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  »  New  Macondo Horns: biography...  Macondo with Pussy Eyes....  Horn-Loaded Speakers Forum     2  61030  05-18-2005
  »  New  Super Melquiades Amplifier...  About the Super Melquiades Bass....  Melquiades Amplifier  Forum     29  268773  07-16-2005
  »  New  Macondo Alternation. Extending the LF line-array..  Macondo and not only Macondo positioning...  Horn-Loaded Speakers Forum     8  145800  10-29-2005
  »  New  Macondo – Super Melquiades: few months later. ..  The system is sounding these days…...  Melquiades Amplifier  Forum     10  179814  03-01-2006
  »  New  5 Channel Version of Melquiades..  Very easy....  Melquiades Amplifier  Forum     21  241057  07-23-2006
  »  New  Macondo Frame modification...  Parquet...  Horn-Loaded Speakers Forum     46  445973  12-22-2006
  »  New  It takes balls to shop (never mind the nuts)..  Changes With Consistency as a Backdrop...  Playback Listening  Forum     24  175427  12-23-2006
12-29-2006 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 1
Post ID: 3406
Reply to: 3406
Summary: my/your audio: year by year

The good thing of having own dairy-oriented site is that I can look at what I was positing during the year and to have good grip of what was going on over the passed year. Still, although everything is on the surface, I would like to bring up few brief observations about what was not reflected within the site’s articles. Those observations will be about my audio occurrences and thoughts during the year 2006.

SniperCat.jpg

First off all, (and it is applicable to me personally, your mileage might wary) sumizing what happened in 2006 in my own audio world I would not consider recordings, musical discoveries, read music books or interesting performances that “evented” in 2006. When I talk about audio I’M TALKING ABOUT AUDIO and I’m not wiling to mislead myself with substitution of audio events with musical progression. As I told before, I have no interest in “Hysterical Audio” where a person, sells to himself/herself musical ideas recognizing them as audio accomplishments (and vise versa). I practice audio more on the pure (“abstract”) side where audio has honest audio values and honest audio methods. If does not mean that in my world the audio values are not evaluated by their musical merits. I juts know precisely the methodology and the patterns how exactly it should be done and therefore I do not need to sentimental, overly-romantic or hyper-spiritual over the trivial audio tasks.  Let live this duty to the dirt like John Marks who gets paid to misquote “big” composers in order to sell crapy audio. In my world, with a lack of better name I call my currant outlook on audio as “Abstract Audio” and I’m fine with it. There are musical merits and musical interests in my life built they, although they are “extentuatable” within the scope of audio, are NOT based on audio and would stay alive if I never even did audio at all.

http://www.GoodSoundClub.com/TreeItem.aspx?PostID=3400

Anyhow, you might call my view of the subject as primitivism or maturely but I care less as call it “whatever I feel”.

So, striping out from this thread any musical content let see what was the most prominent in my audio views during 2006? Within a next few weeks I will come up with a few summarizing articles with my observations. If others have anything to share about your audio happening in 2006 then please post with. Please do not REPLAY to the post in this threads but only “create new”. If you’re desperately would like to discuss the mentioned in this thread then go to other peaces with this site or wherever else. This thread I would like to keep only as set of dairy-compilations with impressions about my (or perhaps yours) audio experiences in 2006.

Rgs,
Romy the caT


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
01-01-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 2
Post ID: 3418
Reply to: 3406
Observation from 2006: Super Milq advancements

First major audio observation that I made is that my Super Melquiades should be revised. After a year and a half of using the amp I came across to some conclusions that outlined the prospective changes in my DSET.

1) The phase inverters after output transformers will remove. The Super Milq has in each channel remote control managed high quality relays after the output transforms that invert the phase sent to speakers. Although I would not question the necessity of absolute phase inverter (the correct phase is clearly audible) there is something else. Despite that to flip the phase is very easy and comfortable to do with my remote control but I observed that I did not do it most of the time. I used the phase inverter mostly during audio assessment what I wanted to set “better Sound” for a perfect methodological environment. However, during casual music listening I hardly paid attention to correctness of absolute phase.

2) The HF channel of the Super Melquiades should be revised. Something is wrong in there and it does not sound as I would like to. It mostly relates to improper amount of “density” of sound at HF. Interesting that the full range Milq had no such a problem. Also, the HF channels in the Super Milq are not high-passable for whatever reasons. The only different between the Super Milq and full range Milq is the output transformer, use of half of the tube of the last cap in B+. I observed the high amount of capacitance in B+ make HF “hard”. I am planning to go from 15.000uf to 1000-2000 and change output transformer. In addition I presume that the way in which I used my current HF OPTS was a bad way to do it. I use 0.9H transformer with 4 primaries and 8 secondaryes and in order to load the tube properly I use one of the primary as secondary… As I was informed it is not kosher way to get the best out of transformer in case of serious demands.

This pretty much all revisions that I intend to do. I have two brands of other output transforms that I will be trying. I will propone those changes until I get my new tweeters (another month or so) as when I get the tweeters I will be contemplating to put another “tweeter” channel in the super Milq – I have all enclosure work ready to go.


