Schroder sq and the new talea

Oh, I also forgot that Frank Schroeder also, at the last minute, decided to use a different phonostage that cost about $20,000 and the Talea went through the one in the integrated Atma-Sphere preamp. Nothing against the Atma-Sphere, but it certainly goes to show how ridiculous this "event" was.

Everyone that I spoke with that attended felt hoodwinked by the last minute "changes" and were rightfully upset.

I think it was a complete waste of time. At the last minute Frank decided he did not want to use the same cartridge so there was no real way to compare apples to apples.

Given the circumstances, I thought both sounded good, but I preferred the Talea setup the way it was. I thought it sounded more natural and lifelike.

Dgad: It is my understanding that it was the other way around. I heard Frank approached Joel. :)

Lewm: When I was there, Frank was controlling his volume. My teeth are worn down from that session. :)

Lewm: You stated: "For what it's worth, from where I stood in the back of the room, I slightly preferred the Schroeder/Sussuro/Artemis to the Talea/DynavectorDV1S/Atma-sphere, because the former sounded a bit more lush and dynamic (to me, from where I stood)."

I was sitting dead center second row and I had an SPL meter. Every time the Schroeder was played, it was played at 5-8db louder which could explain what you heard. I would say where I was, the Talea setup had greater body, texture, inner detail and naturalness. It just sounded more lifelike.

I actually complained a number of times that the volume wasn't matched between the two setups and I was ignored. I finally walked out after about 4 tracks being played on both arms.

I have no financial interest in either arm. I have heard the Talea more than a few times before and have compared it with several top arms and it is absolutely outstanding. I have also listened to the top of the line Schroeder in my system as well as many others and while quite good, I do not have a sense that it is in the same league as the Talea.

Listening at RMAF did not change my view at all.

Dertonarm: Well said. There were so many people interested in this and it was a complete farce. A person with good intentions would not have manupulated people this way.

Dgad: My comment of, "It is my understanding that it was the other way around. I heard Frank approached Joel." was in reference to your statement of:

"I have no idea about the Talea, but if I was marketing an arm, I would definitely go after Schroder's market to get my arm accepted. The only one with something to lose is the one on top."

HOpe that clears it up.

Goldeneraguy: "There's an app for that!" I have an iPhone and when I sensed that when the Schroeder was being played at louder volumes, I pulled my phone out and started measuring.