Bristol Hi-Fi Show 2009

[User211]

Keeping the tone down in terms of price, let's not forget we all started somewhere. And it is companies like World Audio Design that make this possible for many younger enthusiasts.

Here we have simple tube circuits and paper cone loudspeakers returning nice results. It's not top end by any means, but it did sound clear and well resolved - very pleasant, really. So here's a few snaps - I'm not going to go into any detail - just do a web search for more details - or try an imported copy of Hi-Fi World magazine if you are stateside. Good stuff for your son to try and build with a little help.

Respect:bowdown:

 

[User211]

ProAC D18 and D1s. The D18s were sounding totally stonking - just really, really good. That price tag is very good value for money indeed. The D1s tried to keep up - but they just can't match the D18 bottom end, obviously. Still extremely good considering their obvious handicap. Well done Stuart Tyler (the designer).

Primare electronics.

Just great, great stuff for not massive outlay.

 

[User211]

Wanna get your records clean? Check this out - the return of the Keith Monks cleaner. Using Austin Mini windscreen water jet parts to dispense the fluid, and a powerful suction pump, the suction pipe rides on top of a silk thread using an arm that is pushed the wrong way (inside to outside) of the disk. The fluid dispenser uses artists brush bristles, so I was told.

Expensive at £2300 odd, the market is targeted at 2nd hand record dealers. I'd really like one, but the £ asking is just too high. One for real enthusiasts with the dosh to spare...

The chap I spoke to was aware the price was high, but after two hours he said he had two "fairly serious" dealer enquiries. The reckoning was you have to sell a lot of vinyl to get your money back. Hm... tough to dispute!

 

[User211]

Obligatory Quad 2905 photos... sounding very nice via Quad II Eighties. Were they as good as the Spire? No... not to my ears - way less dynamic, And they had the advantage of a better room. But this time, for whatever reason, I really liked them. There is no way in a million years, I thought, that you could suffer from listener fatigue from this system. That's a top priority for me - because basically it means the system is useable...

I find that the most initially impressive sounding systems - big super fast transients with thumping bass and ultra clear forward treble - can just become tiresome after about 30 minutes and I want to switch off. This just isn't going to happen here...

I think the 2905 is a very good speaker and a good buy - way cheaper than the Spire at the moment over here - bargains on new 2905s come up quite regularly, too. That's the Spire's big problem here - there are a lot of very, very good speakers around for Spire money.

I could live with them.

Possibly one of the reasons for my uplift in feeling for them is the source material was actually OK here.

 

[User211]

Some Eclipse loudspeakers - TD712z - TD510.

I've heard these on a number of occasions and they have never sounded great to me. If your style conscious for a certain room or setting they are certainly listenable though. And I have to say I do like the looks.

Whilst they might like to think so, one dynamic drive unit does NOT do all.

http://www.eclipse-td.com/e34_td712z/index.html

 

[User211]

Waterfall/Parasound/Naim HDX.

There were some Waterfall dissenters at RMAF, if I remember. I was actually quite surprised - I thought the speakers sounded pretty good, and I also heard a smaller pair in London a couple of weeks ago being driven by a Myriad MI (http://www.myryad.co.uk/Myryad-Mi/info.htm). The MI combo sounded, and was, a great value combo. Not sure how glass can work well an an enclosure, but both I and the company I was with thought they were good. Definately better than the Eclipses earlier.

There was a real problem in this room, however. The bass output was just absurdly high, woofers pumping in gay abandon. Forget any sense of balance. Everything above it was fine, though - the Naim/Parasound combo doing a nice job.

Looks like Parasound styling has improved in leaps and bounds. This kit looks really nice. Not sure of the models, just check the website: http://www.parasound.com/

 

[tonepub]

Just thought I'd throw in a couple of "cool" retro TT shots for those who are into them. From Pure Sound, a couple of nice old Technics TTs.

The lower one is an SL-1200MK2.

