h1f1 pandemic

TAD 音响大马发布会

2011-09-28T18:29:00.000-07:00

大马先锋牌(Pioneer)子公司TAD(Technical Audio Devices)音响上星期假吉隆坡AV Design陈列室发表一系列新产品予本地音响爱好者。笔者有幸受邀参与其盛。

一些人也许对TAD这个品牌感到陌生，在此我稍微介绍：它成立于1975年，是Pioneer为将产品提升至更高层次而成立的新公司，地点在美国，开始时，是设计与制造专业(Pro)与录音室(Studio)喇叭。它的目标很简单，就是要设计出性能最优秀的扬声器！1977年推出Exclusive Model 2301与3301，1978年推出TAD TD-4001与TD-1601：震惊了欧美专业录音室市场。当时TD-4001高音单元已采用了铍金属振膜(Beryllium)。TAD在欧美打响知名度后便一直受到专业录音室的采用，如美国的Air Studio，George Lucas的Skywalker Sound(USA)，Pixar动画公司的Pixar Animation，Walt Disney Production(USA)，日本NHK(Tokyo)，中岛美雪(演唱会)，Eagle(演唱会)等。

TAD家族:D600 CD唱盘(由上至下)，外置电源供应，C2000前级，M2500后级

TAD在专业市场扬名立万之后，便将目标转移至高级家用市场，于2000年邀请知名音响设计者Andrew Jones加入，担任设计团队的总工程师。此君来头可不小，他曾在英国KEF公司服务11年期间，研发出Uni-Q同轴单元；成为KEF新一代扬声器的共同特征，而这概念，也随着Andrew Jones进入TAD，成为CST(Coherence Source Transducer)，独一无二的铍(Beryllium)同轴单元。在2003年推出第一对家用喇叭TAD Model One(M-1)，2006发表Model Two(M-2)，2007则是Reference One(R-1)，至此，TAD的家用喇叭设计已迈向成熟期，而R-1则以限量生产策略，每年仅48对供应全球市场！

TAD设计团队总工程师Andrew Jones

谈了TAD的一些背景，言归正传，这次TAD大马推介礼由大马Pioneer董事经理高桥和敏(Kazutoshi Takahashi)先生主持。他首先介绍说TAD是Pioneer的高级专业音响品牌，以设计喇叭为主，之后再推出CD唱盘及放大器，一系列音响产品完成后，才正式在大马推出。

Pioneer董事经理高桥和敏(左二)，AV Design
James Tan和Tony(右二及三)主持TAD开幕仪式

这次陈列的器材包括TAD CR1书架型喇叭(订价马币148,000)，TAD D600 SACD/CD唱盘(马币129,000)，TAD C2000前级(马币128,000)及TAD M2500后级(马币115,000)。这套系统曾于去年吉隆坡国际影音展示范，当时后级是用M600单声道。音质可说是会场内最佳系统之一，著实令人惊艳！

TAD CR1 喇叭

CR-1采用高贵的Pommele Sapelli木皮，
带云状的木纹令人喜爱

TAD 600 CD 唱盘

TAD C2000前级与M2500后级

当众媒体和高桥和敏作简短访问时，问及现今流行电脑下载网络高清音乐，为何TAD还热衷于推出SACD唱盘时，他说因为目前还有许多音响发烧友已经拥有很多高素质CD唱片，他们也希望借新一代的高级CD唱盘来聆听它不同之处。他补充“当许多人认为Pioneer是一间量产电子器材公司时其实它以TAD这名字开发顶级音响器材供应专业与录音市场超过三十多年。”

Pioneer董事经理高桥和敏与TAD音响全家福

当问起TAD是否引用了KEF的Uni-Q同轴高音作蓝本时，他也同意这点，并加入铍(Beryllium)振膜高中音，成为TAD独家CST同轴单元。

TAD独门CST铍同轴高中音

ISO-Drive技术固定框架图

最后来到器材试听环节。由AV Design主持James Tan负责，他先播日本‘至尊鼓王’猪俣猛的Ex-Spiral天碟第3轨Act & Silence，接着是Pink Floyd的The Wall专辑。TAD CD1虽然是书架型喇叭，低音只有8寸，但一听之下众人都问，James是否将超低音(Sub-woofer)隐藏起来。可见这不大又不小的喇叭功力深厚。当听Fleetwood Mac Rumours专辑的Gold Dust Woman时，Stevie Nicks浑厚飘逸，有点粗犷又不多加修饰的嗓音，TAD还原得淋漓尽致，听得众人悠然神往。

TAD 8" Aramid纤维複合材料振膜单元

这次推介的TAD系统，单看价钱就已超越五十万，可谓是超级音响，可想而知TAD欲追求‘世界第一’的理想下，不计一切代价制作出最优秀的喇叭与器材，大马的高级音响发烧友如今又多了一个选择品牌。

Part 1: As You Like it!

2011-08-24T04:02:00.000-07:00

Now that the Hifi show is no longer the conversation
piece at drinking sessions, the excitement is almost
over but thoughts still linger on with memories of the
3 day festival. Let's get back to the real world realities
and problems, if you have not stop thinking about
your wish list of what setups you may want to have
or bring back home from the hifi show, time to snap
out of it!

This posting I will ask some real world questions,
many may want to evade these questions, but
some how you will still have to face it one way
or another, even worst you may have to face
it alone! Something that audiophiles would
rather not face, rather not know and rather
not have to answer to anybody at all! All right
then, keep it to yourselves if you wish. As
you like it, then!

The question : What musical presentations
do you have in your listening room?
Irrespective if the speakers in use are
bookshelf type or floorstanders and with
or without the use of subwoofer or subwoofers,
there will be a musically beautiful soundstagings
of the sonic images in your listening room/ space,
which will be part of the music reproduction
which you will enjoy everyday of the year!

Simple but yet a nagging little question that
many felt best left unanswered! I would
reckoned readers will have their main speakers
pulled away from the front wall and side walls if
space permits, other than that the speakers
are placed plush to the front wall!

1. A musical soundstage presentation that
hugs your 2 main speakers? Meaning the
soundstage is in your listening room &
surrounding the main speakers!

2. A musical soundstage presentation that
falls into the spaces between the speakers
and the front wall, and some sonic images
to the sides of the speakers too, between
the speakers and the side walls. Meaning
the soundstaging starts from behind the
main speakers.

3. A musical soundstage presentation that
falls onto the front wall and it's 'tosai thin'
and hugs the wall! Meaning it's still in
the listening room but practically
plastered onto the front wall!

4. A musical soundstage presentation that
falls behind the front wall, and no images
seems to be in the room including the
omni directional low hz sound! Meaning
the walls of your listening room, the front
wall and the 2 side walls seems to have
disappeared, and you are no longer in
a confined space of your listening room,
and it's something you can confirmed when
you switched off all the lights! You feel you
are being transported from the listening room
be it big or small, you perceived you are
now in a big concert hall (if you are replaying
orchestral music), in a big auditorium (if
you are listening to live gig recordings),
you are in a large studio (if you are listening
to studio recording be it audiophile recording
or not).

Now take a deep breathe and think and see
what you have.

KLIAV 2011

2011-08-09T07:41:00.000-07:00

One night at 1.37 am I heard a loud explosion. I saw a bright light and I saw 2 alien appeared from an UFO. The next thing I heard the alien told me “You are the chosen one”. After that I can’t remember anything the next thing I know is I am 999999999 light years away from the earth. This happened 2 month ago and I am an obedient guys in their world so the alien granted me a wish. I said to them” I wish to attend the KLIAV 2011 show”. With just a blink of an eye I appeared at the show.

So this is my view for the show.

Most Consistent

PMC ib2i speaker+ Bryston 28b-sst2 amplifier
PMC + Bryston room get my vote for consistency as they really know how to put up a good system year by year. The sound is good for the surround duty but is a bit let down by the 2 channel stereo music It’s too dry for my liking.

Most Affordable.

The Creek and Epos room.
On the first day I saw an Epos being priced at RM700.OO.On the last day I saw another pair priced at RM990.The sound is not bad for the price.

Most Relaxing

Ls3/5a Room
This year the ls3/5a room line up consist of pre power of FM acoustic. The power amplifier churn out 150 watt per channel. As usual the Rogers 60 th anniversary being fire up together with the Rogers AB1.This is the best Jo ki system that evolve from

Mission cyrus 2 to

Cello etude +Quad II to

Diva Pre and power to

FM pre + Quad II 40 to

FM pre + power (Current)

I had the opportunity listen to a higher range pre power FM acoustic but surprisingly current Jo ki FM Acoustic sound better with ls3/5a.

I love this room, totally relax, natural, palpable imaging, stable pace and effortless.

The system is more open up on the last day.
I vote for this system even i didn’t convince on the connection method using AB1.
Congrats Jo ki, your gamble pays off.

Most disappointing

Focal stello utopia EM + Mcintosh room

Focal Stello Utopia EM is the 2nd top model.It is a 3 way that use a new 13inch(33mm) "W" woofer,2 6.5 inch power flower "W" midrange and 1 inch beryllium inverted dome tweeter.The unique feature of this speaker is the use of a electro-magnet woofer.
The use of Mcintosh MC1.2kw monoblock that pump out 1200 watts.It is a quad balanced design that consist of 2 amplifier circuit that combine output in Mcintosh output autoformer.

Sound disappointing on both AV and 2 channel stereo music.

I came to understand that the Focal speaker and Mcintosh amplifier is just arrived for the show.The system do sound better on the 3rd day but still fail to save the show.

Here is some of the reason that I can think of that lead to the disappointing performance:
1)Lack of run in
On the first day when I came for listen the system is running in less than 4 hours .The power amplifier is a output transformer type of design and need a long time to run in.
2) Need tuning

As I aware the Focal speaker can be tilt and able to adjust the strength magnet of the drive.

3) Mismatch Maybe Focal speaker AND Mcintosh amplifier is a mismatch

Other system that I still remember

Nagra system with verity audio speaker. Sound sweet but the bass is wooly maybe lack power. Maybe the amplifier is under power. I visit this room on the 1st day where a solid state power amp being fired up.

