Once again we were indebted to Greg and Yvonne Osborn for providing the
system we used to demonstrate some of the new recordings for 2010. The
speakers and amplifiers were all new and improved models from the set-up last
year. Once again the system was outstanding and we were able to discern all of
the sound subtleties that the wide variety of recordings we played contained.
The equipment used was
Osborn Epitome Tower Reference speakers.
Consonance CYBER 845S 28 watt class A, single-ended, mono-block, valve amplifiers.
Consonance R 1.3 valve pre-amplifier.
Consonance Droplet CD50 VD CD-player.
All powered through a Consonance Line-conditioner.
All connected by Osborn interconnect cable and Osborn speaker cables.
For more information please contact Osborn No Compromise Loudspeakers www.osborn.com.au
The first recording demonstrated was The London Harp Sound conducted by
Australian born Geoffrey Simon on Cala Records. I think this recording of 16
of the world's finest harpists is too subtle for the large space of the Willis
Room and the stereo imaging was not altogether clear.
This was followed by tracks from two 1970s Doobie Brothers albums on hybrid
SACD from Mobile Fidelity. They were The Captain and Me and Takin It To The Streets. These were definitely not subtle. Nor was the hit track "Cold
as Ice" from the self-titled Foreigner album on Mobile Fidelity.
We then played some brief sections of two tracks from the Stockfisch CD produced
specially for the European Auto Sound Association to test and judge carsound
competitions. Although this CD is designed for judging a car-stereosystem,
it is also a very helpful tool for your home stereo, particularly the live
recording of Chris Jones and Allan Taylor performing Tennessee Waltz.
We then played, for comparison, some classical guitar composed by Fernando
Sor on a Linn Records SACD and a Dorian/Sono-Luminus CD.
Next we heard a particularly unusual recording from Dorian/Sono-Luminus of
The Modern Mandolin Quartet performing an all-classical program including
Tchaikovsky's Nutcracker Suite.
We then demonstrated and showed some of the recent jazz releases from
Chesky Records, including a track from Louise Rogers, their new young jazz
vocalist, on the Chesky Records New York Sessions series SACD titled Black
Coffee.
The next track was an acoustic classic jazz track from a "best of" Opus 3
SACD, A Selection from Tomas Ornberg's BLUE FIVE & The Swedish Jazz
Kings. This was timely because The Swedish Jazz Kings had just toured Australia
and appeared at The Wangaratta Jazz Festival.
Continuing with great jazz recordings we heard two tracks from a recent Reference
Recordings jazz collection titled Jazz Kaleidoscope. Reference Recordings
have recently reduced their recorded out-put but are expanding their range of
HRx 176.4 kHz/24 bit master discs.
Then came a highlight of the evening. A comparison between two different
"pressings" of the same recording. The comparison was focused on the first
track from the Oscar Peterson Trio recording We Get Requests. This is a First
Impression Music release on their K2HD series of recordings and is itself one of
the best ever jazz trio recordings. We followed this with the same track from the
FIM Ultimate Disc version that is a custom cleaned, burnt, damped and balanced
gold CD-R made from the same master. The double-bassist Ray Brown
opens the track by bowing his bass and the opening piano phrases are precise
and very clear. The clarity was improved off the Ultimate Disc version giving
the piano and bass sounds more precision. In fact, the added clarity improved
the already great stereo imaging from this recording. The very quiet scatsinging
from the bassist became clearer and more precise, adding to the quality
and charm of this disc. I am confident that all present could hear and define the
differences.
More piano recordings followed. First was a recent Linn Records SACD of Mozart
piano works with pianist Gottlieb Wallisch. Gramophone magazine praised
the sound of this recording of a Steinway Piano.
The second piano recording was made by Keith "Prof" Johnson of Reference
Recordings in 1985. The pianist was Mike Garson, who was, amongst many
things, David Bowie's music director for several years. Here he teamed up with
flautist Jim Walker. This recording was originally released on a 45rpm LP, then
a CD titled "Reflections" which we still have a copy for comparison. We compared
the sound of the CD "Reflections" with the brand-new re-mastered
HDCD version now titled "Pied Piper." The vast improvement in digital mastering
technology since the CD "Reflections" was originally mastered was obvious
to all.
We heard segments of tracks from Linda Ronstadt's best selling album, Simple
Dreams, recently re-mastered by Mobile Fidelity and released on Audiophile
Gold CD. It seemed most people present agreed that this is Ronstadt's best popular
country album. It is certainly a best seller for Rockian Trading.
Other CDs played were:
. Linn Records double SACD of Mozart Symphonies performed by the
Scottish Chamber Orchestra
. Handel: Concerti Grossi, Opus 6 with the Avison Ensemble directed by
Pavlo Beznosiuk.
