Kiko is awesome! Not surprising because Los Lobos are awesome. You're digging the East LA sound. Kiko is their best album, but if you want to try something else I'd suggest How Will the Wolf Survive?



On CD.

I'm really liking "Kiko" by Los Lobos.

I listen to the entire album and that is really unusual for me. Usually a song or three into a album and I have lost interest.

Not only that, I've listened to it at least 3 times in the last few days. Highly unusual indeed.

I know Maria João Pires from her luminous performance of the Chopin Nocturnes. But, not surprisingly, she has recorded a lot of other really good stuff. Her Schubert is wonderful. She is expert at balancing the beauty and the sorrow that makes Schubert's music so powerful.



16/44 FLAC download

Oded Tzur "Translator's Note" Enja/Muzak Japan cd

Oded Tzur on tenor saxophone, Shai Maestro on piano, Petros Klampanis on bass and Ziv Ravitz on drums. Each member makes great contributions to intriguing compositions.

Something very different than my last listen, Ben Pollack Vol. 3, on Jazz Oracle cd.

White guy jazz from a band that often had some great players (this volume for example has Jack Teagarden and Jimmy McPartland). An acquired taste perhaps but I acquired the taste last century and rely on this type of music to boost my spirits. And Jazz Oracle always has incredible sound quality for music of this vintage.

DM sent!

More snow! It may be one of those winters. . . our neighborhood gets more snow than many in the Cleveland area, as is being proven over this holiday period. I'm on my own with shoveling etc. now but I'm up to it. Will have to revisit it again before sundown. Luckily the roads are good and we were able to get out and about to accomplish what we needed to today.

Trying something beautiful and focused with this little window of time to myself. . . .

Carmen McRae "Alone -- Live at the Dug" JVC XRCD24

Up early as Lucinda has an early PT appointment and I'll soon have to shovel and clear some snow. But first a little listening.

"Earl Hines," Storyville cd

Happy Thanksgiving!

Johnathan Blake "My Live Matters" Blue Note cd



"Where do we go from here? What other choices do we have?"

Bobby Hutcherson "Sprial" TOCJ Blue Note cd.



Bass – Reggie Johnson  
Drums – Joe Chambers
Piano – Stanley Cowell  
Tenor Saxophone – Harold Land
Vibraphone  – Bobby Hutcherson

On to another Blue Note, this time a 24 Bit by RVG Japanese LP facsimile release of Kenny Burrell's "Blue Lights Vol. 2" from Blue Note Japan. I really like the sound of most 24 Bit by RVG discs. And the music here is excellent!

Happy Thanksgiving to all Americans here. Hope everyone is where they want to be and safe.

Going to have to do a little shoveling and clearing soon but just got some time to sit and listen and I'm going to take advantage of it. The system sounds so amazing. . .I like the sound of it when it is first going from "cold" and I love to hear the gradual transformation of sound as far as clarity and dynamic contrast as the ZROCK3 and SEWE300B warm up--the digital side stays  on all the time but I switch the analog end on and off each session now.

Listening to "Somethin' Else" the lone Blue Note title by Cannonball Adderley for Blue Note records, this time listening to the 85th Anniversary UHQCD from Japan. (It sounds GREAT).

This is a fascinating release. Miles is sort of in charge, sort of not, Hank Jones is an amazing accompanist here and interesting soloist, and Art Blakey's performance here is one of my favorites as far as taste and structural groove. I wonder who was responsible for the arrangements here. This time through I wonder if there was any Gil Evans input, a few points sound to me a little like his work. Anyway, a great album that is hard bop but also swings in a mainstream way, and just pulls one in and keeps one there all the way through.

Got one, thank you

I recently tried Vinyl Pursuit too, and my experience was similar. The record arrived in great shape, well packaged, but I still ran it through my ultrasonic cleaner before playing. Once cleaned, it sounded fantastic—totally worth the extra step.
Retro Bowl

I've had a very emotional time of late and have been staying away from Mingus, whose music seems to communicate emotion to me--that instinctively seems it would be too much for me now. But maybe not, I saw this on the shelf and wanted to revisit it. This was a powerful period for Mingus music!

Charles Mingus "Cornell 1964" Blue Note 2 cd set, disc 1

I answered your PM George. I would say that eleven inches would be a good figure for Cryotone 300B tubes on an SEWE300B (from the shelf bottom to the top of the tube).

Getting ready for Thanksgiving, listening to one of my all time favorite records.



On CD.

I saw this one recently, and it is still up for sale. I think it is being offered by a Forum member:

https://www.head-fi.org/classifieds/decware-dhc-1-power-cable-1-meter.98389/

I have lot's, I feed them peanuts every day

Next on the list is a Plixir Statement BDC for the Chord duo...

So, I guess the real question is are you any closer to getting a Jay's?

