Two David Sanchez discs:

"Cultural Survival" Concord Picante cd


Followed by

"Coral" Columbia SACD

Prokofiev's Symphony no. 7 and Symphony-Concerto for Cello and Orchestra are both late works and much less aggressively modern than his earlier (and better known) stuff. How much this is due to his evolving artistic taste, his declining health and/or the spanking he and many other leading Soviet composers received from Stalin for writing music that is "decadent" (read modern) has been well speculated upon. Whatever the reason these pieces certainly sound like Prokofiev while also being easy on the ear. But they don't have the bite and punch that makes his earlier work so special.



On CD.

Hey Will, just sent you a PM. Look forward to talking soon

Susannah McCorkle "Sabia" Concord cd

Bass – Dennis Irwin
Drums – Duduka Fonseca
Guitar – Emily Remler
Percussion – Café
Piano, Arranged By – Lee Musiker
Tenor Saxophone – Scott Hamilton

A great tour of Brazilian material.


Vocals – Susannah McCorkle

One of my favorite Jobim songs is here, "Song of the Sabia"

I'll go back, I know now that I'll go back
That my place is there
And there it will always be
There, where I can hear the Song of the Sabia
I'll go back, I know now that I'll go back
I will lie in the shadow of a palm
That's no longer there
And pick a flower that doesn't grow
And maybe someone's love will speak the night
The lonely unwanted light
That may bring me to the new day
I'll go back, I know now that I'll go back
They won't be in vain, all the plans I made
To deceive myself
All the rules I made just to lose myself
All the love I made to forget myself
Those mistakes I made just to find myself
I'll go back, I know now that I'll go back
That my place is there
And there it will always be, there where I can hear the Song of the Sabia
Of the Sabia

John Coltrane "The 1961 Helsinki Concert" Gambit cd



Decent sound. Great performances.

Lucy wanted out of the house so we went for breakfast (ran into a nephew and a neighbor!) and then some grocery shopping. Wore her out, but she did well.

I'm starting my listening with "Roxy Coss"--her self-titled self-released frist cd.

Bass – Kellen Harrison
Composed By – Roxy Coss
Design – Mary Coss
Drums, Percussion – Shawn Baltazor
Guitar – Ryan Brennan
Piano, Electric Piano – Justin Kauflin
Producer – Roxy Coss
Tenor Saxophone, Soprano Saxophone, Flute – Roxy Coss
Trumpet, Flugelhorn – Kate Miller

My first cheap DAC what is the Audioquesth Dragonfly Red… Which I still used today in my portable system. For around $200 its still one of the better choices out there IMHO.  

The Raspberry Pi route does get a bit confusing, but with some online videos…you shouldn’t be afraid.  I use my Raspberry Pi as my Roon endpoint, and even with the stock power supply, I get really really good sound.  

Finally got some time to post…I’ve been off the “grid” (pun intended) latley due to work commitments.  Anyway… when I first started my journey into tube rolling pre Covid with my Torii MKIV…I bought a NOS rectifier and was amazed.  There is no doubt that Steve’s new DynaGrid is going to be a game changer allowing the user to make adjustments on the fly.  I could see myself buying one down the line.  I would love to use them with a pair of my SE84C+ Zen amps configured in a mono setup, but that would me I need to buy 2 DynaGrid’s  😮. I can’t wait to hear the customer feedback once these are sent out.

Dom

I also am not to keen on Bluetooth streaming. It is good for certain situations but in no way for serious listening. The advantage to me is the availability in many compact forms.

I just bought a chip amp for a recent request to provide music at the twins sweet 16 birthday party. I found a cheap $30 unit on Temu that puts out 50 watts per channel and has mic inputs and Bluetooth 5.4. Model AK45 that sports many different name brands and two different versions is very compact. I hooked it up to the ESS speakers and the combo should do the trick at the party! The amp drives the speakers to volume levels that should keep up with hormone crazed kids

I use my K11 on my desktop system, it works real well in the nearfield system.

My hatred of Bluetooth was recently put on hold when I bought a Ampapa D1 class D chip amplifier for my bedroom system.

It is darn convenient just to Bluetooth my iphone to it to play "Lullabies " to whisk me off to sleep at night. It sure isn't for critical listening, but it helps to give my mind something to chew on instead of my current obsessions.

