Suncoast audio happens to be a major Magico retailer.
That and the previous youtube video must be just coincidence I guess.
Pardon me for acknowledging this obvious publicity stunt. |
@techno__dude @techno_dude
Since apparently you have two usernames (or maybe someone is using the extra underscore to try to impersonate you), I wanted to take a moment to comment.
I don't know @whitecamaross but I have done business with Mike at Suncoast multiple times in the past. He is not even remotely the kind of person you seem to be implying he is. My dealings with Mike have been friendly and cordial and not one time has he ever steered or tried to "sell" me anything. He gives his honest opinion and does so without the implication that if you choose to go in a different direction it would be a mistake. He has never once mentioned Magico to me because I haven't asked. He carries some wonderful lines but I get the feeling if he didn't genuinely like something himself, he wouldn't carry it. Full stop.
You seem to be implying that he is shilling and that is unfair and incorrect. Its not like he drew a short straw and Magico was the only line he could pick up. Mike and Suncoast have earned their reputation and most higher end manufacturers would likely get on a plane immediately if he was open to picking up their lines. He isn't and most great dealers aren't. They curate their product line to fit what they like and therefore, what they can with good conscience recommend to their customers.
I have read many of your comments toward @whitecamaross and while he is fishing in waters I would never venture into, I have throughly enjoyed his thread. Your commentary and comportment however has added absolutely nothing to the discourse. When you start calling out high character individuals like Mike and Jay I take exception, not that my opinion of you should matter to you in the least. Both of your usernames have a combined grand total feedback of zero. Maybe you are Kenjit for all I know or care. Zero feedback doesn't mean that you can't be a contributing community member to the Audiogon community but it certainly indicates that you may not have been to date. Your snarky, ill informed comments to @whitecamaross and your comments about Mike and Suncoast do not inspire me to believe you will. Rant off. |
Mike even shared a great deal of info about Boulder with me last year and then encouraged me to purchase from my closest dealer. He is a first class individual. I hope others who lurk on this thread are as tired of people like techno taking anonymous potshots at good people like @suncoast_audio and @whitecamaross from the cheap seats as some of the rest of us. The Audiogon community used to make it very uncomfortable on trolls and were more welcoming to opinions. Lets make it that way once again. |
Never mind kren0006 :-)
Dave
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@ghasley
Your contribution here is much appreciated. I surely agree with your comments - "The Audiogon community used to make it very uncomfortable on trolls and were more welcoming to opinions. Lets make it that way once again". |
If it was Jay’s joke it was a cruel one. Those Wilson with top D’Agostino amps should be capable of quite a sound. Comparison with big Boulders would be great too.
I did not hear Accuphase or Luxman or Gryphon in my system. Luxman sound just doesn’t impress me with anything, nothing wrong with it really, strictly speaking. Accuphase has more depth, sophistication and character, it sounds authentic. Jay did not dislike Accuphase with Wilson, he though that at $22k E-800 integrated was very overpriced in the US. That may be but $16k Gryphon Diablo 300 is very different and not everyone will prefer it to the Accuphase. $16k or $22k for a great integrated that may last a lifetime, is it much of a difference ? It depends.
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Well I suppose I was the first to sniff out the April foolery but won’t take too much credit for that. Shame it wasn’t true - well except for the D’agostino part, haha |
Anybody else notice how many Wilson Alexx are all of sudden up for sale now? Dealers moving on from their demo units with the replacement now out. $70-75k seems to be asking price. About $100k less than new Magico M6! |
It’s discontinued...that’s what happens with each wilson speaker once it gets discontinued... The next speaker to be discontinued is the Alexia 2 next year...you’ll see 30 pairs of Alexia 2 listed once that happens. |
Do you know when Sasha DAW will be replaced/discontinued ? 2023ish? |
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The latest recording is the kind I like. Everything upfront from bass to sparkling percussion, much more natural than the usual songs. My computer is circling around so I don't see the name of the song, artist, etc. It sounds like "Temptation." The sound is great mainly due to the recording, so I hope you make it a reference for future videos. Can you give the full name of the song, artist, label, etc.? Thanks. |
“It’s discontinued...that’s what happens with each wilson speaker once it gets discontinued... The next speaker to be discontinued is the Alexia 2 next year...you’ll see 30 pairs of Alexia 2 listed once that happens.” Wouldn’t you think Yvette is the next Wilson to see a series 2 makeover? |
I would yeah
yvette, then Alexia then Sasha I’d wager
(not that you were asking me haha) |
Actually, the Yvette seems long overdue. |
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@kren006
Well I suppose I was the first to sniff out the April foolery but won’t take too much credit for that. Shame it wasn’t true - well except for the D’agostino part, haha Of course he was kidding, but I don't think it was an April Day joke either. My guess is that it was something well deserved and intentional. |
Tbh I don’t think anyone would (or should) be shocked if he wasn’t kidding and was dead serious
I heard a lot crazier suggestions today than that |
techno_dude's comments are sadly based on ignorance when he speaks about Mike and Suncoast.
