| General Meeting Reports for 2014 | Return to Index |
| December 2014 | A night of DIY audio genius |
December each year is our annual DIY night where members who have
built a better audio mousetrap assemble with their priceless efforts to
show their ingenious acumen with audio gear.
Equipment on the display and demonstrated at our December meeting...
Two-way, inexpensive, speakers employing Jaycar 6.5" woofer\mid and ribbon tweeter
A hybrid, valve and Pass B1 active attenuator preamplifier.
Ron's beautiful looking and sounding speakers he made for Gail.
Dave's 100W Class D power amp based on the Sure Electronics Class D module
All DIY gear has been fully completed and looks smart. No breadboard prototypes
will be demonstrating. This is an effort to demonstrate to other members
that DIY gear can not only sound good but be wife friendly and look
professional.
Each presenter will have twenty minutes to play some demonstration tracks
and talk about their gear. It should be a great night so come and support your
club.
Mark W Houston
Once again we were indebted to Greg Osborn for supplying a pair of wonderful speakers, amplifiers and a player to
use to demonstrate some key releases we have sold in the last year to our regular list of Australian retail outlets.
As usual Beverley will have a comprehensive selection of recordings for sale to MAC members at special prices.
Unfortunately sales of the new Pure-audio Blu-ray discs have not been positive. Although these new, high bit-rate discs sound amazing through a good
system, public perception of the format is very similar to that of the failed
DVD-Audio format. Many customers ask how come there isn't any video
on these Blu-ray discs when the format was originally designed to display
high definition video? To compound the problem, the relevant labels are not
packaging or marketing the format very well.
The positive trend in our sales this year continued to be specialist audiophile
recordings, and we have sold more products from the audiophile labels like
Mobile Fidelity, Chesky and Stockfisch Records. With some price adjustments made to remain competitive, our sales of mainstream labels like
ATMA Classique, Cala and Linn Records have continued.
In the last six months we have received substantial shipments from Mobile
Fidelity that contained only LPs. It seems more people are discovering, or rediscovering, the joys of a high-quality vinyl based stereo systems. Whilst
most of the good old record stores have gone, shops like Quality Records in
Malvern and Greville Records in Prahran continue to provide a great service
to LP fans. Sales through hi-fi stores like Tivoli Hi Fi, Audiophile and Burwood Music Centre continue to grow. More "record" companies are producing a wider range of their catalogs
on vinyl and LPs are more accessible now than they have been for at least a decade.
The popular interest in the sound reproduced by quality LPs has prompted
Stockfisch Records in Germany to produce their DMM-CD/SACD (Direct Metal Mastered - CD/SACD ) compilation disc.
This Hybrid SACD was produced by first cutting a copper Direct LP Metal
Master on a Neuman VMS-82 cutting lathe. The Metal Master was then left
clamped on the lathe for play-back using an EMT TSD-15 Pick-up on an
EMT 997 tone-arm through a top of the range EMT JPA66 valve preamplifier into the Meitner EMM Labs adc 8 MK IV A/D converter to pro-
duce the final DSD master for the SACD. By this process Stockfisch Records has produced a Direct Metal master hybrid SACD.
We also heard a selection of the other outstanding and interesting releases
from labels like Mobile Fidelity, Chesky Records, Reference Recordings,
Cala Records, NMC Records, Sono-Luminus and ATMA Classique.
Ian Hooper
Back in January of this year the club was fortunate to have Billy Woodman
from ATC present a talk based around his philosophy and observations on
good speaker design. The ATC 75mm (3") soft dome midrange is his most
well known product. He founded the company 40 years ago in Gloucester,
building drive units for professional monitor speakers and then started making his own. The combination of power handling, ruggedness and lack of
coloration have become legendary in both the domestic and professional audio market for ATC speakers.
This month's meeting, thanks to JAG Imports, we got hear the updated SCM
40, a three way third generation floor standing speaker. As with all three way
speakers in the ATC line up this domestic model is based around the 3" midrange driver. Now with curved side walls the speaker box has also had a
cleanup, eliminating the stepped front baffle. The biggest improvement to
this model is ATC's new 25mm Tweeter, developed to satisfy the company's
long established rigour in driver unit engineering. The tweeter employs a
unique, dual suspension system. A short edge-wound voice coil in a long
narrow magnet gap ensures low distortion throughout its operating band
which removes the need for ferrofluids. To complete the speaker a 164mm
bass driver takes care of the lower frequencies.
JAG Imports also introduced to the Australian market a new range of
electronics, LEJONKLOU - made in Sweden designed by Fredrik Lejonklou. Barely known outside his country
as recently as 2006, he manufactures pre-amps, power amplifiers and a handful of Phono Pre-Amplifiers designed
for MM cartridges. The audio system consisted of a Lejonklou pre-amp
and matching mono-block amplifiers. The front was a Linn Klimax
DS as the DAC with a NAS drive supplying the music all controlled be the
humble iPad.
Nick Karayanis
This month's meeting was a members request with club members providing the musical program that was played on the night.