Plus it has VU meters!

I had a slight compatibility issue so I swapped out the K11 with the K13 to try out bluetooth. Streaming on an iphone was OK (its an old phone that wont accept one of the LDAC bluetooth codac transmitters), plugging it in sounded much better. Been testing out digital via bluetooth and cable versus vinyl. Listening to Nina Simone's Pastel Blue sounds epic on vinyl, pretty good with cable and good on bluetooth assuming I am doing other things as well.

All in all a good initial dive into digital streaming. The K13 is going to stay, the K11 might go to my desktop, or may go back. Bluetooth is so convenient that the net result is just more music, which is a win.

Every system, room, taste, tube complement is different. I've tried those JJ in the past. . . Wasn't a keeper in my amp. (Which is not a Zen amp).

I have that same rectifier PSVANE 274b and it was in my zen for the past year. last month I tried some cheap JJ gz34 that I haven't used for 10+ years (those were temporary backup tubes). Turns out, it sounds great in my UFO and the amp runs much cooler.
I want to experiment with other tube like Globe 80 but so far it does the job perfectly

Mozart and Haydn had one of the great bromances in the history of (classical) music. After Haydn published is groundbreaking Op. 33 string quartets Mozart dedicated an equal groundbreaking set of quartets, now known as the Haydn Quartets. And near the end of his life he alluded to some of Haydn's later quartets in his final string quintets K. 593 and 614.



On CD

These are not particularly popular, but they should be. Esp. as played by the Auyrn Quartet.

Sure, just checking what the case work look like?

"The Continental Sessions Volume 1" Storyville cd

Edmond Hall & his Cafe Society Orchestra, Clyde Hart All-Stars, Slam Stewart Quintet



Tracks 1 to 4 recorded in New York City, probably in December 1945.
Tracks 5 to 13 recorded in New York City on January 4, 1945.
Track 14 to 21 recorded in New York City on May 28, 1945.
Tracks 22 to 25 recorded in New York City on July 10, 1945.

Yes, the SDFB do make a difference--I have three in my main system and one in my audio/visual system. I've tried five different types of Sluggos in them. . .and have decided the Graphene are the cat's meow.

This just came to me earlier this week (love the packaging Acoustic Sounds uses for these Steely Dan pressings) and finally getting the change to give it a spin.

I absolutely love the way my Decware gear makes the Klipsch Forte IVs sing.  I just put my Swiss Digital Fuseboxes into the power chain and I swear there’s a slight expansion the soundstage, wider and taller if that’s possible.  At first I thought it was just nature of the UHQR but I put a non UHQR album on and I still hear it.  I’m using the basic copper sluggo right now.  I may have to try the graphene sluggo at some point.

Insomnia sent me down a youtube rabbit hole and I came across someone's list of the top N best recorded albums of all time. And in the top 5, along with Steely Dan and Pink Floyd and Alan Parsons was Chick Corea's Mad Hatter. Which is an album I've known for a long time, but it is not in heavy rotation nor did I recall it being particularly well recorded.



On CD

So I gave it a listen. And the sound is excellent, but no better than a bunch of other albums. I did enjoy the music more than in the past, so that's a bonus. But I can't say it will move up in the rotation.

I was planning on sending it to decware for warranty transfer, would you like me to inquire if they can add them while it's in the shop?

Quote:


Different rectifiers have a significant effect on the UFO25, and the DGJr is a different rectifier so I'm going to say yes, it will have an effect. The VR tubes give you some flexibility tuning the sound, but in general the transparency of the UFO25 emphasizes the difference between tubes, rectifiers included.

Philip Glass can be a little polarizing, but I like a lot of his work, this one in particular. It's incredibly intense. Been listening to it a lot the past few days, at high volume.


free list deduplication tool

Nels Cline "Consentrik Quartet" Blue Note cd

Decided to try out the most recent Nels Cline release. Enjoying it! Certainly is well-recorded.

Nels Cline on guitar, German jazz saxophonist Ingrid Laubrock, American drummer Tom Rainey, and double-bassist Chris Lightcap.



https://substackcdn.com/image/fetch/$s_!MR0R!,w_1456,c_limit,f_auto,q_auto:good,
fl_progressive:steep/https://substack-post-media.s3.amazonaws.com/public/images/
b81c69f1-c781-4dd7-9395-2da45f6c4374_2500x1669.jpeg

Thanks JBzen!  Timbernation really delivered, although it took several months.  But I’m thrilled with the quality and solidness of the rack.  Now the waiting continues for the rest of my Decware gear to arrive!

