The 'Dark' Art Of Room Acoustics!

[ajay124]

p.s.s. You do have a nice sound - hope you enjoy it for a while.....

Shanti

I am enjoying the sound so much that I am back to my usual 6-8 hours of western classical and 2 hours of other stuff a day. Today I have already played complete CD's of Jascha Heifetz, David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortellier, Sviatoslav Richter, Vladmir Horowitz, Friedrich Gulda, Martha Argerich.....I can comfortably listen to another 6-7 CD's before I call it a day!

In earlier heady times I once played the first 6 symphonies of Mahler in a long 6-7 hour session. I am looking forward to a much longer non stop session of listening to all his 9 symphonies+ the unfinished 10th. I don't know how many people in the world have attempted it, but I am surely gonna try. With an average running time of between 50-120 minutes per symphony, it would be akin to running a marathon or participating in the Tour de France

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

...or reading all one's favourite books all at once!

I don't even know all of Mahler's symphonies, probably only two or three reasonably well. I don't think they are all of the same status. Having been a longtime lover of 1 and 2, I was recently somewhat disappointed when hearing 3 for the first time. ISTR things looking up with 4 and 5 --- and I have not yet reached much further. Yes, I only recently acquired a complete set: previously I had 1 and 2, and had seen "Symphony of a thousand" (is that 8? I'm out of touch) performed live (by about 800, IIRC!).

Quite apart from its beauty, artistic and intellectual interest, there is nothing, absolutely nothing, that can test or show off a system like heavy-weight western classical. The sheer variety of sounds, the dynamic range, the soundstage. I now regret that I mostly lost interest in it thirty years ago. Sections of Mahler's 2nd, though, are very vital to any hifi auditioning that I do.

Maybe I might get to hear it on your system one day

 

[bhagwan]

...or reading all one's favourite books all at once!

Maybe I might get to hear it on your system one day

Respected Sir,
Why not in your set up ?
Play all the music you want / like in your house on your set up - I am sure you will like it...
Heaven is where the Heart is !!
Listen to music & you will be in Heaven - I know I was - last evening - sublime experience it was @ home - will do so again @ 0800 [Drupad - Gundecha Bandu - Darshan / Sense Records.
Darshan - Gundecha Brothers

VOCAL -RAMAKANT GUNDECHA
VOCAL - UMAKANT GUNDECHA
PAKHAWAJ -AKHILESH GUNDECHA
TANPURA -KALPESH JANI
TANPURA -PRAVIN JANI

Raga Komal Rishabh Asavari

1. Alap - 18.13
2. Alap -Jor 8.11
3. Alap - Jhalla 17.00
4. Aai Khelan Ko Ho Faag Lalaso -Dhrupad- Chautaal (12 beats) 11.59
5. Aan Sunai Bansuri Kana Kana - Dhrupad - Sooltaal (10 beats) 7.13

This is Indian Classical - Reference Level Recording for me;

 

[Dr.Bass]

Respected Sir,
Why not in your set up ?
Play all the music you want / like in your house on your set up - I am sure you will like it...
Heaven is where the Heart is !!
Listen to music & you will be in Heaven - I know I was - last evening - sublime experience it was @ home - will do so again @ 0800 [Drupad - Gundecha Bandu - Darshan / Sense Records.
Darshan - Gundecha Brothers

VOCAL -RAMAKANT GUNDECHA
VOCAL - UMAKANT GUNDECHA
PAKHAWAJ -AKHILESH GUNDECHA
TANPURA -KALPESH JANI
TANPURA -PRAVIN JANI

Raga Komal Rishabh Asavari

1. Alap - 18.13
2. Alap -Jor 8.11
3. Alap - Jhalla 17.00
4. Aai Khelan Ko Ho Faag Lalaso -Dhrupad- Chautaal (12 beats) 11.59
5. Aan Sunai Bansuri Kana Kana - Dhrupad - Sooltaal (10 beats) 7.13

This is Indian Classical - Reference Level Recording for me;

Thank you for the recommendation Shanti. Just bought a few classical CDs from this site. I have never heard any "sense records" CD. Hoping for some nice music and recording. BTW, I was at Mumbai you were mentioning about another UK record label who are also into Hindustani. I suppose you were offering to buy their entire collection or something like that. Can you please point us out to their website ?