Rgg, the Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
01-01-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 3
Post ID: 3419
Reply to: 3406
Observation from 2006: Zarathustra II
Over the course of the enter 2006 Dima and I were involved into the Zarathustra II saga. It took countless phone calls, countless emails, a lot of thinking, numbers of shipments and many hours for Dima and me to propagate the project to it semi-completion. Actually, Zarathustra II if pulley Dima’s project and he builds the amp I juts provide some administrative help. It was a big surprise to me that to PROPERLY make a hybrid amplifier is way more expensive and complex then to make SET. Sure, we went in Zarathustra II for some very obnoxious demands. The amp is slightly more then 150W in pure class A, without switching into class B… and semi-regardless of the load… (!!!) It has quite a few very interesting features that I never seen anywhere. Also, I think it is the smallest class “A” 150Watter then I ever seen. On the negative side – it is expensive (It would be around $7K of self-cost) and takes a LOT of blood to make it. Still, the 6E5P in SRPP wth Melquiades' bias driving the in-choke-regulated 5A output stage with Dima's own “Newton-bias” and sitting deep into the mode of “ static current and voltage sufficiency” (regardless of load!!!) should be VERY-VERY interesting. Will the Zarathustra II a conceptually “perfect” powerful amplifier? Well, we throwing effort and money to the problems and try to see what will happen. Anyhow, it will be coming through soon and if some of you have a serious installation around sub-95 sensitive speakers within Boston-Philadelphia corridor and if you would like to experience “what else is possible” in powerful amplification then let me know and I might swing by. I will not be able to use the Zarathustra II in my own installation full-range and I would like to give to the Zarathustra II a run on somebody else’s big, full-range speakers.

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
04-20-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 4
Post ID: 4236
Reply to: 3418
Super Melquiades: The next step to try.

This idea keeps to fascinate me.

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/GetPost.aspx?PostID=4063

and I really would like to try  and to see what might happen.  I’ have decided of move this task on my levels of priorities as something that I would like to do even before finishing the Dima’s Zaratustra. If the 6E5P with its 2W will sound fine with Macondo then, considering that it will be insultingly small I would be able to integrate the new ultra short Milq into the new Macondo frame… I might be very interesting, not to mention sonically very explorative

The caT


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
04-20-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,570
Joined on 10-12-2006

Post #: 5
Post ID: 4238
Reply to: 3418
HF alternative?
Romy, the HF part of the saga came up when I clicked on the latest post to your thread, hence this response (to the HF issue).

I was wondering if you had tried just a small cap and coil at the ribbon, so you could just go ahead and use the FR Milq?

I understand that you have been against this on principle, but perhaps in this case it might make a simple solution.

It should not be too difficult to find a small cap you could live with, albeit they have an annoying habit of changing over time.

Best regards,
Paul S
04-20-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 6
Post ID: 4239
Reply to: 4238
I’m a sorry, I do not get you.

What do you mean “I have been against this on principle”? I do use a cap and coil on ribbon and I do not see that they might be changing over time. My idea of trying to get rid of the Milq’s output stage has nothing to do with “HF alternative”.  I’m considering doing it for all my 109dB sensitive channels, it will exclude only the lower bass channels... In fact I most likely will try to do it this weekend and will preliminary see how it 6E5P will behave….

Rgs, The caT


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
04-20-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,570
Joined on 10-12-2006

Post #: 7
Post ID: 4240
Reply to: 4239
Line level vs. speaker level
I'm sorry, I thought I mentioned that I was responding to the earlier post about HF, up the thread.  I guess I misunderstood from other reading that you much preferred your crossovers at line level, while I was proposing it at the ribbon, "as a [temporary] HF alternative", apparently based on my initial misunderstanding.

I also understood that you wrote of using the 6E5P to push the ribbon.  If so, do you plan for the 6E5P to push the ribbon through the crossover, or do you plan to hi-pass ahead of the 6E5P?

I have not figured out just what it takes on the part of an amp to properly drive a HF ribbon through a simple network, but I have been amazed by how few amps can do it well, even though it seems like it should be an "easy" job.  Do you think it has anything at all to do with how much voltage the amp can swing?

I am very curious to see how your mini HF amp works out.

Best regards,
Paul S
12-31-2007 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 8
Post ID: 6243
Reply to: 3406
Summary: my audio, year 2007

It was an audio eventful year and I have experimented and discovered many fascinating things. Here is a brief summary of the 2007 audio-events and a short look what my audio happening will might take please in 2008.

1)    In the very begging of 2007 the idea of employing a ribbon tweeter for Macondo:

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/LatestPosts.aspx?ThreadID=2974

got finally realized in a custom solution from RAAL – the  109dB sensitive “Water Drop” tweeter:

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?postID=3766

Then there were 2 major revisions of the “Water Drop” solution: one that I am not at a liberty to divulge and another was an introduction of dedicated amp for the tweeter driving it with a single 175:1 transformer directly from the plate. The project generally turns out to be a success and the Macondo was finalized with objective to use this 21cm ribbon HF transducer. I still have in my head one area what I would like to improve the “Water Drop”, I might got for it in 2008

2)    There was very major advancement of my Macondo Acoustic System that started innocently with “How to USE “Resonating Oops” in loudspeakers”:

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/LatestPosts.aspx?ThreadID=3833

and ended up with invention of “Oops mimicking” Injection Channel:

http://www.GoodSoundClub.com/TreeItem.aspx?PostID=4373

The concept is superbly powerful so powerful that I am even revising some of my view about the tonal quietly of some vintage drivers. The Injection Channel was a huge move in Macondo, lead to creation of own dedicated full range amp in 6-chennals version of Super Melquiades. The concept, the implantation and the result turned out to be a very substantial success. I am not planning to change anything in the way how I use the Injection Channel, this if I design Macondo Acoustic System from scratch now then I would use the Injection Channel slightly differently.