Mike is without question, one of the most honest and honorable people in the audio industry. Mike has provided me with great advice and counsel during my audio journey and has never tried to put anything remotely close to a sales pitch on me. I purchased my Diablo 300 and Lumin pieces from him as well as various interconnects. He is a straight shooter and a pleasure to business with. |
@greginnh
This has always been techno...that's what he does all the time. He feels that creating narratives is a cool addition to this thread.
Anyhow , let's move on. After everyone already went off on him, he won't say anything for a few days and go into hiding as he usually does. |
We gonna get round 2 of Mike or has that been scrapped after the blowback?
I suppose I started it unintentionally, although I don’t think I made any unreasonable comments -- only generally made the point that dealers will typically always recommend what they sell over what they do not. I don’t think many would dispute that contention.
Mike seems like a good guy, so no offense intended, and I enjoyed the first video as I said at the time. But I could understand why he or WC might not want to do that again after what ensued.
Yeah I never got why some want to allege nefarious shenanigans without hard evidence here. Just enjoy the ride foks, or if you cannot enjoy then don’t torture yourself by following. Life’s too short.
Look at new-Viber. He used to be judgmental and dogmatic and my-brightness-way-or-the-highway but now he’s pleasant or at least even if he still thinks that way doesn’t force it on people anymore (knock on wood).
Except I’m still trying to come to grips with his prognostication that my over-the-top diet soda habit will eventually kill me .......... (I think that’s what he said, haha).
Sidebar: I think there was a study once where a bunch of lab mice were fed regular soda, diet soda, and water. After a period of time, the waters were healthy, the regulars were fat, and the diets were dead! <gaping mouth shocked look> yeah, I gotta quit....... |
Kren,
the new Techniques integrated (GaN) is a mere $10K
hth
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It's a pretty cool dynamic where you have a conversation like that in the vid. Entertaining. Adds something for sure versus you just talking yourself. Maybe cool idea for future bringing in guests like that. |
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I mean the other side of the coin is that you don’t want conflict-of-interest questions to arise so you have to balance that out.
The appeal of your review status is your free-from-influence stated position, and you definitely want to maintain that reputation I’d think.
Tweak - tell WC, not me! He’s the one with the bucks and the time/energy to review. Maybe he should get that class D into the Survivor-style Integrated Amp Shootout that I dreamed up for WC and keep nudging him towards |
I thought the yt videos were to find about our opinions of what we hear. NOT. If we don’t like it, it’s the electronics fault and we get the retailer coming to defend and push the brand that is being criticized...
I don’t care how cool, honest, and knowing the Suncoast Audio guy is. He is singularly pushing a brand that he sells. It’s as simple as that.
WC , you don’t respect our opinions, you dont hear your viewers... |
I don't hear viewers who seem to have a negative contribution or who seem to ONLY add NOTHING but stories that nobody cares to hear. |
Alright I’m changing my amp prediction again based on new information.
When I made the Audio Research prediction it was out of the blue, based only on gut feeling of what would be a great pairing (bc WC told us it was sounding amazing- first time he’d had a long listening session in 3 weeks with the M6), even despite knowing WC’s aversion to tubes and how few tube amps he’s had and his often stated preference for solid state.
Well then 2 days ago we find out whatever it is he got from Suncoast, who list ARC as a brand they carry on their site ;so I thought, hmm, that just might be correct.......But now I see ARC website currently doesn’t show Suncoast as an authorized ARC dealer and also a current Suncoast advertisement in Absolute Sound where they list their brands that they sell also doesn’t list ARC (so i double-sourced that conclusion, haha). So bottom line I don’t think Suncoast is an ARC dealer so with that new information (assuming I’m correct that ARC not a Suncoast line despite what their site says) well then it can’t be ARC.