 

[bhagwan]

Thank you for the recommendation Shanti. Just bought a few classical CDs from this site. I have never heard any "sense records" CD. Hoping for some nice music and recording. BTW, I was at Mumbai you were mentioning about another UK record label who are also into Hindustani. I suppose you were offering to buy their entire collection or something like that. Can you please point us out to their website ?

100 % spot on !
This is the same label.
Mr. Patel is an 'astute' businessman & we could not come to a financial understanding. The recordings are brilliant - none the less. Better than many [French - Makkar] I have encountered...

 

[Dr.Bass]

Thanks again.

 

[Dr.Bass]

p.s.s. You do have a nice sound - hope you enjoy it for a while.....

Shanti

I am enjoying the sound so much that I am back to my usual 6-8 hours of western classical and 2 hours of other stuff a day. Today I have already played complete CD's of Jascha Heifetz, David Oistrakh, Yehudi Menuhin, Paul Tortellier, Sviatoslav Richter, Vladmir Horowitz, Friedrich Gulda, Martha Argerich.....I can comfortably listen to another 6-7 CD's before I call it a day!

In earlier heady times I once played the first 6 symphonies of Mahler in a long 6-7 hour session. I am looking forward to a much longer non stop session of listening to all his 9 symphonies+ the unfinished 10th. I don't know how many people in the world have attempted it, but I am surely gonna try. With an average running time of between 50-120 minutes per symphony, it would be akin to running a marathon or participating in the Tour de France

Ajay, your posts are always thrilling. The reason is, it is never diplomatic, it is either this way or that way. It is nice to see such twists and turns because the curiosity to see the end result becomes stronger with every twist. My reaction to your reaction is also a bit twisty:

1. In the first place I was a bit amazed that you out grew a nice system like yours so fast...I mean I knew you will outgrow your system (even though you claimed/felt you have settled and you have no interest to go hunting for more gears after the Esoteric acquisition ) but I did not expect it to occur so fast, that too the whole system on sale. I was expecting 3-4 years kind of time frame with subtle upgrades (cables and such) in between. But you amazed us all!!

2. Your happiness is infectious. We all share it and feel nice to see our audiophile friend doing well, enjoying music to such an extent. However I do have a feeling you will revisit this same situation in times to come, so please do keep an eye on gears that you would have anyway considered if you would have gone ahead with the sale. A visit to Singapore will not be wasted:lol:.
Though you are now free to plan it more leisurely.

Do keep this thread going. Lots of things to come.

 

[ajay124]

Ajay, your posts are always thrilling. The reason is, it is never diplomatic, it is either this way or that way. It is nice to see such twists and turns because the curiosity to see the end result becomes stronger with every twist. My reaction to your reaction is also a bit twisty:

1. In the first place I was a bit amazed that you out grew a nice system like yours so fast...I mean I knew you will outgrow your system (even though you claimed/felt you have settled and you have no interest to go hunting for more gears after the Esoteric acquisition ) but I did not expect it to occur so fast, that too the whole system on sale. I was expecting 3-4 years kind of time frame with subtle upgrades (cables and such) in between. But you amazed us all!!

2. Your happiness is infectious. We all share it and feel nice to see our audiophile friend doing well, enjoying music to such an extent. However I do have a feeling you will revisit this same situation in times to come, so please do keep an eye on gears that you would have anyway considered if you would have gone ahead with the sale. A visit to Singapore will not be wasted:lol:.
Though you are now free to plan it more leisurely.

