Dear Peter,
I have a suggestion for your friend Ian. I read his thoughts about the .8 series. He is using MIT and Shunyata powercables. I know them well, they are not that special.
I owned the best MIT powercables in the past. Purist Audio is way superior in powercables compared to MIT. Shunyata has the same kind of properties MIT owns.
The Purist powercables are a lot more intimate. Better controled in the low freq. and even go deeper. Mid freq. are a lot more open compared to MIT.
Maybe he has a chance to listen to Purist Audio powercables like the Limited edition. But ask for the one with Oyaide M1/F1 connectors. |
These days there are some brands who can really make good crossovers. In the past there were many 4 or 4 way speakers which did not sound that great. Caused by the weak crossovers.
When you compare the 2 and 3 way togheter. The mid freq are often more open, warmer and more focussed with the 3 way. In the past many 2 way loudspeakers had a much better sharpness in focus. These days that does not count anymore.
I also prefer speakers who have 2 units for there low freq. It is faster than one big unit. When every speaker has his own freq. response the authority is bigger. There is a lot more control. |
The problems he describes about the bass could be caused by his powercables. I tested a few recent MIT powercables. They were too bass heavy. I also did not like the individual focus of instruments and voices. They are too big. |
It depends about the quality of the brand and crossovers. Magico is exeptional good also in crossovers. That is why they can make an exeptional good 2 way speaker. There are only a few on this planet who can achieve this. These days I am only interested in speakers who can give a wide and deep stage. All 2 dimensional speakers ( most are) you can dump in the ocean from my point of view.
Many 2 way miss the fullness in the mid freq. On the other hand many 3 way have a lack of playing fully loose from the speaker.
At the end there are only a few brands who make exeptional good quality what makes audio really special! |
It depends about the price range.
Since 2007 my focus is only on 3 dimensional sound. I wanted to create a higher level also in the lower and mid price ranges.
What makes good highend special for prices which more people can afford. When you compare many brands with eachother you understand the differences.
In the world of highend I like the image and approach of Magico. The can give a wide and deep stage, but within the stage voices and instruments are small as in real.
I prefer them over speakers with Thiel&Partner units cause of a more intimate sound. And I do not like the sound of a contrabass with Thiel&Partner units either.
I love Monitor Audio. Because this is the only brand I know who also there cheapest speakers have good crossovers.
When you use amps which can give a deep and wide stage you will understand how much better Monitor Audio can build a wide and deep stage compared to there competitors.
But.....you still need an amp who can give you a wide and deep stage. Within this stage you need a touchable and intimate focus.
I only work with 3 brands of amps; Onkyo, Primare and Pass Labs. In there pricetag they can give me the best quality in endresult and 3 D stage.
With my way of roomcorrection I can get a stunning sound with Onkyo even with there cheap receivers like the 626. My way of roomcorrection and using Audyssey EQ and Volume make the overall sound a lot more musical than the normal sound Onkyo gives without it.
I can send my clients to any shop. When they demo B&W, Dynaudio, KEF, Focal, Dali etc I Always can create a much more 3D image. I send my clients to these shops so they understand how big the difference is between 2 and 3 dimensional sound.
They come back and often they laugh and say: but that is 2 dimensional. Because I teach people the difference between 2 and 3 dimensional sound in what it does to your emotion.
Beside the deep and wide stage I create, I also create a stunning touchabele and sharp intimate focus of all the instruments and voices togheter.
The brands I earlier mentioned ( which I sold most of them far over 8 years of time) I never can reach the same level as with Monitor Audio.
Why? Because I understand properties of each individual brand. Monitor Audio owns more qualities.
And now the fun thing comes. Even if another person in this business buys all the parts I use, they cannot reach the same level. Because the way I use it, is the key to the succes.
With cables I do the same. At the end all the parts which I create in any set is Always based on creating more emotion in every individual set.
I give you a few advantages of the PL-200 over the Magico S1.
Monitor Audio uses lighter and faster low freq units and also mid units compared to the S1. You can hear it in the low freq. You hear more layers in the lowest freq.
