A Portuguese music aficcionado in China

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Sonico

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A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« on: 13 Feb 2016, 06:25 am »
Hello everybody,
I am a Portuguese engineer living in China. Being a music lover since I was born (that happened 40 years ago) I've always been looking for improvements on my audio systems. But because of low salaries & expensive gear, I never had the chance to go to "The real thing" - until now. Fortunately I'm making enough money to buy some affordable good quality hifi stuff. And since I'm in China, I started by putting together a Chinese-based system: a nice turntable from Amari (also called Hanss) and a gorgeous tubes push-pull from Cayin (the MT45 Mk2). This amplifier paired with the Zu Audio Omen Def speakers sounds pretty amazing!
But like the most of you, probably, I kept looking and listening to other equipment and soon I'll take another jump: I'm planning to replace my Cayin with the beast Line Magnetic LM 219ia. The SET sound got me hooked!
I also plan to add some more stars to the constellation, like a solid state amplifier, a CD player and maybe one more turntable. But all that must wait...
I have some questions regarding many subjects since this is a new world to me, but I'll try to address them in the appropriate forums.
I'll appreciate all your help, as I will try to give my opinion every time I can.
Thank you all and enjoy your music!




JerryM

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #1 on: 13 Feb 2016, 08:03 am »
Welcome to AudioCircle, Sonico.  :beer:

TrungT

Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #2 on: 13 Feb 2016, 08:13 am »
Welcome to AC  :thumb:

mresseguie

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #3 on: 13 Feb 2016, 09:10 am »
Hi, Sonico.

Welcome to AC. I'd love to know all the gear that is available in China. I am in Taiwan right now. I've been here off and on since 1987. Asia can be an addiction - just like audio.

Which city are you in and how long have you been there? I studied at Nankai University a couple decades ago.

Michael

FullRangeMan

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #4 on: 13 Feb 2016, 10:10 am »
Welcome Sonico :thumb:
I like Pedro Abrunhosa, do you think there is other better composer in alternative songs?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl8uqh4hUfM
The Cayin already a nice amp, as you are in China you would consider this 211 amp(much more affordable around $3000usd pair):
http://www.mei-xing.com/english/English/cp/2112015.html
« Last Edit: 13 Feb 2016, 12:02 pm by FullRangeMan »

Guy 13

Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #5 on: 13 Feb 2016, 12:43 pm »
A warm welcome to AudioCircle Mr. Sonico

Guy 13



Phil A

Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #6 on: 13 Feb 2016, 12:47 pm »
Welcome to AC!

ArthurDent

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #7 on: 13 Feb 2016, 01:52 pm »
Greetings & Welcome to AC Sonico  :thumb:

ricardojoa

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #8 on: 13 Feb 2016, 03:43 pm »
I'm in China but most of my gear comes from the states and canada or are based on a US company. :)

I prefer the workmanship and dedication so all my speakers are all from the States ID.
Cant beat the experience talking to owners or designers.


Sonico

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #9 on: 13 Feb 2016, 04:03 pm »
Hi, Sonico.

Welcome to AC. I'd love to know all the gear that is available in China. I am in Taiwan right now. I've been here off and on since 1987. Asia can be an addiction - just like audio.

Which city are you in and how long have you been there? I studied at Nankai University a couple decades ago.

Michael

Hello Michael,
I live in Macau. Although there are a lot of luxury cars in this place and a highly expensive life style (due to all the money around the casinos industry), there are no HiFi stores in this city (well, maybe one or two very small shoppes). Strange but true.
To get the gear one must go to Hong Kong or Guangzhou; both cities are  like paradise!

Sonico

londonbarn

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #10 on: 13 Feb 2016, 06:56 pm »
Welcome Sonico AND beautifully said Ricardojoa..... :thumb:

Sonico

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #11 on: 14 Feb 2016, 12:21 am »
Welcome Sonico :thumb:
I like Pedro Abrunhosa, do you think there is other better composer in alternative songs?
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Nl8uqh4hUfM
The Cayin already a nice amp, as you are in China you would consider this 211 amp(much more affordable around $3000usd pair):
http://www.mei-xing.com/english/English/cp/2112015.html

Hello FullRangeMan,

I like that brand, Meixing/Ming Da, and from time to time I have the chance to listen to them. The thing is, I'm always looking for the best relation Sound quality/Price. And I found the best match with Cayin and Line Magnetic. Of course there is a very important detail: the prices for Chinese brands here in china are less than half than in the rest of the world. My amplifier was approximately 600 Euros. In most of the countries they sell it for 1700 Euros. And the huge Line Magnetic LM 219ia that sells for 6000 USD or more outside China, I can get for approximately 2000 USD. But Ming Da is another story because it's an older brand with a good reputation; even here they are more expensive than the other local brands. I guess Line Magnetic will be highly regarded in the future with an increase in their price list. So let me buy it now! :)

Regarding Pedro Abrunhosa and the Portuguese music, I must confess that I'm a bit away from it nowadays - shame on me. But yes, he is a great musician (although not my favorite style of music). Some Portuguese bands/musicians that I like: Rodrigo Leão; Madredeus; Xutos e Pontapés; Camané; Ana Moura; Deolinda; Blind Zero; Buraka Som Sistema ... All these names are from different styles and the Portuguese music scene is BIG! If you are interested in knowing more about it, I can give more hints.



Sonico

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #12 on: 14 Feb 2016, 12:45 am »
I'm in China but most of my gear comes from the states and canada or are based on a US company. :)

I prefer the workmanship and dedication so all my speakers are all from the States ID.
Cant beat the experience talking to owners or designers.

Hi Ricardo! (that is a very Portuguese name),

I'm completely over it, the country of origin of this or that brand. What matters to me is the quality and the price. American brands are top class, yes. Like Canadian and Japanese and German and so on and so on... And when we look at the Chinese brands, most of them are crap, it's a fact. But some of them are real gems, and those are the ones to look for. Products coming from Ming Da, Cayin, Line Magnetic, Opera Consonance, etc, are among the best in the world nowadays. I'm not an expert in electronics (my background is more concrete and steel and heavy machinery) but I have a few friends that are real geeks designing and making their own amplifiers and speakers and I trust them when they open a good Chinese amplifier and say that it is a work of art! These good Chinese brands are far far away from all the bad crap that China is known for. They are putting a lot of good "workmanship and dedication" in what they're doing and people all over the world are noticing that. I also would like to have an Audio Research, a Pass Labs, a Jeff Rowland or an Audio Note. But for a fraction of the price I can get the same results (the sound quality that satisfies me) from a good Chinese product.

So no, I don't care about the country where the equipment is made. As long as it is recognized as a top quality product, I consider it.
(By the way, my speakers are from Danmark and from USA. Again because it was a great deal with both pairs. Chinese speakers weren't so much a good solution).

FullRangeMan

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Re: A Portuguese music aficcionado in China
« Reply #13 on: 14 Feb 2016, 01:22 pm »
Thanks Sonico I will check these artist on YT. :thumb: