I’ve talked about this in videos many times and in the comments here. Still Seems there is some confusion (I get it) over the windows. : ) Here’s a reply I just made to a guy who emailed me with some nasty comments… My reply to a very nasty email about my room: Sorry, I’ve been building systems for 23 years. I’ve been into audio for 35 years. I’ve had systems in large enclosed rooms, small enclosed rooms, open rooms, and rooms that are considered perfect for audio. I’ve been at shows, and dealers across the country. I know the sound I love. As I’ve explained in many videos, the windows are open when I record videos, for light. When I listen, my very large, very thick shades go to the floor. I have zero issues. No reflections. No harshness. No bass issues. Nothing to control at all. In fact, it’s the best sounding room I’ve ever had a system in and wouldn’t change a thing. Both my wife and I have shed tears in this room while listening. I listen daily. I could move to a larger room with one small window but guess what? I did and I wasn’t happy. My room has no issues. Nada. None. I have no wants… as it’s perfect for me as is. As for power regenerators (which is what I was showing in the video) they can do wonderful things for some people. Depends on your power situation. Mine was bad… now it’s not. The sound is night and day, not even close. I’ve worked hard my entire life and went without for years while I saved and slaved 80-90 hours per week for years. I can buy what I like, and it’s not for you to say. There are those in this world who live a negative life. Always bitter. Not me, I live with love, kindness, truth and positivity. That’s the only way to be. You haven’t heard my system, and never will. So sadly, you have zero clue as to how it sounds. Thanks, have a nice evening. So that was my reply to a very nasty email. The point of audio, for the few who get into this hobby is Enjoyment. It’s about passion. No one is a know it all in this field. That’s impossible because audio is very personal. All rooms are different. All ears are different. We all like different kinds of presentations and sound. So these audio journeys are very personal. I just tell it like it is. I’m never trying to sell you anything, and never will. I make no money here, so no motivations. I have zero ties to any audio company or shop. Noting. Many in this industry always try to sell sell sell, it’s all they want to do and I get it. We all need money to live but that’s not why I do my videos and 8000 word reviews. I do it out of my lifelong passion for audio. Pure and simple. Thanks all for watching and following the journey. You may be on a similar one! Have a great night.
What a bummer to evoke this reply. Sadness exudes in a jealous world. Wouldn’t happen in Japan or most Asian countries. Sad. Continue to rock on, enjoy your luxury audio and lifestyle. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!
The reason is because hi-fi is not about sound reproduction like a music studio, its about sound creation, in otherwords, the "vibe". You don't listen to your favorite band in an anechoic chamber, you listen at your favorite venue. What makes it your favorite? The harmonic distortion and echo created by the room together with the players. Hi-fi fans taylor their equipment with their room, and often lose the vibe when switching houses, the same way a band sounds different in a different venue. (Compare a jazz band in a small nightclub to outdoors at a festival where it becomes lifeless).
Yes, I too panicked seeing such a small space with three of the walls being reflective windows! I play double bass so I have a unique relationship with bass frequencies and I know what that would do to my sound. Curious to hear the differences with the shades, a/b. I have quite a few windows in my listening space but I also use dsp for corrections (Buchardt A500).
Interesting nerdy detail: POPE stands for "Productie Overschot Philips Eindhoven" which translates from Dutch to English like "Surplus Production Philips Eindhoven". That should take away any doubt about where they came from and who made them. BTW, POPE made ordinary light bulbs as well, after all Philips was a light bulb factory. Also, I am not sure how these tubes made it to the US. I always thought POPE was a domestic trade name only.
I really do not understand WHY some people need to be nasty !!! Good on you Steve you handled that email like a true Gentleman i take my hat off to you .
Thank you, Sadly, that nastiness is all around us these days. ESPECIALLy on social media. I have dealt with it for 13 years so doesn't bother me. All I can do is keep forging ahead, stay honest, and enjoy life ; )
Great rig, and I also like Melody Gardot. However, I see windows all around in your room - that likely spoils the acoustic pretty badly. Do you apply some room treatment beyond the carpet on the floor?