(Not the Blue Jays )

Billie Holiday, "Masters of Jazz Vol. 3" Storyville cd



Been too long since I listened to some Billie.

Not to mention tariffs and the supply confusion, issues and delays those have caused. I'm glad I'm not in business this year.

I just think that the expansion of the product line, including the speakers and subwoofers, probably overwhelmed the business given the manufacturing, shipping to two locations, etc.  I don't think it is anything untoward.  I would like to get the LNBH in my system but I am surprisingly patient.

Quote:


Hears (pun intended) something for that crowd to add to their "craziness".  I always ask my wife for her opinion.  If the request comes at an inconvenient time she will be very...concise...with her opinion.  After assuring her that it will be just one cut she begrudgingly agrees.

First the 4040CD then the OPPO.  During this time she checks her iPhone messages.  Sort of a blind test, if you will.  Which do you prefer? "the first one".  Why? "It's richer", What do you think of the second one?  "boring as he**!"

That's from a very honest non audiophile that wasn't utterly focused on listening and has been putting up with an audiophile for the past 50 years.

Quote:


Yes, using Coax output to BNC input.  The cables from the 4040CD and the OPPO 103D are the Wave Stream RCA/BNC.
Between the Lumin U2 Mini is the Vermouth Reference USB Cable  
The Chord M Scaler has two BNC and two USB inputs.  
Between the M Scaler and TT2 there's a dual BNC option.  These are connected with the Wave Storm Reference BNC/BNC.

The Wave cables are very cumbersome but well worth it.  I've tried to make the comparisons on as level playing field as I could.

Quote:


My mind agrees... but all those movies and concerts that you don't watch much... nuff said

Yes, +1 for ZSTYX. Since Steve is nice enough to provide the part number and I only need a few feet I bought a reminder roll, cut it to length and slapped on some bananas. It blew my previous pretty nice speaker cable.

Also +1 for this forum. It is a great source of information and inspiration.

My audio system sits on a console under my TV.  I'm having a new TV installed on Friday and want to make sure that the lower edge will clear the amplifiers.

How tall is the Sarah with Cryotone or Western Electric 300Bs installed?  I have a full set of Cryotones waiting but may try the WEs at some point (or others).  I'm not sure if they're all different heights.

Also PM’d

There is no shortage of Messiah recordings out there, and honestly it isn't a piece to which I listen very much, in spite of its obvious greatness. So I have fewer opinions on it than most other "well known" repertoire. One recording I like is Robert Shaw's Messiah Highlights on Telarc. It is the best known bits from the oratorio, and while it doesn't have Lenny's magic it does have a lot better recorded sound.



On CD

Enjoying another album by Roxy Coss, "The Future is Female" on Posi-tone cd



Bass – Rick Rosato
Bass Clarinet – Lucas Pino
Drums – Jimmy Macbride
Guitar – Alex Wintz
Piano – Miki Yamanaka
Saxophone, Bass Clarinet – Roxy Coss

That’s a great story. Of course one of the things that makes the “bits is bits” crowd crazy is saying different transports sound different. But they do, obviously. Are you using the COAX output?

JMO but it is time to thank the OPPO for its service and move on.

Yeah, music has always been a big part of my life, but esp. during the holidays. Glad you are enjoying it Dom.

Powerful indeed !!  I can see why it was your dad’s favorite.   This needs a second play with no distractions through the tube system so I can listen to the detail and enjoy the separation of the instruments.  

Awesome! This music brings back Christmas memories for me as it was my Dad's go to. And the music itself is so powerful.

Much thanks to James and Lon for some great Christmas classical recommendations. So while decorating the house last night… I streamed classical music for a good 5 hours.  The first was Leonard Bernstein: Handel’s Messiah on my Sonos system that was piped through my overhead Martin Logan Architectural speakers.  

This album was amazing to listen to….it really projected throughout the living room with big enveloping sound. This will definitely get a replay through my tube system.  

Explore Sigur Ros and Dead Can Dance

JD

I'm dragging this thread out of hibernation to tell you what I have liked out of everyone's suggestions.

Today was semi drizzly outside so I sat down for a while with my newly resurrected "Brown Note" speakers and several albums that you all recommended.

Elton John's "Goodby Yellow Brick Road" played first. Sounded pretty doggone good and reminded me of a Jr. High dance party so many years ago. Pleasant memories!

Los Lobos "Kiko" . Wow is all I can say. Really really good recording and playing. The song "Kiko" is probably the true highlight of the album. The sound swirled all around my listening room. This is why I spend so much effort on my speakers and sound system.

I finished with Muddy Waters "Folk Singer" Another great recording. You hear the room, you hear the chairs squeaking, you hear Muddy tapping his foot! I enjoyed it very much.