They both can give a stunning wide and deep stage. But... the ribbontweeter makes the stage in front of the speaker even bigger. The tweeter of the Magico cannot make his stage so big in front of the speaker. Also a ribbontweeter can give a more touchable image of instruments and voices.
When you understand all the properties your speaker owns you could be able to get them all out of the speaker.
Monitor Audio gives me more freedom and options to get a higher endresult. When I visit other shops who sell Monitor Audio. I have to laugh, often they use 2 dimensional amps. When I ask them if they know the properties of Monitor Audio and the amps they sell. They say: we don't know.
Then you never will understand what the f... you are doing! |
In the last few weeks I have spoken to some people who told me that they spend a lot of money on audio and never have been happy in ther life ( some for over 20 years of time)
When I ask them what they own; I understand why it is not that impressive. Often they have stuff what is not the right combination. Or they own stuff what misses essential parts for the absolute sound.
Even if we are talking about 2 or 3 way speakers, it is still difficult to create a 3D stage.
People often forget a very important part even if they have a wide and deep stage.
BETWEEN THIS WIDE AND DEEP STAGE INSTRUMENTS AND VOICES NEED TO BE VERY SMALL AND DIRECT TO POINT OUT.
Because this part has a very very big influence on your emotion as well. It gives you a higher intensity listening to your beloved music. It pulls you deeper into the music.
At shows I really F.....hate those sets were instruments and voices are too big. The intensity is of a much lower level. The distance between you and the music is bigger.
I can beat many 150K systems with ease for a lot less money. Because the overwhole sound needs to have all the parts for the absolute sound.
I can create a much higher articulation of voices compared
to many much more expensive pre amps.
Money doesn't say anything at all. Money can't garantee you a stunning sound.
But creating a sound based on the parts for the absolute sound can.
I don't care about money. I am only interested in giving other people the best sound possible for the money they spend. As a perfectionist you Always want the best. For my clients I have the same focus. There is no difference.
I can be hard as hell. At shows when I am at steam and you have a bad f... sound. You are all mine!! Why? Because I want these people out of this business. They are the ones who give many people an average or even poor sound for there money.
Many people call me an idealist. But I am on a mission, and no one can stop me. And if you think you can do it better; just prove it by sound. |
"Everyone knows, the hi-end 2 channel music will not mix with a powered sub"
these are the same words I used for a long time. I hated subwoofers for stereo use till 2007. I was only interested in big systems like speakers as the B&W 800 S. ( which I owned)
Subwoofers were to slow and I Always could hear there limitations. I f... hate every single limitation in sound.
But.....time changes. And technique as well. I had in my mind how I wanted a subwoofer to be.
I needs to be quick as a rocket. Full integration with the speakers. I call it stealth low freq.
With my Monitor Audio PLW-15 ( low freq units is so much lighter than for example Velodyne subwoofers. ( which are irritating f..slow as hell) This means a superior response compared to ALL THOSE SLOW SUBWOOFERS.
Over 3 years of experimenting with Audyssey Pro gave me a superior and new level for integration with subwoofers.
Even highend people were amazed by the sound. Even one said: this is voodoo. The energy is also coming from were it is recorded.
This is s new level of integration. And sets music to a much higher level.
For the first time in my life I have the integration with speakers and subwoofer where I could only dream of in the past.
Now I would never want to go back to any speaker without this subwoofer integration.
When you hear my sound you understand in a few seconds why. Because it is that convincing and stunning. |
My focus is Always on properties. For speakers it is the same thing. These days I could not sell 2 dimensioanl speakers to my clients anymore.
I would stop directly my consulting in sound and vision and look for something else.
I am only interested in speakers who can give a wide and deep stage. And within this stage instruments and voices need to be realistic and intimate.
All speakers who can't give me this level I really don't f... care. In my life I never met a person who prefers 2 dimensional ( standard) sound over 3 dimensional sound.
The way I work is based on comparing. But it is an extreme effective way of eliminating other brands. And yess they are Always 2 Dimensional. |
There are big differences in image wide and depth. But also in the level of sharpness in individual focus of instruments and voices.
I use the word 2 dimensional when there is no depth or maximum 1 metre.
When you compare speakers, after time you know the differences between them. And yes you know the level in depth and wide of the speaker. But also how sharp the individual focus of instruments and voices is.