Indeed this rooms seems suspect first, but we should consider that most speakers are developed for such small square rooms, which, after all, are more the norm than the exception. Personally I have also a setup with my Tannoy Kensington near the rear wall (30 cm as Tannoy recommends) and it works great
It's not a square room. I used to have a square room and that was a challenge. This room is 13X20 and as I said, not one issue. Ive built systems and been into audio for 35 years and have had my share of room issues. Here there are ZERO issues. I would not change one thing about my room. See my pinned comment for more details...Thanks,
Job done, true, but Linn LP12, Ittok and Koetsu Black, high purity silver interconnects and a top head-amp (my is Michell ISO with Hera power supply) as a source may make you think why you did not get something similar long before. I swapped Thorens TD160 with SME arm and Denon 103 moving coil cartridge for Linn Sondek as soon as I could afford a clean s/h unit. Later I got a better arm and eventually got a s/h Koetsu. That was the moment when I stopped upgrading the source. Installed a wall shelf with spikes and put Linn on it and have had decades of happy listening since then. As for Sansui amp, I had both 717 and 919 if I remember correctly, both very special amps, but valve pre-amps and valve class A power amps are special too, only more so. Still, the source is the main point of upgrade. Usually. Once it is sorted out - the rest can be tried. These days with appearance of very good DACs under £1000 (I use iFi Audio iDSD Micro Black Edition) we can enjoy previously unlistenable (on first generation CD players) CDs, compared to an analogue joy of well-recorded LPs. As well as that, there are many great DSD128 and DSD256 releases which, as great vinyl albums, tempt one for search for a better DAC. I still cannot afford PS Audio DirectStream DAC, but due to the quality of iFi Audio DAC and its built-in headphone amp anyone with at least Sennheiser HD600 cans or better can have such a stunning audio experience that I would say that today is the best time ever for anyone who loves listening to music! Under a grand one can have a superb portable system! And this iFi Audio DAC (it also has a stereo output like a preamp) can become a source for an amp/speakers setup. BTW, a perfectly useable DSD (and the rest of lower quality formats) player for smartphone from Onkyo - HF Player - cost only £8.99. I use it on iPhone and have fantastic music with me on the go and instead of listening to city noise one can enjoy great music. One need closed-type headphones for that - Sennheiser HD600 are open-back. I use Focal Elear. Just excellent!
Bonjour de France Je suis toujours vos revues avec plaisir, depuis l'achat de mon appareil photo Fujifilm X100 😁. Mon système audio ( en appartement) se compose de Klipsch Heresy 3 ( pas facile à trouver en France..) et le reste est de fabrication française : amplificateur PSE 300B, câbles, cordons d'alimentation et fiches secteur cryogénisés, streamer/DAC 3D Lab. J'ai également ajouté un transformateur/symetriseur de fabrication locale qui modifie mon courant électrique en -115/+115 au lieu du 0/230 que nous avons en Europe. Les progrès en termes de transparence, punch et timbre ont été stupéfiants.. Mon système me satisfait pleinement dans ma pièce de 23 mètres carrés !
Been tryin' recently the Hifi Rose RS150 and, man, this is the most impressive streamer I've ever heard. Well, it's way more than just a streamer. Forget about the Lumin.
Congrats on your Audio Bliss. Now hurry up with that Deville comparison!! Have the standard ones...got em before the price increase (under 9K) but need to see if I have to step up to the big boys. Have a wonderful family gathering.
You got a great buy on those standard Devilles! I was late to the party, and came in after the increase. I do not think the SQ would be worth $11k more than the standards. Worth the upgrade at the current pricing between the two? Well, that’s a yes for my tastes. Same house sound, but the SQ other than being fully torrified offer up more refinement, more air, and more transparency. With this, they still bring the same house sound. A bit warm, full and addicting. : )
Nice collection of gear and new things to try! I almost jumped on the recent powerplant sale to get a p15 but ended up with a puritan conditioner instead. Cool to see you are liking the P20, it's a lot bigger than I thought especially next to those other large components like the denafrips dac.
The P20 is way bigger than I envisioned. I almost didn’t even install it… but I had to try it and am Glad I did. One day I’ll get a proper audio rack and have a better place for it. Right now it looks ridiculous due to its size on top of my cabinet.
New to your channel and enjoy it. Do you have a list of the audiophile test tracks you think are the best recorded/produced to show off or test your system?
I have explained this many many many times, See the pinned comment. The room is perfect as is, I wouldn't change a thing. I removed "treatments:" as they hurt the sound in this room. It's an all word room. Walls, floor, cieling. It is well damped with furniture, rug, pillows, blankets. The windows are NOT exposed when listening but when I make a video I open them for light. Anyway, I have been doing this a long time and have had my share of room issues. This room is 13X20 and has not one issue.
What do you think of tube Dac's? Before I had Prima Luna and recently switched to DCS Bartok. I have 2 Parasound JC plus 1's each one powering a Montor Audio Platinum PL 500 II loudspeaker with tiger wood finish. I still have Prima Luna Pre-amp but was thinking of upgrading more. Verdict is still out on the Bartok as I think I have to redial the room in some changing out pieces. They also mentioned Bartok needs some burn it time. Before my soundstage was person with mic right in front of me and cymbals in the back. Now with Bartok it's more cymbals in front like a concert and singer more in the distance which I am not a fan of. Love the cymbal separation and bass slam but missing the getting lost in the music. It's become a little to clinical and technical for me.