. Bach's Air from Suite in D major
. Mozart's Eine Kliene Nacht Musick recorded by Canadian label ATMA
Classique
. Canadian baritone Joshua Hopkins singing a contemporary art song
Lonesome Man.
. Song, Some Day Baby by Ray Charles off a new MONO SACD release
from Mobile Fidelity of the album The Genius Sings The Blues.
. a track from the new Livingston Taylor album, Last Alaska Moon.
. a track from the new Dennis Kolen album Northeim Goldmine
Finally I demonstrated segments of various tracks from my current favourite
demo and test CD. It is a 24bit XRCD compilation from First Impression Music
titled FIM Super Sounds ! This was the first "Best Of" collection from FIM and
many of those present at the meeting indicated they understood why this is one
my favoured demonstration discs.
We thoroughly enjoyed the company of the Melbourne Audio Club, many of
whom have been friends for years. Thank you to all who attended for the courtesy
afforded to us.
Ian Hooper Rockian Trading
| October 2010 |
|
Classical Music for Everyone |
The Classic music night was a well prepared cooperative event between John, Ron, Gail and Stephen with explanations of the origins of the classical arrangements and the evolution from early classic thru the renaissance, baroque, classical, romantic and modern periods that also reflect the prevailing political changes over these many years and was illustrated with music to suit.
Amongst the many & varied items discussed were the Sonata form of music, the world of chamber music and the interactions between instruments, the difference between Concerto and Symphony, the role of written music scores, the development of Opera, etc. A very informative night - I bought the "Classic for Dummies" book the same night!
The sound system was also well developed with John's Sony CD, Ron's integrated & crossover amp, into the satellite speakers supported by the subwoofer - it worked very well in the Willis Room. Stephen's remarkably dynamic 'Vivaldi Concerto' was the last track, at 11 o'clock!
Many thanks to John, Gail, Ron and Stephen for a very enjoyable, informative night of music. To follow up, there will be a series of articles "How to Listen to Classical Music" by Keith Wong, the Administrator of Stereo Net Aust (SNA).
James Hill
Addendum:
Ron ,Gail, Bob (Toll) and Kevin (Morrish) are fixtures with classic music on the Eastern Radio FM 98.1 from 9 - 11 pm on Sunday Nights.
Also, on ABC FM :
9 - 10am Sat Mornings = Keys to Music - Explanations of Classic Music by
Graham Abbot - excellent program
5 - 7 pm Sat & Sun = Just Classics with Damien Beaumont
For those folks on the net (computers!) and aren't fully immersed in "classics", a visit to the ABC FM website is worth while - intro to the amazing world of classic music.
| September 2010 |
|
All that jazz |
AAnd a very good night was had by all. Three Jazz group stalwarts, Martin Bray
featuring "Swing", Malcolm Kirkland presenting "Vocals" and Peter Allen with
his provocative and witty "Jazz for people who hate Jazz" alternately delighted,
amused, shocked, entertained and informed a very attentive audience of members
nearly all of whom stayed right through till 11.00 pm.
Every track played was briefly explained beforehand and what was particularly
interesting was the way in which our presenters took care to also describe what
that track musically "said" to them. This very interesting, well thought out approach
showed how much solid preparation has gone into the evening and further
enriched the listening experience.
The equipment used came for member's resources. Both LPs and CDs were
played. Martin Bray brought his Mitchell Hydraulic T/table with it's Cambridge
640C phono amp and new member Joe Mieczkowski's provided his Consonance
CD player. Both fed into James's trusty Pass preamp and then to Hugh's brand
new "Naksa 70" amplifier hooked up to his Vsonic speakers. Since this was the
first time the club had experienced Hugh's latest Power Amplifier which, to
date, has garnered many compliments from overseas audio buffs he gave members
a brief introduction to the new modules and supplied some written notes
which were well received.
Once both the system and presenters had "warmed up" the sound moved from
good to excellent. It was very interesting to hear the difference between the
'mostly early' vinyl recordings and CD versions of the same performances. In
some cases it was very noticeable with any shortcomings in detail or clarity in
the vinyl recording being more than compensated for by sheer musicality.
Overall it was a good, relaxed, positive night out with the "boys" talking about
jazz and things. Everyone present, including our Jazz fiends learned something
new and all enjoyed the music.
James Hill
| August 2010 |
|
Kostas Metaxas - Everything old is new again |
Knowing Kostas reputation for recording very high quality audio on reel
to reel we mistakenly advertised this meeting as one where reel to reel
music would be played; envisioning a high fi system with a classic reel to
reel recorder as its centre piece. Well, we were both right and wrong.