German physic with moon electronics. Sound dynamic but I prefer more sweetness from the mid.

Triangle Magellan Cello + Krell KAV 400xi integrated amplifier.Looks promising and sound much better on the 3rd day.

Electrocompanient room.All electrocompanient electronics with Nordic Tone speaker.I saw this room is crowded.The sound is mellow and relax but I prefer a more upbeat sound.

BAT + Joseph audio room (Acoustic art)I like this room too.

Audio-note room

The equipment line up is AN-J/LX speaker,Quest Silver power amplifier,M2 pre-amp, Dac2 and CDT-4 as transport

Scale is bit small, i think the system should at least use a Audio-Note M3 and better still a M6 pre amp.

Pop pop music artistes live at the KLIAV 2011

2011-07-31T18:55:00.000-07:00

If you have missed the live performance this year at the KLIAV, not to dismay.
You can still watch it on video.........here......courtesy of a avid fan Mr. Rocky Lim.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F5z3VF_eSgM

精雕细琢的北欧喇叭DALI Helicon 800 MKII

2011-06-23T00:46:00.000-07:00

DALI Helicon 800 MKII加VTL放大器

到底铝带高音(Ribbon Tweeter)，还是软球型高音(Soft Dome Tweeter)好听？这是一项没有结论的问题。一般的扬声器皆以软或硬球型作高音单元，只有少数厂家用铝带高音，而这些也只出现在各牌子的高级音箱内。究其实，成本考量也是其中因素。但若想鱼与熊掌，两者兼得，恐怕非本文主角DALI音箱莫属！

90年的DALI 710，810已经采用混合高音

提到DALI，也许初烧者会感到陌生，在此略叙述一下：这间位于童话之国丹麦的厂家，是该国数一数二的音箱大厂。于1983年正式创立。当初与美国Cervin Vega合作，故名“Danish American Loudspeaker Industrial”。而现在的全名则改为“Danish Audiophile Loudspeaker Industrial”，译作“丹麦音响爱好者音箱生产企业”。DALI老板Peter Lyngdorf，本身就是个音响迷，早期（约1976年）就开始经营音响进口生意，并开办了Hi-fi Klubben音响俱乐部，提供当地音响爱好者聚会和讨论音响的场所。尔后生意越做越大，Hi-fi Klubben音响连锁店越开越多（目前在北欧已超过50间），由于业务发展迅速，而经常要买进大量的音箱，但是Peter Lyngdorf有感于多数音箱的性价比都不尽理想，因此下决心自己生产音箱，这就是DALI的由来。

DALI Helicon 800 II

谈了许多DALI的背景，这又和前述两组高音单元有何关系？原因是大多数的DALI音箱都可一次性地获得两者之优点，而本次试听的Helicon 800 MK II，正是其中之一。DALI，早在1990年就已经设计出这种混合高音模组，他家的DALI 710，810都应用了这类型高音。而在2002推出进化版的混合高音于顶级喇叭Euphonia MS5。又趁2008年的25周年纪念时推出Helicon II系列喇叭，800 II即是系列的老大，也是传承自MS5的最新混合高音单元。

铝带 + 软球顶高音，独一无二

Helicon 800 II采用一个约2.2寸高的铝带搭配一个1寸软球高音。根据厂方说法，一般动圈高音的指向性通常在10khz以上就会趋于狭窄，难以在较大的空间内获得高质量的声音。为了增加10khz以上的高频段扩散角度，DALI以铝带搭配软球高音的方式，将两个单元装置在一片金属板上，让箱体震动对高音的影响减至最低，也使喇叭在较大空间表现出完美声音。Helicon 800 II的软球高音可以维持到13khz才开始收窄，而那铝带高音则负责13khz至27khz以上，让音场开阔纤细，宽松又没有压力的高频段，这就是它的独到之处。

特殊木质纤维振膜

高级Vice Grip喇叭线接端方便好用，而且接触牢固

Helicon 800 II的中音单元为6.5寸，以那么大的直径来作为中音单元其主因是它负责580Hz至3khz之间那么宽的频域，同时才能与底下两个8寸低音单元相平衡。这3个单元的震膜是采用特殊的木纤维制成，红褐色的外表与其他喇叭不同，据说是为了维持音色的一致性。再触摸它每个悬边都很柔软，不像以往的喇叭厚硬，属于更灵活运作的橡皮。再看Helicon 800 II的箱体，它的外层经过6道打磨和7道烤漆程序而成，单单这光可鉴人的表面，即令人钦佩丹麦工艺表现。

7层光油的外层，光可鉴人的箱体

为了试听这对Helicon系列的大哥，特地去了几趟孟沙区的Bangsar Village II的A&L Audio Station。负责人是阿祥（C. T. Seong），此君曾在该公司服务了十多年，音响经验丰富，为人亲切。首先他以VTL的TL-2.5前级加ST-150后级来搭配Helicon 800 II喇叭。数位讯源是用Unison的Unico CD Primo，以全套管机音响来测试这对喇叭，还挺新鲜（其实我也建议用这套器材，想在管机的配合下，听听这对喇叭会并发出怎样的声音）。

TL 2.5 前级放大器

美国VTL ST-150后级放大器

意大利制Unico CD Primo讯源

这次我带了雨果发烧碟九（HDCD），粉墨是梦，Tracy Chapman，蔡琴老歌，天地英雄（Warrior of Heaven and Earth）等。

当我将雨果九唱片放进机内一播，第一及第二轨，分别以Neuman CMV 563 + M7和AKG The Tube胆麦收录张杏月的兰花草，所听到的声音与我家的系统稍有差别。听第一轨（Neuman麦）时，人声饱满润湿，钢琴声充实，而第二轨（AKG麦）的人声则比较圆滑自然，背景音乐宁静，VTL + Helicon 800 II 都一一呈现出来。喜欢哪一轨，还需阁下自选。这张唱片的第17轨收录的黑土歌，把中国三弦国宝冯少先诠释东北农民在乡村劳动的生活感受，Helicon 800 II都如实地把三弦沧桑韵味和震耳低音鼓，一并播出一场令人震撼的发烧乐。

接着听‘粉墨是梦’第一轨‘越剧，红楼梦’中，Helicon 800 II再生二胡的通透音色；急促的弦乐与板鼓带出活生感；古筝仿佛浮游空气中与二胡一唱一答，和谐悦耳，尤其板鼓的生动，直逼现场观看戏剧般真实（本地闽剧背景音乐常用到的乐器）。可见Helicon 800 II在混血高音辅助下显现其独有音韵。而听第二轨豫剧‘花木兰’时，指甲擦过琵琶琴弦的音色，还真带有几分肃杀；板胡泣咽之声，亮而不刺；梆子声的空气感、大提琴的深沉与大鼓擂起的鼓皮震动声，800 II重播的音场与空间反射是宏大的，众乐器齐奏的高低频皆和谐连贯。

听Tracy Chapman第5轨‘Mountain O’things’，康加鼓穿插于人声中，感觉是紧凑响脆与能量充沛，三角铁清得像水滴般，历历在耳，煞是好听。还有Tracy厚沉的嗓子，Helicon 800 II都真挚地呈现，听久不腻。值得一提，这支歌的一段电子低音，一般喇叭都很难达到该低频水平（除非用超低音），但Helicon 800 II轻易达到，这也是它的另一项优点。

再来是听蔡琴的‘老歌’，第6轨的‘三年’。这首李香兰的成名曲，由蔡琴重新诠释，她低沉的歌喉也真的唱绝这首歌。她磁性般的声韵一句句的唱出那份无奈，Helicon 800 II也让人感受到那份暖暖的真情。听第8轨的‘红泪’，蔡琴的声音又像漂浮在空气中，那回音又让我感到在歌厅舞榭中聆赏现场演出的蔡琴，那么宽大舒适，毫无压迫感，VTL管机的实力也应记一功。

最后我听的CD是‘天地英雄’原声曲（Warrior of Heaven and Earth），也是令我听到最感动的一张！内里的第10轨‘僧人与神迹’中，DALI Helicon 800 II的混血高音发挥了极致的宽大音场，尤其是竖琴的表现令我刮耳相听，音韵的肉质感历历在耳，仿佛眼前的乐器是硕大无朋，琴声在宽阔的空间飘动，足让我真正感受到它的铝带混合高音特有的味道，实在厉害。第6轨‘响马对决’中二胡拉开一阵战鼓擂动，气势响彻空间，音像凝聚出敌对的气氛，紧凑的鼓声急促绵密，细节盈满，瞬态反应快。喇叭在大音量时的控制力极佳，配合质素越高的放大器更能将800 II的实力发挥出来。

当日试听的光碟

DALI Helicon 800 II的声音的确具备高级喇叭的水准，虽然卖价定为马币3万3千元，但和其他同价位的喇叭相比，它是超值的。从它外表的装潢，高级花梨木加7层光油烤漆，明艳照人的外型，就好像一套高贵的北欧家具。声色具备下，怎不令人爱不释手呢？

A&L Bangsar Village II 店面

试听地点：A&L Audio Station (Bangsar Village Mall II)

电话：03-22829884

负责人：C. T. Seong

ST's hifi system

2011-06-11T00:32:00.000-07:00

To build up the readers' enthusiasm as
I progress along with the write up, I
thought I will start off with a 1st
impression: the emperor's throne!!!!
(The sweet listening spot) Majestic looking
isn't it? The all important listening position
in the hifi room! Lighting was subtly warm
with a tint of yellow. The entrance to the
sound room is a double doored feature with
double walls. Well I thought the sound
will be kept well 'sealed in' and all
extraneous external noise will be unable
to enter the room! Marvelous design for
a hifi listen room!

The side wall featured a combination of
reflective and deflection type wall
treatments. Height and size of which
have been determined by calculations
confirmed with sound measurement
via a purpose made microphone and
recorded & analyzed with computer
software!