3)    The 6-chennals version of Super Melquiades was another big event

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=4973

that started form the idea to use one-stage Melquiades:

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?postID=4241

The prose of conversion of Super Melquiades into 6-ways DSET had been going on for 6 month and I estimate that it will have another month or two. The result is very interning so far and I will be talking about the final observations… when I will have them

4)    In the 2007, like during the former year I was searching for cure of the electricity problems:

http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=2931

The 2007 brought new solution but no satisfactory results. My fight with bad electricity so far has a lot of blood but no stimulation consequences.

5)    I revised my digital recording capacity. Experimented with other ways to use my Lavry 924 DAC, introduced Pacific Microsonics processor, introduced reel-to-reel machine (Stellavox SU8) and made a number of accommodation to be able to read tapes properly. I am still not finalized my DAW playback and I will look into it further in 2008.

That basically was it among the major revisions of my audio. My listening habits and some of my audio view become more and more radical and moved deeper into the realm of the purer abstract audio:

http://www.GoodSoundClub.com/TreeItem.aspx?PostID=3400

I am planning to post a write up about my interests, objectives and habits in audio, in fact I was already written a few month-weeks-days ago… I will post up when I feel to do it.

In the 2008 I have a few immediate goals:

1)    Finalize the 6-chennals version of Super Melquiades and integrate it with Macondo

2)    Finalize the “End of Life" Phonostage: http://www.goodsoundclub.com/Forums/ShowPost.aspx?PostID=5856

3)    Revise my preamp and rewire my playback with more preamps inputs

4)    Dima and I “invented” a very interning concept how to adopt the invented by Dima Zarathustra’s “Newton Bias” to deal with electricity problem. It is in a way a revolutionary approach and I very much look forward to try it in 2008.

5)    I really would like the APS Purepower people in 2008 talk led out of their liturgic and lazy asses and to fix my damn regenerators. I still feel that if then Purepower unit will be done properly and will not be just faulty-made then it might be a very useful mashie to fight with electricity.

It is pretty much it as I see now. Happy New year to anyone… Well, not to anyone, OK, you know what I mean…

Romy the Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
01-01-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,570
Joined on 10-12-2006

Post #: 9
Post ID: 6252
Reply to: 6243
2007: A Very Good Year (for my audio,anyway...)

It has been 1 year since I started working with the ML2s with all new tubes installed.  The ML2s have been, by far, the biggest step I have taken in hi-fi in 45 years, and the "upgrades" I have done since the ML2s have necessarily been in areas "illuminated" by the ML2s.  I have been lucky to find and integrate the maxed/modded K&K phono stage, a Bent Tap TVC pre-amp (no AC!), an Accustic Arts Drive 1 CD transport, a maxed/modded Museatex iDAT-44+ DAC (adapted for battery power; no AC!), and the Belkin Synopsis digital cable (important!).  I also found and integrated more-efficient Audaphon JP2.0 "naked" ribbons into my DEBZs.

All of this "stuff" has eventually resulted in a lot of great music in my home, including a return to regular classical music, which I had pretty much written off as a casualty of a system I had "optimized" for jazz prior to the integration of the ML2s. 

Upside of changes?  Everything is better, when the electricity permits.  Because of battery power CD is at its best more often than LPs, although the best from LPs is still the best I have.

Downside?  As ever, I generally only really "submerge" in music from my system when it's at its best, and now the difference between "good" and bad is more pronounced than ever.  Also, I have to "work harder" to get the best from LPs/the K&K, since it so obviously (and richly) rewards optimal VTA; again, when the electricity is good.

I closed out the year messing with all solid silver IC; "interesting", and some definite positives; but no conclusions yet.

Still waiting for a chance to hear the new Ortofon "PW" phono cartridge.

FM would be nice, but San Diego programming offers preciouis little reason to do it.

I still harbor faint hopes for some sort of answer to the eff-ing electricity, and I have been staying alert for possible solutions.  I think I want nicely formed electricity plus inter-component and neutral/ground isolation, but I would accept a tinfoil hat if that got the desired results.  We mostly act like bad electricity is merely a nuisance, but it has become for me pretty much the main sticking point for my system, about the only real sonic thorn in my side right now.

Here's wishing you all the best for 2008!

Happy New Year,
Paul S

Mark your calendars:
01-20-09:  W's LAST DAY IN OFFICE!!!

