Folks,
This is quite a discussion. I'm taken aback by the creative minds here; Anton, a charming, personable man, is a brilliant furniture designer with wonderful design ability and stunning craftsman skills. If I had a spare $US20K I'd go berserk in his shop, ordering up a storm. It is truly distinctive, utterly original furniture, and proof positive that the environment in which we live has profound influence on our thinking and well being. I love visiting his shop and running my hands over his award winning furniture.......
An irony is that Anton Gerner and Ben Williams actually went to school together!!
Paul,
I think the time is coming when you should visit the deep south to partake of the interesting creative environment which is Melbourne. It would be my pleasure to guide you around.
Your comments about the other speakers are very interesting. Ben has a Phoenix, very similar to the Orion. It is stunning, but, as many here know, I have misgivings about analog active filters, and Ben is always negotiating some hum or other niggling problem with his. We are agreed that perhaps the best solution would be a DSP-based active filter, and this is something we are thinking about almost every time we discuss design.
Rod,
You'd love Jules, another charming, reserved man (Hi Jules!). He came to Melbourne recently, and showed me his masterpiece AKSA 55 case. It was extraordinary, the work of true dedication, with laser cut, ornate stainless steel base and voluptuous Huon Pine timber work, beautifully molded to almost a sculptural shape. Jules is also supremely creative; he was the gourmet chef in one of Melbourne's landmark restaurants - Miettas - many years ago. He drives a WRX Subaru, one of my favorite motor vehicles, so I crawled all over it, marvelling at the beautiful engineering. I couldn't help thinking that Subaru have done a lot more with considerably less when I compare it to Australian muscle cars......
Cheers,
Hugh