The initial construction of the room size,
the height, width and length of which have
been carefully planned out with the assistance
of a friend who understood the working
of room acoustics and know enough about
concert hall sound performance aspects.
The ceiling treatments included a build
in foams and rock wool combination in
a recessed ceiling design. And computer
generated reflection and deflection
panels were used at specific positions
determined after careful measurements
and listening tests that followed.
This's one room where the reverberation
time (RT) have been carefully worked
out in order to suit the listening
behaviour of not only listeners in
their prime age of 40 plus but also
catered for the listening patterns
of aged or elderly persons probably
up the the age of 70 perhaps, I
reckoned. As I'm already approaching
my 60's and I do find the listening
experience very comfortable & lack the
usual extraneous noises that I heard in
so many other sound rooms, where the
RT have seemingly behaved much longer
& had caused muddling and overlapping
of sound especially of the low hz areas!
That's 1 bass notes overlapped into the
next bass notes gave me the impression
of a much longer bass note! And I
thought this always happened to me.
This do not(did not) happen here in
this sound room!!!!! A marvelous
piece of work done, and worth
every effort put in by the owner!
In one simple sentence: Bass Boom
was completely not heard in this
sound room!!!!

All right then, let's look at the main hifi
system. The speakers were a pair of Harbeth
HL5 Super with a pair of ribbon super
tweeters wired up too! The speakers sat
on open frame stands that came purpose
build by Harbeth's local dealer Sam Chan of
Tropical Audio, Setapak, Kuala Lumpur.

The electronic equipments were placed
in the middle spaces between the 2 speakers,
and seated on racks with isolation from
air borne and structural vibrations, all
round and wire cables were kept apart
and from the ground suspended by
rubberised cables. Computer generated
designed foams (diyed) were placed
strategically where the disturbances
in the sound were kept to the minimum!
And confirmed by measurements with
sound picked up microphones and
analysed on charts and graphs!

The source, a Marantz SACD player the SA11S2

The main power came from a Classe Audio
twenty five and the digital to analogue duties
by a Theta DSPro Gen III

Preamplifier: The Chardonnay valve pre amp unit
from Supratek

During the visit, 2 acoustic panels were used on
the floor area, under controlled condition for
experimentation & fact finding purposes!

The overall sound was pleasing and comfortable
with slam on tracks such as Fleetwood Mac's
Dream track. However with tracks such as
from Gorillaz and Blues pop group, the
music punch/slam wasn't sufficient to
bring up the blood pressure, not that
I wanted to burst a few blood vessels!
On classical music replay of Leonard
Berstein's Music at an Exhibition, The
Great Gates of Kiev, from Crystal Cable's
Arabesque Album, I could perceived the
Grand presentation of the whole orchestra
works! With Chinese Music with drums,
the low hz came thru very nicely & with
enough realism of the drum sound
provided by the recent addition
of a Rythmik Audio F12 SE subwoofer!
However, vocals still needed some
work, probably some fine tuning
here and there which is not a
serious issue, and could be
worked out given some time
to work on the setup. Overall the
sound is commendable irrespective
of those minor issues mentioned.
It's a hifi system worth your time
to go listen and to pick up some
good pointers from the owner.
Those who already have the Rythmik
subwoofer and looking into
taming the subwoofer presentation
would well benefit from a listen
to this system. And those who
have bass boom problems
will also benefit from a 1st
hand study and listen to this
setup!!!

The above pictures provided,
courtesy of the owner.
Leica 4/3 system.

H's diyed setup

2011-06-05T19:05:00.001-07:00

It was a rare treat indeed, an opportunity to
listen to a pair of vintage speakers. I've to
thank H's generosity for the listening session,
& also the refreshing drink upon arrival, as the
afternoon was a rather dry and very hot weather
that we are experiencing now in the Klang
Valley.

The speakers were placed in the living hall
area, the sight of the speakers were very
eye catching and ever attractive, but never
imposing that some audiophiles may think
otherwise. The lighting from the garden
next to the listening area provided the
diffused lighting that provided the right
speaker with shades of hue, form and
shape! A beautiful sight to behold, and
kept my eyes on it for a full minute!

Basically it's a 288-8L compression driver (sensitivity
of 119db/m 30w) attached to a Jabo exponential horn
sitting on top of large speaker cabinets designed after
the altec 828 cabinet, that house a Altec Lansing driver,
the Voice of Theatre driver, the altec woofer 416-8c
with a 99db/m compression driver in each cabinet
enclosures. The Altec n501-8b cross-over placed
externally on top of the speaker cabinets.

The horn tweeters at the moment placed temporarily
on a foam packaging as the purpose build stand has
not arrived in time for the listening session. The
external cross-over placed on top of cabinet for now.

This boxed unit of cross-over enabled the tweeters to be
tuned & integrated with the main woofer driver unit!
As it has the user friendly adjustable knobs to fine tuned
to match the tweeters with the woofer drivers!

The rack of amplification equipments and CD source
placed next to the left speakers with a 10" active Klipsch
subwoofer (in picture) for conducting some fact finding
experimentations.

The flared design of the cabinets and driver placement
within the cabinet together with the horn tweeters have
enabled the sound to be projected over a wide angle
and listeners will find listening at almost any place
in the listening area will be equally listenable with
a tonal balance quite acceptable. However, me being
the stereotyped audiophile still choose to listen at
a position which is equal distant from each speaker
cabinets!

Other learned audiophiles who were with me at the
listening session tended to agree with me on the
wide sound dispersion! They too agreed on the
beguiling tonality and the effortless sound from
the combined source, amplifications & drivers!

Most part of the listen session we listened to
mainstream jazz which showcased the sound,
and especially one is doing some work on the
computer, the music would do good
accompaniments or entertainments if one
wants to call it that. Very comfortable sound
to listen all day long, with no fatigue whatsoever!

Anyway, I tried out Mussorgski's Picture at an
Exhibition: The Great Gate Of Kiev from Crystal
Cable's Selection of their Arabesque album.
Rendition was on a grand scale and effortless,
and enjoyable. I tried Suzanne Vega's Luca,
the system is not so suitable for this genre of
music, the pace has got to be much faster
with added slam to be enjoyable. However,
the system could shine with Santana's hits!!!!
Now that's something to think about!!!

A short experiment was conducted during the listening
session with the 10" Klipsch subwoofer switched on.
There were slightly more body to the whole sound picture.

The main rig: diyed valve monobloc amplifiers, a WE91a
300b configuration based on Joe Roberts schematics
in Sound Practices Magazine. Tubes are Jan Philips 6j7,
Shuguang treasures 300z, RCA 5u4g rectifiers, Audio
Note resistors & Mundorf silver gold oil coupling
capacitors, Oligato film oil PSU capacitors, Sophia
Electric OPT, Prometheus Audio power transformers
& inductors.

Pic taken: Olympus 4/3 system, e620, 14-42mm f3.5-4.5

Choices of lightings for the listening enviroments?

2011-05-25T06:29:00.000-07:00

We could choose a simple lighting mood, for best effect, as in this room.

Or a simple yet subdued lighting, in the comfort of the living hall.

Or a tint of warmth as in this listening space.

Or a diffused form of lighting, as in this living hall.

Or a natural subtle lighting up in the attic.

Or some natural yet seemingly artistic lighting in this music room.

Or artificial lighting with a slight warm tint of colour.

Commercial settings maybe different, as is shown here in a showroom condition.

But yet it's up to the internal decorators to do their best
to bring out that friendly mood, as shown in this showroom.

Pics taken: Kodak DCS, Nikon system and Olympus 4/3 system.

CS's diyed setup

2011-05-16T05:44:00.000-07:00

CS is one of several very hardworking diyers
that I have ever met. Climbing up a few floors
to the attic to reach his hifi cave and we were
greeted by the subtle lighting in the room and
it was a very welcoming sight and the atmosphere
very comfortable too.

The view of the rig from another angle, noticed
the light that comes in from the windows that
faces the sun. Just beautiful sight, if you asked
me!

For the purpose of illustration a camera flash light was
used to illuminate the room.

The frontal view of one of the speakers:
an open baffle type diyed to a fine finished.
A ribbon type tweeter, a mid range and 2
units of 15" drivers made up the combination.

A wooden panel for the first side reflection
standing next to the speaker.

The rear view of the open baffle speaker.

The main equipment stands that housed the
paraphenalia of hifi components.

A Lenco turntable was installed for the purpose of
the visit. One of several turntables that CS owned.

A LEAK amplifier was used on the day of the visit.

CS's other amplifiers and other hifi components
that take turn on the hifi racks.

We listened for a hour or so, and finished the
listen session with a tea session downstairs
in the kitchen. But not before we 'ransacked'
his vinyl collections, and ogled at his collection!

Picture taken: Olympus 4/3 system, E300,
14-45mm f3.5-5.6.

2011-05-14T20:03:00.000-07:00

Rimu Isoation Pyramid (not including the cable riser) . Hand made and will arrive in Malaysia on July. Made of Rimu timble material. Email wwengyeap@yahoo.com for any enquiry or bulk purchase. RM120 for set of 3.

C's setup part 2: Just arrived from Japan by courier

2011-05-07T20:11:00.000-07:00

C called about a package that just came in
from Japan. We were excited about the surprise
package, and hopped over to his place to take
a look see and hopefully be able to have a listen.
So I arrived at C's place with The Wise One and
Chan, for that meet up and listen session.

It was a pair of Yamaha NS-700X Monitor. It
now replaced the Harbeth HL5 which was
mentioned in part 1 of a very short pictorial
presentation of C's setup. Initial listening
suggest the speakers have not being used
for some time.

So we suggested several weeks of running in
before we have another proper listen session.
(And another chance to have a lunch feast.
We take whatever opportunities we can get,
sort of excuses to get together for food, drinks
and chit chat session, besides the listen
session of course).