01-02-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
yoshi
Jefferson (MA), United States
Posts 69
Joined on 05-04-2005

Post #: 10
Post ID: 6254
Reply to: 6252
My biggest event in 2007
The biggest event in my audio 2007 was Romy's visit/tuning of my system, and the following exchange which ended up with a revelation of how shallow my understanding and practice of audio/music was.  It ultimately seems to come down to the ability of evaluating the result and the understanding/practice of what you can do about it.

Although "the more rational, sane and the most important natural and truly self-educational events of listening awareness" doesn't seem to build up immediately (I'm doubtful of everything in audio than ever!), I somehow seem to be enjoying the current state of lost-ness.

Toward the end of the year, I replaced my woofer from JBL2220 to 4 x LE-8T.  The result seems to be very encouraging, but didn't have much time to really evaluate it (I had to spend more than 7 weeks in Tokyo out of 12 from October to December).  Also my RTA got screwed up when I replaced the sound card of my laptop!

In 2008, I hope to solve my woofer problem and wish to encounter interesting performances live or recordings.

Best wishes for 2008 to everybody!

Yoshi
01-02-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 11
Post ID: 6255
Reply to: 6252
The Bidat DAC in 2008

 Paul S wrote:
a maxed/modded Museatex iDAT-44+ DAC (adapted for battery power; no AC!)

Yes, Paul it is good that you remind me it as I have been thinking about it for a few years and never put my hands on it. I am not a bit fun of batteries but I feel there is in Bidat an area that should be improved. Bidat has 3 power rectifiers and they all are crappy diode bridges bypassed with fast ceramic capacitirs to handle the switching noise. I do not know why John never addressed it and did not replace the rectifiers with better diodes, the diodes get better and better each year…. In my experience it should be an important modification and it might “open” up the Bidat bass a little.  I would need to go for it in 2008.

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
01-02-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Wojtek
Pinckney (MI), United States
Posts 178
Joined on 09-01-2005

Post #: 12
Post ID: 6263
Reply to: 6254
Not so eventful 2007
I lost all hope for horn loaded Lowther speakers . Got Phile Mikey (fremmer) recommended TT and  new old MC cartrige (benz Mc3) so analong front sounds comparable to old modded MCintosh CD player I have. I finished (took al ong time ) Hagerman cornet phono stage and it handily surpased my Jfet phono pre. After spending a little bit of time around Audiogon virtual systems I became a fan of black color and square boxes (thank you too! Electronoluv Josh). I got used to treat electricity problems like an "Act of God" and enjoy the weekend evening sessions without agonizing over  rest of the week missery.
For the new 2008 :
Well since most of you goodsounders already got your Lamms, Mussatex , Vitavox and  Placette units, and even are properly "teaching" them to get "the results " I'm planning to lunch a campaign of badmouthing these very products so cheap Jaks like me also could get their chance .

I wish You all the best and reaching the fourth level so I can send you may collection of table radios and collect your abandoned crap.

Best regards to all,
W
02-06-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 13
Post ID: 6564
Reply to: 6243
An addition to 2008 “to do” list.

 Romy the Cat wrote:
In the 2008 I have a few immediate goals:

1)    Finalize the 6-chennals version of Super Melquiades and integrate it with Macondo

2)    Finalize the “End of Life" Phonostage:

3)    Revise my preamp and rewire my playback with more preamps inputs

4)    Dima and I “invented” a very interning concept how to adopt the invented by Dima Zarathustra’s “Newton Bias” to deal with electricity problem. It is in a way a revolutionary approach and I very much look forward to try it in 2008.

5)    I really would like the APS Purepower people in 2008 talk led out of their liturgic and lazy asses and to fix my damn regenerators. I still feel that if then Purepower unit will be done properly and will not be just faulty-made then it might be a very useful mashie to fight with electricity.

It is interesting that I completely lost interest to anything that is going on out there in audio. People produce some kind of products out there, exercise some kind of ideas and push some kind of objectives. I do look what they do but it picks juts my purely observatory interest and I do not feel any interest to be engaged. I generally have no interest to try their new products/idea or co-experience their new discoveries. I do not know why it is so. Perhaps that over the years I have seen quite a lot of it and know the typical dissatisfactory level audio is uselessly is implemented out there? I admit that I am cynical toward to other audio people, but it is what it is.

Anyhow, I would like to add some addition to my “to do” list for 2008.

6) To finish and to test “alternative” Sansui TX-1U

7) Review Bidat’s PS

8) Try my new experimental AHFS in context of my RAAL “Water Drop”

9) Re-parallel the drivers in my woofers tower and to drive them with 1.1R, 25W, .5A, 7Hz, amorphous OPT.

The task # 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are the immediate and perusable tasks. The task #5 is out of my hands – I have return the faulty board to APS – I have no idea what they do, I think they have also no idea what they do.

The tasks # 7, 8, and 9 are more like strategic task and I would do them “sometimes in futures” and I have general interest in subject but no immediate stimulations to do. They are kind of research subjects that have no guaranteed results.

With the rest of it I would like to get my playback back (after 3 month distraction by 6-ch Melquiades) and to stop “fucking with audio” – it was too long and this think began to get in my nerves.