There was indeed high quality audio Kostas had recorded on his Stellavox
portable reel to reel but it was background audio to his films. Our thanks,
too, to Nick Kingsley for loaning his excellent projector enabling this audio
visual presentation to be large and superbly detailed.
These were no mere ordinary documentaries The first concerned a broker
who interfaces between banks who, by and large are the only entities
able to afford to own stratospherically priced vintage violins, and virtuosos
who play them. Three classic violins including a Stradivarius and a
Guarneri were compared to a modern classic using the same solo piece
played by a professional violinist. By virtue of Kostas's superb recording
technique, golden ears in the audience were able to distinguish the subtle
but characteristic differences of each instrument.
We were then treated to live chamber music and Jazz recitals plus interviews
with Stellavox founder Georges Quillet, hardware guru Mark Levinson
and, finally, an excerpt from Kostas's Aussie/Greek thriller mini
movie illustrating how music can be used for both ambience and tension.
All in all a uniquely different evening that was both absorbing and educational.
James Hill
Trevor Lees was his usual ebullient self. He spoke in some detail about the maturing
digital radio format and the surprising sound quality of these units. Given
digital radio has been the butt of much criticism, mirth and impatience it was
good to know it is operating very well indeed. Although not yet widespread in
popular consumer terms the Australian uptake of the brands and models available
is growing so substantially digital radio sales have rapidly become a significant
part of Trevor Lees Audio sales revenue.
Curiously, member Ron Healey has "installed" one (the Pure Evoke 25) in his
highly detail system and it functions very well with no system tweaks needed.
Sounds very good too!
Trevor's sound system, Marantz KI Pearl CDP, T Lees Valve pre, Graaf OTL
power amp (drawing 1600 watts from the mains!) the advertised Usher Bookshelf
speakers weren't efficient enough for the venue and so were replaced by
Canto Ergo 609 floorstanders matched expectations handling the vagaries of Willis Room with aplomb.
The music selection was wide with something to suit everyone's tastes. All in
all, a thoroughly enjoyable evening.
We also have Trevor to thank for the opportunity to see Spiral Groove's Allen
Perkins at our Mon 9th August Extraordinary General meeting.
James Hill
This unexpectedly eventful evening, during the AGM election process fire
alarms went off and the whole City of Whitehorse complex was evacuated, was
capped off by Matt's presentation of his personal passion Words and Music.
Pre meeting concerns this might either degenerate into a talk fest or a high decibel
sonic assault were, thankfully, ill founded as Matt proceeded to unveil
thoughtful musical choices linked by common themes. His first theme being
Social History & Change. This began with Billy Holiday's 1939 standard
Strange Fruit. Although by no means a chart buster in its time this simple,
haunting, evocative song with its poetic description of the worst excess of Southern
American Racism is famous not for sales but its place in History. In 1999
Time Magazine called it The Song of the Century and in 2010 the New Statesman
listed it as one of the Top 20 Political Songs.
Ironically, among the guests present at the AGM were two American visitors!
Neither had known of each other before the meeting and, serendipitously, Matt's
first track was Strange Fruit. They stayed till the coffee break so it's reasonable
to assume no lasting harm has been done to Australia/U.S. relationships.
One of the five tracks played during the same theme bracket was Eric Bogle's
And the Band Played Waltzing Matilda which surprised us all by triggering a
spontaneous burst of audience applause when it finished. Overall, a stimulatingly
different evening. It's not often we stop to think where and why some of
the songs we love come from, what artistes are striving to express, how sex realigns
perspective and how protest and the clamour for change need not be strident
to be effective.
James Hill
| May 2010 |
|
Members Request Night |
What can you say about an evening where everyone pitches in and contributes a
favourite track or two other than, as always, it was both fascinating hear some
great versions of classic tracks and educational in the sense that there is always
something you've never heard before that you want to make sure you will never
be without again? Yes, it was one of those.
Yet again, our thanks go to club members who generously contributed the equipment
that made up the evening's system. We used Daves Rega Saturn
CD Player and his Cat6 interconnects with the familiar PassX2.5 preamplifier
driving Madrigal Audio's Proceeed BPA2 amplifier (Levinson design) and the
excellent Epos 2.5 Speakers, both amp and speakers thanks to John and Dave.
It was only recently these same speakers sitting on the floor gave such good results
with Matt's AKS Nirvana + amplifier so I didn't stop to consider the difference
another amplifier/leads pairing might produce.
Without any stands to lift the speakers off the floor we had noticeable bass boom
on some tracks. Of course this varied with the type of music played.
This problem aside the music was as enjoyable as it was varied. My thanks to
the many members who brought along such a delightful selection of tracks.