To comment on your video title. Way too much "audiophile gear" is priced outside of the reach of the average music lover. Visiting this year's AXPONA show reinforced that unfortunate truth. I can appreciate your lovely system as something that I would expect to sound wonderful. Unfortunately will always be outside looking in. Wish you the best in your audio journey nonetheless.
Hi, I did not catch the answer to the headline question, but... How much security you have to have there not to be afraid someone breaking in and stealing or destroying this jewels?
I’ve been told this before. I was only sent the DAC for review though. So prob will not. E Anne to try it unless they decide to send one soon. Thanks for the recommendation though.
@@HiFiHuff Thanks for the quick reply. I am hoping that an email nudge will push them in the direction of review. As an owner want more people to know of the Terminators true potential!! Enjoy and looking forward to your impressions.
The advantage of mono amps is everything is separate. Crosstalk is non existent. I have had single and mono's and honestly have not heard a MAJOR difference. Stereo amps, one piece are just fine IMO.
There are. I vibrations at all. In fact, it’s the best sounding room I’ve ever had in 35 years. Why or how could this be? Well, I’ve talked about it in many videos and in a few comments for this video. My very thick shades go to the floor when I listen. This room is perfectly damped, has no issues whatsoever no matter the volume. I’ve heard hundreds of systems… I wouldn’t change a thing in this room. Thanks.
Awesome look at your gear. Happy you still own the La Scala’s. One question. How in the world did you get the P20 up in place. I would need a Wench to get something of that size in place. Thanks for a little tour of your property. It is beautiful and quite serene.
Thanks! Well, it's 105lbs and I am not a steroid monster ; ) My wife Debby grabbed one side, me the other and were lifted it up. The P20 has handles in the front and back to help with this.
Hi Steve, love your reviews - very real world informative. Out of curiosity i'm guessing that you prefer the Weiss 501 over the Nagra Classic DAC you had in your system recently? I was so blown away by the sound your system gave off (even over UA-cam) that i bought a Nagra Jazz and was looking to a Nagra DAC too however if you think the Weiss is better then i may opt for one myself? Many thanks and keep up the great reviews!
The Nagra was a close second. In fact… when I reviewed the 501 I was ready to buy it. But I was torn. The Nagra is amazing. The Weiss sold me for one reason. It sounds like reel to reel to me. It’s different. It has a nice big mid punch as well as detail. The Nagra was gorgeous, and One of my faves for sure. I will say the Nagra sounded best with the Nagra preamp and amp. If you enjoy the Jazz you would really like the Classic DAC with it. Would be a magical combo indeed.
@@HiFiHuff Interesting, many thanks for the reply Steve. I've since read your review on your very informative website which has motivated me to seek out a Nagra Dac.... thanks again and kind regards. PS bugger the haters!
The Lab 12 doesn't even get close to the Weiss. I had high hopes for Lab 12 but the integrated that was sent to me was defective out of the box, and the DAC is decent but its more bright and thin and even has given me some sibilance issues. I do not think I will review it or recommend it.
Well, its just me and Debby here these days and yes, she listens with me quite a bit. Maybe one day she will make an appearance but not sure as she's a bit camera shy.
Lol, well they are wrong. They "measured:" the P12 which is far from the P20 and it doesn't matter. It works in my system. It stopped a transformer buzz, it cleaned the sound, it added bass weight and my system sounds the same 24/7. no matter the time of day, Measurements are USELESS in audio for many reasons.
Oh yes, it was so good that I went ahead with the 20 after speaking to ps audio. I bought it, they weren’t review units . I sent the 12 back. I got a lemon as one of the fans clicked loudly when they were on, and they were always on. Other than that the sound did improve. What I experience from these regenerators is a silent background, a much more open sound, a fuller bass and that holographic thing. The 20 does this better but the 12 also had these traits.
@@susokraut3169 sounds like you have no idea. Yes. It helps. It’s dramatic. It’s night and day in this system. Sorry, but I speak from experience with it. You can believe what you like but your comment shows you do not care about facts and listening. This does more than “clean inputs” whatever that means. It removes DC. It creates new clean power with no distortion. It regulates voltage. Whatever else it does, it sure as hell works wonders in this room.
We have several who hang outside. We have houses all over the property for them. Some heated and insulated for the cold Season. When we. Iight the place almost two years ago, we found we had several feral cats who hung around. After a year, and attention, care and feeding them four of the six have become super friendly, loving and very happy :) two of them still avoid us. One moved into our main house with us. Thanks!
@ 6:54.... DC on the line.....??!!! what line....INCOMING LINE.... 🤣🤣🤣 if that's so...YOUR input transformer would be regularly blowing fuses...even hefty ones after sometime....