Rgs, the Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
12-30-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 14
Post ID: 9304
Reply to: 6564
The year 2008 and fulfillment of audio objectives.
fiogf49gjkf0d

 Romy the Cat wrote:
In the 2008 I have a few immediate goals:

1)    Finalize the 6-chennals version of Super Melquiades and integrate it with Macondo

2)    Finalize the “End of Life" Phonostage:

3)    Revise my preamp and rewire my playback with more preamps inputs

4)    Dima and I “invented” a very interning concept how to adopt the invented by Dima Zarathustra’s “Newton Bias” to deal with electricity problem. It is in a way a revolutionary approach and I very much look forward to try it in 2008.

5)    I really would like the APS Purepower people in 2008 talk led out of their liturgic and lazy asses and to fix my damn regenerators. I still feel that if then Purepower unit will be done properly and will not be just faulty-made then it might be a very useful mashie to fight with electricity.

6) To finish and to test “alternative” Sansui TX-1U

7) Review Bidat’s PS

8) Try my new experimental AHFS in context of my RAAL “Water Drop”

9) Re-parallel the drivers in my woofers tower and to drive them with 1.1R, 25W, .5A, 7Hz, amorphous OPT.

The task # 1, 2, 3, 4 and 6 are the immediate and perusable tasks. The task #5 is out of my hands – I have return the faulty board to APS – I have no idea what they do, I think they have also no idea what they do.

The tasks # 7, 8, and 9 are more like strategic task and I would do them “sometimes in futures” and I have general interest in subject but no immediate stimulations to do. They are kind of research subjects that have no guaranteed results.

With the rest of it I would like to get my playback back (after 3 month distraction by 6-ch Melquiades) and to stop “fucking with audio” – it was too long and this think began to get in my nerves.

It is pretty much it as I see now. Happy New year to anyone… Well, not to anyone, OK, you know what I mean…

In the begging of the last year I outlined what I would like to do with my audio in 2008. Let sop a brief summation.

1)    Finalization the 6-chennals version of Super Melquiades and integrate it with Macondo was done

2)    The “End of Life" Phonostage was done with great success.

3)    The preamp was revised and it has not more able PS and 11 inputs.

4)    The Zarathustra’s “Newton Bias” lead to a conceiving the Avicenna power regenerator. It is done and it is in the mail but not tested yet.

5)    The APS Purepower people gave a birth to the 2000 model that accidentally tuner out to be exactly what I would like it to be. My 1.5 year of sufferings from the Purepower failures was well-justifiable.

6) The “alternative” Sansui TU-1X turned out to be a failure as it did not beat my main Sansui TU-1X.

7) The Bidat’s power supply was revised. It was in a way successful but I kind of lost interest to better 16 bit DAC – whatever it does is fine to me.

8) The “Active High Frequency Solution” concept for RAAL “Water Drop” turned out to be if not fatly but rather not useful or not necessary.

9) I did not go for re-parallel the drivers in my woofers tower and did not build amorphous LF transformers.

The caT


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
12-30-2008 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,570
Joined on 10-12-2006

Post #: 15
Post ID: 9308
Reply to: 9304
2008: Some Good; Some Good Ideas
fiogf49gjkf0d
I had my best-to-date listening sessions this year, but still 2008 has been a mixed bag for me.  I did get pretty much what I was aiming for, or rather I did on those occasions when the electricity happened to be decent.  The big events were the system finally "settling" into its pre-imagined potential and late in the year when I finally made an effort and came up with a quick way to set VTA optimally with very consistent results.  I suppose the "double twisting 2 1/2" IC helped more than a little with the "settling".

After 2 years of using them, I still enjoy the ML2s, although I am generally aware of their limitations.  None-the-less, I have not in the meantime heard anything anywhere near as good, and at this point I wouldn't know how to go about bettering the ML2s in real world, overall performance.

Bent TAP TVC, K & K phono stage and Drive 1/iDAT-44+ are all keepers; no significant issues.

I have no idea how many other readers have been as plagued/annoyed with BEP as I have been, but solving this problem once and for all is my top priority for 2009.  In fact, I will not even try to do anything else unless I can consistently get the electricity where I want it.

Once I get the BEP solved I will build speakers along the lines I mentioned in the thread, "Speakers for a Powerful SET".  Like I said there, I want to try yet more weight and I would like to add some headroom.

Oh, yes, I have thought about adding gold wire to my multi-metal IC, just to hear what happens.

Happy New Year,
Paul S
01-02-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 16
Post ID: 9324
Reply to: 3406
The year 2009. Audio Objectives
fiogf49gjkf0d

I do not see any major changes coming in 2009, nor do I feel a need for them. Recalling all my dids and my thoughts here a brief outline of Audio Projects that I will be involved in 2009 and of cause anything else might come alone in future…

1)      It is not strictly audio project but it kind of related: I need to move my audio site out of my static IP DSL line to a data center. I have high-speed ADSL but the site has a lot of traffic and my crappy DSL like runs over 100% of utilization. I think I will take a few day efforts to set up a one or two ProLiants and dump them closer to data access point.

2)      Put in use Avicenna Power Regenerator, test it and find a final power configuration of my entire playback, perhaps running it along with APS PurePower, perhaps instead of PurePower or to conclude that the PurePower is better. I think this might take a month of experiments.

