I have been hearing great things about the dava field coil cartridge with the tube power supply. I am only able to read a few reviews on them. The reviews seem all positive and the designer Darius seems to be a very approachable person . I would like to hear opinions on the strengths and weaknesses of the cartridge. Especially comparison with the Lyra atlas sl which is my current cartridge.
it seems like some prefer to debate design elegance, history, methods, materials, and measurement minutia instead of actual music playing performance. nothing wrong with that unless you are actually wanting to play music.
i hope that some involved in those interesting musings do have a chance to hear the DaVa at some point as i would be interested in their listening perceptions about it. to me i want to first hear it to see if i like it, then maybe understand the tech to see how it did what it did. not the reverse first.
Dear @bonzo75 : Sorry to disturb you again but I re-read your posts and some information from your blog linked first by M Lavigne and unfortunatelly I can't find any single FACT/spec/measure that in any way could explain the FOUNDATION of all what you posted and that could change some of us opinions on that cartridge.
@mikelavigne, " then maybe understand the tech to see how it did what it did. "
Well that explain very clear our differences. My approach/common sense works different.
i only hope those who visit this thread for specific cartridge listening feedback, and have to sift through all the ’other interesting things’, do eventually find what they seek.
tech talk has it’s function too, of course. but is it the meat? or beside the point?
for me it is clearly beside the point. actually acquiring and listening to cartridges is the hard part. while i respect apparent techie chops, it's not what get's me excited about hifi and music.
Dover, once again I don’t want to go off on a tangent or to steal this thread, but when I said “within 0.5 db”, to me that means within plus or minus 0.5 db in relation to 0db. That’s what I mean when I say that. I recognize there is a possibility for what I said to have been misinterpreted. I don’t doubt there are cartridges that claim such a response accuracy. I’m only questioning the reality.
in the @mijostyn frequency range posted please tell us what's your " reality " talking about. posted that in that FR " all " FR cartridges is flat: dead flat and if you own a cartridge that measures over that then something is wrong down there and not easy to be exactly aware what is.
@mikelavigne, It is wonderful to be able to buy a multitude of expensive cartridges and be able to listen to them in your own system. I now find myself in that position but still will not look at cartridges that I think are substandard in any way especially from a cottage manufacturer. Time will certainly prove I am wrong in certain instances. As long as you enjoy what you are listening to life is good.
@lewm Lew, I have seen frequency response curves on many cartridges that were dead flat until the extremes. Obviously there is more to the performance of a cartridge than frequency response or they would all sound the same.
You guys really do make me laugh. Don't like the design so you are going to draw opinions about the sound but are not willing to actually hear it in a system. Thank you both for the entertainment.
I've heard the DaVa at Mikes house and was thoroughly entertained. I will be placing my order after I sell some of these crappy MM carts that Raul's thread convinced me into buying without hearing.
Simple lesson is this boys: all listening is subjective. Listen for yourself.
@jeff1225, I'm glade we are good for a laugh. Good luck with your DAVA. Please come back in a year and give us a long term assessment.
But, for the record, there is so much variability in how we listen and in the performance of our systems you can not make sense out of what any one or even 10 individuals hear. If you are making a buy decision based entirely on what someone else hears you are likely to be disappointed. You can't even trust your hearing if you were listening on someone else's system! Those of us with an understanding of the physics involved will always add those considerations into the mix as well as the history of the manufacturer and whatever reviews are available.
A man, who is not too long passed, and certainly did seem to have an 'understanding of the Physics Involved', once stated and which is recorded for all to see as a legacy, is to be seen below.
"We have been endowed with just enough intelligence to be able to see clearly just how utterly inadequate that intelligence is when confronted with what exists. If this humility could be imparted to everybody, the world of human endeavours would become more appealing."
I can absolutely trust my ears when I'm listening to a system. We listened to 3 turntables, two were fitted with the Etsuro Gold cartridges. The DaVa was head and shoulders above the Etsuro's to my ears. Dynamics, tone, and flow were superior.
I usually attend demonstrations carried out using Five Different Systems in homes throughout a year and also in a year can be introduced to a few other systems in unknown homes, further systems are experienced 'not in a home' if an event is attended.
The regular visited homes where I am familiar with the systems in use, are all able to impress and make very good presentations, the type of ones that I would be happy to introduce any forum member from any forum to.
