Audiophile systems of awe.

The best system I ever heard (that was many years ago, and I might have a different opinion now) Was a Decca London cartridge, in (I think) a Linn table, into Audio Research tube preamp, and Audio Research tube mono amps into Infinity Servo-Static 1A speakers. It took my breath away. ..but then I head the total Cello system a few years ago and wasn't impressed at all.

The MBL systems that I had heard in the last two hi-end shows were definitely impressive, but only with some types of music. I had spent at least three hours in their rooms at each show. Some of the music they were playing just took my breath away. But these are mostly large scale music like choral, orchestral, or rock music. I tried some small jazz ensembles, solo instruments or solo vocals, and although they still sound impressive, the system make them "much, much larger than life".

At Stereophile show two years ago, MBL played a choral track from a Reference Recording CD over and over. It was so awesome, that many people went straight to Reference Recording's room to buy the CD after each demo. I was one of them. That CD was from 1991 and I wouldn't be surprised if it turned out to be the best selling CD for RR at that show. I've been using that track as a reference when I audition speakers/systems. But I've not heard anything that came close to what the MBL system was able to do.

FrankC

Kharma Exquisite Reference 1E speakers, a pair of mbl 9011 amps, mbl 6010D pre amp, mbl 1621A/1611F transport & DAC.

I listened to a B&W Nautilus 800 (the snail) system a couple of weeks ago which rewrote my book on hi-fi and forced me to ditch a number of prejudices. First to go was my anti-B&W bias. They have never done anything for me until I heard these things.

Next to go was my bias against Class D. The B&W's were powered by Jeff Rowland Class D amps, and they were wonderful - extended at the top and bottom, incredible control, no coloration. At the top of the market, most amps only vary by degree of refinement - and I kid you not, these amps had the kind of refined elegant sound that we all want.

Then I had to get rid of my metal tweeter bias. Always hated metal tweeters, because in my previous experience they sound harsh and ... well, metallic. These things were slightly trebly to be sure, but detail retrieval was right up there with my Acapella plasma tweeter. I was shocked because I never thought anything would come close.

Out the window also was my dislike of digital volume controls. In my experience, gain should be analogue, because you lose bits and increase noise with digital. Not here - play as soft as I like and I did not feel I was losing resolution.

Quite simply it was a landmark system. And who would have thought it possible of B&W and Class D amps ...