Hi again Emil,
[ Something else of possible interest? My Journey into Audio. - This is something which I've shared with Fellow Music Lovers @ Echoloft.com ]
That's some journey which you've been on I must say. I came into this hobby by introduction of Jazz Listening with my Father every weekend, growing up in Canada in the 50 till 1973 was a time for one to find themself and it didn't take long before I found myself loving Jazz much like my Father, and started collecting Jazz Records in the Summer of '68 with what was then to become the first of my how 8951 LPs to date.
My father was the only person whom I knew at the time 1972 whom was into tube based electronics and owned a Garrard 301 TT w/ Decca Jubilee Cartridge and a ML Pre amp with 2 Leak Stereo 20 used as MonoBlocs driving a pair of Original Quad ESL 57s this was one of my first taste of what Tubes were. This prior to me coming to the states to visit my Mother whom couldn't understand the slower pace of the Canadians and their mindset for a more laid ~ back &~ peaceful way of Life. And seeked the more upscale nature of living her life in one of those happening cities @ the time in America.
Shortly there afterwards I found myself stuck here as I was to meet my future wife ~ Michelle. Shortly after we became married I joined the USMC and was stationed in Osaka,Japan for 9 years. This was to become an expeirence of a lifetime as it taught me more about respect for Human Life and Honor. It allowed me to find peace within oneself ~& to become in touch with all things as God had intended. I made friends with several Guys there whom were much into this then new to me Audiophile Thang if you will forgive the slang? ~ These Guys were able 24 years old and I found it strange that these Guys where still living @ home with their Parents. As in Western Culture one seems to strike out at an earlier age it would seem! Anyway upon visiting one of these Guys homes for the very first time, I couldn't help but notice a stack of records upon entering the livingspace, and as I turned left ~ I saw something which reminded me of my Fathers components yet for some reason they were something all together different. This was my first time ever listening to McIntosh or Quad II Tube Amps. as well as looking @ vintage Horn LoudSpeakers. The sound coming from this system was one of absolute refinement and had a sense of emotional flow to it. It's sound was so pure and natural as I at the time could only ease into the soundstage and forget everything else around me. Life was Beautiful. Jazz LPs were everywhere to be found and I quickly found myself going back and forth to the Record Store more then 5 times a day. Such was my new found addiction. Yet it would take more understanding of just what was happening to me as I found myself enjoying Music more then any other time in my entire life. For me Music became a source of more then just relaxation ~ it had become the very air that I breathed. This lesson taught me the importance of what Music should sound versus that as often mistaken by most American as Hi Fi which in reality much of what I've heard here isn't what I'd consider to be the least Musical @ all.
Upon returning to the States in 1982, I was visiting a local Hi Fi Salon and was listening to some then unknown to me electronics from a Company called Naim Audio from Salisbury,England. While listening their was this odd Yuppie type sitting in on my audition and shortly afterwards we simply started talking about the Sound which we were listening to and Music in general. He asked what I thought about what I was hearing? and I replied ~ It's a tad bit bright sounding overall, nut I love how it seperate each and every fragment and offers more texture to the Instruments and allows one to follow said texture throughout the recording. I told him I also notice that this system tends to show what's on the actual recording more then anything else that I had heard SS wise from any of the American Companies with the exception of Mark Levinson. We continued talking about Music for another 2 hours which I enjoyed sharing my points of views on what I'd heard during my time in Japan. Looking @ my watch and realising the time, as I was about to leave, he finally introduces himself as Bill Pre'fane and goes on to say I'm the owner of this store alone with several others in Michigan, and I think that you've a very good ear! would you consider a job as my primary buyer for said stores?.
This was something that @ the time I hadn't given much thought about seeming that I had just gotten home and was enjoying time with my Family. 3 weeks later he calls me and asks again, would you be interested in working for me?, And for me solely as you'll have an account sep up for you and you'll be able to travel abroard in search of better sounding electronics to introduce to our eclusive cliente. For whatever reason? I told him give me another week to think about it, as I wasn't certain this was something which I'd consider a career.
Long story somewhat shorter ~ I joined the firm in June of 1982. And as months went by I found myself more then a little bit happy, as I was able to travel to Germany, Scotland, England, France, Italy and to once again return to Japan. I was I believe the very first American to hear either the Marantz CD 94/DAC 94 - Meridian CDP - Celestion SL 6s - Pink Triangle TT - Townshend Rock Turntable &~ Cables and speakers - Micromega Trio ~ Duo and Solo Pro CDP and Transports - Roksan Xerxes &~ Its line of speakers - Exposure Electronics with a favorite being the XV Integrated Amp along with the soon to be released Naim Audio NAIT. This lead me to later hear such joys as Snell Model As ~& Model Js, Audio Innovations First &~ Second Amps alone with their Pre amps, Linn Sondek LP 12 &~ Linn Kans, Naim Audio NAC72/NAP 140 and 250 or 135s &~ SBLs, Ariston RD 80 ,Harbeth Hl -P3s. Neat Acoustics Petites. Later on Audio Note, CAT SL 1 Signature, Jadis Ja 30s, Avalon Acoustics Ascent Mk.2s, and so forth. I was bringing in items which actually were selling quite well. Is was responsible for finding new and unusal Records for our clients and found a source to supply us with the entire ECM - Steeplechase - East Wind - 3 Blind Mice and Opus 3 LPs.