When Audiophiles talk about DC offset, or DC on the line they are not talking about actual DC but a form if interference which mimics some properties of DC and can cause, for example, transformer hum. It's one of those imprecise and confusing terms.
@@jimfarrell4635 he says " dc on the line " ...not offset..... 😭one cause of transf. hum is loose windings/laminations. or one or either or both being improperly varnished/ cured...this doesn't contribute to so called " dc offset " .
Yes, I have thick plush shades that can go to the floor. The room Is wood, walls, floor, ceiling. The shades along with the furniture makes for a very well damped room. There are zero issues. No reflections, nada. The sound is sublime and I have yet to hear any system, anywhere, that I prefer. I wouldn’t dare change this room.
@@HiFiHuff Great setup, Steve, and the shades must completely dump all reflections… You hear the speakers.. No standing waves of any description… I have never heard your speakers, but after trying so many over the course of 45 years of system building and upgrading I decided to find and try a pair of old working Quad ESL 57 panels. After all, they were voted the best hi-fi item ever in a large survey in the year 2000. Sure enough, after buying 3 pair from private sellers who could not demo them hence the good s/h price, I have one pair that works now although I had to buy and replace power supplies. My 5K studio monitors (hand-made improved copy of PMC large floor standing units) stand silent since I managed to put the Quad pair up above my video/audio editing desk on brackets off the wall, tilted forward in line with my head position. I use them all the time now for normal music listening and for all my work. A hand-made class A valve 25 watts per channel (two mono blocks in one casing from SPb high-end audio designer) power amp is used to drive them and it is the most pleasing sound that I have had so far. Acoustic Research AR90 in late seventies driven by Hafler pre- and 100 w/c power amp bring similar memories, but it was power and clarity - here I have natural clarity and organic audio finesse. I regret the lack of space that, otherwise, would allow me to have another pair, stacked above or below, as some people have done, for sheer volume of sound and more visceral impact. Have you tried a Quad pair instead of your current speakers? I think that a stacked pair of four Quad ESL 57s (or even a pair) in your room attached to that finely selected HQ gear of yours would surprise you further. The realism and transparency of electrostatic panels belong to another world… I deal with audiophile sound recording of concert performances using one surprisingly capable device - Korg MR-1000 that allows very serious capturing of live music soundscapes in DSD128 format. Top ribbon mics designed by Rupert Neve are my main tools of sound capture. A proper suspension to isolate SeElectronics RNR1s from structure-born vibration and mics’ placement are all part of the equation. If you’d like to hear a few tracks, please let me know and I’ll send you a Dropbox link so that you can download these large files and give them a try via your fave DAC. It would be good to do a program on audiophile recordings and DSD format as it is still a sadly neglected, largely unknown and little used (comparatively) audio treasure. I would love to visit you for a chat about it all on camera. Just let me know when and I’ll travel from London your way. And, finally, after reading all your replies here, I am so glad to learn that there is someone who loves music so much and understands and cares about its reproduction. Thank you, Steve, for all your work!
Firstly my 2 favourite hobbies hifi & photography. Anyhow just like to say my gear is a modest priced, Rega3, Marantz cd & amp & B&W. The only problem that bothers me that when you go to the higher end systems I hear comments like "its a little to bright or the bass isn't tight as I would like" or similar. Is there a price bracket in the 10's of thousands that would be perfect or is it a never ending lost cause. Not knocking the high end but when I hear this I do wonder when my ears are happy ears with my system. & hiya from the U.K.
I hear ya. Back in the 90s and 2000's I spent some big money on speakers and amps that were just that. Bright, thin, hyper detailed. I learned quick which brands gave this kind of presentation. Some prefer this lighter footed faster sound. Speakers from Focal, Wilson, Magico and others offer up this kind of sound. This system is designed for warmth, body, soundstage depth and width and 3D imaging. It's welcoming, organic and has punch and kick. I cant stand speakers or amps that sound thin and lean but that's why HiFi is so unique. It offers up something for everyone. The hard part is finding the right combo that works for you. We all have different tastes.
Not cheap, but after 35 years in audio and the last 15 years of working 80’hours per week and saving all I could it’s worth it for me. I use this system every day, more so than my car, or well, anything. I don’t own jewelry, an expensive house, a boat, fancy clothes, or anything fancy. I don’t do trips anymore either. This is my thing. My wife also enjoys it with me, so I would much prefer to spend on this over cars, travel or anything. There are systems that cost 20x what this one does :) I would never ever step into six figure territory, or even get close. Deals can be found, used as well.
I don't care how heavy any piece of gear weighs. It will NEVER be stuck sitting on the floor with dust bunnies and such blowing around down there. That and possibly being kicked by my shoe if I am walking around over there.