Later after a few weeks of running in, I returned
to listen a 2nd time and this time I find the
speakers were able to sing tunes worthy to be
called 'Monitor'! Now the highs sure appeal
to us Uncles whose hearing sensitivity are
already declining in the high hz range. But
what about how the younger listeners find it.
More of that in the upcoming part 3, which I
hope will provide some insight into vintage
speakers of the '80s which some younger
audiophiles may be intrigued by and maybe
interested in a listen and be able to understand
what their parents have being listening to
during that period in time. Those who are
interested to find out more could contact
any of the contributing writers from this
blog, or e mail them directly if you can.

Description of the speakers:

YAMAHA NS-700X Monitor (3 Way, 12" Carbon
Fibre Woofer) Technics SB-8 (3 Way Honeycomb
speaker system). Tweeters were a diamond
titanium type combination.

Pic taken: Olympus 4/3 system, E300,
Zuiko digital14-45mm f3.5-5.6 with
electronic flash light.

R's setup part 2: room acoustics

2011-05-07T05:42:00.000-07:00

If you recalled, in part 1, R's setup is made up
of the Proac 3.8driven by the Parasound
monoblocs. In this part 2 writeup I will briefly
highlight the room acoustics treatments being
used to its best effect! At least that's to the best
of my understanding and perception of the
sound heard whilst seated at the sweet spot!

2 pieces of Auralex acoustic foams with the
easily recognised ribbed pattern foams were
placed over a wall mounted flat HD television
screen. Matching cloth materials were used
to hold the 2 pieces of foam together. This
custom made tv cover which act as part of the
room treatments could be easily placed when
listening to music and as well as easily removed
when the hd screen is being used for viewing
movies or tv programmes!

A close up view of the tv cover.

There is even a piece of the Auralex being
placed behind the listening position to control
some of the unwanted sound reflections
reaching the listener's ears.

A closer look at the purpose made screen
behind the listener, will show a wooden frame
which holds the whole piece of ribbed foam in
place.

I find the sound reproduction more
contained within the soundstage in front
of me and there were little or no disturbing
sound towards the listener at the sweet spot!
I would say I'm comfortable with the sound
while seated at the sweet spot, which to me
have contributed towards an enjoyable evening
of listening to music with the setup!

Pic taken: Olympus 4/3 system, E300, zuiko digital
14-45mm f3.5-5.6 with electronic flash light.

Ultimate Reference Audio Visual Centre

2011-04-30T23:33:00.000-07:00

Mrs.Lim to Hubby: When are you coming with
Uncle Vic to visit our new showroom?

Mr. Lim replied: How about tomorrow?

So Mr.Lim, Uncle Vic and Uncle Chew, on
a saturday afternoon, were at the showroom of
Ultimate Reference Audio Visual Centre!

Many readers are probably already aware of
this new audio and visual showroom at
10, Boulevard, Lebuhraya Spring 6A,
from reading the Hifi Unlimited blog.

The main reception area was comfortable
& with good lighting, as readers could see from
the picture above, it's a pleasing sight, and
the lighting was just about right for
available light photography!!!

In the main reception area, was setup a pair of Amphion
speakers driven by electronics from the Audionet.

Perhaps many true blooded audiophiles may like
such a setup in their homes! Looks cool doesn't it?

To 1 side of the main reception area were placed the
array of speakers from Marten, Adam and Amphion.
And on the other side housed various models of
pre amplifiers and main amplifiers from such names
as Audionet, Bladelius & Denon.

We moved on to the AV room, that could sit 5 persons at one time.
For the purpose of the illustration a strobe light was used
to photograph the interior.

A view of the interior of the AV room, shown clearly
are the acoustic side panels from Vicoustic's
"Innovative Acoustic Solution".
This is what Vicoustic's CEO have to say:
"Now it's possible to improve the way you listen to
your music, in an affordable & accessible way"!

This was the actual view (sans the photographic strobe lighting)
of what will greet visitors as they enter the AV room.
The soft & subtle lighting make for the mood
to watch a movie or two, doesn't it?

And this was what visitors will see during a movie screening,
the room was darken enough for a comfortable viewing!
And there we were being treated to a playback on DVD bluray.

All pictures: Taken with Olympus 4/3 system, E300 dslr,
zuiko digital 14-45mm f3.5-5.6 zoom lens.

C's setup,Harbeth HL5 base system

2011-04-16T22:25:00.000-07:00

Setup is made up a pair of Harbert HL5 and
a pair of stacked Yamaha subwoofers on each side!
Minus the equipment rack!

Source is from a Pioneer DVD 310, that other hifi
blogs have raved so much about. Cables used mostly
silver wires and Canares.

This is a multi subwoofer system, that one don't
find too often.

How does it sound? Same as what you would expect of a
Harbert HL5 but with the addition of the subwoofers.

Picture taken: Olympus 4/3 system, E620, OM Zuiko 28mm f2.8

Gold,Silver or Black?Using Rhymoi CD

2011-04-12T03:27:00.000-07:00

In just a few years Cd/Lp music from china penetration to our market is very high.Normally they do like to "turbo charge” the music when mixing and this type of mixing really sound good on a dull system. One of the better recording music lable from China is Rhymoi Music. Later production from Rhymoi is improved and this is indeed a good news. But now I’m not try to rate which is the best recording company in china but does the premium that we pay for our gold disc really sound better than silver disc? What about black disc. Some say "Black Disc" sound black cd is not good for your health. Ahemmm.i mean for the cd player health.(I leave this to the engineer to answer this).

Different country pressing CD do sound different. Majority cd pressing from USA do sound better that any other parts of the world.

From left to right,A silver cd, Black cd, and at last the gold cd

I like to find few gold disc and normal silver disc but mainly different pressing either by country or record company.

I have acquired the first version of Three Kingdom where the cd box and accompany book is longer and with a gold cd.

The 2nd version is a black cd with shorter cd box and booklet (Thanks bluesea for letting me this cd)
The third is a silver compilation song CD.( Only 1 song is available for comparison).

SOUND
The gold cd tends to balance the sound over the high and the black over the low. Silver cd is balance between them. String instrument is presented with more steely sound and bite when using gold cd

Black cd drum and bass instrument sound more substantial in weight.

Both black and silver image size is bigger and prominent/present. Where the gold is on it's own with a smaller image. (I'm not talking about mid imaging size)

So you may ask which one you like?

I can live with black and silver. If I have to choose , give me the silver any time.

Note:

1) Some say my system sound gauge with silver cd, so naturally silver come out as winner
2) The gold cd is an earlier pressing and should sound better.(Many people say the mould is in better shape)

KLau

PMC Demo at AV Design

2011-03-24T06:27:00.000-07:00

The message conveyed during the speaker demonstration!

Guests gathered at the main area of AV design

A big poster which depicts the PMC speaker system greets visitors at the entrance of AV design

Peter Thomas explained to the guests how the idea of a good speaker system started. The slide show presentation was very informative and explained very clearly how the idea developed about then the BBC days, till the making of the present PMC speakers on demonstration.

Andy Duffield explained a point during the speaker demo.

Andy Duffield and Peter Thomas addressed the guests in the demo room

Pic taken: Olympus 4/3 system, e300, zuiko digital 14-45mmf3.5-5.6
with available light sources.

气势雷霆的PMC喇叭MB2-XBD-A

2011-03-19T21:28:00.000-07:00

上个星期，接到AV Design的James Tan来电，告诉我PMC最新的主动式喇叭MB2-XBD-A已在他的陈列室二个多星期，并补充说让它 “Run in” 些才约我，问我是否有意聆赏。而我也答应他星期六赴约。

MB2-XBD-A与外置扩音器系统全貌

MB2-XBD-A是一对主动式喇叭， ‘A’ 是 ‘Active’ （主动）之意。它也有另一款 ‘P’ 的型号 ‘Passive’ （被动）的意思。原本主动式喇叭大多是提供予录音室专用，同时方便他们免去匹配器材上的的烦恼。现在PMC也提供给一般用户。

最上端是10B主动电子分音器，接下来是3BSST2，
下方为7BSST2，全部经PMC重新设计，修改

这一套MB2-XBD-A也和PMC其他款式一样，运用他家独特的先进传输线式设计（Active Transmission Line - ATL）。大家也许明白这种设计可增加低频，这些刻意增加的低频向来都和拖泥带水或慢等形容词划上等号，但PMC的传输线较特别，首先它没有那么长，其次他们也在传输线的每处转角都做了特别的吸音处理，让这些借由低音单体前后运动所制造出低频在前进中不断消失，最后在传输线出口出现的不是低频，而是极低频，因此PMC传输线式设计只是巧妙地增加喇叭极低频部分的能量。所以PMC的喇叭绝不拖泥带水，且这些增加的能量（超低音）没有指向性的问题，用者在有限的聆听距离内便可清楚感受到（这在AV Design的陈列室更明显，容我稍后解释），不但适合近场聆听的录音室，更适合聆听空间不大或未必理想的用家。

看官细睨高音单体加了一片金属罩，此举除了可增加高音的扩散外，
还可以保护单体，与KEF皇冠形高音罩有异曲同工之妙，3寸中音则为自制产品

MB2-XBD-A是一对体形高大的两件式喇叭，它包括两支MB2和两支XBD，MB2和XBD相叠起来构成一个声道高度足有174公分（5尺7寸），每个重达88公斤。
MB2-XBD-A使用的1寸软质高音是由挪威SEAS公司制造，一颗在自家工厂生产的3寸馒头中音，而两颗12寸低音则由英国Volt制造。由于上下各拥有3公尺的低频传输线，使MB2-XBD-A的低频可下潜至20Hz。

12”低音单体外设的八爪形边框形状独特，具备散热功能与防护作用

这套主动式喇叭同时包含了两对扩音器及1对3路电子分音器。一般的主动式喇叭会将分音器及扩音器装置在喇叭箱内（比如ATC英国喇叭），但PMC则是将它们外置。而这些产品都是PMC向Bryston订制的特殊产品，因此面板上印有PMC Active的字样。这些器材包括7BSST2单声道一部，每边600W来驱动低音，3BSST2双声道两部，每边150W，则是负责推380Hz以上的中及高音单体。还有两部10B主动电子分音器，用以调控左右3路频道。综观上述器材虽由Bryston订制，但却是经过PMC厂家亲手改良，并在零件筛选与配对上更严谨，而分音器也重新设计过。全部器材只提供予其主动版喇叭的用家，不另单独出售。此外整套系统也包括厂家自配的讯号线和喇叭线。用家只须购买CD唱盘及前级（Pre Amp）便可聆赏。