Just curious, but on the SE25, since voltage can be changed with different VR tube, does the Jr. have any effect?

I can give you an example of the DynaGrid JR on a couple of our components:

The ZP3 phono stage with a 5U4G has a B+ of 435 volts, total draw is 10mA.  With the DynaGrid JR the B+ is 424 volts, draw is unchanged at 10mA.

You could expect similar results from a CSP3.  In higher current applications, like amplifiers,

The SE34I.6 has a normal B+ of 429 volts, the draw is 100mA.  With the DynaGrid JR the B+ is 365 volts.

The TORII JRv2 has a normal B+ of 345 volts, the draw is 200mA. With the DynaGrid JR the B+ is 300 volts.

The SEWE300B has a normal B+ of 420 volts, the draw is 150mA.  With the DynaGrid JR the B+ is 405 volts.  

If we compare the SE34I.6 at 100mA and the SEWE300B at 150mA you can see that the voltage drop decreases as the current increases.  Usually as the current increases the voltage drop increases with it.  This is the fundamental difference between a using a rectifier vs using a DynaGrid.

The difference between a DynaGrid JR and the original DynaGrid, using the SEWE300B as an example - the B+ can be swung all the way down to 345 volts and all the way up to 445 volts.  So it can not only increase but decrease the voltage drop well beyond the 5U4G or 274B rectifiers.

With the DynaGrid JR the SEWE300B runs cooler, the output tubes run about 5 mA lower as well.  There is 50VA less load on the amplifiers power transformer while a DynaGrid is being used and no heat from a rectifier tube, so the amplifier runs cooler and the 300B tubes last longer.  

With the original DynaGrid, and the same pair of WE300B tubes, usual operation is 65mA, I can swing it down to 54 and up to 72 or so.  This is because as you increase or decrease the B+ of the amplifier, you also increase and decrease the current draw.  So figure whatever yours are reading it could potentially be adjusted 10mA in either direction.

Steve : )

Todd Snider, RIP.

He told a good story!

Jackie Allen "The Men in my Life" A440 Music cd



I bought this for a Kurt Elling appearance but it's a nice album on its own.

David Bowie "Reality" ISO cd



From this box set:


I Can't Give Everything Away

Thelonious Monk Quartet and Guests "Live in Rotterdam 1967" Devialet/Lost Recordings 2 cd set, disc 2

Alto Saxophone, Guest [Guest Player] – Phil Woods
Bass – Larry Gales
Drums – Ben Riley
Piano – Thelonious Monk
Tenor Saxophone – Charlie Rouse
Tenor Saxophone, Guest [Guest Player] – Johnny Griffin
Trombone, Guest [Guest Player] – Jimmy Cleveland
Trumpet, Guest [Guest Player] – Clark Terry, Ray Copeland

Recorded at De Doelen, Rotterdam, 1967.

Charles Mingus "Town Hall Concert" Jazz Workshop/OJC cd

Alto Saxophone, Bass Clarinet, Flute – Eric Dolphy
Bass, Composed By, bandleader – Charles Mingus
Drums – Dannie Richmond
Edited By – Charles Mingus, Frank Abbey
Piano – Jaki Byard
Tenor Saxophone – Clifford Jordan
Trumpet – Johnny Coles

Recorded April 4, 1964.

Nels Cline "Lovers" Blue Note 2 cd set, disc 2

Carmen McRae "Sarah--Dedicated to You" RCA cd

This was Carmen's final recording, and imo a masterpiece. Backed by the Shirley Horn Trio! Beautiful sound and beautiful sounding.

We've been having A LOT of rain. So today I'm hunkering down with an opera. Tristan und Isolde, in the 1950ish Knappertsbusch performance from Bayreuth.



16/44 FLAC download

The sound is OK, and the playing of the Bayreuth pickup band is OK but the singing and conducting are pretty amazing.

Milt Jackson "Mostly Duke" Pablo/OJC cd



Bass – Ray Brown
Drums – Mickey Roker
Piano – Monty Alexander
Vibraphone – Milt Jackson

Recorded live in London at Ronnie Scott's; April 23-24, 1982.