I have always had a sympathetic understanding of a system presented in a home, especially one that is new to myself and one that maybe has quite obvious sonic traits that are not to my preferences. I am happy to discuss with the owner how long they have been putting the system together and which changes have been made to achieve the system that is un use.
It does not take long to work out that a certain individual builds a certain type of system to suit their own unique preferences and my thoughts on the sonic traits being detected, that do not come across as attractive to my prferences are of no importance and certainly do not have a place in the encounter. What matters is that I am a guest in another’s home and where I can support and offer encouragement for the positives being discovered is the Cornerstone of growing a friendship, especially where likeminded individuals are becoming rarer that Rocking horse Poo.
If I was to attend an event and a Commercial entity was demonstrating their wares. If an opportunity comes, ’which it has’, I will inquire about the intention for the system being demonstrated and would not hesitate to inform where I see the description being presented by the vendor and the impression made on myself through the demonstration and my assessment, are from my standpoint not aligned. It is not a nice trait (something a little whiffy) when a sales pitch being directed at somebody, is attaching itself to a Marketing Buzz Word or Journalistic Hype, but the sale being encouraged within the location is quite amiss in matching the attraction of the desirable traits of a Buzz Word.
It is an 'absolute fact', that one can go into different environments and make trusted and very useful assessments of an assembly of Equipment or even Particular Items of Equipment, through receiving a demonstration, they need nothing else than their senses to be healthy in order to make an evaluation.
Getting out and experiencing other systems of items of interest is the most enjoyable and healthy practice within HiFi, it is my mantra, it is this practice that has encouraged changes made within the home system that has created the in-use system today. It is also this practice that has enabled myself to measure my system against others and in some cases, systems approaching £200 000 or more, I don't feel I need to extend to such monies to get the experience that satisfies myself.
The above though is not sharing the experience of an item of interest entered into your own system used in your own listening environment in a relaxed emotional state.
With this in mind, a good impression made at another abode or venue, is one that identifies an item for a shortlist, and ideally to be included for a Home Demonstration, if the Home Demo' opportunity is able to be created, otherwise to purchase outright with no experience of the item used within the system, is a punt purchase. It would be bettered with a period of a pre purchase familiarisation in place for a purchased item.
With the modern marketing options, a Home Demo’ of an item of interest is difficult to achieve, but a demo’ of an Item of interest is usually achievable if a bit of footwork is carried out.
When I reassemble my system from storage, I have a list of items for a Home Demo', these are items of interest I have gathered over the past year or more. Fortunately, some items of interest are on others shortlists and I might get a few listens in other systems prior to be loaned the device for my own home audition.
Dear @jeff1225 : " You guys really do make me laugh. Don’t like the design so you are going to draw opinions about the sound but are not willing to actually hear it in a system. Thank you both for the entertainment. "
Well, I know that you already knew that audio world is in reality an audio circus where we can find out clowns as you. Nothing wrong with that or with me.
Now, you are totally wrong in what you stated because what I posted was and is not about " sound " that you said but several true facts ( not because I posted. ) on what surrounded that cartridge design where one of those facts is that the cartridge FR deviation is 4db-6db and this sole fact really makes me laugh. Now you are an active member of that wbf stampede that started 2 years ago by a gentleman with a system where only the speakers have a price tag of over half million big dolars. Go figure !!! Btw, you can go to the other Agon thread about " what the best cartridge " where you can continue " laughing ". Who cares.
"" I will be placing my order after I sell some of these crappy MM carts that Raul’s thread convinced me into buying without hearing. ""
It’s weird that you mentioned about when not many time ago you was really happy with. Next is one of what you posted on that issue:
""" I’ve purchased a Ortofon SPU A95, if you have a chance to try one I’d suggest it.
Signet 7TK-SU is still my current favorite on my Acoustic Signature Ascona and SME 3012R. """
That AT group 7TK is almost the entry level model and you was in " love " mounted in the 3012R that’s an stapede tonearm in wbf. Ridiculous for say the least.
