I always liked Meridian. My only issue is their, sort of, all Meridian or no Meridian system integration. Worth looking into though....
Thanks. |
Meridian's Latest DAC's with their patented "apodizing" reconstruction filters. Nothing I've heard comes close except the dcs professional stuff. The ones I use are in my G68XXD processor, and in my Audiocore 200 preamp, but I think their portable DAC's use something similar (Explorer and Director).
The Ayre stuff uses a similar "time coherent" approach, but I haven't heard one yet. |
I want to wish everyone a happy and healthy Thanksgiving!!
Enjoy your family, friends, food and full stomachs.
-Matt |
Matt - sorry for delay (Happy Thanksgiving). They were the Lawrence Cello's. It played 'music', Matt. Real music. You had to see Jeff smile. |
Sorry guys. I'm not sure why this posted multiple times |
Matt,
you were asking about Servers a couple pages back. here is my 2 cents:
I have tasted the audio elixir of the gods.
PC server with win12 AudioOptimizer in core mode, using JRiver to upconvert PCM/DSD to DSD256 feeding properly setup Bughead Emperor as the playback engine....WOW.
Reel to reel quality. Spinners begone! Bughead is magic.
I heard this when I was in Warsaw for the audio show there (156 rooms, 11,000 visitors). it was at the lampi factory with his server and a Golden Gate Dac, but it does not have to be his Server, as any quality CAPs build will do, or the soon to be released bespoke Sound Galleries Server. the trick is how to optimize and feed Bughead, which is a shareware application.
You can build your own CAPs for about $4K or get an aftermarket one for $6K+. |
So I was invited to a dinner at Audio Connection to an event featuring Jim White from Aesthetix demoing his new Eclipse series of components. He had the Atlas Stereo, Romulous CD/DAC, Calypso, and Rhea all Eclipse versions. Musical Surroundings was showing the AMG I think it was the Viola II with the Clear Audio Gold Finger cartridge and also a DS Audio Optical catridge which was really closet to the GF at a much better price point. I've never heard the system sound as good in Johns's main room with the Vandersteen Sevens. The sound was really open and relaxed with the right amount of detail without being lean and a nice blend of richness and dynamics were outstanding. The Vinyl sounded very very nice and the Digital with the new Romulus wasn't far behind. |
So I was invited to a dinner at Audio Connection to an event featuring Jim White from Aesthetix demoing his new Eclipse series of components. He had the Atlas Stereo, Romulous CD/DAC, Calypso, and Rhea all Eclipse versions. Musical Surroundings was showing the AMG I think it was the Viola II with the Clear Audio Gold Finger cartridge and also a DS Audio Optical catridge which was really closet to the GF at a much better price point. I've never heard the system sound as good in Johns's main room with the Vandersteen Sevens. The sound was really open and relaxed with the right amount of detail without being lean and a nice blend of richness and dynamics were outstanding. The Vinyl sounded very very nice and the Digital with the new Romulus wasn't far behind. |
So I was invited to a dinner at Audio Connection to an event featuring Jim White from Aesthetix demoing his new Eclipse series of components. He had the Atlas Stereo, Romulous CD/DAC, Calypso, and Rhea all Eclipse versions. Musical Surroundings was showing the AMG I think it was the Viola II with the Clear Audio Gold Finger cartridge and also a DS Audio Optical catridge which was really closet to the GF at a much better price point. I've never heard the system sound as good in Johns's main room with the Vandersteen Sevens. The sound was really open and relaxed with the right amount of detail without being lean and a nice blend of richness and dynamics were outstanding. The Vinyl sounded very very nice and the Digital with the new Romulus wasn't far behind. |
So I was invited to a dinner at Audio Connection to an event featuring Jim White from Aesthetix demoing his new Eclipse series of components. He had the Atlas Stereo, Romulous CD/DAC, Calypso, and Rhea all Eclipse versions. Musical Surroundings was showing the AMG I think it was the Viola II with the Clear Audio Gold Finger cartridge and also a DS Audio Optical catridge which was really closet to the GF at a much better price point. I've never heard the system sound as good in Johns's main room with the Vandersteen Sevens. The sound was really open and relaxed with the right amount of detail without being lean and a nice blend of richness and dynamics were outstanding. The Vinyl sounded very very nice and the Digital with the new Romulus wasn't far behind. |
Jeff and Matt, so sorry I couldn't make it down today. Glad I didn't try either and the MS stuff is kicking in. Very tired today, which doesn't happen too often for me anymore. Johnny is SO high on the Eclipse. I can't wait to get down there to hear it with the Aurender. If it's as good as he thinks it is, then the 13k or so is probable worth it. Seems like companies are upgrading as they need to. I know AR is upgrading their ref gear to mk 6. I also bet that Ayre will be coming out with a new ref DAC within the year too and probably sooner now that they have the Twenty series gear out.
It sure is an exciting time in all of audio with all the newer materials designers can use. Jeff, please let us know how the day goes |
Matt the Eclipse sounds great. It throws a huge stage width and depth. Most dacs I have tried did not throw as wide a sound stage. It is a very relaxed and smooth dac. No sound of that slight digital metallic sound. It does sound different with different tubes. |
Matt
This weekend Jim White from Aesthetic and the AMG turntable guys are at Audio Connection. Jim is showing his new lineup of Eclipse gear. I'll let you know what all he demos.
