So Cal Listening Session: MiniMax, IRD, ACI, RidgeSt.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #20 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 09:52 am »

Quote from: Mad DOg

DUH!!! I don't know how I could've forgotten this but I also have SOCS (speaker correction software for the Rocket RS750 Sigs on my P-1/A) that folks can demo!!!

should be VERY fun!

well, good news and bad news...no SOCS to demo...seems like the unit I have is DOA...but this means more time to compare the other stuff!

Mad DOg · « **Reply #21 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 10:37 am »

Viggen,

Are you interested in joining us for these listening sessions? You're in So Cal...Would love it if you could make it...

Hope to see you...

Mad DOg · « **Reply #22 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 10:40 am »

Quote from: KeithR

I can bring my Linn Unidisk 1.1

Probably the best digital I have heard next to Meitner.

Let me know...

KeithR,

Can you also bring your Sound App? Do you have the power cord for that? If not, maybe I can have John bring his BPT 20A PC...That'd be great if you could...Thanks...

KeithR · « **Reply #23 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 05:09 pm »

Yep, and i now have a 20amp Supra cord for it.

Keith

F-100 · « **Reply #24 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 05:28 pm »

Quote from: John Casler

Man this is going to be like a "mini"CES as far as "Best of Sound"

John,
It would be nice if you can bring a pair of RM30's to this "mini CES"

KeithR · « **Reply #25 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 07:12 pm »

Honestly guys--how much equipment is coming

No one can have 6 hr listening sessions of any meaning.

I suggest we narrow it down

I only offered my Linn up to use in demoing other gear. Then, no one can say "this and such source wasn't good enough" or something stupid like that.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #26 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 07:37 pm »

Keith,

Please bring your Linn and Sound App...We'll start off by plugging everything into the Sound App to see if there is a dramatic difference using the Sound App. Then we'll do some initial A/B'ing b/t the Linn and my DDS-Pro + P-1/A+P-3/A and decide which sounds best in my system. If the Linn sounds better and I think and hope it will, we'll just leave that in and use it as the source for the preamp, speaker and cable comparisons...we'll see where we end up at the end of the day....how does this sound?

Mad DOg · « **Reply #27 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 07:38 pm »

Quote from: KeithR

...I suggest we narrow it down

I only offered my Linn up to use in demoing other gear. Then, no one can say "this and such source wasn't good enough" or something stupid like that.

i'm in total agreement on this...

F-100 · « **Reply #28 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 07:50 pm »

MadDog,
Can you provide a list of attendees for the two sessions and the gears that they will be bringing.
I know for sure that I won't be able to attend this Saturday. Hopefully, the 2nd session won't be too crowded

KeithR · « **Reply #29 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 08:46 pm »

Sounds like a good plan of action Mad Dog. Starting with the PC, then source, then the "demo material" will save us a lot of time. I am definitely curious the Sound Application effect on your system...

I will go ahead and bring the 11lb monster then! This also allows peeps to bring SACDs/DVD-As if they want.

KeithR · « **Reply #30 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 08:50 pm »

BTW, can we limit the demo cuts?

I can hardly stand to listen to Diana Krall or Norah Jones all afternoon.

I suggest we use some new cuts--for instance, John's Stevie Ray Vaughan cut is awesome, but just is too long if we have so much gear to go through.

The same would go for my Black Light Syndrome.

Or perhaps, once we find the best rig, then we play these longer pieces.

We should narrow down to 3 cuts or something, and perhaps a few minutes out of each in order to make this meaningful and not chop our ears off!

Mad DOg · « **Reply #31 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 09:48 pm »

Quote from: F-100

MadDog,
Can you provide a list of attendees for the two sessions and the gears that they will be bringing.
I know for sure that I won't be able to attend this Saturday. Hopefully, the 2nd session won't be too crowded

So far, the first session is tentatively up to around 6-8 people...incl me, that's 7-9 folks...the second session is tentatively at around the same count!

my home isn't that big but i don't think that really matters as no stereo system has more than 1 sweet spot anyways!

keithr is the only one bringing source player and power conditioner for the 1st session...
john casler will be bringing the minimax to handoff to me for the 1st session...
skchow is probably coming for both sessions and will be bringing his JM Reynaud speaks...and IRD Purist preamp IF he receives it in time....
gotmikey is thinking about coming out for the 2nd session and bringing his dodd tube integrated or preamp? and Ellis 1801F speaks...
HarleyMYK isn't sure which session he's going to make it to, but if he does come, he has offered to bring his Norh Mini 9 speaks...
hifitommy had offered to bring his monitor speaks for the 2nd session
F-100 is coming for the 2nd session and is bringing his Odyssey Tempest preamp...

others have offered to bring gear as well, but i think we're going to have ALOT of goodies to listen to already!