Do keep this thread going. Lots of things to come.

Dr.Bass

Perceptive post! My friends, relatives (and most of all my wife) have got used to the twists and turns. During our frequent fights and subsequent patch ups, my best friend in college/university used to exclaim "You are always contradicting what you have said in the past!". My defense used to be that "I honestly believed in what I may have said at that point of time. But now my perspective has changed and therefore I reserve the right to change or contradict any opinion I may have held in the past!"

 

[ajay124]

"so please do keep an eye on gears that you would have anyway considered if you would have gone ahead with the sale"

Right now I am dreaming and drooling over these men in black

MA6900 +MCD201 - YouTube

 

[Thad E Ginathom]

Thank you for the recommendation Shanti. Just bought a few classical CDs from this site. I have never heard any "sense records" CD. Hoping for some nice music and recording. BTW, I was at Mumbai you were mentioning about another UK record label who are also into Hindustani. I suppose you were offering to buy their entire collection or something like that. Can you please point us out to their website ?

Are you aware of Navras? There are one or two fine Drupad examples of theirs in my collection

I'm grateful to them for some of my early experiences of Indian classical music, both live and recorded. For a long time it was water in the London dessert. Regrettably it was only in recent years that I came to know of the London branch of Bharathya Vidya Bhavan, and through them, the many small-hall/temple carnatic concerts. I also, of course, came to know of the dismal audio quality of many such events, but that is another story (and, of course, many Chennai sabbhas are even worse)

 

[prem]

You will love the Mcintosh sound, Ajay. Its probably right up your street.

 

[ajay124]

Prem

My upgrade bug always begin with visual cues. My interest only begins to simmer if I like the looks and finish of a particular brand. Since yesterday I have been googling for more info about Mcintosh and so far I like everything I have read about their integrated amps.

From their current line up, both D6600(200WPC) and D7000(250WPC) would suit my needs. I suspect that the D6900 amp featured in the video would be the older discontinued version of D7000. Good! I would rather buy a used unit of a discontinued model at price X than a new unit of the new model at price 2X. As is the norm with most products that I like, Mcintosh does not have a dealer in India. The nearest location to India suggested by their website is Dubai :sad:

I have not come across any forum member who is currently using or may have used a Mcintosh in the past. Is there anybody on the forum who has used or auditioned Mcintosh amps and cdp's?

Integrated Amplifiers, Home Stereo, Tube Integrated Amplifiers, 2 Channel Integrated Amps, Home Stereo Systems - McIntosh

 

[avidyarthy]

The gent in Delhi (not a Forum member) from whom I purchased the Krell 400xi is having 2 nos Mcintoshes ... one SS and the other a 60 kg multi-tube monster. Don't remember the models though, but can be found out.

The reason for him dumping the Krell was because of its dry, neutral SQ ... as per him. Well, I am finding the SQ tending towards 'tubey' with the TL speakers which I recently procured.

This gent was seeking a lushier sound ... kind of, a coloured signature ... which he could only manage with the Mcintosh amps.

 

[prem]

Hi Ajay


I have never heard their integrated. But have heard quite a few of their power amps. Very musical. Have a look at the MC452 or the MC 302. Esoteric sounds very nice with Mcintosh.

 

[reignofchaos]

The gent in Delhi (not a Forum member) from whom I purchased the Krell 400xi is having 2 nos Mcintoshes ... one SS and the other a 60 kg multi-tube monster. Don't remember the models though, but can be found out.

The reason for him dumping the Krell was because of its dry, neutral SQ ... as per him. Well, I am finding the SQ tending towards 'tubey' with the TL speakers which I recently procured.

This gent was seeking a lushier sound ... kind of, a coloured signature ... which he could only manage with the Mcintosh amps.

Beg to disagree. Big Mc is the only big name brand out there that actually sounds right to me. They are clean with no coloration. The krell 400xi sounds nothing like the krell class A monsters. I've only heard this krell integrated with a Dyn and I agree with the person that the amp is dry and simply sucks out all the life from the music. YMMV, this is only my humble opinion.