Amps have a very important influence on the speakers and stage. But I have used amps which can make a wide and deep stage connected to speakers which I see as 2 dimensional. The stage was so much smaller and less deep than with other speakers which I call 3 dimensional.
You own speakers and amps which can make a wide and deep stage as well. You should know what it is.
With cables you still can increase the stage depth and wide. As you can increase the level in blacks. And drive and timing. And decay and resolution. Also the sharpness of individual focus of instruments and voices.
With the more expensive silver Audioquest interconnects and loudspeakercable and the best Purist Audio powercables I can get your set to a much higher level than with Transpanrent cables.
I can describe very precise why.....
First of all the level in blacks is superior to what you can achieve with Transparent. The person who does Transparent in my country visit me a few times. He agreed that Transparent is not able to get the same stunning level in blacks I have at home.
There is a lot more. The silver in my set increases the decay and makes the stage in the right and left corner of the spakers wider and deeper. Audioquest and Purist are both better in timing compared to Transparent.
The sharpness of individual focus of instruments and voices is also better. Even the hights of a recording becomes more Obvious. The silver makes voices and instruments more what I call round. This is an important part of the 3D level.
Is there an advantage of the Transparent compared to the mix of Audioqest and Purist Audio?
Yesss there is. Transparent is more involving in the mid freq. This is caused by the use of copper.
But overall the extra parts you can achieve with the Audioquest/Purist Audio combi are very effective and convincing. You can't deny them.
Because these parts are essential for the absolute sound or what I call TOTAL SOUND. |
I have written many things about sound realism. What you describe as natural, I use the word sound realism. I love Pass labs for this part. It let you hear the exact sound of an instrument.
Presence is what I describe as to point out. But silver makes voices more round. There is more space around voices and instruments. This sets the presence ( Germans call it Dahrstellung) to a much higher level.
3 weeks ago I visited a client with MIT interconnects ( copper) I compared different silver Audioquest interconnects with his interconnects. The differences are huge. We are not taking about subtile differences.
This week he phoned me and he will buy the Audioquest cables.
Presence goes to a much higher level caused by the extra air around them by using silver. All different parts of the recording are standing fully loose from eachother. They become more round as I describe. The extra decay compared to only copper is also very easy to hear
One of my best friends had a concertroom were he gave classical concerts. Here I learned how small and direct voices and instruments are. I call it intimate sound. But also the sound of a violin and Steinway wing.
In natural sound I am just as demanding as in intimate sound. Compare a Steinway wing recoding with copper against silver. You will hear the difference in timing, decay and also presence. There is a lot more information be heard with the silver interconnects.
I will ask the person who does Transparent, to take some cables with him when he visits my home.
Silver colored? This is bullshit. Copper can easiliy colour as well. Who is an amature overhere? You are talking nonsense. It is not based on facts.
I owned the XP-20 for over 2 years of time. Weakest point is sharpness in individual focus. I had discussions about this issue with Desmond of Pass Labs. As we had discussions about using wrong properties of some brands in cables.
I am very curious about the .8 series. Presence and a much smaller individual focus should be one of the biggest improvements.
I Always use cables to make individual focus more realistic and giving it the right proportion.
Sound is about what you hear. I can let all people hear much more information of voices than most other do. They become more apparent. And ther is more information in articulation of voices.
I hate any coloration or missing a realistic individual focus of instruments and voices.
I only use powercables from Purist Audio. I prefer interconnects and loudspeakercable from Audioquest. But the combination of them both give me a stunning endresult.
It is a pitty you can't hear my system. But believe me with my pro measurement and my pre amp I am a big step further than what you can achieve with the XP-20. I had many discussions about this with Pass labs by email.
The advantages are in the articulation of voices. But also in timing and drive. A much better separation of instruments and voices. What I said before; even 2nd and 3th voices are more easy to be heard. With the xp-20 they are there somewhere. With my pre amp and pro measurement they come alive. This is a much higher level of presence.
I even can let people hear the edge of a voice. I did not achieve this with the XP-20.
Audio is Always about getting closer to the real thing. |
I owned the 30.5, 60.5 and 100.5. The Xp-20 is still a nice pre amp. I was happy with it for 2 years, so don't get me wrong.