It is absurd. It really is. The prices are crazy and this is in part due to greed, partly Because they can, and really mostly because it’s a small niche area. Sales numbers are relatively small. But I agree 100% that the prices are insane. With that said never pay retail on high end audio gear. You can get these things for less than retail most of the time. Many times, much less than retail.
The big old blinds are closed 90-% of the time. So the view is not always there. Besides, will not work on the floor for me as my power cords are not long enough. I’ll get a proper audio rack one day :) until then I’ll live with it, it’s worth it.
love the tour beautiful gear! with a system like this you owe it to yourself to provide an upgrade in the form of acoustically treating your listening space. talk about bang for your buck improvement. i represent Vicoustic. if you’re interested i can put you in touch with their acoustician team that can design a custom layout specifically for you.
Instead of spending thousands I went with the furman for 700 bucks and it gets so close to ps audio that I couldnt not buy it. Dont fall for the audioquest conditioners either.
I’ve tested audioqoest and furman as well as the highly regarded shunyata Denali. None came close to the PP20. Not even close. But that’s my system, my ears. There are many choices out there in all price ranges. What works for one may not be the best for another. Also, you can get the PP20 for much less than the retail price. Same for the 12 and 15.
You’d be missing out as it’s the best room I’ve set up in 35 years. Really is and I’ve talked about why this is in other videos. No issues AT ALL. Thanks!
Show us what’s under the hood of these beasts. Where is the tech part you always had for Leica and other cams reviews? My personal opinion all these HE stuff has no progress for last 10 years it’s all boring and high cost fake. That is why they never show what’s under the hood :) 🫧
I have never ever done technical reviews for cameras. I started and stayed with "Real World" starting from the first one. In fact. I started camera reviews as I hated the technical reviews which showed me nothing about what the camera was made to do. Audio is the same for me. I drop not care about the specs, just the build and sound. All that matters is the performance to me, and the only real measurement tool that exists for audio is our own ears, which are all different. So no measurements from me. I do not get into the "gear", rather the "sound of the gear". But thank you.
I’ve talked about this in videos many times and in the comments here. Still
Seems there is some confusion (I get it) over the windows. : )
Here’s a reply I just made to a guy who emailed me with some nasty comments…
My reply to a very nasty email about my room:
Sorry, I’ve been building systems for 23 years. I’ve been into audio for 35 years. I’ve had systems in large enclosed rooms, small enclosed rooms, open rooms, and rooms that are considered perfect for audio. I’ve been at shows, and dealers across the country.
I know the sound I love.
As I’ve explained in many videos, the windows are open when I record videos, for light. When I listen, my very large, very thick shades go to the floor.
I have zero issues. No reflections. No harshness. No bass issues. Nothing to control at all. In fact, it’s the best sounding room I’ve ever had a system in and wouldn’t change a thing.
Both my wife and I have shed tears in this room while listening. I listen daily. I could move to a larger room with one small window but guess what? I did and I wasn’t happy.
My room has no issues. Nada. None.
I have no wants… as it’s perfect for me as is.
As for power regenerators (which is what I was showing in the video) they can do wonderful things for some people. Depends on your power situation. Mine was bad… now it’s not. The sound is night and day, not even close.
I’ve worked hard my entire life and went without for years while I saved and slaved 80-90 hours per week for years. I can buy what I like, and it’s not for you to say.
There are those in this world who live a negative life. Always bitter. Not me, I live with love, kindness, truth and positivity. That’s the only way to be.
You haven’t heard my system, and never will. So sadly, you have zero clue as to how it sounds.
Thanks, have a nice evening.
So that was my reply to a very nasty email. The point of audio, for the few who get into this hobby is Enjoyment. It’s about passion. No one is a know it all in this field. That’s impossible because audio is very personal. All rooms are different. All ears are different. We all like different kinds of presentations and sound. So these audio journeys are very personal.
I just tell it like it is. I’m never trying to sell you anything, and never will. I make no money here, so no motivations. I have zero ties to any audio company or shop. Noting.
Many in this industry always try to sell sell sell, it’s all they want to do and I get it. We all need money to live but that’s not why I do my videos and 8000 word reviews. I do it out of my lifelong passion for audio. Pure and simple.
Thanks all for watching and following the journey. You may be on a similar one! Have a great night.
Good on you !
What a bummer to evoke this reply. Sadness exudes in a jealous world. Wouldn’t happen in Japan or most Asian countries. Sad. Continue to rock on, enjoy your luxury audio and lifestyle. Don’t let the bed bugs bite!
Yeah, the internet. Sorry you have to deal with rudeness. We all do. We assume everyone was raised with a modicum of respect and manners. Not so.