3)      Finish, test and integrate the MiniMe pilot speaker project. I have very good feeling about it and it actually I think will be a huge fun to play with. The only thing that I am slightly afraid is that if the MiniMe turn out to be good sounding pilot speaker then I might go for a better SS cool-running power amp to drive MiniMe. I think it will be one-two month worth efforts.

4)      Continue to investigate my DHT subject. Built the new Sun Audio amp with a new properly sounding circuit, at this point around 2A3 and to see if it is warranted to replace the Melquiades’ MF channel with it. I think this project will be a couple month in length.

5)      Introduce to Macondo the long-expected 7th channel and learn how to use it. I might be a few months project, and it might take a few years to learn how to use it. To implement the 7th channel, upon it completion, will take a few days.

6)      To decide which Rohde & Schwarz multiplex decoder is better. I have two MSDS and MSDS2. Both are absolutely wonderful and modified to do their best. I still can’t decide which it “better” as they are in a way different, even though I have a slight bias to MSDS. I still would like to keep juts one multiplex decoder, why would I need two?

7)      Research the AIC subject. My abbreviation of AIC stands from Active Imaging Control, the idea that fascinated me for a while and I have some practical hypothesis that I might try to implement. It might take from a few months to a few years… who knows…

8)      Try the “Absurd Driver”. Your do not know about it. I have discovered an “unknown” in audio vacuum tube that I would be very much interested to try for sound; it never was used for sound, at least for the high-end sound. The tube is absolutely unique and has no resemblance to anything else in existence, and I am not taking about the construction but about the whole another design concept, it has no conventional, cathode, grid and screen… it is very-very different. It is direct heard and only God know how it might sound, the design is superbly interesting though… It might take a few days to put it in use…

9)      To try the Dima’s DAC. Last year Dima invented a completely new “concept” of digital to analog conversion and what is the most astonishing the analog to digital conversion with the same concept (though the A/D is not tested yet). The “concept” is ridicules as the D/A and A/D conversion takes place by the means that never ever were used in audio. How different is it. Well, it is pure analog. I mean there is no single digital element in the whole D/A converter for instance. It might be along transistors or even tubes - it does not matter. Dima is building his tubes-only DAC that will have no single digital element. I really would like to hear this thing….

7)      Macondo and DPoLS? I think it is the time to go for it....

That is pretty much all that I have at the top of my mind as now. I am sure something else will come by…

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
01-05-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
RonyWeissman
Lyon, France
Posts 138
Joined on 05-29-2004

Post #: 17
Post ID: 9346
Reply to: 9324
TONE: back to the future in 2009
fiogf49gjkf0d
Hi Romy,

I have recently sent out my S2s for major cleaning/recharging job.  Pictures should be on the internet soon and I will post link if anyone is interested.  In the meantime I am listening to  a typical 2-way in sealed enclosure that I purchased new about 30 years ago and had in the closet.

Well I am overwhelmed by the tonality of these speakers.  I have been missing a lot of this type of "sound" in my horn system and am struggling with where to go next.  I read an earlier post of yours with a lot of interest.  It is where you talk about OOPS resonator and that listening to just the OOPS channel gives each violin the stradivarous sound, and each symphony the same feel... I spent a lot of time thinking and listening and I have to agree with that. What is difficult it is really only noticeable on classical music/opera as on jazz etc. the little 2-ways are simply stunning. 

Now I will have to figure out a way to integrate these things into my regulary horn playback as I am not willing to listen without the tone and overall "presentation¨ I am getting from the paper/plastic whatever drivers.  I am lucky enough to have preamp with two outputs so I can simply run the little 2-ways alongside my current horn set-up and see what happens.  Or I may make the S2s the OOPS channel and run them alongside the little 2-ways. 

I am very excited about my 2009 possibilities for changes in my system!

R Weissman
01-05-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
serenechaos
lost alamos
Posts 86
Joined on 12-01-2007

Post #: 18
Post ID: 9350
Reply to: 9346
2008 lessons learned; 2009 goals
fiogf49gjkf0d
My wife and I were discussing over breakfast how what I learned in 2008 totally changed how I am going about trying to achieve Sound...  Hearing Jeffery Jackson's five-way system was the education as to what was possible; the next six months were spent gathering information, and starting collecting parts, and building... 
The goal for 2009 is to bring this type of listening experience into my home... 
01-31-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 19
Post ID: 9600
Reply to: 9324
Here she is.
fiogf49gjkf0d
 Romy the Cat wrote:
8)      Try the “Absurd Driver”. Your do not know about it. I have discovered an “unknown” in audio vacuum tube that I would be very much interested to try for sound; it never was used for sound, at least for the high-end sound. The tube is absolutely unique and has no resemblance to anything else in existence, and I am not taking about the construction but about the whole another design concept, it has no conventional, cathode, grid and screen… it is very-very different. It is direct heard and only God know how it might sound, the design is superbly interesting though… It might take a few days to put it in use… 

Poexaly_Tube.JPG


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
12-23-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 20
Post ID: 12530
Reply to: 9324
Non-planned economy is a BS demagogy invention
fiogf49gjkf0d

 Romy the Cat wrote:
1)      It is not strictly audio project but it kind of related: I need to move my audio site out of my static IP DSL line to a data center. I have high-speed ADSL but the site has a lot of traffic and my crappy DSL like runs over 100% of utilization. I think I will take a few day efforts to set up a one or two ProLiants and dump them closer to data access point.