Now a simple question: from next " crappy " cartridges which one of them you listened in your room/system? all where " discovered " in that MM thread:
AKG P100 LE, Technics 100C MK4 ( stand alone version ), Stanton 981HZSII, Nagaoka MP-50 Super, Grado " The Amber Tribute ", Acutex 320 III STR IMproved, Signet TK10ML-II, Azden YM-P50VL, ADC 27, Shure ML140HE, Nagatron 9600, Grado MCZ/A, Audio Technica Precept PC440 LC, Astatic MF-2500, JVC X-1MK2, Grado G-1+, etc, etc.
Your answer will be appreciated but before that I can tell you that any one of them can compete today with any top cartridge it does not matters if MC, field coil or the like.
""" I can absolutely trust my ears when I’m listening """, good because the ears of any humasn been is way limited where those ears can foolished you as happened too with the other gentlemans/members in that cartridge STAMPEDE.
Mijo, I guess it is my fault for not having fully explained my reasoning. When you see those impressive flat lines on the B&K print-outs that used to be supplied in the box with new cartridges, as far as I know they have to have been created using an input adherent to a compensation curve a la RIAA and then the output of the cartridge has to have been filtered according to the converse of the (RIAA) curve, in order to generate that nearly flat line between 20Hz and 20kHz. So what you are looking at is the sum result of whatever errors there were in the encoding of the test LP, in the cartridge's response to the input, and in the final decoding. The graph does not really tell you what the cartridge per se does to the input signal. When you're talking about differences of 0.5db (voltage db), those distinctions assume some importance. And then of course you don't get that flat response at your listening position even if your own phono corrector is perfect. Which is one reason why we don't all love the same cartridges. Imperfections are different for different systems, not to mention the bias that we carry in our heads, the magic balance each of us thinks is most real. My two systems definitely sound different, but not too different. Both of them are consciously put together to give me a close approximation of reality which endeavor brought them close together sonically, but they get there in different ways. Once I had reached that point in their development, I became much less willing to tweak them or experiment with new equipment, although every once in a while I do that, as you know.
@jeff1225, I do use my ears. The problem is that I can not use yours or anyone else's unless we are both listening to the same system.
@pindac, it is always best to evaluate equipment in the flesh and now that I am retiring I will be able to visit more shows and shops.
Intelligence has conquered numerous problems that have confronted humanity. It is not intelligence that is the limiting factor but knowledge which has yet to be gained. What is politically incorrect to say is, intelligence is not a fixed trait like blue eyes, it is highly variable. As dirty Harry once said, " A mans got to know his limits."
I've had the 3012R longer that WBF has been in existence. I've been patiently waiting for your tonearm to debut so I can buy that.....😀
I actually really enjoy my MM carts, I was just having a little fun. I also really enjoy your posts. I would encourage you to listen to the DaVa when you have a chance. I wasn't expecting to like it so much. Just like I wasn't expecting to own the 3012R for so long. It was the least expensive 12" tonearm when I wanted a 12" 15 years ago. I paid $800 for a NOS one on eBay. I owned it before I even had a table to mount it on. I just haven't heard anything better on my system.
Enjoying the time on offer through retirement is undoubtedly the goal.
Making additional time for Travel, Catching Up with Old Friends, investing more time into an interest, either one that is known or new, striking through the experiences listed on the Bucket List. With the extra time available there are goals to work towards.
There are lot more experiences behind, than there are out in front, so setting to the tasks is the key to the door.
There is no harm at all that can come from meeting up with others with a shared interest and experiencing their take on the shared interest.
The dialogue and friendships that can develop are much more valuable than anything on offer from being anonymous and Keyboard Smashing into a forum.
Hence my continued encouragement made known to others to look to find a route to interact with those who are participating in a similar activity with an enthusiasm.
My Local Group picks up a New Regular Attendee probably every 18 Months, but two new visitors have started attending regular during 2022. It is great to see what they bring to the occasions, the faces full of expression of deep interest and the obvious outward expression that and encounter is a stimulus is always great to see. There is always a very well worded follow sent out as a Group mail, as a response to the occasion.
Dear @jeff1225 : " It was the least expensive 12" tonearm when I wanted a 12" 15 years ago. "
Things are that I owned several vintage 12" tonearms, it looks really good. I learned several things why not use 12" ( even that today there are audiophiles enjoying 14" tonearm. ).