I've bought more albums (downloads and CD's) so there is plenty more new stuff to explore.

Joshua Redman "Timeless Tales (for Changing Times)" Warner Bros. cd

Not the best Redman album of the 'nineties but with that band. . . still an interesting listen.

Joshua with Brad Mehldau, Larry Grenadier and Brian Blade.

The audio equivalent of comfort food for me.

Antonio Carlos Jobim "Stone Flower" CTI+RVG King Records Japan SHM-CD

Mo Mozart. The Piano Concerto No.20, K 466, is considered the first of Mozart's "Great" piano concertos. And it is very great indeed. Mozart wrote 600+ works, and only a handful of them are dark, minor key compositions. Of those, K 466 is one of the darkest and most dramatic, which means it is also frequently performed and recorded.



On CD

Geza Anda's concerto cycle, the first complete one on records, is not dramatic like Uchida or lyrical like Perahia or intellectual like Brendel. It is some of all of those and while a lot of critics think it has been left behind by more recent recordings I do not.

Great--it's amazing what a great transport will do.

John Hicks "I Remember You" High Note cd

Solo Hicks. Great disc.

Awesome news! Now things will settle and season and get even better sounding! You've so many great hours of listening ahead. . . .

So, six months into this adventure I can say that each successive step I take with my audio chain, the sonic changes get incrementally better.  I started with my Rega P3 RS running through a Pro-Ject Tube Box S2 into my UFO25 and bi-wired with inexpensive Audioquest speaker cables into Klipsch Forte IV speakers.

I thought the sound I was hearing through this setup over my old SS rig was pretty impressive but knew I wanted to make improvements.  The first step was getting a hold of a ZP3 which I found on Audiomart.  After getting it back from Decware for the warranty transfer and anniversary mods, I plugged the Rega into it and the ZP3 into the UFO25.  I was so anxious to hear the difference, expecting a not-so-subtle sonic change, only to be incredibly disappointed and totally let down by what I was hearing.  WTF?  Are you kidding me?  This $600 phonostage was kicking the ass of the ZP3?

This is where I should point out that I’m not very good at paying close attention to what the eff I’m supposed to be doing.  I decided to replace the new warranty tubes with the tubes that came with the ZP3 to see if it was just the new tubes and only then did I realize I had placed the 12AU7 in the front socket rather that its spot behind the two 12AX7 sockets.  Oops.

Once I corrected my error, I turned everything on again, dropped the needle and…HOLY CRAP!  What a difference!  My vinyl sounded really good with the Tube Box but this was a whole new ball of wax.  Expanded sound stage, greater separation of instruments, voices, more depth.  But, a very noticeable hum. Sombitch.

After consultation with Steve, the fine audiophiles on this here forum and a few interwebz searches, I realized I had to replace the cables on the Rega P3 so that I could get grounds for each channel of the turntable.  The re-wiring of the tone arm did the trick.  No more hum, even when the UFO25 was cranked.  

That was about three months in.  Three weeks ago I put a Swiss Digital Fuse Box on the UFO25 and one on the ZP3.  Another expansion of sonic bliss but subtle.  Finally, two weeks ago I got my ZSTYX from Decware and placed them between my UFO25 and Klipsch Forte IVs.

After talking with Steve, I chose not to bi-wire the ZSTYX.  Other than the obvious question of cost, Steve convinced me the inherent design of his amplifiers, especially the UFO25, would gain nothing by having an additional set of cables through which the signal must pass, that the signal recognizes which driver it must go and I would really be spending double the money on cables and connectors with most likely zero noticeable sonic difference.

I was skeptical that speaker cables would really make that big of a difference, and perhaps with my old SS audio system that might be true, but swapping out eight inexpensive cables for four, not-that-damn-expensive, cables was such a significant upgrade that I’m glad I made the investment in the ZSTYX.  This is why I’m here.  I don’t want to go upstairs and get dinner or take the dogs out (although I must or there will be quite the mess and hell to pay).  I want to sit here and, listen.  

The UHQR vinyl in my collection is an unfair advantage when gauging sonic differences between each advancement.  So I’ve been listening to the albums I bought in the 70s and 80s, Genesis Foxtrot, Larry Carlton Alone But Never Alone, Ambrosia’s first album, Supertramp’s Crisis What Crisis, and I feel like I’m finally hearing them the way the engineer and artist intended.

This has been such fun and I think the journey is really just getting started.  My thanks to the many Decware forum members who have offered suggestions and insight, I can’t wait for these next few months as I listen to everything settle in.

What a journey this has turned out to be...

Here's what's happened so far, I'm now waiting for the Plixir Statement DC cable which was not included in the original shipment.  The level of performance increase with the Standard Cable is such that it's no big deal at all.

