Chickenism

There is no such thing as a dangerous road.  But there are plenty of inept, distracted and impatient drivers in vehicles driven inappropriately for the prevailing conditions.  And quite a number of dangerous, poorly maintained vehicles pushed past their low limits -- potentially so even when driven legally.

I would much prefer to share a dual carriageway with a thousand b-doubles than a divided freeway chock full of caravans, pensioners, p-platers and slack-jawed suburbanites in people movers loaded with brats.  Any of whom can and will cock it up at any time due to distraction, medication, stress, fatigue, selfishness and sheer lack of road sense.

The whole computer audio bizzo is something that I have yet to embrace wholeheartedly, although I can see the day when a laptop dedicated to music playback ends up replacing the CD player.  I'm not really the 'touchy-feely' type and have no sentimental attachment to the CD at all; in fact I'll be glad when the day comes that I don't have to **** around with those shitty plastic cases they come in.  Double albums especially.

Besides, you can read more about an album online while it's playing than you'll get in the little insert that comes with the CD.

But there's a few things I need to overcome before the CD player ends up in the classifieds.  First, computer audio is a steep learning curve if you don't have an IT degree.  Second is the question of sound quality; I'm yet to get a file on a computer to playback to an equivalent degree of SQ to CD, although I'm getting closer (and I've heard others' setups that sound awesome so I know it can be done).

The big one is 'the way I engage with the technology' as Monty put it so well above; a psychological thing.  I'm not sure I'll ever be able to get past regarding a computer as an appliance, like a fridge or a Toyota Camry, as opposed to something I'll cherish and look forward to using.  They just don't seem to have any 'soul' - if that makes sense.  My Michell Gyrodec, Revox B77 and old JBL's have it by the truckload...a computer will struggle for attention and love in their company.  Perhaps, one day, when I've managed to nail the SQ issue, found an appealing interface to use and have named and tagged everything properly, I'll come around to the idea a bit more.

Here's hoping.

Few weeks ago I made a purchase. Krell KAS monoblock amplifiers,  the guy had them running his subs. Was the biggest sound I had every heard by a long shot! It ate any live band I had heard. Maybe chickenism can elaborate.

Oh yeah!!!

Most incredibly 'live' and majestic system I've heard, by light years.  I wasn't going to post up about it because the guy the guy isn't really an audiophile as such, but is (I gather) a well known dude in pro circles.  I also suspect he prefers not to have too much stuff shouted from the rooftops on an open forum.  So there won't be a get together happening anytime soon

His 'listening room', such as it is, is on the first floor of a warehouse in Hawthorn.  So, a massive space - which is also used for jams and practice sessions and some space is set aside for equipment design, etc.

The speakers are huge three way vintage horns, using vintage Altec drivers.  515's for bass, 12" drivers for mids (unsure of which ones) and H1005 horns on top using (I think) 802 compresson drivers.  Apparently they used to reside in Mann's Chinese Theatre in LA.

They look very similar to these:



There's also a centre speaker the size of two fridges using twin Altec 12's in a front loaded horn.

A massive stack of Krell monoblocks drives these things (there's six of 'em!) and a Cello Pallette has been roped in for preamp duties.  A big Levinson drives the centre speaker.  Forget fancy cables, isolation devices etc.  The amp stack sits on a couple of trolleys so they can be moved around...because they're also used to run foldbacks when a jam sesh is happening

The sound is jaw-dropping.  Robby the Robot and I just kept looking at each other nodding our heads grinning, or shaking our heads in disbelief, or whatever similar gesture you can think of.  There's not much in the way of really low bass - the drivers roll off early.  But the midbass is on a par with anything I've ever heard at any live show.  Solid, chest-pounding and effortless at 120db, mids and treble equally huge in scale and dynamics.  Fun by the truckload.  Same sort of sound you might get from an arena-sized PA, but without the grating top end and distortion some of them exhibit.  

Was an incredible experience.

Cheers, Dave

Looks okay Marc, will take a little getting used to but a nice change. As usual I need to read these threads more closely, but apart from that alls good.......

Cheers,

Keith

Multiquote works smilies work...all good so far.

Does a poster get told if someone 'likes' their post?  Keith, I liked yours.  Really, I did.  Wasn't just a test.  Honest.

Testing the multiquote..............seems ok.

I think with the warning thing............the bar fills up and probably changes colour as it nears the banning point!

Almost makes me want call surfpurple names to see how it works!

Good work to all

Cheers, Dave

The Royal Family.