I owned both SAEC top of its line: the 506-30 ( that was designed not for home system but for radio stations.) and the WE-8000 the build quality level on both tonearms was and is second to none but unfortunatelly not only are 12" but with a double-knife bearing ( 3012: knife-ball. ). I owned too the FR-66 and the little shorter MAX-282 that is one of the best tonearms even today, Audiocraft AC-4400, etc.
Could be that you already read this SAT explanation about ( Dava goes against my syatem MUSic/audio targets and not curious to listen it. IF at random I will have the ocasion to listen it then I will do it. ):
i think Bonzo is just teasing you. and he is amused by your responses, not frustrated. you are not holding him back from anything.
it is your right, anyone’s right, to dismiss any product without hearing it. but when a product stops taking orders because the waiting line for it is too long, then maybe it’s worth hearing. many who have ordered it have heard it. just my perspective on the situation..
Dear @mikelavigne : First I anever post something " teasing " some other gentleman, it's not my style/way of thinking. Maybe to serious about critical audio issues.
If you posted that is because you really know that gentleman way of " life ". No problem, I will delete my posts and will change it.
Dear @bonzo75 : Good for Darius and bad for the MUSIC.
Look, I´m not against you, Darius, Mike or any one else in the overall cartridge topic. Difference is that after my cartridge and Mike " new " system research I seen mainly the high inaccuracy in the FR cartridge response that because that fact goes against MUSIC.
I’m not too against the fact that you, Mike and all the other gentlemans in that true " stampede " like it because for me that " like it " that even that does not has objective justification at the end is what you like and I respect that.
I've been absent for too long. @pindacwax poetic all you want. I love that. My own way of saying it is, "I am going to kick ass":-)
@ whomever brought the topic up. 12" tonearms are terrible. They sacrifice low inertia and stiffness for an insignificant improvement in tracking error. There is no decent cartridge available today that demands that kind of mass. If anyone thinks a 12" arm sounds better, unless there is something very unusual about their setup, it is entirely psychological. Under all normal circumstances they can't and they don't.
Now back to the Dava. There is always the very slight chance that the DAVA is an extremely good cartridge. From what I see and read there is no way in --- that I would opt for one without being able to evaluate one in equipment I am familiar with. There are several cartridges that I would buy sight unheard based on the design, the reputation of the manufacturer and lastly whatever reviews are out there. The DAVA is not yet one of them and I wouldn't hold your breath. I feel the same way about the DS Audio system and there are probably more people who think that is a great cartridge. Maybe I'm just a stodgy old guy that can not tolerate change(that's BS). Maybe I just enjoy tweaking Mikes chain, ( I don't think he cares). Maybe it is because I honestly think it is a piece of garbage, (I would not go that far). Darius Has obviously put a lot of effort into it. It should take off and make him a lot of money), ( the Jewish way of looking at things. I'm Jewish so I can say that without pissing myself off).
There is no similarity between DS audio and DaVa except that both are the most detailed I have heard. Jonathan Tinn owns north and he or Mike could let us know what he thinks about both
DS audio is not a field coil conical cactus stylus cartridge that can be put through an external phono, not does it have a tube power supply though is expected to get a tube encoder, I think. The sound and the resulting emotions are quite different between the two
here is all you need to know about Jonathan’s opinion. his DS Audio is for sale......but not his DaVa. he did tell me he likes both cartridges, but what the DaVa does is essential. and Jonathan has had most of the top level cartridges in his system.
Dear @mijostyn : you are rigth, the 12" against a 10" EL tonearm in reality makes almost insignificant " improve " in tracking error. Using Löfgren A alignment IEC:
high tracking error in 12" is 1.4° at 146mm ( outer groove) and from 120mm. to 66mm is 0°and at most inner groove ( 60mm ) is 0.56°
in the 10" is 1.65° at most outer groove and 0° from 119mm to 66mm and at most inner groove is 0.57°
All those with 100% accuracy in the alignment but any tiny inaccuracy in the alignment makes that the 12" error gone way higher than in a short tonearm.
Nothing justify a longer tonearm other that the " no sense ": " I like it " or just ignorance. In the other side a longer tonearm develops higher resonances/vibrations/self distortions ( everything the same. ).
high tracking error in 12" is 1.4° at 146mm ( outer groove) and from 120mm. to 66mm is 0°and at most inner groove ( 60mm ) is 0.56°
in the 10" is 1.65° at most outer groove and 0° from 119mm to 66mm and at most inner groove is 0.57°
All those with 100% accuracy in the alignment but any tiny inaccuracy in the alignment makes that the 12" error gone way higher than in a short tonearm.