Unfortunately, the store owners decided to close and change the locks on the doors of all 3 locations over a sunday while we were closed. Only to have us come back on Monday morning in total shock of being locked out. It was until 2 days later that one of the owners had the nerves to call any of us to report that they had decided to pursue interest through the internet. They had sold off the stores to another local Hi Fi store whom wanted to obtain our lines but couldn't ~ so they did the next best thing. THEY BROUGHT US OUT!. This was March 1992.
Fortunately for me @ least, I had made a many friends alone the way and one of my customers whom owned her own Publishing Company @ a local Magazine offered me a position with her firm as a Graphic Artist. She was ever considerate enough to pay for my schooling at a world renowed school here in Michigan called ~ Center for Creative Studies. As this school has students for all over America, it is considered by most as one of the finest. Any ways 4 years later, I'm still working at this firm and loving it.
I was making real money @ this point , far more then with the Audio Store, just a different vibe all together. And started buying things like Wadia WT - 3200 Transport w/ DAC 32X - A Presence Audio Linestage One with either A Cary Audio Sweet 807 or Audio Prism Debut driving ProAc Response One then One SCs. Cables from the likes of Straightwire - Apex - Music Metre - Sonoran. I've owned ProAc Tablettes in one form or another since '84 and have never considered replacing them as I've always known how to get the best out of them. I've also owned and loved toys like: Micromega Solo Pro - Meridian 206B Delta version - 2 Linn Sondek LP 12 [ Waste of Money ] - 2 Different Versions of Well Tempered Classic Turntables - Onix OA 21a w/ BWD 1 Tuner ~& Soap2 PS - Audio Innovations Series 500 or Series 700 -McCormack Focus and Prism Mk. 2 CDPs - about 5 different modified Philips CDPs - Pink Triangle TT - Two Anniversary turntable - Roksan Xerxes w/ Tabriz Zi and Corus Black - Harbeth LS 3/5A &~ HL - P3s - Neat Petites -Accuphase DP 55 &~ DP - 65V CDPs - more Naim Naits versions 2,3, 3R - ProAc Tablette Original '1984 version , Mk.2,Mk.3. 50 Signature. Reference 8 Signatures. Celestion SL 700s - Totem Model One Signatures. Densen DM 10 &~ Beat 100 - Oracle delphi Mk.3 w/ Sumiko Premeire FT 3 Tonearm and Lyra Beta.[ You get the ideal I trust?]
Since 2000 I've been downsizing my system as I began to appreciate a more Minimalistic approach to building a system with a sense of Synergy first ~& foremost as the most important traits to pursue this time around. I sold off the Presence Audio LS One w/ the Cary Sweet 807 and Audio Prism Debut ~ the Wadia combination ~ My older version of a Well Tempered Classic [ Sq. Motor Circa 1995 ]
~ Replacing everything with an Accuphase DP ~ 65V , Audion Sterling ESTE, ProAc Tablette 50 Sigs and Audio Physic Step 'SLE' Alpha Core/Goertz TQ2 and Python MI 1 LSC ~ Purist Audio Designs Museaus Cables and Harmonic Technology Truth - Link and Pro 11 + LSCs. VooDoo Power Cords Black and Silver Dragon, Naim CD5i, Cayin TA 30 Tube Int. Amp [ In 2003 - Mainly because it's good looks and finish matches well w/ the Accuphase DP - 65V ].
Sony SCD ~ 777ES [ this was my last purchase this March 2005]. Sound Anchors Custom Amp &~ LS Stands. TWEAKS, tweaks, and more tweaks. And NOS ECC82/12AU7s &~ ECC83/12AX7s from just about every maker known. Of late Tweaks ~ Tubes ~& Cables have become my source of interest. As I have come to a point where I simply want to buy more recordings no matter which format? and just Listen to Music 4 the sake of Music. As of to date I own again 8951 Jazz LPs, 2504 CDs and 263 SACDs. Nuff said. Oh, and a more upscale version of my beloved Well Tempered Classic w/ Black Arm &~ Platter with Marigo mods. That's my journey. And hopefully soon it shall end?. Yeah right.
Be well,
Oscar [ EL34EH ]