I always marvel when I see someone pay enough to buy a small house for their audio set up, yet they have no room treatment.
was thinking the same thing. Shoulda saved 10k on the powerplant and put a few grand into the room.
The reason is because hi-fi is not about sound reproduction like a music studio, its about sound creation, in otherwords, the "vibe". You don't listen to your favorite band in an anechoic chamber, you listen at your favorite venue. What makes it your favorite? The harmonic distortion and echo created by the room together with the players. Hi-fi fans taylor their equipment with their room, and often lose the vibe when switching houses, the same way a band sounds different in a different venue. (Compare a jazz band in a small nightclub to outdoors at a festival where it becomes lifeless).
@@xfloodcasual8124 anacohic chamber? Lol
High-tech has caught up with high price.
The "high end", just doesn't have the relative value it had 20 yrs ago.
Yes, I too panicked seeing such a small space with three of the walls being reflective windows! I play double bass so I have a unique relationship with bass frequencies and I know what that would do to my sound. Curious to hear the differences with the shades, a/b. I have quite a few windows in my listening space but I also use dsp for corrections (Buchardt A500).
See my pinned comment on that. I have zero issues in this room as I do not listen with the windows exposed. Thanks.
Interesting nerdy detail: POPE stands for "Productie Overschot Philips Eindhoven" which translates from Dutch to English like "Surplus Production Philips Eindhoven". That should take away any doubt about where they came from and who made them. BTW, POPE made ordinary light bulbs as well, after all Philips was a light bulb factory. Also, I am not sure how these tubes made it to the US. I always thought POPE was a domestic trade name only.
Great system and yes, synergy is everything. Love your garden and work space. Keep up the good work.
Thanks!
I really do not understand WHY some people need to be nasty !!! Good on you Steve you handled that email like a true Gentleman i take my hat off to you .
Thank you, Sadly, that nastiness is all around us these days. ESPECIALLy on social media. I have dealt with it for 13 years so doesn't bother me. All I can do is keep forging ahead, stay honest, and enjoy life ; )
Amazing and peaceful looking compound and of course the gear isn't too bad either. Thanks for the content.
Thank you.
Great rig, and I also like Melody Gardot. However, I see windows all around in your room - that likely spoils the acoustic pretty badly. Do you apply some room treatment beyond the carpet on the floor?
Maybe it would have been more cost effective to fix the electrical problems then adding costly bandages.
Indeed this rooms seems suspect first, but we should consider that most speakers are developed for such small square rooms, which, after all, are more the norm than the exception. Personally I have also a setup with my Tannoy Kensington near the rear wall (30 cm as Tannoy recommends) and it works great
It's not a square room. I used to have a square room and that was a challenge. This room is 13X20 and as I said, not one issue. Ive built systems and been into audio for 35 years and have had my share of room issues. Here there are ZERO issues. I would not change one thing about my room. See my pinned comment for more details...Thanks,
Magnificent, Steve. Super hi-fi, lots of green, and at least one cat!
Six of them :) they came with the property.
Garrard 401 turntable (SME arm) sansui AU 717 AMP. 4 leak sandwich 600s speakers. Job done
Lovely!
Job done, true, but Linn LP12, Ittok and Koetsu Black, high purity silver interconnects and a top head-amp (my is Michell ISO with Hera power supply) as a source may make you think why you did not get something similar long before. I swapped Thorens TD160 with SME arm and Denon 103 moving coil cartridge for Linn Sondek as soon as I could afford a clean s/h unit. Later I got a better arm and eventually got a s/h Koetsu. That was the moment when I stopped upgrading the source. Installed a wall shelf with spikes and put Linn on it and have had decades of happy listening since then.
As for Sansui amp, I had both 717 and 919 if I remember correctly, both very special amps, but valve pre-amps and valve class A power amps are special too, only more so.
Still, the source is the main point of upgrade. Usually. Once it is sorted out - the rest can be tried.
These days with appearance of very good DACs under £1000 (I use iFi Audio iDSD Micro Black Edition) we can enjoy previously unlistenable (on first generation CD players) CDs, compared to an analogue joy of well-recorded LPs. As well as that, there are many great DSD128 and DSD256 releases which, as great vinyl albums, tempt one for search for a better DAC. I still cannot afford PS Audio DirectStream DAC, but due to the quality of iFi Audio DAC and its built-in headphone amp anyone with at least Sennheiser HD600 cans or better can have such a stunning audio experience that I would say that today is the best time ever for anyone who loves listening to music!
Under a grand one can have a superb portable system! And this iFi Audio DAC (it also has a stereo output like a preamp) can become a source for an amp/speakers setup.
BTW, a perfectly useable DSD (and the rest of lower quality formats) player for smartphone from Onkyo - HF Player - cost only £8.99.