Waiting for their mods for my SL-1200 to arrive...
Got an SME 309 and Lyra cartridge ready and waiting!

 

[Bernard]

Waiting for their mods for my SL-1200 to arrive...
Got an SME 309 and Lyra cartridge ready and waiting!

Jeff, why would you play with an SL-1200? It must be a toy compared to the other turntables you have (5 in number, IIRC).

 

[tonepub]

Part of my job to keep an eye and ear on all parts of the spectrum!

Have a Rega P3-24 too! And a Dual 1229 to play 78's on. Though I did get rid of one table last month, the count is still at seven. Sick I tell you.

We just got the new PBN Montana table in yesterday and one other nice table from Germany... for reviews. Ken Kessler is working on a review of the SME 30/12, which I'll get a chance to hear when I go to London in a couple of months, so I guess it's safe to say we are still hooked on Analog.

I'm really intrigued with the SL-1200/SME 309 combination with a better power supply, because you can get a 1200 for about 500 bucks new, the mods and power supply for another 5 or 6 and SME 309's are usually floating around for about a $1000. My curiosity is what kind of deck does this give you for $2500 as opposed to say a Scoutmaster, MMF 9.1 or Rega P7?

Always looking for another way to put it all together!

 

[User211]

Ken Kessler is working on a review of the SME 30/12, which I'll get a chance to hear when I go to London in a couple of months, so I guess it's safe to say we are still hooked on Analog.

He was - it's been published recently in HFN. He loved it.

I spoke with the Pure Sound chap for a bit at the show. Nice bloke. Here's a link, just to do him a favour. He even uses VR150 tubes (as my amps do) in one of his amps... alas the amp photos I took were sh*te... Needless to say, his website pics are better

http://www.puresound.info/

 

[RichTeer]

He was - it's been published recently in HFN. He loved it.

Interesting! DO you recall what issue of HFN/RR the review appeared in? I'd like to grab a copy if I can.

 

[Bernard]

Part of my job to keep an eye and ear on all parts of the spectrum!

I'm really intrigued with the SL-1200/SME 309 combination with a better power supply, because you can get a 1200 for about 500 bucks new, the mods and power supply for another 5 or 6 and SME 309's are usually floating around for about a $1000. My curiosity is what kind of deck does this give you for $2500 as opposed to say a Scoutmaster, MMF 9.1 or Rega P7?

Always looking for another way to put it all together!

Interesting, but I'm surprised that you are looking at the Technics at all, especially since direct drives went out of favour a long time ago. What is special about this one?

 

[twich54]

Waterfall/Parasound/Naim HDX.

There were some Waterfall dissenters at RMAF, if I remember. I was actually quite surprised - I thought the speakers sounded pretty good

Justin, man-o-man did you forget your meds or something, are you serious, you really liked those God-awfull things ????? Well I guess what I heard @ RMAF must have been a complete screw-up with set-up, cause I could not stomach them.

 

[Dreamer]

Interesting, but I'm surprised that you are looking at the Technics at all, especially since direct drives went out of favour a long time ago. What is special about this one?

Yeah, I guess that's why VPI's newest turntable uses the amazing new technology called "Idler drive". So much for the myth of the superiority of belts...

Oh, wait a minute, that's what they used on all those Russco and QRK "rumble-master" Broadcast turntables for the last 40 years. Oops. I guess VPI got it all wrong, and doesn't know anything about making TT's...

--Richard

 

[Bernard]

Yeah, I guess that's why VPI's newest turntable uses the amazing new technology called "Idler drive". So much for the myth of the superiority of belts...

Oh, wait a minute, that's what they used on all those Russco and QRK "rumble-master" Broadcast turntables for the last 40 years. Oops. I guess VPI got it all wrong, and doesn't know anything about making TT's...

--Richard

Richard, sarcasm is unbecoming of a moderator. Or am I reading you wrong? I was asking a simple question of Jeff about what was special about this turntable. Note: I did not trash direct drives, I just said that they went out of favour.