So my new final answer prediction is VAC, a brand Suncoast does carry and the most similar (hi-end tube) to my original guess. Yes, sticking with a tube guess even though maybe just 3-5% of WC’s amps historically have been tubes. |
kren0006,
I agree on the VAC guess - you will probably be right - again :-)
Dave
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Haha. Well whether I’m right or wrong I feel like WC has been way too SS focused so would be great to see more tubes.
Suncoast dealer mentioned couple times in video he’s a tube guy and I’m thinking that’s probably why he showed up to set it up bc he thought WC might f it up! Haha, only kidding WC.
But I mean. Kinda makes sense. WC prolly doesn’t need help lifting any amp or if he does he can pay some dude at his gym $50 to help him. Prolly only reason dealer would need to come is help with installation and configuration and really how many amps would WC need that kind of help with?? Ya, think I mighta nailed this one...... |
It would be nice if those very few who only want to create drama, for them to just change the channel and exit. This is WCs thread and he can choose how and when he wants to spend his capital and based on whatever feedback he gets. Respect is given were it is received. |
Well, Jay is in business, so is Mike. Either Mike is pushing Pass brand or he has a very strange hearing, or both. Soulution 530 integrated has much more class than that Pass, as I hear it. In addition, bigger is not always better, speaking of soundstage. It should be just right, whatever it is. And I do have an impression that both the speakers and perhaps the Soulution are not fully burnt in yet.
VAC would interesting to hear, or/and Wavac. Anyway, besides other possible improvements we need to find a way to get real bass in there, not exaggerated bass but a real one. We don't have it so far, not enough of a foundation in that sound as it is.
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@inna
Yes, Jay and Mike are in business. But I don't see them pushing anything. They are just sharing what they hear. Unless one was there, they cannot say anymore. This is not a question of class, but rather of synergy. |
@pokey77
You said it better than i did. This is about synergy and nothing else.
I will release a short video over the weekend of my first encounter with the Alexx V today! |
Synergy indeed. Foregone conclusion - Boulder will work great with any speakers. Great amp is great amp. It will not necessarily be the very best amp for any speakers but it will be an excellent match. Well, unless it is just too much power for speakers to handle. Part of a synergy talk is BS. |
Thanks to Mike of Suncoast for revealing little known aspects of Boulder vs Soulution. Even though my taste for accurate, analytical sound is opposite to his, I appreciate his honesty in what he said. He said in essence that Boulder is more tubelike smooth than Soulution, which is more detail oriented SS. I was considering the Boulder 1161 which is a lower power version of the 1160, which he said is of a similar character to the 2100 series.
As for "musicality" and "soul," I have a different interpretation than most. My music is almost exclusively classical, but I do appreciate the excitement of jazz recordings which are lively and snappy. I like the lively Diana Krall recording of "Temptation" which Jay just presented. A system with the highest clarity/neutrality will present the musical informational content to its full extent. To me, THIS is musical, because more of the music is revealed. But euphonic tube type sound, while pleasant, is missing some information, so is really NOT musical the way I consider it. Related to this is what you think of as "soul." Hearing all the information in the recording and gaining greater understanding of the musical details is also "soul satisfying." I am unhappy, even depressed, when the system is unclear, and I can't hear what I know should be there. This is NOT satisfying to my soul. A recent example--I was listening to a violin/piano recording. Usually the violin is more brilliant and the piano is in the background. But the electrical power was pristine that particular day, and I heard the piano shine more brilliantly like a glowing vibraphone. I was happy because I could appreciate the brilliance of the soft piano as well as the violin. This was like a beautiful bright sunny day that makes everything more beautiful, good for the soul. Still, I don't like bright sun in my eyes, which is like blasting the system too loud. Songs like "Man in the moon" in my system sound wonderfully brilliant at 70 dB, not 82 dB. |
BREAKING NEWS
BREAKING NEWS
BREAKING NEWS
Gryphon will cease partnership with on a higher note. Gryphon will now follow a direct distribution model effective tomorrow. There will be no more distributor for Gryphon. This follows the same pattern that Luxman has done.