I use it on iPhone and have fantastic music with me on the go and instead of listening to city noise one can enjoy great music. One need closed-type headphones for that - Sennheiser HD600 are open-back. I use Focal Elear. Just excellent!
That kitty is awesome
Rarely do I see reviews that mention my type of music. Will highly consider the equipment you mentioned here. Love me some metal.
Did you say Upgrade...?
Bonjour de France
Je suis toujours vos revues avec plaisir, depuis l'achat de mon appareil photo Fujifilm X100 😁.
Mon système audio ( en appartement) se compose de Klipsch Heresy 3 ( pas facile à trouver en France..) et le reste est de fabrication française : amplificateur PSE 300B, câbles, cordons d'alimentation et fiches secteur cryogénisés, streamer/DAC 3D Lab.
J'ai également ajouté un transformateur/symetriseur de fabrication locale qui modifie mon courant électrique en
-115/+115 au lieu du 0/230 que nous avons en Europe.
Les progrès en termes de transparence, punch et timbre ont été stupéfiants..
Mon système me satisfait pleinement dans ma pièce de 23 mètres carrés !
Good to hear you are enjoying your system! Thank you for the comment. Have a great day ; )
Great system. Love some Nelson Pass gear.
Pass Labs is probably my fave amplification ever.
Been tryin' recently the Hifi Rose RS150 and, man, this is the most impressive streamer I've ever heard. Well, it's way more than just a streamer. Forget about the Lumin.
I’ll have to see if I can audition one. Thanks!
Heavenly place with great music. Bliss.
Total cost sir?
Congrats on your Audio Bliss. Now hurry up with that Deville comparison!! Have the standard ones...got em before the price increase (under 9K) but need to see if I have to step up to the big boys. Have a wonderful family gathering.
You got a great buy on those standard Devilles! I was late to the party, and came in after the increase. I do not think the SQ would be worth $11k more than the standards. Worth the upgrade at the current pricing between the two? Well, that’s a yes for my tastes. Same house sound, but the SQ other than being fully torrified offer up more refinement, more air, and more transparency. With this, they still bring the same house sound. A bit warm, full and addicting. : )
Nice collection of gear and new things to try! I almost jumped on the recent powerplant sale to get a p15 but ended up with a puritan conditioner instead. Cool to see you are liking the P20, it's a lot bigger than I thought especially next to those other large components like the denafrips dac.
The P20 is way bigger than I envisioned. I almost didn’t even install it… but I had to try it and am
Glad I did. One day I’ll get a proper audio rack and have a better place for it. Right now it looks ridiculous due to its size on top of my cabinet.
Are you getting a Gaia? It's recommended!
Have you considered the LUMIN U1 mini DIY upgrade with the SBooster linear power supply ? I immediately upgraded mine ,so can’t compare .
New to your channel and enjoy it. Do you have a list of the audiophile test tracks you think are the best recorded/produced to show off or test your system?
Absolut amazing! Do you ever try to make your room more audiophile? The big windows and the wood walls are passive swinging.
I have explained this many many many times, See the pinned comment. The room is perfect as is, I wouldn't change a thing. I removed "treatments:" as they hurt the sound in this room. It's an all word room. Walls, floor, cieling. It is well damped with furniture, rug, pillows, blankets. The windows are NOT exposed when listening but when I make a video I open them for light. Anyway, I have been doing this a long time and have had my share of room issues. This room is 13X20 and has not one issue.
I really enjoyed your lexicon of sounds , thanks! Followed.
The PROBLEM was what? Tru name of this vid = showing you my gear
What do you think of tube Dac's? Before I had Prima Luna and recently switched to DCS Bartok. I have 2 Parasound JC plus 1's each one powering a Montor Audio Platinum PL 500 II loudspeaker with tiger wood finish. I still have Prima Luna Pre-amp but was thinking of upgrading more. Verdict is still out on the Bartok as I think I have to redial the room in some changing out pieces. They also mentioned Bartok needs some burn it time. Before my soundstage was person with mic right in front of me and cymbals in the back. Now with Bartok it's more cymbals in front like a concert and singer more in the distance which I am not a fan of. Love the cymbal separation and bass slam but missing the getting lost in the music. It's become a little to clinical and technical for me.
Love your reviews.
Thanks!
Ditto. Gorgeous property!!
Thanks so much.
To comment on your video title. Way too much "audiophile gear" is priced outside of the reach of the average music lover. Visiting this year's AXPONA show reinforced that unfortunate truth. I can appreciate your lovely system as something that I would expect to sound wonderful. Unfortunately will always be outside looking in. Wish you the best in your audio journey nonetheless.
Audio gear is WAY too expensive. 100% agree.
Do you have upgraded op amps in the Kinki studio? Sparkos etc.? If so does it make a big difference? Thanks.