I had a few discussions with Desmond from Pass Labs about roomcorrection. To be honest when Tact ( later Lyngdorf) came out with there perfect room system ( we sold it) I didn't like it. I was not a big fan of roomcorrection at all.
The same about subwoofers for stereo use. I did not believe it could integrate as I wanted it to be.
That is why hearing is believing. Testing can give other thoughts about subwoofers and also about roomcorrection.
Don't forget that the first times I used Audyssey I did not like the limitations. As you know I hate every single limitation in sound. But on the other hand I heard things I really liked.
What happens next is that I have idea's in my head and then the testing starts.
By doing things totally differently I got a much better endresult with less limitations. After many tests you get a superior level compared what normally is possible.
That is why I believe there is room for a highend pre amp with roomcorrection. I told this to Desmond as well. It can bring you further than what is possible with just a pre amp.
I created the stealth integration with a subwoofer by using Audyssey Pro my way. In the past I never thought this would be possible.
For some time I prefered the Pass Labs XA.5 series. I owned 3 of these serie. I bought the X250.5 just to see what it does and what differences are compared to the XA.5 series.
I prefer the extra drive, more crispy high and extra speed. With my Pro measurment I can adjust the sound a lot more easy than with a XP-20. It gives me more freedom to adapt.
So why a 350.8? Because now I only need 1 powercable. And I prefer the speed, extra drive and crispy high freq over the more musical and involving sound. Because I can create the mid freq. just as I want it. At the end how I use it I can get a higher endresult with the X-series.
I would be happy with the XA series as well. I could easilly live with them. I love the properties Pass Labs gives. This is what I want and need in my sound.
In the last years I send emails to Pass Labs about what I think are the limitations of there amps and pre amps.
Not cause of my emails, but they are aware of the limitations them selves I guess. I think when I read the emails from Pass Labs and from the new owners of the .8 series it is improved a lot.
In every part,it also gives a much more intimate and realistic individual focus.
The .5 series give a wide and deep stage, but within this stage the sharpness and realistic proportion of voices and instruments were not the best. At many shows people used MIT and Shunyata cables with the Pass Labs gear.
Then you were listening to voices and instruments which were much too big in proportion. I had discussions about this issue with Desmond from Pass labs.
What are my needs in sound?
More control, more authorithy, more speed, more resolution, a wider stage, a deeper stage, even better natural sound, even better blacks, sharper individual focus. And even more flavors in the mid freq.
Then you compare what the possibilites and prices are. Then you think that the 350.8 will be a good options to improve what I want and need. |
I am addicted to stunning sound. No more, no less. Audio is all about the best sound possible. It is not about me.
My main goal is good sound for every single music lover. I want to raise the quality level. When other people would work with the same drive it would be good for audio in general.
I am just doing my job the best I can. The drive for me is happy people. I work for my clients to give them the best quality possible. |
Yes I did read something about it. I will test it first. I still think there is a big change I will keep it.
I had contact with Desmond about the differences between the .5 and .8 series.
It is also an investment for selling it. I will use it for demo as well. |
The freedom you own for speaker choice all depends about how much your wife loves you.
It is al about love! :) |
It is a lot more simple: The best sound Always wins. I create my sound ( a 3 dimensional physical stage) and people can audition it.
At other shops they can listen to sound for the same kind of money. So they can compare. What do they choose?
Exactly the most convincing sound.
People read and listen very bad. When you would have read better you would have undersand that it is not about me.
The quality of the stuff I sell is what counts. I only use it more precise. Better quality sells a lot easier.
What I said earlier; we have a totally different kind of humor. More on the sarcastic side. It has nothing to do about understanding.
When you use Pioneer ( 2 dimensional standard audio) as an amp you have a lot of knowlegde in audio!! |
Audio it not about money. Money does not give you a good or better sound. The most important part in audio is that it Always will be a matter of taste. When people prefer a coloured low freq. You cannot say you are not allowed to find it that good.
Audio is about quality. These days you can get a very good sound for not that much money.
There need to be more open information about the good products and the bad. Because those bad products make people react so differently on threads in general. |