Nothing justify a longer tonearm other that the " no sense ": " I like it " or just ignorance. In the other side a longer tonearm develops higher resonances/vibrations/self distortions ( everything the same. ).
Thats what my chooks use to say when we had the chook house in the back garden. Cluck, cluck, cluck cluck...
you are rigth, the 12" against a 10" EL tonearm in reality makes almost insignificant " improve " in tracking error. Using Löfgren A alignment IEC:
for someone who insists on 0.1dB riaa accuracy for hi-fi, you sure seem to have a very loose definition of the word "significant"
All those with 100% accuracy in the alignment but any tiny inaccuracy in the alignment makes that the 12" error gone way higher than in a short tonearm.
I believe you have gotten that backwards. The shorter the arm, the quicker things get ugly with any misalignment. This is assuming an advanced profile that has a very small window of "acceptable" angular error to begin with.
I guess this thread is about a cartridge with a conical profile but that doesn't change the general pattern of behavior.
and finally.....
Maximum distortion difference between null points is only 0.1% if alignment accuracy is 100%: zero tolerance.
I do not believe the "weighted" distortion measurements derived from the formulas is actually representative of the sonic penalty angular mistracking error can cause. It may serve as a great technical cudjoe to beat people with but I generally trust arguments formulated from the listening chair rather than from behind a computer screen.
Since you are one of the few here who interested in science and empirical measurement here is an interesting comment from Bruce Thigpen, designer of the ET2 linear tracker, whom has a degree in physics and audio engineering -
The untold parameter of a pivoted tonearm: To minimize tracking
error, pivoted tonearms were lengthened with a bend in the wand, or by
mounting the stylus at an angle in the headshell. The frictional force
of the stylus in the groove wants to straighten out the bend or crawl up
the records inner groove wall. When using anti skating with a pivoted
tonearm to prevent inner groove wear, regardless of mass, pivoted
tonearms bend the stylus with an opposite side load force of between .1
and .2 grams per gram of tracking force, the tonearm shaft is being
twisted outward (as viewed from above) with this static load which goes
through the stylus suspension, but the percentage of creep on the inner
wall of the record groove actually varies with the passage loudness or %
groove modulation. So you are constantly bending the stylus while only
marginally solving the problem.
With the ET-2 the side loads to accelerate the tonearm at .55hz
(33/13 RPM) are less than half of those values for an eccentricity of
.0312 inches (1/32 inch) and are a linear function of record
eccentricity. The cartridge cantilever suspension sees much lower loads.
So as you add mass, this side load value of the ET-2 goes up
linearly, but is always less than using any pivoted tonearm with anti
skating.
You should read Bruce Thigpens comments above - as it relates to your CS Port linear tracking arm. Also I would recommend reading the ET2 manual on Bruces site - it has excellent information and testing data on linear trackers.
constant minor side load is not as big a deal as sudden heavy side load.
Bruce might have forgot to mention (i did not read your linked info) that linear trackers do also require precise set-up or they can put much more stress on the stylus at the point of initial contact with the groove....getting arm started; than a pivoted arm which swings free. the stylus transfers the whole weight of the arm assembly to the mounting point and so if the arm is not properly level and free to glide it will be harmful. linear trackers can be the cause of failure too. non air bearing linear trackers are more vulnerable to this.
i owned the Rockport Sirius II SE for 2 years, then the Rockport Sirius III for 8 years. now i’ve owned the CS Port for 4 years. so i do fully appreciate the positive aspects of that approach. but i also switched from the Rockport to the pivoted Durand Talea back in the day and overall preferred it at the time. now i own three pivoted arms (2--10.5" and 1-12") and they do their job in an exemplary manor too. more than one way to skin the cat and it’s all a matter of execution, not dogma. arms are just part of the equation.
constant minor side load is not as big a deal as sudden heavy side load.
True
linear trackers do also require precise set-up or they can put much more stress on the stylus at the point of initial contact with the groove....getting arm started; than a pivoted arm which swings free.