1寸丝质高音原形

如此庞大的扬声器，到底要用多大面积的音响室方为适合呢？据James的说法，由于MB2-XBD-A喇叭的低频传输线出口设在面板的前面，基本上对后墙的依存性不像低频反射式扬声器来得高，所以它一般上可在16尺宽X 25尺长的房间聆听（当然长度可延伸至40尺更佳）。

3寸突盆馒头中音

12寸Volt八爪低音

为了一举将此喇叭听到底，我准备了几张较常播的CD试听：Anne-Sophie Mutter的Carmen-Fantasie，The Greatest Work of John Williams，John Bolet: Tchaikovsky/Rachmaninov Piano Concertos，Manger，Johanne Blouin，Kari Bremnes，天地英雄原声带，中岛美雪-美雪集，邓丽君纪念版。
试音当日，我们用了TAD-D600 SACD/CD机（RM140千），和Bryston的BP26前级（RM18千），它包括MPS-2外置电源供应器。首曲我选美雪集的‘口红’（邝美云/容易受伤的女人原曲）试听，温热后的MB2-XBD-A，竟然让我感受到原唱者像在大型体育馆内演唱般的实在。原以为MB2-XBD-A才开声了两个礼拜，不会那么柔顺，没想到竟出人意表。（其实这张Yamaha的中岛专辑并非发烧CD）。虽然我坐在距离喇叭7至8尺，但尽管音量开大些也感觉它依然轻松自在，从容不迫。这就是我之前提到传输线式的特点，即使近场聆听亦无妨。
接着开始听Anne Sophie Mutter的Showpieces-Carmen Fantasie，选听第一首的‘吉普赛之歌’和6至10的‘卡门幻想曲’，可感受到穆特的琴声似摧枯拉朽，如骤雨暴风般激烈，而轻巧处又像琴弦浸过油脂般润滑，委婉曲折，仿似游丝飘渺…音质感与音色亦臻完美。小提琴的‘松香味’十足。
播Manger的第14首歌 - Marla Glen – Cost of Freedom，他的呐喊，像极香港肥妈（瑪丽亚）的声调，中气十足（其实他是骨瘦如材的男歌手）！再听Johanne Blouin的Jouviens Moi专辑的第2首De La Main Gauché（我的左手），她经验丰富的唱技与嗓音，在MB2-XBD-A喇叭的表现中一展无遗。
另一张Greatest Works of John Williams，所播放的‘Jurassic Park’，即让我见识了这喇叭的厉害：雄浑的气势，音像的壮观比例，令人如置身其中，场面的浩大，是它的特色！
虽然MB2-XBD-A作为PMC第2大主动式鑑听喇叭，它主要是免去了放大器和线材的搭配问题，虽然订价为280千，相信一些有能力的用家必然会考虑为自己的音响历程再添新一页。

用来测试MB2-XBD-A喇叭的CD

Mr.W's DIY setup

2011-03-06T04:53:00.000-08:00

Non oversampling dac

Hifi diyers are a interesting group of adventurous
hifi enthusiasts who like to build up equipments
sometimes all by themselves and at other times
collaborated with other diyers to design and build
hifi equipments for the love of putting together
electronics/electrical components/parts and
then powered them up to listen to the sound
reproduction from the equipments and then to
enjoy the music reproductions for hours at end
and be pleased with their handiworks.

At times it's the diy work that's the preoccupation
that leaves little time for the music enjoyments.
It could be to 'clone' a certain equipments, sometimes
it's to improve upon a already good working design
of a piece of equipment and the ultimate in diy
adventure will be to build something that has never
happen before! Some hifi diyers also collect music
albums be it in vinyl or CD version! Others may
just choose to keep all their previous creations,
and strictly not giving or selling off any of them!
And sometimes hifi diyers, have other passions too,
like being avid golfers and/or very passionate
photographers too! Talking about time management!!

Recently, I met up with 1 such hifi diyer, Mr.W who
divides his time between his family, work, passion for
music, meeting up with old friends and getting to know
new friends and the love of hifi diy work! Here in his
home we (Uncle K was with me during the visit) saw
several of his creations/ handiworks, which we had
expected to find. A non oversampling dac, valve
amplifiers based on the 300b and 1626 configuration,
speaker setup based on the single driver system of the
Audio Nirvana drivers. Thank you very much to Mr.W
for the listen session, and the learning experience.

Year of the Golden Rabbit

2011-02-12T23:32:00.001-08:00

It's a good start to the year of the golden rabbit
for many, audiophiles or not! It's time again
we get to witness some lion dances around the
housing areas. I could hear the sound of the big
drums and I sensed there's a dance troupe
nearby. Off I went with my camera, a Olympus E300
fitted with a Digital Zuiko Zoom 14-42mm f3.5/5.6!
It's one of those not so ordinary DSLR(digital single lens
reflex) camera with a unusual design, that befits
the owner too( who happens to be 1 of a kind too,
hah hah!!) It's 1 of 2 DSLR camera model in existent
that do not come with a pentaprism!!!!

You had better believe me, see this link.............

http://www.dpreview.com/reviews/olympuse300/

As I got nearer to the happening place where the
sound of the drum beatings and cymbal clashes
got louder and louder, I knew I was moving in the
right direction to locate the lion dance troupe!
Yes, the sound(erggghh noise to others!) was indeed
close to deafening, thought I should use a ear
plugs but then again much like listen to a hifi setup
whose owner replay music at deafening volume, the use
of ear plugs would certainly means insult to the host!!!
Am I not right?! So you agree with me, not?

That reminded me that most audiophiles are resolved
to the fact that their hifi setups won't get anyway near
to reproduce the sound of drum beatings and cymbals
clashes to as real life as possible in terms of loudness
and image sizes. However, most are quite happy with
a 'scaled down' version of the sound and continue to
enjoy the music as they thought most suited to their
hearing/ listening pleasure. Don't you agree?

Anyway, Happy Chinese New Year to the readers who
are celebrating this auspicious new lunar year, and
may this year bring us audiophiles even greater
abundances of hifi opportunites than the year before!!!

A Multiple Subwoofer System

2011-01-03T22:56:00.000-08:00

Audiophiles tended to shudder whenever there's a
mention of "multiple subwoofer system"! Why is it so?
Could it be a mindset of sort, or the idea that it is next
to impossible to come up with such a system? Or it's
plain 'blasphemy' to even talk about this subject,
where the audiophiles would rather 'religiously'
hang on to ideas that are strictly 'hifi related'?!
Thought this was years ago, read 'ancient' that
subwoofers are best used in home theatre(HT)
only! That the mention of subwoofer(s) for 2 channel
stereos was a 'no no'!!!! Alright, then you may
say that was then, this is now! So did you still
hang on to that idea or you have started to
venture into the use of subwoofer(s)?

Uncle Vic has always go against the grain, so
to speak and 'dare to go where no man has been
before!' So that may make him a hifi renegade,
in fact many audiophiles found him to be despicable
at times because of his known involvements into
multiple subwoofer systems and his incessant
mention of the said subject. Doesn't in history
innovators face the same sort of resistants
and even persecuted for their beliefs?

For the start of the year 2011, Uncle Vic
decided to 'unveiled' his unorthodox and
out of the ordinary system. And just the
hardwares and any upgrades, though there
are many audiophiles who are already
quite familiar with the said setup. How does
it sound? Your guess is as good as anybody
who has never listen to a "multi sub system"
(short for multiple subwoofer system) before!

Anyone would have expected ground shaking
low frequencies, objects in the room rattling,
ceiling boards vibrating, your very chair you
are sitting on shaking violently and finally
maybe, just maybe if you have a heart ailment,
or any other body disorder(s) to feel like throwing
out and run the risk of a heart failure or even
sudden death! Yes, no?!

Do you(still do for ever more) or did you (used to
think these are all possible)really think for a
minute these will happen? However, there is
no substitute for just reading, you have got to
sit in front of one such setup and find out for
yourself. And there are already several such
setups of variously different configurations.

The hardwares(subwoofers) included the following,

2 x 12" down firing with servo & a down firing port

2 x 10" front firing with servo closed box design

2 x 10" down firing with servo and front firing port

1 x 8" front firing with servo closed box design

1unit with two 16cm driver in band pass confirguration,
no servo(quite similar to a Rogers AB-1 bass extender)
1unit with one 16cm driver in band pass, passive.
2 unit with one 6.5" driver each, in bookshelf enclosure,
used as passive radiators.

2011.............................Happy New Year!

2011-01-01T05:51:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year 2011 to everyone!

How does one celebrates on the 1st day of a new year?
Sort of like doing something right with things moving
steadily and surely in the right direction to start an
auspicious day. Typical of ethnic chinese origin, the
all so important 'ong' factor coming into the picture!
At least in modern times short of me looking up the
chinese almanac as to what to do best for the day!

So the few of us, Uncle Vic, Uncle Chew, KL Doc and
Kajang Foo decided to get together for lunch in
Broga, not too far from the town of Semenyih.
Lots of laughter and jokes, but still more or
less centred around hifi related discussions &/or
a twist! However, observers looking at us having
a good time could surely tell from our waist line,
(all of us are fat around the middle) that it's a
past time we enjoy very much, besides the chit
chat, the food and drinks that is!

To think we are going to sit all day talking or
dispersed after the lunch, then readers don't
know us well enough. We adjourned to Kajang
Foo's place to listen to his many setups and to
help give suggestions as to tuning the systems
and improving room acoustics. The brain
storming sessions followed the thorough
listening and it's where our analytical mind
got to work overtime. By 5pm we break
for tea and more talks and jokes followed.
Overall it's a very fruitful day of outing,
to savour some high cholesterol filled
food(;-p quite sure you won't want to
know) from out of town places and listen
to some hifi systems and raking our
brains for ways to improve the already
good sound!

