hello Mike I truly envy your room I'm sure the sonics match the awesome aesthetics.

mejames December 14, 2004 01:31

thanks Linkoping for the recommendation....i'll check it out.

mikelavigne December 13, 2004 22:42

Mahler 5, the best is Eliahu Inbal conduct the Frankfurt Radio Symphony Orchestra, recorded by Denon, Japan. I have more than 10 version of Mahler 5 and this recording is the best, I mean the BEST!

linkoping December 12, 2004 22:57

Vvrinc, as a Classical newbie, i don't know my Mahlers......although i like my Mahlers.

i will steadfastly avoid any attempts at Classical humor in the future so as not to expose my feeble level of knowledge.

thanks for the heads-up.

mikelavigne December 12, 2004 11:46

Well, if you want to die while listening to a Mahler symphony, please do it while listening to the 2nd. (If you know your Mahlers, further explanation is not necessary). 8>)

vvrinc December 11, 2004 17:23

Stanley, thanks. i do live east of Seattle. you would be welcome to come for a listen to my system......it matters not your system.....just your interest. e-mail me and we will figure out a time.

Linkoping, thanks....you are correct.....the Mahler 5th (in fact, any Mahler) sounds great in my room. in fact, i was listening to Michael Tilson Thomas's Mahler 3rd last night......heavenly.

.....but i didn't die. ;^)

mikelavigne December 11, 2004 14:00

Oh my gosh. Speechless. I just imagine listen to Mahler 5 in your system... I will die for sure.

linkoping December 11, 2004 00:32

Hi Mike,

Look like it is the best system in Audiogon. Are you living in Seattle Area. Are you kindly to meet some not so much hi end guy in Seattle? Sure I would like to hear your system someday in Seattle.

Good for you Mike,
Stanley

tiger7s December 08, 2004 20:24

see above above about 16 or 17 posts for an answer to your question.

...and thanks for the kind comments.

mikelavigne December 01, 2004 13:42

Great system, great room but it looks lonely in there without any other chairs. Do you only listen by yourself?

russ20901 December 01, 2004 10:44

Lordcloud, when you stated that "Roy did give an answer as to his experience with the Sirius (i assume you mean Sirius III), it seems like he had quite a bit of time with it." clearly you missed the WHOLE point of my letter to HiFi+.....and that was my request for specific instances of his experience with the Sirius III. based on what i understand to be the case, and supported by Roy's lack of specific response, these specific instances of legitimate comparitive opportunity never occured. Absolute Analogue never had a Sirius III for use as a 'demo'; they only had one or two that were 'pre-sold' and paid for. it is a major hassel to set-up or move the Sirius III and would not be something you would just 'take home for a couple of days'.

you elected in your initial post to bring this issue up. from my letter, it should be clear this is not a casual issue to me. even though your intent may have been innocent.....if i really believe what i wrote then hopefully you understand that i just can't ignore your interpretation of Roy's response.

since your initial post said "they are all components i myself would choose, if i had the money. the exception being the turntable."......i assumed that the price was not the issue and that it must be your perception of performance.....which was why i asked about your listening experience.

i appreciate that the main focus of your post was to give me positive feedback of my system and room.....and i do thank you for that.

i am serious (Sirius) about some things.....as you have, by now, discovered. mostly i try not to take myself (or my system) too seriously.

i appreciate your comments about having to do web (or other) reasearch on gear. i have only listened to the SME 30 briefly and the Walker a couple of times at Shows and then recently at a friend's home. i am impressed by what i heard from both tt's but don't have enough experience to draw clear conclusions. i did purchase both my speakers and tt without hearing either......sometimes you just have to wing it. in both occasions i had 'done my homework' to the degree possible but it was still a little daunting.

best regards,

mikelavigne November 26, 2004 08:32

Mike,

I say I would choose a table besides the Rockport because of price concerns, and even that is only in my dreams. I am not in the market for any of these tables, but if I were, I imagine I would save money ($50,000) and go with the Walker or the SME. But I haven't heard them all, so maybe upon hearing them, I would be able to justify the extra amount of money spent.

There are actually quite a few audio components I would not buy without ever hearing them, no matter what the price. I will never buy another speaker that is not time and phase accurate for instance. In all honesty, many people have no choice but to buy audio components they haven't heard, simply because of where they live. I live in Utah, the only speakers you can listen to out here are Wilson and B&W, neither of which I could live with. I have had to do much research on the web and in magazines before I came to purchase what I have, and I am actually quite happy so far. I would love to be able to listen to everything before I buy it, but even then I would not feel I had a grasp on what they would sound like unless I had an extended listening period in my own home.

Anyway, I did not mean for my message to you to take any turns into the argumentative, I was complimenting you on your beautiful system. And a beautiful system it is.

lordcloud November 26, 2004 03:33

Rcr, thanks.

i plan on selling my DAC6 (and Philips SACD 1000) to try the DCC2 (and CDSD) for the reasons you state.....when i have the time to list it.

mikelavigne November 25, 2004 19:41

Cello,

thanks.

i use the vdH Colibri almost exclusively.....but it warms my heart knowing my Koetsu is sitting there patiently waiting to sing sweetly when called upon.

the Colibri is so dynamic and explosive i just can't bear to take it out of the system.....to me the perfect cartridge. it tells me exactly what is happening....good or bad. if the record is edgy....so be it.

i also have a Mytlewood Colibi XGW 6.5mv output.....which is a little softer and smoother than the XCP 8.5 i mostly use.

my sonic priorities are for the system/cartridge to get out of the way......and have no signature of it's own. the Colibri XCP 8.5 does that better than any other piece of gear i have ever heard.

that said......i do enjoy having the choice of another direction if the mood strikes me.

mikelavigne November 25, 2004 19:38

Lordcloud, Roy Gregory most clearly did NOT answer my questions.