James Hill
| April 2010 |
|
System AKSA with Hugh Dean |
Over the past eight or nine years there have been many opportunities for members
to hear and assess the quality of Aspen Amplifiers developing range of
products. It all started with the now fondly remembered AKSA 55 wpc kitset
amplifier, which quickly established an impressive price performance ratio both
here and, even more so, overseas.
It wasn't long before perfectionist Hugh Dean added another and then yet another
upgraded or radically redesigned model to his series of amplifiers each one
surpassing its predecessor in performance. Then he applied his diverse talents to
a signature pre-amplifier closely followed by kitset speakers.
The question now on everyone's lips is "has he reached finally reached the end
of his long development series?" Is this his Nirvana? In our April MAN we
detailed the key components of Hugh's new amplifiers and speaker system so
let's focus on delivery.
What did it sound like? Impressive indeed. Here was a package that from the
very first note spoke with authority. The Maya power amplifier is exceptionally
clean with dazzling resolving ability and the tripartite speaker system (two transmission
line floor-standers, with an independently powered summed sub in the
middle) not only dug deep when required but also gave us one of the most articulate
stereo images heard in the Willis Room.
Hugh's consummate presentation skills complemented by Laurie's highly informative
explanation of the considerable design effort which went into the speaker
system plus a diverse selection of quality music tracks made for thoroughly engaging
evening.
James Hill
| March 2010 |
|
Analogue Night with the Audio Guild |
First, our warmest thanks to Mohan Varkey, Duc Lai and Russell Spokes from
The Audio Guild for a very special evening of wonderful sound and superb music.
Thanks also to John Cornielle for, yet again, generously providing the club
and its friends with the use of his van to transport Duc's system from the Western
suburbs to the Willis room. Finally, thanks too to Red Mackay and David
Cathro who toiled feverishly with the above mentioned members of The Audio
Guild to set up this massive, complex, predominantly vintage system and test it
in such a very short time frame.
What did it sound like? Stunning! It had fabulous dynamics, a huge soundstage
was fast, delicate yet authoritative and possessed an effortless ability to shift
gears between soft and loud.
No system is perfect and it would defy logic to expect a large system extensively
tweaked to perform optimally in a home environment to be without fault after
being abruptly and rudely transplanted into the Willis room and then forced to
suffer the acoustic damping of some ninety bodies. There were a couple of very
tiny glitches. On some material the transition between midrange and bass was a
little lumpy. Some said they felt the 2 watt amplifier clipped on a couple of occasions.
This I did not hear. To me it seemed to deliver more than enough
sound pressure.
To the vast majority of us it was sonic heaven. I've lost count of the number of
members who said "fantastic, best evening ever, I'm so glad I came, etc." It
was, indeed, a truly memorable evening proving yet again that quality vinyl on a
superb system outperforms all but the most obscenely priced digital systems.
Matt Jelicich
| February 2010 |
|
Queen of the Opera |
A full house signalled his was going to be a special night, and it was. As always, the Redgum sound system, ably managed by Ian Robinson, delivered the sonic goods while the almost incomparably lovely Lindy Gerber took us on a fascinating journey through her world of Opera.
Her nine years spent in Vienna, the home of all things opera in Austria, formed the basis of a superb presentation covering everything from how seats are obtained and where the various levels of enthusiast reside in the theatre to how opera is taught, staged, performed and savoured.
From the ancient cobblestones outside the theatres and what happens on the winding staircases inside to what a teacher needs to know in order to train the best singers, how the chorus is chosen and the seriousness professionalism of the positions, to examples of both bad and brilliant opera performances; we were given it all.
Her passion is such that while residing in Vienna she taught herself German so she could immerse herself completely in that operatic world.
A nice touch on the evening was the series of coloured photos and magazine clippings culled from Lindy's extensive collection she had set out on the walls of the Willis Room. During the long break members could see the elaborate staging of some of the major works and read about significant triumphs by major performers.
It was a great evening. Non opera fans had their eyes and ears opened in the most stimulating way and for opera buffs it was pure heaven. Thank you once again, Lindy and Ian.
James Hill
| January 2010 |
|
Buy, Swap and Sell |
One thing that's never in short supply at all the GMs is conversation, so there
was no music after the "official business", just talking! All the tables around the
room were full of gear on offer, or just to see, including Mick's bags of "lead
pellets" - the room was soon "abuzz".
This is a really good opportunity to just talk about equipment, future projects,
music, etc without running out of time and also for our newer members to find
others with similar interests and also for our regular folks just to catch up on
things - it's an invaluable night on the calender.
The supper of pizza, wine, beer and soft drink went down quite well and just
enough to go around. Thank you everyone for cleaning up - so many made it
very easy, plus the finishing touch with the vac!
James Hill