 

[malvai]

Beg to disagree. Big Mc is the only big name brand out there that actually sounds right to me. They are clean with no coloration. The krell 400xi sounds nothing like the krell class A monsters. I've only heard this krell integrated with a Dyn and I agree with the person that the amp is dry and simply sucks out all the life from the music. YMMV, this is only my humble opinion.

ditto! heard both and i agree with you.... but then, it might be a different story for avid.... considering his specially tuned speakers...

 

[Dr.Bass]

Prem

My upgrade bug always begin with visual cues. My interest only begins to simmer if I like the looks and finish of a particular brand. Since yesterday I have been googling for more info about Mcintosh and so far I like everything I have read about their integrated amps.

From their current line up, both D6600(200WPC) and D7000(250WPC) would suit my needs. I suspect that the D6900 amp featured in the video would be the older discontinued version of D7000. Good! I would rather buy a used unit of a discontinued model at price X than a new unit of the new model at price 2X. As is the norm with most products that I like, Mcintosh does not have a dealer in India. The nearest location to India suggested by their website is Dubai :sad:

I have not come across any forum member who is currently using or may have used a Mcintosh in the past. Is there anybody on the forum who has used or auditioned Mcintosh amps and cdp's?

Integrated Amplifiers, Home Stereo, Tube Integrated Amplifiers, 2 Channel Integrated Amps, Home Stereo Systems - McIntosh

Here at Singapore, there is a dedicated McIntosh showroom where they have quite a few models on demo. They mostly use JM Labs speakers in their room. The showroom is nice and sophisticated with welcoming sales personnels. I have heard McIntosh 3-4 times now. Twice in the showroom and twice at other audiophile's places.

I have mixed reactions about them. I liked their older models MC275 and their newer solid state integrated without autoformers. The models with autoformers sounded too dark and sluggish to me that too with speakers like JM Labs which are relatively bright and a bit lean in their tonality. McIntosh has great build quality and some of their products are legendary (MC 275 is one of them), but they are expensive and hence needs to be well auditioned before being taken into consideration.

 

[Dr.Bass]

I would like to add that, while looking for the next component upgrade you may want first crystallise your plan, as in

1. A new amp for Vienna
2. A new speaker for Bryston
3. New amp+speaker combo
4. ...

All of these are different topics and need different threads of evaluation.

 

[ajay124]

Dr. Bass

You are absolutely correct. All three options need to be studied. I would really appreciate if you could give some recommendations for all the options. Have you heard the D6900 Mcintosh integrated amp. I would like to learn more about its quality and current pricing.

Option 4: (shanti's recommendation) Retain Esoteric, VABBG's, 4B SST. Upgrade the pre amp, cables and IC's. This option had never crossed my mind before but now I kind of like it. Upgrading the preamp could provide a real boost in terms of a different and more refined sound signature. Both my wife and I want a little more sweetness and bloom while listening to chamber music, so we could even consider a tube pre-amp.

 

[viren bakhshi]

Hello Ajay,

Pardon the interjection, but I always find these discussions a bit too equipment centered. It's so difficult to isolate the sound of one component. Don't all the components interact in a system - that's the sound you hear.

The options you should consider are music systems that bring your music alive, and enhance your enjoyment of it.

Perhaps, you tired of the sound coming from your present system, on extended listening, because it didn't draw you in to the music enough. Perhaps, it wasn't real enough. I find that happens with western classical music very easily, because it is all acoustic music from real instruments and voices; sounds that have a ready reference. A sharp tonality, and enhanced detail, start sounding artificial because they are not there in live performances. A sound that is tonally rich, and relaxed, is that of live music, and a sound you can sink into.

Try and audition systems that give you that feeling. Once you find it, that system can serve you for life.

Regards,
Viren