I could say it's a good day of outing for us
playful overgrown audiophiles.

Hope the readers here on this auspicious
day, had a good day like us, too! And
wishing all readers a Happy New Year!!!

How should the bass be presented?

2010-12-13T07:07:00.000-08:00

There is no question of the bass sound reproduced
from our hifi system has always being in the mind's
eye of most learned audiophiles to be/ should be
taut/tight/tuneful/with correct amount of decay &
no overhang whatsoever. So far so good? So what's
the big deal about the bass sound, as long as the
above are fulfilled or nearly there?!

However, to the audiophile community there is
still the question of preferences clouding the
thoughts & making some adjustments to the much
subjective(presumably it is) taste of like and
dislikes! As there are audiophiles who will
listen to bookshelf speakers with very little bass
and probably will continue to do so all their life.
And there are others who must have a pair of
floorstander speaker for their sonic diets!
Yet another even smaller group of listeners
who will and can only listen to their music
with subwoofer or subwoofers augmenting
the low registers and may even be the
lowest of frequencies that we could humanly
tolerate!

So we have different tastes and different
preferences and variously different hearing
acumens and ability. How about getting the
bass to sound closer to what we find in real
life events? (Now you are talking!) I now
throw a question to readers : Should the
bass sound be tuned to be close to or like
those of real events? Yes, no?

No! You say! We can never get there!
Alright then, how about a little bit of
excitements to entice our sonic diet?
How about some "chest hitting" bass?
(Are you nuts?) No! Seriously, we can
if we are willing to come up with the molah!
Actually, we can that is if we really want
those earth shaking bass! There are lots
of expensive hi end subwoofers out there
to choose. Make a google and one will find
plenty of brand types!

That seems easy enough, right?! Now here
comes the difficult part! How do audiophiles
tune the bass to get the 'chest hitting' bass
and at the same time have that bass sound
to be a important part of the soundstage?
I will let our readers here ponder for a while
with this idea. Please provide your comments
if you think it could be done!

A diy task: Refurbish a subwoofer unit

2010-12-11T23:05:00.000-08:00

Though this task was performed and completed
in June 2010, it is only now that I could put
this as a blog entry( I mean diary entry)
The dismantle of the subwoofer was a nerve
wrecking event at the beginning, as most of the
circuits are placed at the bottom of the cabinet
and have to be removed in parts, but when I
got a hang of it, I picked up the momentum
to proceed at a faster pace. The several
minor tasks include removing dust from the
components, after I had removed the cover from
underneath the subwoofer unit as it's one
of down firing design. The unit a NEC
subwoofer of the 1970s period, definitely
needed a change of capacitors to the power
supply section, I have to decide if the
original specifications be changed to suit
the type of sound of today or retain the
same signature sound of that period.

Since this subwoofer is part of a pair
(I've 2 units of the same) and to be used
as a stereo pair after the refurbishment,
so I followed back the same component
change as the other earlier acquired
unit but previously used in a mono
configuration. The handiwork was pretty
tedious, as it required dexterity of both
hands, magnifying glasses, and a strong
light source to enable me to see what
I'm doing! And yes, even before the change
of the electronic components, the woofer
cones were worked on, the rubberised(not
rubber but of another material that akin
to rubber like feel) surrounds needed a
change, and my friend Uncle Chew a design
engineer supplied me with a glue that
do not harden with age, and one of several
methods to change the surround. I finally
incorporated some of his method with that
of my own, to get the job done.

The 12" driver I discovered was a JBL
driver with a pressed metal chassis and
not the cast iron chassis frame that JBL
enthusiasts liked so much. Anyway, after
the surround was replaced and double
checked for correct alignment, the new
electronic components were replaced and
the circuit assembly put back in place, and
left to stand for a short while before it's
incorporated into the multi subwoofer
system that I've been using all this while,
and then the final test, the powering up.
This is always the nervous part of any
redo of the system's component units!
The reality test!

All went well and the usual thoughts about
the unit to go thru the customary running in
for the new driver surround and electronic
components change, which I reckoned needed
a few hundred hours. Sure enough the sound
did change, but very subtle indeed! A couple
of months had passed since June! The sound
remained the same, more or less. So a simple
check on the tuning sufficed, and it's music
again! A word of caution though, those who
are diy challenged in this area, should not
attempt this without proper supervision from
the learned hifi & diy gurus.

R's Music System

2010-12-03T23:09:00.000-08:00

If one has followed the evolution(or development if u like
to call it that) of friends' hifi system, one will be probably
be amazed as to how the change of equipments could
affect the sound so much! I have one such experience to
document in this diary entry. I've followed my friend Mr.R,
in my neighbourhood over a few years, to know this to be
true!

Then, the time of KEF floorstanders driven by Passlab
amplifications and Classe CD source and now, Marantz
sacd 1, Parasound preamp and parasound monoblocs
driving a pair of Proac 3.8 speakers; depicted a very
significant difference in the sound/music reproduction
of those 2 time periods! As I recalled the big differences
and gradual changes of the sound as the equipments
get some further 'running in' , have me anticipating the
possibility of much greater improvements of the the
overall sound presentations and even more enjoyable
listening sessions to come! From what I heard over
the recent past few weeks when the changes to the
sound of new replacement equipments started to be
more apparent, I have to dismiss the idea of a quick
writeup, but instead waited out to do a writeup till the
sound gets even better!!!

Now what I perceived of the sound presentation, was
centred around the keyword: control. That good control
all round, not superlative yet, maybe there will be more
surprises to come, that I may not know yet. Maybe the
gears could still show sign of greater improvements to
come, as I could find more differences with each visits.
signifcances of those room Pretty sure those room
treatments (to be detailed in part 2 of this writeup)
which were progressively put in place, contributed to
the comfortable sound of the system. One matter is
clear in my mind, room treatments do brings out more
of the music!

Mr.R being more of a music lover than a hifi enthusiast,
is clearly shown with his choice of music spinned for his
visitors. Very varied and nonetheless shows his love of
music from his very large & impressive collection of CD
based softwares of redbook CDs, SACDs and have
many a visitor salivating over his many CD boxsets!!!
And yes I know he also enjoys fine wines and good coffee.

Alright, you have to ask, and what did I listen to with every
listening sessions. You name it, Classicals, jazz,
progressive rocks, country and western, music from the
60s, 70s, 80s, and some 90s. Each of the listening
sessions, between an hour to sometimes 2 plus hours,
were made up of a good cross section of various music
genres. Almost always calling it a night followed with a
supper session too.

At the first ever listen session of the Parasound monoblocs,
I asked specifically for the replay of the Dream of the Opera
CD, followed by Fleetwood Mac's 'Dream' track, Tracy
Chapman's "Baby Can I Hold You', Diana Krell's 'Look of
Love', some Police tracks, some Karajan's work, Bob
Marley and even Tsai Chin. The content of the music
replayed, come as no surprise, good control at least as
much as the Proac 3.8 could take it! If one don't go for
that brute force test that is. The high, mid range & bass
were more than sufficient for a not so overly aged person
like myself. It will still take some much younger listeners
to provide their views of the overall sound, to know if
different age groups have listened to the same sound.

At subsequent listening sessions, the listen materials
were all different, still the system could hold the music
together and the overall sonic presentations still
provided those many enjoyable listening sessions and
we have always set the sound loudness at a comfortable
level for those many listening hours! And I am grateful to
have The Wise One and Village Boy to keep me
company during the many listening sessions and
contributing to the discussions over supper.

B's Vintage Setup

2010-12-01T06:16:00.000-08:00

One sunday afternoon, blog master, Kenneth, Uncle Chew
and myself, visited a friend with some vintage gears(for the
purpose of this write up,only the gears in used were
mentioned) that we were not familiar with. The setup was
placed in the spacious living hall of the house, which
was just about in many of opinions to be generally suitable
for speakers of that size. However, I thought this could be
flexible and one has to listen to be very sure, though
general opinions point towards empirical experiences and
proven practical knowledge that big speakers should be
placed in large rooms.

The speakers, a model of infinity series the Q2, from the
late seventies period, and a sound typical of that time.The
speakers appeared to be in the first instance different from
modern day design. First the number of tweeters that were
on each speakers, 3 pieces of ribbon tweeters, front firing
to the listeners and 1 more firing from the back of each
speaker! Arranged in a vertical array with each piece
individually angled inwards to the middle between the
speakers, seemingly able to cater for several choices of
listening positions along a dividing line between the
speakers. Besides the ribbon tweeters there were 2 more
dome tweeters also firing front to the listeners and common
beliefs has it that the dome tweeters would work over a
lower frequency range from those of the ribbon tweeters
and probably into the midrange too, as indication has it,
there is a single midrange driver that could have
complimented the tweeter arrangement design.

A bigger woofer cone type 15 inch driver, one each to
each speaker cabinets, completed the arrangement of
drivers and tweeters combination. The cabinets in it's
original form and aged over the many years of different
ownerships, dark wood coloured and probably some
wood polish or wood oil may bring back the good look
to the wood veneer. A back firing port covered with a
speaker cloth indicates that the speaker placement
could make for careful choices and may influence
how the speakers may sound with different placements.

We did some test listens as the visit was a fact finding
visit which the owner kindly accomodated. We listened
to a jazz sampler courtesy of Interglobal music and the
'Dream of Opera' CD which I may have mentioned in the
write up of visits to other music lover's music room. Not
to confuse readers about how the music sounded, my
personal choice of descriptions will not be provided here,
as different persons in their music or hifi journey
conceived good sounding presentations to be utterly
different from each other. So the opening drum sound
of track 6 of the Dream of Opera cd will have different
meanings to different persons. So to some a drum
sound is just a drum sound, to some others who may
have moved on to be able to perceived the skin of the
drum and how that skin vibrate and how the subsequent
resonating low hz would sound like, and to some others
it may be again with some ever more slight differences,
and again there will be some who have not reached this
level and may not be able to perceived the sonics or
otherwise too subtle to be perceived yet or that the
perceptions of low frequencies may be a very personal
choice, and how low the low bass one wants may
dictate the choice of listening materials.