Quote:


Technically every tube rectifier chooses a different "that" point. So "that" is one of the things you alter when you roll rectifiers. The DGR is special because it gives the user real time control over "that" point with a knob. For the DGJr Steve picked "that" point, presumably based on what he likes and typical tube rectifier performance and the only adjustment is through changing the 845 tube. It does not make adjustments on its own. Just as the only adjustment with traditional tube rectification is changing the rectifier tube.

One thing that might not be clear is the input/output voltage to/from the DGJr is determined by the component to which it is attached. So while "that" point it fixed, it is fixed relative to whatever B+ the component provides. Output B+ would not be the same for different amps/preamps/etc.

Bunny Berigan And His Orchestra "1937" Chronogical Classics cd



Bunny was a great trumpeter and kept an orchestra longer than some other instrumental leaders. Fun stuff, I like listening to the studio sides. Sometime soon I should pull a handful of aircheck LPs I have out of storage for a re-listen.

Thanks @CAJames.  I guess what I meant to ask is how he came up with “that” point.  Or, are there parameters within which it makes adjustments?  I’ll admit to not having any background or knowledge as to how it works but would expect there to be some optimal value that would be pre-set in order for it to work for most of the amps or preamps for which it is designed.

I didn't get into Jimi, beyond "radio Jimi," until after college. But he has certainly broadened my horizons.

Quote:


It doesn't "find" the sweet spot, Steve picked a sweet spot and hardwired the DGJr to that value.

Steve, when you started this journey one of the things you indicated you wanted to provide was “real-time tuning” of the B+ voltage.  In the DGR Sr. that is accomplished by adjusting the knob while monitoring the gauges.

In your post regarding the performance of the DGR Jr. you stated “The sound is exactly the same assuming you have the adjustable one adjusted to match.”

While I understand the DGR Jr. doesn’t have the ability for the user to make any adjustments I’m curious as to how the DGR Jr. handles the changes in B+ voltage.  What is it about the design that finds the “sweet spot” (if that’s even a thing when it comes to this subject)?

I’m guessing (assuming) that for some of us, the need to “fine tune” the B+ voltage is less of a concern or noticeable perhaps, and the DGR Jr. is an affordable solution to get the benefits of its design.  Forgive me, I’m a newbie…

I've always loved this album more than the other two (my favorite Jimi is Band of Gypsys).

I first bought this album on a Barclay LP in '71 in Swaziland.



Listening to Jimi and reading the books of Philip K. Dick s a teen and young adult shaped a lot of my mind for the rest of my life.

Lon reminded me that I haven't listened to Axis in a while. For me it seems like it gets lost between Are You Experienced and Electric Ladyland, which is a mistake.



On CD

Yep it’s been a tough run recently for Vera-fi recently.  I have been waiting several months for a pair of items that I was told more than once they would ship within a week.  I understand the tariff, supply chain, shipping hurdles they are  dealing with and even their order backlog to catch up on packing/shipping.  What is frustrating is to “Over Promise And Under Deliver”.  Business 101 = Do not tell customers you are going to do something and not follow through if you want to keep them as customers.
I do love Vera-fi ‘s products and have had excellent customer service over several years so I have no plans to cancel my orders.  Optimistically patient here!

Yet another bot!

The inclusion of Escape Road
a one meter DSR3  cable is a plus, as Decware usually comes with quality accessories.

JHC,
I'm humbled that you took my advice.

I just think that when a person is starting out on something new to them it is probably better to spend as little as possible to make sure that they are moving in the right direction.

The Fiio is the best sounding "Cheap DAC" that I have had the privilege to listen to, and at $175 you don't have much to loose if you don't like streaming.

I currently have my finger on my cursor to click on a cheap DDC reclocker to put in front of my Fiio to see if it sounds even better.
This sickness never goes away!

Haven't listened to this one in a while. Remixes of Monday's material can be a mixed bag. I like these tonight.

Monday Michiru "Alter Ego--Nexus Remixed"

Kenny Burrell "The Road to Love" High Note cd

Nojima Plays Ravel never took off like his earlier Liszt album, and I don't know why. It is a Reference Recordings (literally and figuratively) and music just shimmers. One of the best sounding (and just plain best) piano albums I know.



16/44 FLAC download