Next, I replaced the S.M.S.L PL200T transport with a Creek 4040CD player, it is running as a transport.  I needed to send the PL200T for servicing and it was going to cost $360.00 plus any duties upon entry into China!  Well over half of the price paid.  The return was supposed to be included in the warrantee but Shenzhen Audio was not able to provide a return ticket so I would have to pay for it first.  If the problem would fall within what is covered by the warrantee it would be reimbursed... Ya, not happening!  Live and learn.

In the end it all worked out within the budget that I had earmarked because I would have had to buy a LPS for the PL200T in order to get the best out of it.  That money went to the Creek 4040CD and as it turned out, it all came out smelling like roses.

I searched for a CD Transport that required a 12V power supply because that's what my Plixir Elite is and I came across two, the Creek 4040CD player and the Melco CD100T.  The Melco was my first choice but for ease of operation I would have had to buy the Melco Library as well and I'm not ready for that nor was it in the budget.

I had misgivings about the Creek 4040CD.  Slot load, wasn't sure about the drive and not many reviews at all.  What reviews were available were vaguely positive.  Once again I had to set certain preconceptions aside and, as it turned out, "don't judge a book by its cover", hugely applied.

The 4040CD is a significant step up from the PL200T and I can't even listen to the OPPO 103D anymore.  I have to acknowledge that the PL200T was powered by its switch mode supply where as the Creek 4040CD is powered by the Plixir Elite BDC with the Statement DC Cable and that did make a major difference on the Lumin U2 Mini.  All this is going into the Chord TT2 and M Scaler with some serious interconnects.

From mids to lows, including bass, there is a density and presence that I have been trying to achieve for a long time and that is now satisfied.  The highs are detailed and liquid and the mids, lows and bass are solid articulate and resolving.  The bass extension is by far the best yet.  The PL200T did have better bass than the OPPO, enough to make a noticeable difference, but not as extended, resolving and articulate as with the Creek 4040CD.

If it's in the recording the 4040CD produces a stage that's deep and wide with everything focused and positioned within the stage.  With many cds you are positioned as if you're sitting closer to the stage, not to be confused with forward sounding, and that depends on the recording.

For the first time I was able to listen to Tom Cochrane's SONGS of the CIRCLING SPIRIT and thoroughly enjoy it, all of it.  In fact at times it was captivating.  The guitar playing by Bill Bell was outstanding.  I was of the opinion that this a fairly "hot" recording and I still think that it is.  However it was no longer harsh or strident.  The separation between vocalists also was very good+.

Okay for some context, am I saying that the 4040CD is a giant slayer? No.  Am I saying that it's perfect?  NO.  What I'm saying is that it brings all the key and important aspects of what this audiophile looks for to a very satisfying degree.  For me, that's saying a lot.  IMO the 4040CD punches way above it's price point and if your on a budget this is a very good starting point.

So what to do with the OPPO 103D????  OPPO Mod LPS?  OR, just retire it???  Never ends does it?

I’ve only dealt with Mark once and it was a little more than two months ago.  I purchased two SDFBs from a forum member and needed them reprogrammed for my UFO25 and ZP3.

It took two weeks for one of his staff to give me the details for shipping back for the reprogramming and once I got them to them they were turned around in about a week and shipped right back to me.  I’ve been super impressed with these things in my chain and couldn’t be happier.

I’m bummed to hear others have had a bad experience.  I’m really interested in eventually picking up a couple of grapphene sluggos but no time soon.  Hope whatever is holding back the great customer service is worked out soon.

It seems like the current "historically informed" way to play Mozart is just a race to see who can play it the fastest. And if that's your jam that's great. But when I hear it I always hear my mom scolding me to "slow down and chew your food." Josef Krip's Mozart from the early 70s is more my speed, certainly not slow, but gives you time to chew on Mozart's fabulous music.



On CD

Of course the Concertgebouw Orchestra and the Philips recording are also stars of this show.

Susannah McCorkle "From Broken Hearts To The Blue Skies" Concord cd



Alto Saxophone – Dick Oatts
Art Direction – Kent Judkins
Bass – Kiyoshi Kitagawa
Clarinet – Ken Peplowski
Drums – Richard De Rosa
Flugelhorn – Randy Sandke
Flute – Dick Oatts
Guitar – Frank Vignola
Piano – Allen Farnham
Soprano Saxophone – Dick Oatts
Tenor Saxophone – Ken Peplowski
Trombone – Robert Trowers
Trumpet – Randy Sandke
Vocals – Susannah McCorkle

Quote:


Thanks. This really helps. Since I am using headphones, I love the feeling of getting lost in huge images with an expansive soundstage - it is something the Linlai 845 does even better than the RCA 845 - so losing that to any degree as a tradeoff for other technicalities sucks. As always, everything is a balancing act.

Quote:


I haven't.

Has anyone tried the Cryotone 845?