Post by Westie on Mar 22, 2024 18:52:31 GMT
Off the back of my other thread, on chasing the dragon. I thought it would be fun to reminisce on the ups and downs I’ve experienced with my listening over the years.,
The Highs:
My first “high” was a Mission 775 turntable, Rotel 840BX2 amp and Monitor Audio 252s, but the real star was the lovely big room with high ceiling and solid floor. The first time I used to get sucked into the experience and felt the singers presence in the room.
Another delight was My Linn Kan/Sara/Isobarik escapades using an LP12/Ekos and NVA/Linn/Naim amps. I found this type of sound really tangible because it felt like it was built solidly from the bottom up.
Another mention has to go to the most “real” sounding stuff experience I had, thanks to Townshend Glastonbury’s. The thing is, they only did their thing with good recordings and they were room and amplifier fussy. I had them well over a year before I got anything good out of them.
My Meridian 200/203 with NVA pre and 4xA40 with Spicas was an absolute joy, and I could’ve lived with that for life. It took a good while to get back to that level and it came courtesy of Sonneteer. MM De Capos finally improved on the Spicas but it was really icing on the cake.
The lows:
My rotel 840bx2 blew up and no other jap amp I tried was acceptable. I also moved from the big listening room and probably spent a good 5 years without being fully happy.
Moving from a Rock and ES14s to a Denon 1520 CD player and Proacs really was a miserable time. I seemed to slide even further back every time I tried to get a better sound.
Moving again and choosing to sell SBLs for Rega Alyas just to have a more “domestic” space. They were absolutely miserable in every way. They even looked stupid.
The Highs:
My first “high” was a Mission 775 turntable, Rotel 840BX2 amp and Monitor Audio 252s, but the real star was the lovely big room with high ceiling and solid floor. The first time I used to get sucked into the experience and felt the singers presence in the room.
Another delight was My Linn Kan/Sara/Isobarik escapades using an LP12/Ekos and NVA/Linn/Naim amps. I found this type of sound really tangible because it felt like it was built solidly from the bottom up.
Another mention has to go to the most “real” sounding stuff experience I had, thanks to Townshend Glastonbury’s. The thing is, they only did their thing with good recordings and they were room and amplifier fussy. I had them well over a year before I got anything good out of them.
My Meridian 200/203 with NVA pre and 4xA40 with Spicas was an absolute joy, and I could’ve lived with that for life. It took a good while to get back to that level and it came courtesy of Sonneteer. MM De Capos finally improved on the Spicas but it was really icing on the cake.
The lows:
My rotel 840bx2 blew up and no other jap amp I tried was acceptable. I also moved from the big listening room and probably spent a good 5 years without being fully happy.
Moving from a Rock and ES14s to a Denon 1520 CD player and Proacs really was a miserable time. I seemed to slide even further back every time I tried to get a better sound.
Moving again and choosing to sell SBLs for Rega Alyas just to have a more “domestic” space. They were absolutely miserable in every way. They even looked stupid.
LP12 didn't come close I remember (this in addition to what I heard at Linn).
Gale 301's, Rega Ela andlater in a different room, Rega Alyas, sounded thin, shrill, no bass and just not what I used to hear live despite the life and sparkle...