We have a choice of amplifications between a preamp
unit plus the Odyssey power amp and a vintage
Yamaha integrated amplifier CA2010. Both of which
we tried, and both sounded just as good. However we
unanimously preferred the vintage speakers with the
vintage amplifier as the colourations (called it distortion,
ifyo u like it) add to the flavour of the music for that
afternoon's listening session. It would probably have
been different at another listening sessions with
some other listening materials. As we listened to
some vocals besides some jazz and some chinese
music. We even tried listening at different listening
positions, middle of the hall and all the way to the
back wall, which we thought the presentations of
which to be different, depending on personal choices.

That afternoon we looked for a 'comfortable' music
presentation and a listening session that we can
call 'enjoyable' and not a loudness test, and hence
look into rearranging the speaker placement(the
owner asked us to do the placement for him
anyway) and looked at the choices of listening
spots. We did found one but it wasn't what the
owner would call his ideal choice. So we worked
out something he could like and suggested he
listen for a while to see if he will like it and could
listen over a long listen session.

Consensus on a good sounding system

2010-11-06T23:26:00.000-07:00

How often do we need to agree upon if a setup sounded good to one's hearing? The answer would be probably not! As human we can't agree upon anything, in fact nothing at all, unless we are signatories to an agreement! So will an arbitration by say 10 or even 100 learned & experienced audiophiles to listen to a setup(which could only be conducted at different times), be or would be able to judge if a setup to be considered good sounding, if even at all? Again probably not! Why is it so difficult to even judge if a setup sounded good enough to meet some of the important hifi parameters of good sound? Personal preferences, prejudices, likes and dislikes, used to a certain signature sound, and not used to other types of presentations?

Do you think that experienced audiophiles could provide some insights into this 'All Time Arguments' as to why different persons would perceived the sound reproduction of a system to various degree of excellence or lack of it for that matter? We have seen/read arguments some even out of hand in some blogs, forums and mailing lists, as to what quality of sound constituted.
Will there be a sort of ISO for music/sound reproductions in the near future?

BIG AND BRASSY– KLPAC Symphonic Band concert

2010-10-24T21:41:00.000-07:00

BIG AND BRASSY celebrates the diversity of band music with an eclectic programme that will be brought to life by the 40-strong klpac Symphonic Band under the baton of Music Director & Resident Conductor, Bruce Lee, and Guest Conductor, Mitsuo Nonami.

Sit back and enjoy this wonderful journey that will take you from classical pieces like Mozart’s The Magic Flute rarely heard in band repertoire to almost forgotten band favourites ......like Incantation and Dance and to Broadway numbers like Seventy Six Trombones. In addition, the Tsun Jin Choir under the guidance of Wong Wai Quan will also be performing Cantate Dominum, Chinese folk song Alamuhan and I See You from the epic motion picture Avatar with the band.

Mentor and protégé will be reunited in this upcoming concert once again. BIG AND BRASSY promises to bring you on a fascinating musical journey. For more information, please visit www.klpac.org.

Presenter: KLPAC
Conductors: Bruce Lee & Mitsuo Nonami
Artistic Director: Joe Hasham OAM
Executive Producer: Dato’ Faridah Merican
Featuring: klpac Symphonic Band
Guest Choir: Tsun Jin High School Choir

Show Details
Date: 13 November(Sat) @ 8.30pm ; 14 November(Sun) @ 3.00pm
Venue: Pentas 1, The Kuala Lumpur Performing Arts Centre (KLPAC)
Sentul Park, Jalan Strachan, off Jalan Ipoh, Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia (location map & directions available on www.klpac.org)
Ticket Price: RM35 / RM23 (students & the disabled)

Box Office
Call / Walk In: klpac @ Sentul Park (03 4047 9000) or The Actors Studio @ Lot 10 (03 2142 2009 / 2143 2009)
Walk In only: Axcess HQ (Jln. Semangat) & 1-Utama outlet

That Vintage Feel part 4: The Music Must Go On

2010-10-07T23:00:00.001-07:00

Listening to a piece of hifi equipments
inserted in a hifi system, is mostly about
evaluation of sound reproduction, yes
no? What then of listening to just music
irrespective of whether one is listening
in a car, in the office or at home? Many
would call it 'just listen to the music'
or 'just enjoy the music', never mind
the hardware.

So most of the time I would over the
time I know Koo. Until much more
recently, it's listening to the music
mostly and some friendly chit chat
thereafter the music sessions. Of
course we do enjoy the music listening
sessions as much as the chatting over
a hot cup of tea or coffee.

A brief account of the listening
sessions will more or less make up
for the remaining writing of this
diary entry of visiting Koo's music
room. Why didn't I call it 'hifi cave'
(?) because to Koo and his regular
visitors it's always about music.
With the exception of those first and
perhaps second time visitors who
came in from the 'hifi jungle' out
there to see and explore and to make
comparative inferences, and only to
find out that they may have forgotten
about the music and the enjoyment of
music!!!!

Over the years, I have listened to a
GRP's big band swing CD, from the
time of the open baffles thru the single
drivers to the now vintage pair of
Isophon bookshelf speakers. It's only
now that the enjoyment of listening to
this cd that I felt myself immersed in
the music much more than I first listen
to it many many years ago! The
changes in the setup has brought out
more of the music enjoyments. One
other CD that I particularly like is Nina
Simone's "Forbidden fruit", and I
especially like the track 'Golden
earrings'! I wouldn't go thru the
listening sessions without a listen
to this track!

I was introduced by Koo to Aretha
Franklin's Gospel singing when I
was mesmerised by the shouting
and singing style from the recordings
of her 'Amazing Grace' 2cd album.
I certainly could sit thru & listen to the
whole works if not for the limited time
spend each time in front of Koo's music
machine! So I have got to get this
album to listen at my own time. This
album portrays her gospel singing
and much of the church venue
ambience was captured pretty
well on this album as it's a live
recording. She would sing right to the
top of her voice and shouting most of
the way yet holding up well with the
background singing, hand clappings
and people murmuring and at times
shouting phrases after phrases with
praises for God.

On the lighter side I have listen to
Judy Collins, Neil Diamond, Neil Young
and even the more sombre Leonard Cohen.
I especially enjoyed listening to the
Weavers and Harry Belafonte live at the
Carnegie Hall. Even with rarity such as the
Clancy Brothers, and the much popular
Peter, Paul and Mary.

If this aren't enough, Koo would even
finished off the listening proper with
some classical music from Reiner, Heifetz,
Anne Sophie Mutter - Karajan and even
more recently from works conducted by
Ernest Ansermet. And occasionally Koo
would obliged with my request of tracks
from Bread, Eagles and even Jennifer
Wearne! And much to my surprise recently
he even entertain my request to replay
track 6 from the "Dream of the Opera"
which I perceived as quite listenable
with good control of the bass contents
though I felt not the best I have heard
and I have heard even worst! I still felt
he has done well with the setup though
not really an expensive system. Isn't the
meaning of expensive rather ambiguous
to different people?

That Vintage Feel part 3: The Music Presentation

2010-10-04T04:38:00.000-07:00

That's The Blogmaster at the emperor's throne..................

In part3 which is an extension of the earlier 2 parts
article of the same topic, I will like to touch on the
type of music that the owner like to listen to and
what he may replay for his visitors to listen. Even
at the time of writing of this part3 article, Koo has
already decided on not keeping the QUAD 306, he
has always surprised me with his choices of
equipments.

So I could only guess that he is working on some
changes to his setup. Could he be getting an amplifier
more powerful than the already very listenable QUAD
306? That I have to wait to see. So at the moment
I get to listen to the diyed 0.75w darling amplifier
a few more times before I decided to write this
part3 article.

What I listened now of the 0.75w darling amplifier is
one of more tweaks being done to it in the last few
months. If that is not enough there were more tweaks
to the non oversampling dac, since it's undergoing
listening tests I'm can only say the detail/nature of the
tweaks is along the signal path. What I perceived is a
change, depends who is listening so it may or may not
be that person's idea of an improvement. Firstly I
noticed the highs(I hear more of it) have improved
over the period, this was also being reported by
other visitors who came several times over that
same period.

And I perceived the bass presentation is more
controlled,whereas others who listen often
may only want to consider this insignificant and
that only more bass weight as a significant
improvement. So different listeners may give
credits quite differently! Here I gave him points
just for better bass control, not alot of bass sound,
just enough to get by. How do I know this? I
heard the replay of track 6 of the Dream of the
Opera CD, as I said not a lot of heart thumping
bass, nothing that shake the chair I sat on, nothing
to move my stomach fat around the middle, just
bass sound that I'm comfortable with.But hey,
that's my poison I guess!

Other tracks I heard replayed include the last
track of the Manger Demonstration Disc, again
just about enough to get by, nothing in the room
vibrated in unison with the drums and bass sound.
Perhaps it's not anybody's idea of bass sound,
but I would give him some marks for trying at it
rather than just talk to some 'armchair critics' at
some forums and can't do any 'transfer of
technology' to improve the sound of his setup
even after much discussions!

Do I have to repeat that the vocals come
around very nicely, if not lustfully with female
vocals and with enough details on the male
vocals? Now, now don't get me wrong that
is superlative, there are many other setups
with even more mesmerising vocals than this
setup, but I'm just looking at the price point of
a few thousand ringgit to get me glued to the
chair long enough to be 'seduced' by the sound
and not want to get up and go! At least not yet
after a mere hour of listening in front of the
setup!

Another thing I like about the setup is how
the hue of the afternoon sun bath the room
with that yellowish tint we know so well! A
lovely feeling of sort. What a wonderful listening
experience I thought with a wash of beautiful
colour mix of yellow to orange hue to feast the
eye too! Yes the room was not to be darken for
those afternoon listening sessions.