 

[Dreamer]

Well, actually you did "trash" the SL-1200 in a previous post, calling it a "toy". It's this sort of condescending tone that had garnered "audiophiles" such a bad rap, and really has no place in a forum such as this.

I didn't attack you, I just noted the fact that much like the "out of favor" direct drive platform of the SL-1200, VPI had recently released a TT with an equally "out of favor" technology, only now, their marketing department is touting it as some sort of fantastic technology. Everything old is new again, it seems, and if the trend continues, I imagine we'll be seeing direct-drive TTs from high-end manufacturers in the coming years as well. I mean really, if direct-drive motors are good enough for space-based telescopes and micro-surgical instruments, they should be sufficient for a TT.

The SL-1200 is a broadcast and studio industry standard turntable because of it's reliability, speed stability, and price/performance. Sure, I'll grant that it's not a tweekers delight like a Linn or Rega, or a vision of the engineers art like a Caliburn or Clearaudio, but it is a very reliable platform, and with a few mods, and a good tonearm/cart, can be brought to a very respectable level of performance.

Just because a piece of gear doesn't carry an exotic badge or a 5-digit price tag doesn't mean it's not "worthy" of a place in a Martin Logan based rig.

And just because I've got a administrative position on this forum (in a completely different section, BTW) shouldn't exempt me from being able to call people out when they come across as brand-conscious, elitist, and condescending. If anything, it actually obligates me to let people know that someone on this forum is actually watching what people say, and holding them to account for their words.

Freedom of speech does not protect anyone from getting their tender little feelings hurt, but it DOES come with the responsibility to truthfulness and honesty. Any culture that values etiquette more highly than truth is doomed to failure...

 

[Bernard]

Well, actually you did "trash" the SL-1200 in a previous post, calling it a "toy". It's this sort of condescending tone that had garnered "audiophiles" such a bad rap, and really has no place in a forum such as this.

What I had said was, "It must be a toy compared to the other turntables you have...", i.e. I was not even expressing an opinion about it ("it must be" is not the same as "it is"), but was soliciting Jeff's opinion, relative to his other 'tables. Jeff responded appropriately, in the spirit in which his opinion was solicited; thanks, Jeff.

I didn't attack you, I just noted the fact that much like the "out of favor" direct drive platform of the SL-1200, VPI had recently released a TT with an equally "out of favor" technology, only now,

Please re-read your post. What I was objecting to was the sarcastic tone, underscored by the "roll-eyes" emoticon. I take sarcasm to be an attack.

And just because I've got a administrative position on this forum (in a completely different section, BTW) shouldn't exempt me from being able to call people out when they come across as brand-conscious, elitist, and condescending. If anything, it actually obligates me to let people know that someone on this forum is actually watching what people say, and holding them to account for their words.

Agreed, but since you are "an officer with this company" (the fact that it is in a different section is irrelevant), I expect you to do so without resorting to sarcasm.

I am done with this discussion.

Justin, my apologies that your thread got hijacked in this fashion.

 

[User211]

Interesting! DO you recall what issue of HFN/RR the review appeared in? I'd like to grab a copy if I can.

March 2009. PM me your e-mail address...

Bernard - no problem.

 

[User211]

Justin, man-o-man did you forget your meds or something, are you serious, you really liked those God-awfull things ????? Well I guess what I heard @ RMAF must have been a complete screw-up with set-up, cause I could not stomach them.

Dave - what you hear at shows is just "pot-luck" sometimes, I think. I can go in some rooms and think "average", then a couple of hours later and think "pretty good". There are just too many variables... source material being played at the time, or some gear not working well with the speakers in question, noise from next door, number of people in the room etc etc can all vary things a bit.

However, I did think they were OK at the show and in London

 

[Bernard]

Justin, I had said that I would take pictures at the Montreal show in April and post them here, but unfortunately (!) I will be away on vacation at that time. Hopefully one of the other Canadians in the area (I think there are two, but I can't remember their ID's) will attend the show, pornograph in hand.