Jeff |
Well.... How does it sound?
;P |
I have the Pandora Eclipse DAC, what do you want to know? |
Anyone head the new Aesthetix Eclipse? |
My apologies to all. I have not had a chance to review anything or even get to my listening room. The flood gates have opened and rained upon me 15-17 hour work days and not a moment to breath much less relax and enjoy my oasis. Hopefully the clouds will clear soon and provide me a day of rest. |
I suspect that Rowland Daemon at NY sounded even better than the one used at RMAF.... The NY unit had at least two weeks of solid break-in on it before getting to the show.
Guido |
Lawrence audio. Best of show, forme. You could dance around the bass strings. Sounded like home. That last breath that we chase is handed to us by Jeff Rowland. |
Cerrot- what speakers were the Daemon with? |
I remember mentioning the plasmatron way back on this thread, been awhile, so you looked into it matt, kinda cool product, report your review on it, not sure how long it has to burn in? , cheers Matt. |
Awesom. It's coming tomorrow so no way to upgrade. I got the Plasmatron 3, it's plenty. I'm looking forward to it. I promise I'll report as always. |
Matt,
I was one of the first adopters of the Plasmatron.
I would order his cable upgrade:
(VH Audio)- which uses OCC UniCrystal copper, as well as my AirLok dielectric.
This product is so good I am having him build a 220V unit for Waversa Systems CEO in South Korea. I believe this unit will be very popular over there.
My unit is the 6 Amp version. I believe this is not necessary as most people would not plug in video or pre-amp. Video (OLED/LCD/Plasma) will contaminate the line.
The Plasmatron needs warm up of 1 hour before full effect...then you are immersed into the music. |
144 hours pre-cooked with purchase. So another 356 hours to go.
I owe you a phone call Audiolabyrinth. I'll try tomorrow. |
The outlets you just bought take every bit of 500 hrs to burn in, and boy are they nasty,going up and down, really bad experience, best to stick them on a refrigerator, or equivalent for these hrs, the outcome after burn in makes you scratch your head in bewilderment at the performance they achieve. |
Not in a rush. I'm playing with my neighbors HF PC's and just came up with the question Monday morning. I'll let them burn in for a few days. I'll call and ask, but I have been told "off thread" that even for front end and preamp that the helix makes a difference. It's just a massive cost to swallow for power cords...... Considering I already have good PC's, I think that will be amongst my last upgrades. I'm playing with speaker wire and interconnect right now.
I did just order a Plasmatron from VH Audio. I've heard so many good things about it and the call of the siren Plasmatron was too great to fight. Also installing the Encironmental Potentials EP-2050 Surge and AC Waveform Correction module and four EP-2750 ground filters into my circuit breaker box when I find time this week or next. I'll report those findings. By the way, Chris VenHaus of VH is a great audio guy and provides terrific product and service. I got the Plasmatron, the EP stuff and four new cooked Furutech GTX-D rhodium outlets. I got some replacement fuses from him previously. Always great communication and solid product. |
Matt, speak to Rick (the owner/developer) at High Fidelity Cables directly, even if you need to call back a few times. He will give you an honest answer. He is that type of guy. Also, he is a wealth of information.
PS it is a shame you could not make it to the NY Audio Show this past weekend as Rick was there and holding talks about his cables. |
I ran the same comparison again. I prefer the ODSE to the Berkeley with my Burmester preamp. With the Rowland pre-amp I think I like the Berk better, but it's close. There was a bigger difference in how much better the Emm was over the ODSE then the Berkely Ref. I just felt the ODSE gave a more realistic representation of what was recorded. Though I preferred piano on the Berk Ref a tad more tonally, the actual sound of the piano was more real on the ODSE.
The Aurender is clearly superior to my Mac Mini. That's great to see. It was sort of bothering me that I couldn't find something better. But the N10 really needed tons of hours on it to get there. And I'll bet there's more to get as it hits 1000 hours. I'm near 520 now I think. The Double Bass on the N10 gives texture and tone as if the sound is emanating from the instrument, with resonance and palpability. Drums hit with a sense of natural impact and resonate properly. And vocals and piano are just right. I just need to get me ears on the YFS server to compare the two and I will be buying myself a new music server.
Finally, the HF Ultra Ref Helix uber power cord.... That heavy magnet in the middle is a PiTa. I would imagine a wire tie to the rack column would be the best solution. Plugged in and brand new, it gives more volume at the same setting and immediately helped define images in space a tad better. The base flattened out a bit, which I have found with many new out of box power cords. Midrange mellowed a touch as well. Practically useless first impressions. Needs time. I want to call HF and ask if the top tier needs to be implemented for the lower current front end gear, or if that giant magnet is best suited for the high current amp draw. Not sure if I'll get an honest answer..... |
@tbg yup dealers are closing and dying off. The whole audio hobby is changing when it comes to being able to hear gear. |
Ctsooner, I fully understand your position. I've been at this since the late 1960s when I taught at Florida State U. Tallahassee had about 50,000 people and three stereo dealers. Then there were about five manufacturers of electronic components few power cord makers, no rack makers, etc. And virtually everybody had an AR turntable although Linn was coming along.