1. i asked "i would appreciate some very specific info on the context of Roy's experience with the Sirius III."

Roy replies "I used to work for Absolute Analogue, during which times i heard the Sirius III in systems of both the company's owners as well as taking the deck home. I was also responsible for taking the deck to customer's homes and a number of HiFi Shows."

Roy's answer gives not one specific description for the reader to judge context.....which was what i was asking for. besides which my info is that Absolute Analogue only had a Sirius III for a very short time prior to delivery to a customer that had purchased it. The Clearaudio Master Reference that Roy then refers to had not even been introduced at the the time Absolute Analogue had the Sirius III in their posession (back in 1998).

2. why did Roy mistake the Sirius III arm for the Rockport 7000 arm?

not answered. Roy makes a big deal of the Rockport arm issues without even knowing which arm he is talking about.

3. why did Roy not disclose the 5+ years between listening to the Sirius III and the Blue Pearl?

not answered.

My opinion is that Roy did have a good deal of experience with prior Rockport tt's and very limited exposure to the Sirius III......and that he has been intentionally unclear to cover those tracks. Until Roy cites very specific information on specific comparisons and systems his conclusions on that Blue Pearl review are pretty suspect.

that is just one guy's viewpoint.

You have concluded that you would not choose the Rockport without ever hearing it. like i said....curious.

as you can see, this is a little sensitive with me. the reason is that i try to be especially careful to keep my opinions in specific contexts...."to my ears, in my system".

when a 'guru'.....stands up and lables something 'the new King' based primarily on his experience with the prior 'King'......there needs to be clear contexts.

in this case there was NONE.

mikelavigne November 25, 2004 19:25

The only one of these I've had the pleasure of hearing was the SME with the Aesthetix phono preamp with two power supplies. It was a mind altering experience to say te least. I haven't gotten to hear the Sirius or the Walker as of yet. By the way Roy did give an answer as to his experience with the Sirius, it seems like he has had quite a bit of time with it. But since joining the local Audiophile Society I have realized that my idea of audio nirvana is very different from everyone else's. I have also learned that it takes far longer than the typical reviewer's amount of time with a component to ascertain what it actually sounds like, let alone the potential of a component. My system, although meager compared to most audiophiles, does some things better than any other I have heard. It is only because of my extensive time with my components, and almost maniacal attention to set up details that I was able to coax real music out of my system. I applaud your efforts to do the same with your system, and also your willingness to share that with the rest of our small but fanatical world.

lordcloud November 25, 2004 18:00

Mike, you are one of the most influetial audiophiles in Audiogon. Your oppinions have always a great value and I always read them eagerly, because you have many things to show to all of us. For example, the now legendary sinergy between Tenor and Kharma.

Now you have do it again, you have build the system we all would like to build. Amazing.

The only question is, have you compared the DCC2 to the DAC6? Most people say the two channel version is better.

Congratulations and thanks for your help.

rcr November 25, 2004 16:58

.
Mike,
.
Congratulations on an amazing system and a gorgeous room - as good as it gets !
.
Do you tend to listen more to the Koetsu RSP or the Van den Hul Colibri ? How do you compare what they do ?
.
Rgds, Larry
.

cello November 25, 2004 00:00

Lordcloud, thanks.....i do feel lucky.

curious; your comment is unclear......which of the tt's have you heard? where did you hear the Sirius III?......which was really the only question i was asking Roy (the specific context of his experience with the Sirius III).....and he never answered.......of course, his lack of specifics tells all.

if you are in the neighborhood you wouldn't get a no.

mikelavigne November 24, 2004 20:36

Seriously, You have to be one of, if not the luckiest Audiophile on this green Earth. I love your system, they are all components that I myself would choose, if I had the money. The only exception being the turntable. I know you are love your TT(I read your letter in Hi-Fi+, by the way it was sad that I knew who you were just by the listing of your components before I got to the name at the bottom), But I would probably go with the Walker, or the SME after actualy hearing one. But anyway, great system, and if I'm ever in your neck of the woods I won't take no for an answer, I'm spending the day listening!

lordcloud November 24, 2004 20:13

Bob, thanks. you would be most welcome.....have fun in Spain.....it's nice to know there is life beyond audio.....

....i likely owe my wife a trip or five at this point......

Tim, i will always be YOUR friend regardless of what chair you use......lately.....it seems everyone is my friend.....maybe it's my hairstyle.....

Greg and Scagneti, thanks.

mikelavigne November 24, 2004 09:26

That has to be one of the nicest rooms I've never heard. I bet it sounds even better than it looks. Well deserved are the accolades you receive.

scagneti November 24, 2004 06:34

On the chair, those are incredible to sit in- if had no friends- I am close but not there yet ;) I would have one in my room that day!

tireguy November 23, 2004 18:46

I never thought it would happen. I am speechless.

gregadd November 23, 2004 18:10

Mike, I came over to Spain for a little R&R this week. I guess I should have headed west instead of east. Looks totally awesome!

I told my wife that at some point in time, if you permit, my frequent flyer miles are going to be reduced to head up your way. It would be great to hear Kharmas in a location they should be in.

Enjoy, enjoy, enjoy and hope to contact you when I get home to get some more impressions from you.

Best Regards....Bob

stenersr November 23, 2004 11:08