It's always being enjoyable listening sessions
whenever I listen, whether in the daylight hours
or at night.

My Room Acoustics Part 2

2010-09-22T20:37:00.000-07:00

Some background reading..............if you like.............

http://medicine.jrank.org/pages/777/Hearing-Auditory-performance.html

Three Acoustical Issues that Room Correction Can’t Correct

http://www.hifizine.com/2010/09/the-three-acoustical-issues-a-room-correction-product-can%E2%80%99t-actually-correct/

In a nutshell............

Issue number 1: place a subwoofer at the corners of the room.

To reduce the problem of speaker boundary interference
response(SBIR for short).

/I choose to have 1 subwoofer each in the front section of
the room, 1 on the left corner and 1 more on the right corner.

/That's will be 2 subwoofers specifically used to for this
purpose and not doing the main task of reproducing enough
bass contents to add to the sound of the main speakers.
This helps explain 1 of several reasons for the introduction
of additional subwoofers for the sole purpose of reproducing
bass contents to emerge with those of produce by the main
speakers, ie. integrate the bass contents. A total of 7
subwoofers are in placed at the time of writing.

Issue number 2: reduce/control of early sound reflections
from the many surfaces of the room relative to those direct
sound from the speakers.

/Work out a suitable combination of direct and reflected
sound for that particular small room with acoustic treatments.
The level of reflections can only be controlled through
appropriate use of absorption or diffusion or by selecting
speakers.

/I choose the use of the ceiling treatments for a small room
and at the 1st reflection point from the position of the speakers.
And the choice of speakers happens to be very unorthodox.

Issue number 3: rt60 cannot apply in a small listening room.

The decay time of the room can only be brought to the level
needed for high quality sound reproduction through
appropriate decorative choices, furnishings and the use of
acoustic treatment..............

/A simple hand clap will tell! Reduce the long reverberation
time to bring up the sound quality, by reducing any overlapping
of sound to perceive much readily the time gaps between
individual sounds if any.

Audio Terrorists of Blogs

2010-09-19T19:25:00.000-07:00

There are audiophiles and there are audiophiles of many kinds.
One of the modern day of internet, found only in the audio
circles are the 'audio terrorists'!!! The kind that is utterly
unhappy about what is written except maybe the sort of writings
that he/she tended to write or want to be able to endorse, to
be allowable to the audio public for reading. The vigilante who
goes around reading the various blogs to check out and weed
out those he/she deemed who do not conform to their way of
thinking and verbal expression.

1st these audio terrorists will when first appearing at a blog
will at the very start, antagonize the writer/ blog owner while
at the same time wish to get information useful to himself only.
That's the sign number 1. Whether this being a personal attack
on the writer is yet another issue, someone the writer knows
and that they have never agree on many issues. A audio
terrorist who is vindictive and has a long memory of past
unpleasant events. A person who is badly hurt perhaps and
can't let bygones be bygones. On the other hand if it's not
a personal attack but one out of habitual/obsessive impulses,
then I recalled psychiatrist called a manifestation of a troubled
childhood, one of a failed sex life or an inability of a shared
married life.

2nd, sign number 2, they usually are not able to relate themselves
to the topic writer, being unable to communicate their intent(s)
and purpose, they tended to show some sort of aggression in
their line of questionings and think that anyone they encounter
on the 'net owes them a favor/an answer/an explanation/a
greeting. Never thought that they have to be nice to others
to be able to receive the same treatments.

3rd the audio terrorist take it upon themselves to be the
vigilante to 'clean up' the seemingly mess he thinks has being
around long enough. Anyone else who gets in their way will
also be brutally 'mulled' down. It will be always their world
with the exclusion of all others they don't like. Sort of the
pond is not big enough for all fishes!

If these sort of repeated attacks keep appearing on blogs,
and seeming from the same persons, then it only go to show
there is harboring of deep hatreds and if built up over a
period will tended to hurt the audio terrorist psychologically
more than the readers of the blog who would usually enjoy
a good fight if there is one, if not amusing and entertaining
at times. At the most readers & writers alike will just disregard
and ignore the comments of the audio terrorist, with absolutely
no feeling whatsoever.

Here is another disadvantage, a non benefit faced by the
audio terrorist is that, even if he/she stops momentarily
or absent from the blog for even a short while, and if
another different audio terrorist comes into the scene
and does almost similar misdeed or mischief, readers of
the blog would just simply 'lump up' all the uncalled for
events and placed it into the 1st terrorist 'account'.....
...and anymore audio terrorist attacks forthcoming too
get dedited into that account. So the 1st terrorist will
be 'surfing around' the internet with a couple of knives
on his back without him even knowing about it. And if
he really does appear again, some readers will just give
him a piece of their mind out of disgust.

So it does not pay to be a 'audio terrorist'! Do consider
how much psychological damages the audio terrorist
would have sustained over the period he/she terrorizes
the blog! The rest of the readers, writers and blog owners
included just sit back and enjoy the fiasco, especially
when blog master do not intend on strict censorship.

That Vintage Feel part 2: The Complete Metamorphosis

2010-09-19T04:56:00.000-07:00

In the previous article I mentioned the changes that have taken over the years on this particular setup. The changes have being very gradual and spaced out over a couple of years. It is during this time that the listening and at the same time the enjoying of the music, has brought about many critical listening on the part of the owner and many of his visitors who have given valuable feedback and suggested likely directions that could be taken.

The sound has taken a change from that of lack of bass contents to finally today a setup that has enough bass to give a very enjoyable musical presentation. It takes someone brave enough to try unchartered territories, such as attempt to work with a subwoofer. The integration of which many would probably know it isn't easy, and takes time and effort to work out a workable solution, perhaps even a workable compromise to provide a presentation the owner could enjoy most of his collection of music software. And it was also during this time, that the owner tried variously different equipment isolation devices such as the Qi cones, marble and granite slabs.

Besides this there is the issue of speaker placements, which I personally witness has taken many different positions and the tirelessly tried and tested placements of late being one of the best for that room. Not forgetting that the sitting position has to couple with the speaker placements, make for a long process over the years. With this done, next came the room acoustics, and how much to do and how much of it to be left alone. It's not surprised I find bricks, wood, additional carpets over carpet floor, and more recently diyed helmholtz resonators. And check on the room acoustics with test tone cd when tuning those resonators.

And finally, I find a setup I could sit down to listen for hours. And some of the time, I get to know some of the owner's other hifi buddies and friends. Least to say the tea session that always follow after the listening has always being interesting. I thank Koo for the permission to write this 2 parts article and him being a gracious host all these many years.

That Vintage Feel

2010-09-17T06:13:00.000-07:00

We audiophiles like to listen to the music of our choice most of the time(some music lovers said more like the sound of audiophiles' choice and forgotten about the music!). How true could this be, depends if we are already practicing it without knowing it! So whenever I want a different diet of music I will make a choice as to where I will go listen for the evening if not I will remain at home and listen to my kind of music presentations the way I have chosen to live with, that is listen in my own 'hifi cave'!

So on 1 particular day, I choose to visit my good friend and hifi buddy I met on the 'net at the Star Forum a long time ago. The drive was an easy one, as he lives in the next neighbourhood of Cheras, just a short drive from Setapak, in Kuala Lumpur where we stay. When I first met him, he was into open baffle with Isophon single drivers and he has always sign off his chat in the forum as 'crossoverless', as the setup he had then hasn't any crossover circuitry at all! Then much later he moved into horn loaded fostrex speakers with external tweeters and still running with the 0.75w darling amplifier. Then he began signing off the chat sessions as 'crossoverleast'! I always thought it to be amusing way of slowly getting people to get used to his changes in his setup.

Just about less than 2 years ago, he made a dramatic change when he bought a 50 years old vintage Isophon speakers and shortly after being influenced by me with the use of subwoofers(I'm using multiple subwoofers), he bought a subwoofer to integrate with the pair of vintage speakers. Till date the integration of the main speakers and the 8" Audiopro 175w subwoofer has being a great success!

And of late I was to be in for more changes and surprises!!! He bought a QUAD 306 solid state amplifier which he and his friends thought it'a one of those amplifiers that sounded with much less solid state sounding characteristics. There were more surprises as soon as the integration of the subwoofer and main speakers was completed. I heard it several more times to know for sure it is!!! Though I was (still is) of the opinion that it's different kind of bass sound from that of a 10" subwoofer or a 12" subwoofer, different roll off point I reckoned and different drivers with their own inherent sizes driver sound with different behaviour and characteristic sound! Now his friends called him "crossallover"!!!!!

Then there he was test listening various different CDP used as transports into his diyed non oversampling DAC, that has gone thru several changes (of metamorphosis) including the use of different valve tubes and changes of premium parts and the addition of a buffer stage. There was this Pioneer dvd 310, the much rave about in the 'net, the Marantz 63(his resident CDT) and the vintage Philips CD 160 with the time tested CDM pro 2 mechanism. One thing I noticed haven't being changed, moved or displaced or replaced is a 'ferrite clock' design which I especially designed and made for his setup, it's a device for power conditioning making use of the electronic clock timing mechanism, to remove part of those uneasy to the ears type of electrical harmonics in the main power supply, if anyone wants something better than what I have mentioned, he has better get one of those megabuck power conditioners.

All in all, he has a not so expensive costing setup to suit his musical tastes and preferences which at the same time it's a system that many of his friends would like to come by for a listen, eventhough it may not be a setup they may want to have or live with in your own home!!! Again it comes down to personal preferences.I would agree with many of his friends that the system sounds musical(again it's so subjective that much arguments can go a long way) and enjoyable. So those looking for lots of bass to shake everything else in the room will probably want to come listen only once. However, those who are looking for 'lusty vocals' will come again and again!!!! Those who like to listen to soundstage will also come again and again!!! And those who are diehard hi end brand seekers will probably not even give a second thought about asking for a listen. We know what we are in for whenever we decide to go for a listen at some friends' place don't we?! We always do!