So one had few choices but many opportunities to hear them first. I remember going up to Dallas to hear a new amp by a guy named Jeff Roland. I was very impressed and bought one and it was cheap, but I cannot remember how much. I think about $2500!
I have noticed as I am sure you have too, that dealers are a dying species. I expect that very soon you will find them only in NYC and LA. So you had better buy now. |
No prob at all Ctsooner... For next time you are on an integrated hunt... Continuum S2 is the cute 35 pounder with vestigial cooling fins priced just below $10K... Daemon is the one you can't lift because it's a 100 pounder, has a big honking horizontal selector/volume wheel, and is priced around $40K.
I do like continuum S2 quite a bit... Daemon I have not herd yet. |
Yea, sorry guys. I'm not familiar with Rowland like I used to be when they first started. I'd like to hear my Ayre vs it side by side in my system. I like a lot of gear to be honest. Not just Ayre, but until I find an integrated at the same price as my Ayre that is better, then I stay with what I have. Same with speakers. I love my Vandersteens and hope to get the Quatro's as soon as I sell my Treo's, but that doesn't mean that others don't make great speakers that I could be very happy with. Matt and I often share ideas of gear we hear off line. I'm not married to any specific product or manufacturer. Heck, because of THIS very thread I purchased an OSDE/SE and if you read my posts early in the thread, I said there was no way I'd get something that isn't sold via a dealer network etc...I'm very very pleased with my digital. All because of what Matt is doing and also listening to input from a few of you who's ears I trust (you can tell what folks like based on their posts.). Thanks for letting me play. |
Hi CTSooner and Matt, thank you for the clarification. I had an inkling that the Rowland integrated in question might have been the Continuum S2.... For no other reason that Rowland Daemon is still a very rare breed.
Saluti, G. |
Hi Guido. Wasn't the Daemon. Was the Continuum. I asked "off Thread. " |
Hi Ctsooner, at which dealer you auditioned both Daemon and the Ayre integrated side by side?
Saluti, Guido |
...and the new Jeff Rowland Daemon sounded absolutely STUNNING at the NY Show yesterday. Best of sound for me. |
|
CT - you always like Ayre better! Lol. And Guido always prefers Rowland.
Each has a very specific voice of their own. Although I found the Daemon to be the least Rowland sounding Rowland I have heard thus far in rag area to its brand name voicing. I'd like to do that comparison as well CT! Or against the newer top tier Twenty XR series. |
I'd love to get that Rowland into my house for a week to do a shootout vs my Ayre AX5/Twenty. heard them both at a dealer and liked my Ayre a bit better, but the Rowland was also amazing. Lot's of great integrateds now. |
Fellas please report out on this one. This Daemon is an interesting looking piece. Hope it sounds as good as it looks. It looks amazing! |
Hi CalvinJ, I am very keen on Daemon for the same reasons cited by Matt... Potential of substantial system simplification without sonic compromise. All third party reports this far point to Daemon sounding and looking spectacular. Unfortunately I have not experienced the creature myself yet. Just in case you missed it, here is the Daemon home page on the Rowland site:
http://jeffrowlandgroup.com/us/daemon-integrated.html
Guido |
Can't go. So bummed!! I made it to all the other big shows and the one in my "backyard" I can't make. Sigh.
Richfield - give us a review. |
I'm going to NY Audio show tomorrow if anyone from the thread is going would love to connect |
I heard it at RMAF. Awesome! Huge power, unlimited dynamics, but subtly and refinement. Worth a listen if you can get your ears on it.
It is a piece for a seasoned audiophile tired of the gear and cables and placement and everything. Plug it into speakers and the wall and provide a source and your making music. |
@guidocorona. Now that is an integrated I want to hear. Please update us of your thoughts on it. It's on my must hear list. |
For anyone attending the NYC show this weekend, the new Rowland Daemon super-integrated will be live in the
Elija Budd Room
Saluti, Guido |
Hi matt, I've,I will get in touch with you over the weekend, I've been busy at work, cheers. |
To all those who are posting on the new upgraded forum version, those posts don't propagate to the older forum style. Try to keep posts on the older style until they discontinue it now 30th. |
Hi Ketcham, I realize that searching on almost 60 pages of thread will be tedious, but the PS Direct Stream has been already examined and discussed at some length on this thread.
G. |
mattnshilp
I heard an extended demo of the dCS Rossini w/ ext clock at my local dealer. They also have a Vivaldi stack. While it's hard to do a direct comparison as they were setup in different systems with different downstream components and speakers, I have to say that the Rossini gets you very close to the Vivaldi. You can definitely hear the small differences but for the money the Rossini is hard to beat. It also has a better UI and software which will be coming to the Vivaldi but later this year.
If I wasn't already a Vivaldi owner, I would be sorely tempted to go with the Rossini. |