Guys this is EXCELLENT news for all of you. Wow. I'm shocked ! |
@inna
I often wonder if English is your first language. You wrote "Synergy indeed" then later say "Part of a synergy talk is BS". What are you meaning to say with the statement "Part of a synergy talk is BS"? |
Poor O'Hanlon has spent a lot of time and money giving Gryphon visibility in the US, and now they cut him out. Doubt it will give potential US buyers better prices in the long run, but maybe a good time to pick up gear at lower prices as stock gets dumped. |
Why is it excellent new ? |
It would be great to get some VAC gear up against these heavyweight SS amps!
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Hi Jay, You do an amazing job with all of this tuff! Thanks!! I will share my short amp ventures as some are pertinent to your discussion and responses:
My upgrade path started with my Classe SSP-800 and CA-2300 stereo amp. This was years ago upgraded from very fine Parasound Halo stuff.
I was a happy man with nice components until my SSP crapped out and my search began.
I got PS Audio Stellar series in, and back it went. Then I went all BHK with DAC, Pre and BHK-250 stereo amp. It was better, but again the upgrade path led me to try an Audionet entry level Pre 1 G3 and an Auralic Vega G2 DAC. I started to hear the resolution I crave. Then came the Mola Mola Kaluga's. Wow, I was blown away by the dynamics and extension. Finally, I got in the Audionet Pre G2 with the Audionet Max mono amps. These are amazing! Especially the amps. Great everything. Bass, detail, resolution, but especially soundstage and imaging, never with fatigue. They draw me in like nothing else I have heard. I actually have two fairly reference systems.
BSMT is Mola Mola Tambaqui DAC, Audionet Pre G2, Audionet Max amps, and YG Hailey 2.2 speakers with REL subs. I use all Kubala Sosna Elation cabling. It all makes a difference.
FAMILY ROOM Was Mola Mola Makua w internal Tambaqui and Mola Mola Kaluga amps running Revel Salon 2 speakers and REL subs If I did not have the bsmt system I would never have known. But I was always drawn in when going down there.
So I lugged the amps upstairs and inserted the Max amps with the Makua. Wow. There it was. Amazing imaging and soundstage. My Salon 2's came to life like never before. My lady, who is fairly tired of my upgrading and talking about it all the time, did have to agree.
I swapped in the Kaluga's downstairs, and the sparkle and magic was gone. Not bad at all, but not what the Audionet Max's brought.
So now my very nice Mola Mola Kaluga's are for sale, and I have ordered another set of the Max's from GTT Audio.
The Mola Mola Kalugas are very nice. The Audionet MAX's are simply amazing.
One other thing. I had my very nice Audience AU 24SX cables initially.
I demo'd the KS Elation stuff, and damn it, they were better (to me, in my system). So now I have replaced half of my cables with KS, and plan on the other one soon. I do hear the best sound when all the cables match.
As you well know, the ability to swap components in and out of system is very revealing. What an amazing hobby with all the choices and certainly all the opinions! Soo many flavours of ice cream, but some ice cream shops are just way better than others!
Thanks again for all you do, and sorry so many seem to attack. I know you would love the Audionet Max's and beyond!
Take care all, Ken
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Hi Ken
Thanks for sharing your journey above. I have always been curious about audionet. It has been the brand that has escaped me but you never know what the future holds.
For now, i don’t have plans to bring audionet but that is typically how it is for me until the opportunity presents itself and then i have it here.
Thank you again for sharing your thoughts! |
@ fastfreight
Yes, thank you for sharing. I also have the Mola Mola Makua preamp with DAC option into a Simaudio 870a amp running YG Carmel 2's with (2) REL Carbon Limited subs. Heard so many great things about the Audionet Max's. Also working with Bill Parish was an absolute pleasure. Looking to upgrade my speakers now.
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Funny! I also have Carbon Limited Subs! Where are you located Ron17? |
haha...Southern California. You? |
Sorry guys, but the latest yt videos are just like all the others out there...
A retailer being interviewed by an audiophile indirectly pushing a product. Just tell me how it is any different than all the others vids ?...
Is there any moment in those vids where they talk about the product downsides ? ... No, just like any reviewer video outhere, it seems the M6 is the perfect product and if it ever sounds bad or artificial to someone that must conspicuously be the associated electronics...
What’s the purpose of asking your viewers opinions, if it never counts in the end. |
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techno, let's leave them alone with that. It's mostly or exclusively dollars that count in the end, as you imply. Dealers have to push products, the only question is how exactly they do it, their approach.
The latest videos are no different than many others on youtube. |