Thats not necessarily correct - depends on inertia, not mass, and bear in mind a 12gm cartridge at the end of a 12" arm has significantly more inertia than the same cartridge at the end of a 7" linear arm. The effective mass and inertia on my FR64S are significantly higher than my ET2 for example. I find the ET2 linear tracker easier to set up accurately in fact - parallax error is much less likely on a linear tracker with an appropriate jig- than with a pivoted arm. Overhang is set with a very finely scribed line - much finer than a "hole" or thick dot on a typical protractor.
i also switched from the Rockport to the pivoted Durand Talea back in the day and overall preferred it at the time. now i own three pivoted arms (2--10.5" and 1-12") and they do their job in an exemplary manor too. more than one way to skin the cat and it’s all a matter of execution, not dogma.
Yes I agree - I used to be a top end distributor at the peak of analogue - there is no perfect arm, linear tracker, gimbal, unipivot, knife edge - they all have pros and cons. I keep multiple arms of all types in rotation. More important is the quality and execution of the actual design and the synergy with cartridge.
Arm/cartridge synergy is a lost art now, as most brick and mortar shops simply don't carry the stock for customers to assess various combinations of cartridge and arm - in fact most sell top end cartridges or arms to order now - no opportunity for audition - sad fact.
@dover, It is difficult to achieve with three eyes. Bruce Thigpen needs more study in the area of suspension and mass loading. The groove loading at the horizontal resonance frequency of any air bearing arm is horrendous and clearly audible as a pitch irregularity which may well be why Mike Lavigne seems to prefer pivoted arms. I have to agree that negating skating entirely is the biggest advantage of straight arms. I think the best approach to that problem would be the Reed 5T or the Schroder LT. I also have to admit that the magnetic antiskating systems of some arms is superior to other methods.
@intactaudio, @rauliruegas is absolutely right. Our ears are very sensitive to amplitude changes but could never pick up a change in distortion of 0.1%. Humans are entirely incapable quantifying what they hear. More than likely whatever they think looks better, sounds better. 12" arm are just another form of penis envy. They come from an era when radio stations played 16" records and should have died with it.
Dear @intactaudio : Seems that your post is more a one to hit me than to enhance the issue under discussion.
" for someone who insists on 0.1dB riaa accuracy for hi-fi, you sure seem to have a very loose definition of the word "significant" "
You can’t compare what significance has the eq. RIAA against a tonearm tracking error. Everything the same you can’t detect/aware of a 0.1° tracking distortion or the difference at most inner groove of only 0.01° tracking error.
"" I do not believe the "weighted" distortion measurements derived from the formulas is actually representative of the sonic penalty angular mistracking error can cause. ""
That’s only a " believe " that means almost nothing. Why not try to modeling the issue and come back with your certainty conslusions and in this way all of us can learn about.
" I generally trust arguments formulated from the listening chair "
That’s a subjective " anecdotic " opinion that can’t prove nothing for other people with different ears and different systems. Yes , maybe measures do not say all what is happening down there but always are facts and not " believes ". Remember that ears is a way limited " tool " that is didifferent in any human been.
I lived in Camden 1976-1977, and between The Hippodrome/Camden Palace/KoKo and Dingwall and on up to the Roundhouse there was lots to slip up on adorning the sidewalks (or pavements as we Brits call them)! Or was Peoples Vomit a punk band I missed?
If you took all the conflicting, but earnestly put forth generalizations from learned persons, in this thread and put them in a closed container and shook the container up, you'd have one heck of an explosion.
It is these early life experiences, these musical encounters set the seed, to seek out the continuance for enjoying musical encounters.
An Audio System inevitably is a tool to support this endeavor.
Being Obsessional without knowing, this interest took on different intensities and guises across a decade or so, but after seeing how insulated and fixated a mindset can become, especially for the endless search for a stimulation, I got out.
These are the assets that when utilised, successfully produce a Lonely Place.
I fortunately have found an exit, that still remains and is totally in control.
I chose to participate as a Social Individual, that has successfully extended in all areas of my activities around HiFi. Very rarely do I make time to listen to any music as a Sole Listener, I now treat all occasions, as if they were from the earliest years of being introduced to a musical encounter, the time set aside is always intended to be shared with another person/persons, just a group of friends did back in the day.
