Most of my audio systems were configured to present music in tonally balanced, spatially honest, full-range sound. I do not now, nor ever did, like highly etched, sterile sounding playback systems. Evolutionarily, each step has gotten better and there is still a long way to go in that never-ending quest for really excellent home reproduction. I think most of us would find that to be a reasonable statement, especially -- if you as I -- listen to a lot of unamplified, acoustic music.


In that context, I am pleased about yet another form of enhanced sonic growth that has occurred for me over the past seven years or so. I decided to try my hand at audio taping local performers, actually for several reasons; this has been a real eye and ear opener. Investing in some decent DAT machines, mic preamps, microphones and the requisite ancillaries has happened over this time frame, but learning the art of making a decent tape is constantly challenging. Just about all of my recordings involve
classical music, in good-sounding acoustic venues, with good-to-excellent musicians performing in concert settings. My ability to discern sonic subtlety has improved, since I use neutral sounding recording gear with no signal processing at all. Now I can tell how things sound on my own system and sort out those details and characteristics without having to wonder about what variably astute engineers, technicians and whoever else, have done along the way toward marketing most of the stuff found on typical commercial releases. Recently I switched from DAT tape to a hard drive recorder, the Sound Devices 744T, and it is yet another step forward in sonics, flexibility and trustworthiness. This feels like a Nagra and sounds like it too!


As for my current home audio situation, here are the details. My listening room, which has a fair degree of absorptive furniture and carpeting, measures 14' x 23' x 8' and has a concrete floor, insulated walls/ceiling, and dedicated power lines. The gear includes a Linn Sondek LP12 turntable with all the current mods, along with a Naim ARO arm carrying a Spectral MCIIB cartridge. This signal passes through an Audio Research PH3SE phonostage before reaching the Music First Audio Tap TVC line stage with remote. [In the above shot, I was experimenting with an Opera Audio TVC before settling on the Tap.] A Magnum Dynalab Etude FM tuner, Naim CD2 player and a Modwright Sony N999ES Signature Truth fully modded CDP unit provide signal sources. The addition of Zu Definition Pro loudspeakers has transformed my listening experience in a significant and joyous fashion. These biamped speakers are powered by a McCormack DNA 500 for the mids and highs, while the deep bass is handled by a pair of Electron Kinetics Eagle 400 solid state monoblocks. The bass below 40Hz alone is EQ'd via a Rane PEQ55 unit as provided by the Zu folks in their Pro version of the Definitions. All cables and wires now come from Zu Cable and are matched to each component for appropriate performance-to-value level. Tweaking of various sorts has been utilized to maximize the listening experience. The addition of a BPT Signature Plus BP-3.5 power line conditioner has taken sonic performance to a finer level and all of my components run through it now. Symposium Acoustics shelving and isolation blocks are employed in critical areas yielding excellent results. Walker Audio Reference HDL Mk. II speaker links and Lloyd's Extreme SST Silver Treatment are effectively in the mix of tweaks too.


Much happiness does come through music. I am always keen to share fine sound reproduction with new friends, old friends (and even a few enemies - I'm kidding). Being involved with the NY Audiophile Society is a real treat and I have met many wonderful, engaging and erudite people there. The musicians I record, many of whom have become good friends, are an ever-valuable reality check for me, especially when I get too geeked out about the gear. It has been a joy to undertake audio equipment reviewing and many articles have flowed from my computer for The Audiophile Voice and also for Stereotimes. I am enthused about continuing and augmenting that effort now at 6moons. I look forward to the exchange/dialogue that helps us understand music, each other and, hopefully, the world at large. My writing style should reflect the enjoyment and commitment I feel as a result of getting taken away by the music. If lucky enough, with all the elements in place, I truly revel in the occasion when I am able to sense that I have departed my listening room and am with the musicians in their space, experiencing the emotion and craftsmanship of well-executed, fine compositions.


By the way, my professional life as a biologist and university professor has been fully compatible with all of this music and audio stuff. In fact, there is a very long list of former students who now own decent, respectable and, in a few cases, even fancy audio systems.


They thank or blame me for showing them that you can always do better than buying a rack sound system. But mostly? They all have come to love music!

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