice to say, I've definitely got a lot to learn, and I'm excited about the journey.
de gustibus non est disputandum.
https://www.bottlehead.com/valve/whamodyne files/whamo.html
PS You'd have to go a long, long way to better that pair of A5s with what appear to be 1505 multicell horns on top.
Perhaps, but your comparison of the 1963 split-window Corvette and the old Volkswagon were spot-on. That is the exact reason why I prefer the 1964-1967 Corvettes.