Done. The Site is running from Datacenter with unlimited bandwidth to Web

 Romy the Cat wrote:
2)      Put in use Avicenna Power Regenerator, test it and find a final power configuration of my entire playback, perhaps running it along with APS PurePower, perhaps instead of PurePower or to conclude that the PurePower is better. I think this might take a month of experiments.

Done. The PP200 turned out to be truly great and I run a whole playback from it. I consider to get another one

 Romy the Cat wrote:
3)      Finish, test and integrate the MiniMe pilot speaker project. I have very good feeling about it and it actually I think will be a huge fun to play with. The only thing that I am slightly afraid is that if the MiniMe turn out to be good sounding pilot speaker then I might go for a better SS cool-running power amp to drive MiniMe. I think it will be one-two month worth efforts.

I do have no good MiniMe driven but YamahaB2 but it is not even remotely what I planned to me. Regardless what it is with the result I have I have no concerns or frustrations. Well. There is one “interest” that I have and I might look into this next year. There is one commercial speaker that I have been hunting for a while; I will keep it identity hidden for now. If I get it I would LOVE to use it instead of my current MiniMe but I will put the MiniMe tweeter in this new “another” speaker.

 Romy the Cat wrote:
4)      Continue to investigate my DHT subject. Built the new Sun Audio amp with a new properly sounding circuit, at this point around 2A3 and to see if it is warranted to replace the Melquiades’ MF channel with it. I think this project will be a couple month in length.

Done. This project ended up with Melquiades 6th channel that accommodate 2.5V and 4V tubes. After many of experiments I ended up with YO186 to drive my MF

 Romy the Cat wrote:
5)      Introduce to Macondo the long-expected 7th channel and learn how to use it. I might be a few months project, and it might take a few years to learn how to use it. To implement the 7th channel, upon it completion, will take a few days.

No progress in this front. I need probably to make a few called to see if the 7th channel will ever go anywhere…

 Romy the Cat wrote:
6)      To decide which Rohde & Schwarz multiplex decoder is better. I have two MSDS and MSDS2. Both are absolutely wonderful and modified to do their best. I still can’t decide which it “better” as they are in a way different, even though I have a slight bias to MSDS. I still would like to keep juts one multiplex decoder, why would I need two?

Done. All concerns with configuration of my tuners are resolved. I let the MSDS decoder to go.

 Romy the Cat wrote:
7)      Research the AIC subject. My abbreviation of AIC stands from Active Imaging Control, the idea that fascinated me for a while and I have some practical hypothesis that I might try to implement. It might take from a few months to a few years… who knows…

Abandoned.

 Romy the Cat wrote:
8)      Try the “Absurd Driver”. Your do not know about it. I have discovered an “unknown” in audio vacuum tube that I would be very much interested to try for sound; it never was used for sound, at least for the high-end sound. The tube is absolutely unique and has no resemblance to anything else in existence, and I am not taking about the construction but about the whole another design concept, it has no conventional, cathode, grid and screen… it is very-very different. It is direct heard and only God know how it might sound, the design is superbly interesting though… It might take a few days to put it in use…

I did get those “Absurd Drivers”, the former post has their picture. I did not try to use it for sound yeat.

 Romy the Cat wrote:
9)      To try the Dima’s DAC. Last year Dima invented a completely new “concept” of digital to analog conversion and what is the most astonishing the analog to digital conversion with the same concept (though the A/D is not tested yet). The “concept” is ridicules as the D/A and A/D conversion takes place by the means that never ever were used in audio. How different is it. Well, it is pure analog. I mean there is no single digital element in the whole D/A converter for instance. It might be along transistors or even tubes - it does not matter. Dima is building his tubes-only DAC that will have no single digital element. I really would like to hear this thing….

The Dima’s purely analog DAC  is gone to nowhere.

 Romy the Cat wrote:
7)      Macondo and DPoLS? I think it is the time to go for it....

Sine I look forward to move I put this one on hold.

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
12-24-2009 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,570
Joined on 10-12-2006

Post #: 21
Post ID: 12541
Reply to: 12530
A Year Goes By Like Nothing
fiogf49gjkf0d
The Big Deal for me this year was programing, in the sense that I now have more ready access to more music since I figured out the correlation between (measured) record thickness and arm heigth (VTA).  Now I just put the record on the platter, adjust the arm height once, dust the record, drop the stylus, then sit back and listen, remote in hand. Very nice.

Second place for me is still program.  I found and tuned into some new-for-me material that injected new life into my hi-fi at a time when I might otherwise have just dropped it.  Since I do this 95/05 music/hi-fi fun, I have no plans to continue the hi-fi part without musical reasons to do it.  I have gotten reasons enough this year, but just barely, in view of the final cost/benefit ratio.

Some big things have not changed much this year.  The Same Old Shit for me is - - -  what else?

I am almost happy for the one or two people who may have figured out a serious way to address the effing electricity.  I will make another inane post to the electricity thread, anon.  Meanwhile, the sudden arrival of very good electricity makes me feel both elated and let down at the same time.  Elated because I can hear what I yearn and have strived for.  Let down because I hear this so rarely that several times again this year I came to question pretty much everything I've done to date, at one time or another during the year.