Mad DOg · « **Reply #32 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 10:08 pm »

Quote from: KeithR

BTW, can we limit the demo cuts?

I can hardly stand to listen to Diana Krall or Norah Jones all afternoon.

I suggest we use some new cuts--for instance, John's Stevie Ray Vaughan cut is awesome, but just is too long if we have so much gear to go through.

The same would go for my Black Light Syndrome.

Or perhaps, once we find the best rig, then we play these longer pieces.

We should narrow down to 3 cuts or something, and perhaps a few minutes out of each in order to make this meaningful and not chop our ears off!

looks like we're on the same wavelength, keithr!

i was just thinking about the possibilities of having 8 people at the session and having to play 8 demo tracks at 5 mins each!!!

your idea to narrow down to 3 demo tracks is a good one. it would be good to try to use cuts that most everyone is familiar w/ though so we're not all learning the demo tracks at the session and not knowing what we are listening for to compare stuff...

your idea of NOT using norah and diana is a good one as well...as Sa-dono overused norah and john casler has overused and abused diana!!!

i think we use a rock track, classical track, male and female vocal track...that way we kinda hit a wide spectrum of musik...

the first track of tom petty's echo album is a good male vocal track as is track 5 or 6 from josh groban's album...

gil shaham's rendition of vivaldi's 4 seasons is a good classical track...

allison krauss + union station is good for female vocals...

just some suggestions....we can decide on Sat.

F-100 · « **Reply #33 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 10:26 pm »

I can do without Norah Jones ... But no Diana Krall? What a bummer

Oh well... different stroke for different folks.

I'm looking forward to hear the Ellis for the first time. This should be fun.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #34 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 10:51 pm »

Quote from: F-100

I can do without Norah Jones ... But no Diana Krall? What a bummer Oh well... different stroke for different folks. ...

f-100,

i like diana krall, but i've been doing some comparisons w/ the cables in my possession right now and i've had one too many "case(s) of her" for now!

in fact, i've heard that track so many times now that i'm starting to believe i'm canadian!

there are lots of other good female vocalists...

skchow · « **Reply #35 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 10:55 pm »

How about orchestral and symphonic music? They're great for testing the pace, timbre, and dynamics of a system.

Sunny.

Mad DOg · « **Reply #36 on:** 14 Jan 2004, 11:38 pm »

Quote from: skchow

How about orchestral and symphonic music? They're great for testing the pace, timbre, and dynamics of a system.

Sunny.

Definitely...if you've got a good recording, be sure to bring it...

i like to use gil shaham's 4 seasons since the violin solo allows me to gauge musicality and is accompanied by an orchestra...and is one of the better recorded classical discs i own...of course if you've got something better, let's use it!

KeithR · « **Reply #37 on:** 15 Jan 2004, 12:05 am »

For classical, i suggest Respighi's Pines of Rome (which i have on RR). It's short, has great micro and macrodynamics, and really shows a sense of scale.

It's under 3 minutes as I recall.

I also agree on the Alison Krauss, which i have on SACD that sounds beautiful on the Linn.

For male vocals/rock--what about Dire Straights "Brothers in Arms", or the Eagles DCC Hotel California I have?

Please make sure we have an spl meter as well...

Cheers,

Mad DOg · « **Reply #38 on:** 15 Jan 2004, 12:47 am »

Quote from: KeithR

For classical, i suggest Respighi's Pines of Rome (which i have on RR). It's short, has great micro and macrodynamics, and really shows a sense of scale.

It's under 3 minutes as I recall.

I also agree on the Alison Krauss, which i have on SACD that sounds beautiful on the Linn.

For male vocals/rock--what about Dire Straights "Brothers in Arms", or the Eagles DCC Hotel California I have?

Please make sure we have an spl meter as well...

Cheers,

haven't heard the classical track you're referring to but am open to hearing it...

Dire Straits is good for male vocals...Jackson Browne "Lives in Balance" is pretty good as well...I'm all Hotel California'd out right now...seemed like EVERYONE was using that for demo purposes at CES...

Got the SPL meter covered...I'm sure John will be bringing his digital one as well...

skchow · « **Reply #39 on:** 15 Jan 2004, 12:52 am »

Pines of Rome is awesome!

I have the Telarc recording in case anyone is interested. FYI, we played that song in our high school wind ensemble when we had an USC alum as a guest conductor.

Sunny.