If my wife busies herself during a time made to share some of music collection, I am happy to continue 'pooing around' and this might become a little bit of being a Sole Listener (somebody has to carry the burden of worrying about the Stylus), or a sneaky A/B comparison might be snatched.
Through doing big Social Events in HiFi I occasionally get a chance to meet a type of individual that has gone down the Rabbit Hole of their ideals are the Goal for all to be aspired to. It is without doubt in their heart, if not in their words.
The noticeable lack of a broad focus on offer and noticeable self-serving interest being radiated is for me a repellant.
I can't remain in dialogue with such a personality showing such traits, it is not healthy for either Party to encourage the encounter to be prolonged. I make my excuses and move on fast.
When one is laying in a sick bed needing help, the HiFi System, nor one's endlessy acquired knowledge of all things HiFi are going to make soup and bring it with a care for one's welfare. The individuals who do take up the mantle and do bring soup and show care, are very likely hurting inside somewhere, about how another's' obsession with HiFi has deprived them of a wanted experience or even just a valued consideration.
It is a real sad moment to share a very short period of time with an individual who has allowed a Hobby to become extremely salient, to the point the individual has lost their Power and are succumbed to being controlled.
The really good news is HiFi is enjoyable, even really enjoyable, and can be a very attractive social activity, if that is where one would like it to stop.
Actually, @pindac, I have been housebound for a long time now. CLL wrecks one's immunity at the best of times, but when you add in a bone marrow transplant and a pandemic, I have to be very careful. My hi-fi is bringing me soup and sanity, and without it all I'd have would be these forums and I'd have given up the ghost a long time ago if such a toxic brew was all I had!
It gives me hope and pleasure both. Two tonearms arrived this morning, and now I shall enjoy the anticipation while I wait for the two tonearm pods to be machined. Maybe by Christmas I shall have four cartridges on the go at once. Sadly, none will be a DaVa, but we make do with what we have.
Dear @mijostyn : There is no perfect tonearm and always exist trade-offs but no LT tonearm I owned or listened in a well know system can't even the kind /rigthness of bass range that has a pivoted (non-unipivot design. ) tonearm and it's rigth there where the foundation of MUSIC belongs/lives in a home system: as better the bass mangement of a room/system as better the overall quality performance reproduction levels of that room/system.
I could think that Mike is aware of it as other gentlemans too.
@dogberry Your present health condition has had quite an impact on your lifestyle. I do hope there is an improvement through available treatments that will reduce the impaction of the present condition and enable you to take on a little more out of the house time.
It is not difficult to imagine how having a means to communicate about a Hobby is quite valuable to you, in this context, the impression is that the participated in activity is well grounded and has value. It is satisfying that I am one who has responded to your posts and hopefully offered something to be of interest for you.
In the not too distant past a friend had a very invasive surgery and quite a long convalescence. They lived approx' 100miles from my home and I shared time on the Phone regularly and visited them on quite a few occasions, which evolved from general chat, to being able to play Mum on their HiFi System to enable them to talk HiFi and experience their music.
Another friend who I met initially through HiFi, who lives a similar distance in another direction and is well into their retirement years has had their own health scares and needed invasive treatments, this situation when presented has been no different. I have spent many hours in conversation on the phone and have been with this person when arrangements to meet were agreed.
Only tonight I have been attempting to arrange a date to visit my retired friend.
I know my willingness to participate socially has been beneficial to others, and not only restricted to the individuals who are pleased of the Company during a difficult time.
@dogberryI do not know how careful you have to be with Visitors, but I can assure you with what I know now, I would not hesitate to offer a visit to share a time with you if I could visit in a reasonable Journey time. I'm sure it would be a very nice encounter, and would be followed by the usual, where a friendship blossoms.
It is easy to Tap a Keyboard and create a Persona that is intended to make an individual seem more than they actually are. I avoid this and share experiences encountered to the best I recollect them. Some recollections are supported by emails produced between individuals shortly after the experience, and more recently a New Group Member records notes of all subjective evaluations and presents them as a type of minutes to the attendees.
Staying as close to a recollection of an experience as possible, is where I am believing the best info' is to be discovered, when reporting on Musical and HiFi encounters.
For me, making the time to talk to or to spend with other's, that are like-minded in a particular enthusiasm is not too big a deal. I Walk the Walk on this one.
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