More Feedback...

Fooled Again

Michael--

I just finished setting up the system [McCormack UDP-1, MAP-1, and HT-5, with Tetra Manhattan 305s for mains and 120U's for center and rears and Velodyne DD-10 sub] and I watched a little LOTR Fellowship. I have seen this movie at least six times and I swear I heard lines I didn't know were in the movie. The sound was unbelievably crisp and the voices were more THERE than I've ever heard.

After a while, I decided it was time to try it out for music, and I put on that great sampler disk you gave me [BluePort Jazz BP-J009] and was listening to the first trumpet track [Estaté with Allen Smith]. With the center and subwoofer turned on, it had a very crisp and focused image and the bass was unbelievably present with no apparent crossover. It's the first time I've ever heard a truly integrated sub. Every note just sounded perfect in the bass... clear and present, and I was saying to myself "now this is what bass should sound like". After patting myself on the back for choosing and setting up such fine gear (with your help!), I went up to the system and when I got close realized that nothing was coming from the center speaker. Hm. Then I put my ear to the subwoofer. Nada. I hadn't put the MAP-1 into ambience mode and those damn Tetra 305's completely fooled me. Curses! I just couldn't believe it.

So, thank you for your help, and also thank Jim Merod for writing that great review [in On Sound and Music], and tell Tetra that they totally rock! :)

Steve

 

Chord Followup

Michael,

A pal of mine with a $100K+ vinyl system was over a couple of weekends ago. He brought over a number of his favorite CDs for which there was also a vinyl version and where he thought the differences between the two recordings was nil. Anyhow, he raved that my system outshone even his vinyl system with tube amplification! He was particularly impressed with the air that Blu+DAC conveys. What a surprise and what an endorsement. Further, friends of mine who are musicians were over about three weeks ago and they brought with them some recordings that they had done and they were blown away to hear their performance through my system. Especially with how lifelike the reproduction was.

Lastly, the Acoustic Zen silver references are wonderful. Even my girlfriend, Fiona, heard a difference immediately upon their install.

I hope that you are well.

Jason

 

Chord Feedback

Michael,

WOW! I am so overwhelmingly impressed with everything. Last year I had extensive auditioning time with the CPA 4000E and the CPM 1200E, so I knew what that would bring to my system. However, Blu and DAC blew me away last night - much to the chagrin of my nearest neighbors. Everything sounds awesomely detailed, alive and warm. Effectively I just upgraded my thousands of CDs. So thank you for being an honest businessman and offering me the components at such reasonable prices.

Please feel free to maintain a component dialogue with me. Next year, I am likely to upgrade my cabling.

Thanks for everything!

Jason Voss

 

Lexicon RT-10 Feedback

Michael,

I received the Lex today. I just finished set up and calibration. It is absolutely fantastic. The picture is stunning. I'm just so pissed that it took almost 2 months to get what I wanted..(my fault). It really is fantastic and I am very happy.

So it goes, the projector is back up and running, and the RT-10 was the missing piece to the puzzle. I'll speak to you soon and thanks again for all of your help and support.

paul

 

A posting on Audio Asylum:

There's a new high end audio store in Mountain View, where I had the pleasure of hearing both the Calix "Phoenix Signature" (that 300 lb. per speaker Jules Vernesque - and gorgeous - behemoth profiled in Stereophile recently) and the Tetra "Live." Both speakers were amazing in their ability to present neutral and open sound, but the Phoenix was INCREDIBLE in its low level retrieval and presentation - every subtlety was communicated in such a way that it really felt that the singer and musicians were standing before me. I have often read about this phenomenon in reviews (and have strived to achieve it in my own system) but this was the ULTIMATE in "seeing" is believing (And for $67,500, I suppose it had better be!!). Other elements of the systems included a Lexicon universal player, Chord amp and pre-amp, McCormack amp and pre-amp (depending on which speaker I was listening to). If you're interested, this new store is on Moffett Blvd., right near the train tracks where Central Expwy splits Castro and Moffett. It's name is Audio High (formerly Mountain View Stereo) and its website is www.audiohigh.com. And no, I'm not an owner, nor am I getting paid to write this(!). I found out about the store when I was referred to the owner/dealer by Acoustic Zen (for an IC audition). 

—Tom Carter

 

Lexicon MC-12 Feedback:

I was waiting for a furniture piece ... to arrive, but finally broke down and hooked up the MC-12 last night. There's a noticeable improvement in sound depth/clarity especially in 2-ch material. The new Logic 7 Film in HT is also good. I'm very happy with my purchase. Thanks for being such an awesome dealer. Lexicon should be proud to have someone like you handling their consumer equipment.

—Shan Perera

 

Carl Saunders Concert:

Here is a letter we received regarding the Carl Saunders concert that Jim Merod and Michael Silver produced on June 6 in Union Square, San Francisco:

I definitely want a copy of the CD!!!

Sound Reinforcement is one of my pet peeves at smallish live concerts - I think that sometimes, the audience would be better served with no miking and speakers, etc. However, in the case of your concert, I suspect it was a requirement. And, I have to say, that was the BEST live sound I've heard in ages (maybe ever)!!!! It wasn't too loud, it was extremely well balanced (and if anything, Mr. Saunders' horns sometimes sounded too mellow :-)), and it was thoroughly enjoyable. What a first rate group! Thanks for putting it on!!!

Talk to you later, Jeff

 

On Sound and Music feedback:

• "Wonderful Website. The photograph? The dog stole the show. It's really detailed from every aspect. You guys have really done your homework, really. I'm impressed. However, this is no real surprise to me; I would expect this sort of thing.... Noblesse Oblige. Wow!" -- Saxophonist/Composer Benny Golson
• "I like the mixture of content you have on the journal instead of the typical reviews, news and rambling editorials." -- Kevin (TC Electronic Corp)
• "I have read every word in the August "On Sound and Music."  You guys are tops!"  -- Jaime Valle [Jazz guitar veteran Jaime Valle has garnered dozens of awards and honors for his playing, arranging, and Latin jazz group ensembles. A native of Southern Mexico, Jaime learned his craft with the companionship of two equally remarkable guitarists: Grammy Award winner Carlos Santana and the popular, extremely lyrical Jose Serrano. Over the past decade, Maestro Valle has earned annual awards in San Diego for musicianship and creative collaborations.]
• "Congratulations to your web designer and to all who are [writing] the content, well done." -- Bentoni Spenelli
• "Greetings. I would like to congratulate you on the impressive elegance and resourcefulness of your new e-magazine, and I have been eagerly anticipating its latest issue. I am most impressed by such a distinguished ensemble of prolific writers." -- Constantine Soo - Senior Editor, Stereo Times.