MAC members were invited to bring along a favourite or new piece of music that could appeal to other members.
On entry, each member with a CD was given a slip of paper to write their
name on. A table next to the door had three containers marked : Classical, Jazz and Other.
When your name was pulled out, you were offered the opportunity to play your music.
To ensure as many members as possible can participate, the maximum time for each track was no more than 5 minutes.
Equipment on the night was provided by John Corneille and me. Front
end was an OPPO 95 Multi-Disc player for those who wished to play a HiRes disc SACD, DVD-A, Bluray Audio or even a 24bit Flac/Wav data
disc. The speakers for the night were the Krix Esoterix, a three way floor
standing model. John provided a valve amplifier to power the speakers.
Playlist from September GM
Artist - Album - Track No - Label
Alison Krauss - Alison Krauss + Union Station : Live - Tr 4: Baby, now that I found you.
Nick Karayanis
The first system was an all British affair with a Rega front end comprising of the Apollo CD
player plus the Rega DAC. An ELEX-R amplifier
will power the system with its 72 watts driving the AERO 2 speakers from
Cambridge Audio. The AERO 2's comprise of a 2.25" BMR driver and a
6" woofer. The Balanced Mode Radiator, is a new and patented technology
that brings a number of exceptional advantages to audio reproduction. Traditionally tweeter crossover happens at about 3kHz right at the point where
our ears are most sensitive. With a BMR driver the cross-over happens at 250Hz, outside of the sensitive hearing frequencies.
The meeting continued with a second system with American electronics
and Italian loudspeakers. The Audio Research VSi75 integrated valve amplifier delivers 75Wpc into 8 ohms.
The amps output transformers and coupling caps, are the same as those from their Reference 75 power amp.
The CD 6 form Audio Research, is a combination of a super high-resolution CD
player and Digital-to-Analogue converter all in one compact chassis. The
CD 6 offers disc playback via the Phillips Pro 2 transport plus four digital inputs, including USB.
Partnering the electronics was a new model of speaker from Sonus Faber, the OLYMPICA II.
This new model continues the Sonus Faber tradition of "handcrafted sound" The "Lyre" shaped speaker is designed with
rogressive thickness curvature cabinet walls, with solid walnut vertical
clamps. This 3way Floorstander comprises of a 29mm "Arrow Point"
Damped Apex Silk Domed tweeter, a 150 mm Midrange, and a 180mm
Woofer. All the drivers are a trickle down from their reference speaker, AIDA.
Laminar Flow Vents define vertically the cabinet design with a perforated metal grid running the total length of the back panel.
Playlist from August GM
Artist - Album - Track No - Label
Eric Clapton - Clapton Unplugged - Tr 1: Singe - Reprise.
Web Ed.
DIY Convener
November 2014
Rockian Trading
Rockian Trading
October 2014
A night with ATC speakers
Caretaker Program Co-ordinator
September 2014
Members Request Night
Dave Mathews - Little Feet - Tr 1: Fat man in the bath tub.
Daniel Barenboim plays Chopin The Warsaw Recital - Tr 10: Waltz in C sharp minor - DG
Rodriguez - Cold Fact - Tr 1: Sugar Man - Light in the Attic records.
Gerry Mulligan - Gerry Mulligan meets Johnny Hodges. - Tr 1: Sunny - Verve
TUTTI Orchestral sampler - Tr 11:Jacques Ibert, Escales Valencia - EijiOue / Minnesota Orchestra - Reference Recordings
Neville Brothers - Brother's Keep er - Tr 11: Sons & Daughters
FIM - The Producer's Choice 1 - Tr 11: Drum Improvisation - ULTRAHD
John Coltrane & Johnny Hartman - Tr 3: My one and only you.
Jessica Williams - Plays for Lovers - Tr 3: My one and only love.
Eleanor Mc Evoy - Out There - Tr 6: Mercy mercy me - SACD
David Munyon - The Stockfisch DMM-CD/SACD Vol 1 - Tr 9; Four wild horses.
Caretaker Program Co-ordinator
August 2014
Synergy AV
Dave's True Story-Dave's True Story-Tr 10: Like a Rock - Bepop Records.
The Linn Collection 2000 - Tr.7: - The Shindof Quartet - Linn Records.
Peter Paul & Mary - Peter Paul & Mary - Tr.5: Bamboo- Warner Bros. Records - USA.
Dire Straits- Dire Straits- Tr 4: Six Blade Knife-Re Mastered SBM - Vertico.
Amber Rubarth-Sessions From the 17th Ward- Tr 13: Just Like a Woman- Chesky Records Binural.
Tutti ! Orchestral Sampler- Tr 9: Vivaldi Concerto in F, Allegro- Nicholas McGegan / Philharmonia Baroque- Reference Recordings.
Eric Bibb - Just Like Love - Tr 4: Just Like Love - Opus 3.
Ella Fitzgerald- Things Ain't What They Used To Be- Tr 3: A Man and a Woman-Warner Japan.
