High-end Audio HiFi and Stereo Archives - Page 33 of 480

November 16, 2017November 16, 2017 by Michael

Google’s Music Genre Timeline

Google’s Music Genre Timeline is very interesting.

Note how the popularity of Jazz has grown lately.

Note how there is not a single mention (that I could find) of classical music.

I wonder if the problem we have with music today [i.e. little innovation] is reflected in that there is no massive new genre – everything is kind of balanced in popularity these days.

The iconic albums they feature for each genre could use work, IMO [but, alright Dean Martin! :-)].

Anyway, something to while away a few minutes during this rainy day…

October 28, 2017October 28, 2017 by Michael

CAS 2017: Best System Performance and Ultimate Cost No Object Design

CAS 2017: Best System Performance and Ultimate Cost No Object Design was just awarded to our California Audio Show 2017 room by Richard Austen on his final Dagogo show report.

I will say that CD sounded better here than anywhere else beating other rooms with vinyl or computer audio playback

I know, right? For many turntables and nearly all which are not setup perfectly [like at a show] this Audio Note U.K. digital is just better. Kind of awesome – convenience AND sounds good [less calories, more alcohol. Something like that]

Richard (aka RGA) got a chance to play his non-audiophile-approved CDs while the rest of us were not paying any attention, trying to figure out if Pink Floyd was the best rock-and-roll band ever and if so for which Albums and years [yes, and from 66 [relics] to 73 [dsotm] or 77 [animals], depending on mood. Many people hate the animals LP but they are wrong-headed 🙂 as were the majority in the room who disagreed and voted no :-)], and other monumental decisions music-lovers have to debate whenever they first meet [ok, yeah, it only took 1 minute to debate this, but this set the tone for the rest of the 4 hours. you readers know what I mean].

So Richard got to hear the system well over the course of many hours, both Saturday [and Sunday, I might add, us not wanting to pack up for several hours – getting out of there, on our 3rd and final trip home that night, at 11:59 sharp before the ‘deadline’ at midnight].

Frankly, these [Acapella Cellini High speakers] were rather easily the best sound at this show. It took a couple of tracks to begin to appreciate what these speakers are capable of doing. And unfortunately show-goers tend to try and cover as many rooms as possible over stopping to smell the roses

I know, right? And there were quite a few good speakers at this show.

We were so happy that we got to spend time listening after hours with many different people – it has been awhile since a show felt like ‘home’, and the people and the music were just awesome this year.

Thank you, Richard 🙂

October 7, 2017July 14, 2018 by Michael

Withdrawn: Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) MXR equipment rack (demo) gloss black

Harmonic Resolution Systems (HRS) MXR equipment rack (demo) gloss black automotive finish. Mint.

Our very well-loved MXR is no longer actively up for sale . The gloss black is AWESOME looking. The MXR is going out of production soon. Yes, we want to make room for the newer, better, more expensive, and more configurable HRS VXR rack. But after offering this at a really good price for some number of months, and after unpacking it and setting it up in our main listening room … we decided that we’d really rather not let it go.

If this is your dream equipment rack, give Neli a call or send an email or text and make us a reasonable offer.

MXR-4V-1921 (4-shelf capable, priced without shelves) NEW $22,000 with the special gloss black car paint [now unobtanium at any price].

Solid Brace Inserts (used to support an isolation base with more than 4 feet, shown (below) on the top shelf of the MXR) New $1,500 (pair).

We had a few demo M3 and M3x-1921 platforms as well, but they have all now moved to happy new homes. If you do need isolation bases, just ask and we can go through the options with you.

We have a lot of experience with HRS products (dealers since 2003). Send us an email (mike+neli@audiofederation.com) or give Neli a call 303-546-6503 if you have any questions about the MXR, or any of HRS’ other pieces.

For those unfamiliar with this rack, maybe you have read about some turntable or another, how great it sounds because of some kind of special vibration isolation technology it uses. And make no mistake, turntables are way ahead of most other components when it comes to these technologies. But with the MXR, you can have BETTER vibration isolation than that turntable is able to provide, and with YOUR turntable, not just the latest and greatest $$$ table of the week. AND, of course, your other components are going to enjoy being protected from those nasty vibrations just as much as your turntable. The thing about the MXR that clinches it for us is that the benefits are consistent across different gear and changes to the system. Some other racks kind of improve things for that particular component on the second shelf, but the third shelf, nothing sounds good on THAT shelf. And the fourth shelf only sounds good on Tuesdays. And if you get a new component, everything changes. Some of the more expensive racks are really kind of like that, even though I am making fun here to get the point across. [These kind of unpredictable performance enhancements drove us crazy back-in-the-day – they were yet another thing for us to worry about].

The MXR… the equipment rack that helps you to relax…. 🙂