Of course I have read everything that's been written about fixing bad electricity, and I have tried to get a feel for what all the talk means.  In this and other matters I tend to use "reason and logic" right up to the last second, then I make an intuitive decision.  I wish I felt comfortable with APS, or at least comfortable with their "customer service"; but I just don't.  And now that my free time has shrunk right along with my income, I have to weigh such decisions all the more carefully.  Two years ago I might have just taken a flyer, come to that, with reserves sufficient to eat it and free time enough to make them want to settle with me, as they (finally) did with Romy.  But I no longer have these options.

Today, among other tunes, I listened again to Ravel's Piano Trio and String Quartet.  The electricity was great and I was swept away with the wonderful performances and the phenomenal music, both.  This is why I do hi-fi.  So, being short-sighted as well as stupid and lazy, I think I've ended this year on a high note (and I'll start the New Year the same).

Merry Christmas and Happy New Year,
Paul S.
12-17-2010 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 22
Post ID: 15214
Reply to: 3406
The year 2010-2011. My Audio
fiogf49gjkf0d
It was as a year with a 2 major of audio events: New listening room, New Midbass horns, New ULF channel.

It took almost 6 months to get any more or less reasonable sound in my new listening room, not that I was working so long on the room but rather I was working on other new house projects. However, for 6 month I did not have any worthy sound in my room. Just the last week or two I have reach some more or less listenable balance where I feel the playback become musical again. If the PP2000 regenerators do not turn south on me lately I would have all my sound locked. The power regenerators will be fixed one way or other and I do feel that in the end of this year my room and my listening environment will be all set. I was planning to do Audio-Xmax party – to invite a bunch of local NE audio people and to demonstrate a truly assassinative listening program but the events with PurePower truly blew air out of my tires …

What are my plans for 2011? I have a few. I am sure that I will be working with fine refinement of Macondo in the new room. I look forward to review the Macondo Fundamental Channel, will it be my new 18-cell or not I do not know year but I would like to make it even more contributive.  I will probably experiment with my ULF channel, Maybe do 18” driver or might be refine/move the existing one, I do not know – I need my lower bass back. I would need to organize my LPs in the way how they were organize before I moved – now is all screwed up and I can find anything. I would like to raise my antenna for another 15 feet.  If I have desire then I would world on my Altec 19 converting it to Cetla loudspeaker. That is about it regarding my plans for 2011.

The Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
12-17-2010 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
scooter
Posts 161
Joined on 07-17-2008

Post #: 23
Post ID: 15216
Reply to: 15214
Good evolution. . .
fiogf49gjkf0d
If PurePower successfully reconfigures the PP2000, which looks possible although not certain, 2010 should be categorized as a great year. Else, you made some good forward progress and need to do a deep power dive. As this system will be evolving into eternity, I think the audio-xmas party would be fun and a good way to discuss areas for development in real time regardless of problems.
12-17-2010 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Paul S
San Diego, California, USA
Posts 2,570
Joined on 10-12-2006

Post #: 24
Post ID: 15217
Reply to: 15216
Sea Change
fiogf49gjkf0d
2010 was marked by the best music sessions I have had in my life.  Changes to the K&K and iDAT DAC that I have chronicled were challenging to integrate but ultimately very worthwhile, and re-working the DEBZ crossovers has gotten me, I think, about as far as I can go with this format.  I still suffer the ups and downs of the electricity that the utility serves to me, but overall I had many more acceptable and more special days than in the past, whether mostly due to Smart Power or relentlessly dialing the extra "HF" out of the system, I can't say.  A fair bit of new-to-me music has been a nice surprize.  I suppose the "Hobby" part of this is the relentless quest for "improvement".  But I am actually pretty content on the Music level at this point, given good power and good Program.  Of course, "improvements" also open the door to the old Hi-Fi staple, re-listening.

At this time I am well into a wild and wooley experiment with substantially modifying and/or building my own drivers, goaded by Haralanov, who is light years ahead of me in codifying this stuff.  I am excited about what I have heard so far, but it's far too soon to say more.

If business improves the way it looks like it might, I may even get into the frey directly with APS in 2011.  Perhaps then my bitching about them will be tolerated again!  I also have on hand - finally - all the materials I need to make up a pair of fully-shielded, multi-metal phono ICs.

Happy Holidays to All!

Paul S
12-31-2010 Post does not mapped to Knowledge Tree
Romy the Cat


Boston, MA
Posts 10,049
Joined on 05-28-2004

Post #: 25
Post ID: 15326
Reply to: 3406
Happy New Year
fiogf49gjkf0d
I would like to congratulate readers of my site with New Year. Best wishes to you and your families, unless you are a republican or an Audio-Moron.
 
The new year will brings all of us closer to the end of the world, I guess we need to make sure that before lights goes out the stupid cable elevators would be well adjusted.
 
Rgs, Romy the Cat


"I wish I could score everything for horns." - Richard Wagner. "Our writing equipment takes part in the forming of our thoughts." - Friedrich Nietzsche
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