Cassandra Wilson- Closer To You : The Pop Side- Tr 10: Lay Lady Lay - Blue Note Records.
Helge Antonio- The Piano Experience- Tr 7: Etude In C Minor, Chopin- dB Productions Sweden.
Doug MacLeod-You Can't Take My Blues- Tr 13: Sometimes I Wonder Audioquest Music.
July 2014
Omni Audio
Omni Audio as the name implies, is a Victorian audio manufacturer who
specialises in omni-directional speakers. With full range Lowther drivers in
the four different models, they are described by their designer, Chris Maude
as a simple, elegant design with real performance.
"At Omni Audio, we build our enclosures from custom-made cylindrical
tube. They are very strong and stiff, the walls have no flat surfaces and are
therefore non-resonant. No bracing is required internally by our enclosures
and sound waves have no obstruction to the port. Omni Audio speakers are
configured with the driver in a vertical position at the top . At the bottom
and top of the enclosures are the wave guides that produce the omnidirectional
nature of the design. They are conical in shape and sit directly
above the driver at the top and directly below the port at the bottom. They
direct the sound waves from both driver and port on-axis to the listener,
where ever they may be sitting. They will simply fill your room."
Chris brought two of his speakers for the club demonstration. The entry
level model Euphony, which uses the Lowther PM6C driver, and sells for
$2595, and his top model the Maestro. A 96 dB speaker that employs the
Lowther DX3 driver, and retails for $3295. The speakers stand 83cm high
and can be ordered on any colour. The electronics for the night consisted of a
Luxman Integrated valve amplifier and an OPPO 95 spinning the discs.
Web Ed.
Apparently it went well.
Web Ed.
June 2014
AGM + Buy, Swap and Sell
May 2014
The Art of Sound - Richard's Speaker Project
T : 19mm VIFA, M : 100mm Scan Speak, B : 200mm Peerless
Height : 900mm, Volume : 62 l Bass Reflex,
Material : Gel-coated Fibreglass, 23mm Plywood Panels.
Playlist from May GM
Artist - Album - Track No - Label
Andrew Pendelbury-Dont Hold Back That Feeling-Tr 7: Trinidad- Warner Music Australia
Holst The Planets, Herbert von Karajan- Tr 6: Uranus
Melody Gardot- My One And Only Thrill- Tr 10: Deep within the corners of my mind- Verve
Davidson Brothers- Her To Stay- Tr 6: Double plugger strut-
Allan Taylor- Old Friends New Roads- Tr 9: Let Me Be- Stockfisch
Richard Tongetti- Tognetti Bach, Sonatas & Partitas for Solo Violin- Tr 12, CD 2.- ABC Classical
Justine Jones- Justine Jones Quartet- Tr 1: As you do- ABC Jazz
Mercedes Sosa- Misa Criolla- Tr 3: Credo- DECCA
Eric Bibb- A Ship Called Love- Tr 1 A Ship called love- ABC Jazz
The Waifes- Temptation- Tr 1: I learn the hard way- Jarrah Records
Gitano Family- Feria- Tr 4: Voi Voi Voi- Tudor Records, Zurich Switzerland
R.E.M.- Automatic For The People- Tr 4: Everybody Hurts- Warner Brothers
TRACKS PLAYED AFTER THE BREAK
Gitano Family- Feria- Tr 1: Maria Sara- Tudor Records, Zurich
Joshua Bell- At Home With Friends- Tr 9; Eleanor Rigby featuring Frankie Moreno- Sony Classical
Cyrus Chestnut- Cyrus Chestnut With...- Tr 6: My Favourite Things featuring Anita Baker- Atlantic (HDCD)
Usher Audio Demo Disc-The Diamond Revolution- Tr 10; Male Vocal & Tr 13: Female Vocal
Mercedes Sosa- Misa Criolla- Tr 4: Sanctus- DECCA
Keith Jarrett- La Scala- Tr 3: Somewhere Over the Rainbow
Web Ed.
| April 2014 | Pure Music Group |
OCTAVE HP 300 MK 2 Valve preamp, RCM - THERIAA Phono stage, Thales TTT-C Battery driven turntable and Simplicity Tangential Pivoted arm.
OCTAVE HP 300 MK 2 Valve preamp.
Thales TTT-C Battery driven turntable and Simplicity Tangential Pivoted arm.
MOLA Kaluga 400w N-CORE Class D amplifiers.
Argento Audio, Interconnect & Power Cables.
Gauder Akustick Berlina RC7 speakers.
Presenter Warwick Freemantle.
Web Ed.
| March 2014 | Melbourne Audio Club’s 40th Birthday |
Lovely chocolate birthday cake
Original member Alex Encel describing some of the changes to HiFi over the last 40 years
Web Ed.
| February 2014 | VAF presents the new DC-X63 speaker |
Mr Philip Vafiadis demonstrating his speakers
Web Ed.
| January 2014 | Bill Woodman from ATC |
Web Ed.