Hi, I did not catch the answer to the headline question, but... How much security you have to have there not to be afraid someone breaking in and stealing or destroying this jewels?
You should consider the Gaia clock for the terminator. Has been a huge benefit in my system.
I’ve been told this before. I was only sent the DAC for review though. So prob will not. E Anne to try it unless they decide to send one soon. Thanks for the recommendation though.
@@HiFiHuff Thanks for the quick reply. I am hoping that an email nudge will push them in the direction of review. As an owner want more people to know of the Terminators true potential!! Enjoy and looking forward to your impressions.
I didn't know that could be any place with this much green vegetation in Arizona.
How do the Devilles sound without the presence of the PS Audio regenerator?
See my review ;) I have a very detailed written review at my website (8000 words) and a video here on the channel.
Wow, nice system. I'm not familiar with using 2 mono-block amplifiers (the Pass Labs). What's the advantage of this?
The advantage of mono amps is everything is separate. Crosstalk is non existent. I have had single and mono's and honestly have not heard a MAJOR difference. Stereo amps, one piece are just fine IMO.
How do you deal with all that glass? The sound vibrations surly must be difficult to control.
There are. I vibrations at all. In fact, it’s the best sounding room I’ve ever had in 35 years. Why or how could this be? Well, I’ve talked about it in many videos and in a few comments for this video. My very thick shades go to the floor when I listen. This room is perfectly damped, has no issues whatsoever no matter the volume. I’ve heard hundreds of systems… I wouldn’t change a thing in this room. Thanks.
Awesome look at your gear. Happy you still own the La Scala’s. One question. How in the world did you get the P20 up in place. I would need a Wench to get something of that size in place. Thanks for a little tour of your property. It is beautiful and quite serene.
Thanks! Well, it's 105lbs and I am not a steroid monster ; ) My wife Debby grabbed one side, me the other and were lifted it up. The P20 has handles in the front and back to help with this.
Nice how grow up your system
Thanks for sharing. I have a P15 regenerator. I like it but having trouble with the screen it has lines in it.
Is it still under warranty? PS audio is known for their customer service. That sucks though, shouldn’t have issues.
Thought your fav Dac is the Weiss501?
It is. It’s my reference. As shown and said in this video.
Hi Steve, love your reviews - very real world informative. Out of curiosity i'm guessing that you prefer the Weiss 501 over the Nagra Classic DAC you had in your system recently? I was so blown away by the sound your system gave off (even over UA-cam) that i bought a Nagra Jazz and was looking to a Nagra DAC too however if you think the Weiss is better then i may opt for one myself? Many thanks and keep up the great reviews!
The Nagra was a close second. In fact… when I reviewed the 501 I was ready to buy it. But I was torn. The Nagra is amazing. The Weiss sold me for one reason. It sounds like reel to reel to me. It’s different. It has a nice big mid punch as well as detail. The Nagra was gorgeous, and One of my faves for sure. I will say the Nagra sounded best with the Nagra preamp and amp. If you enjoy the Jazz you would really like the Classic DAC with it. Would be a magical combo indeed.
@@HiFiHuff Interesting, many thanks for the reply Steve. I've since read your review on your very informative website which has motivated me to seek out a Nagra Dac.... thanks again and kind regards. PS bugger the haters!
Hi from Greece
What a dream system you have.
What's your thoughts about lab 12 fax sonically?
How you compare it with the Weiss?
The Lab 12 doesn't even get close to the Weiss. I had high hopes for Lab 12 but the integrated that was sent to me was defective out of the box, and the DAC is decent but its more bright and thin and even has given me some sibilance issues. I do not think I will review it or recommend it.
Heaven on Earth 🌍. Thanks 🙏🏼 Steve. Please make a video about you and your family listening to music 🎵. Your ancient fan from Tehran Iran 🇮🇷 🎉
Well, its just me and Debby here these days and yes, she listens with me quite a bit. Maybe one day she will make an appearance but not sure as she's a bit camera shy.
you probably won't want to watch the review of PS Audio power conditioner by Audio Science Review...
Lol, well they are wrong. They "measured:" the P12 which is far from the P20 and it doesn't matter. It works in my system. It stopped a transformer buzz, it cleaned the sound, it added bass weight and my system sounds the same 24/7. no matter the time of day, Measurements are USELESS in audio for many reasons.
Fan noise aside, was it still a pleasant listening experience with the entry level PS Audio AC regenerator? Did it crack that soundstage open at all?
Oh yes, it was so good that I went ahead with the 20 after speaking to ps audio. I bought it, they weren’t review units . I sent the 12 back. I got a lemon as one of the fans clicked loudly when they were on, and they were always on. Other than that the sound did improve. What I experience from these regenerators is a silent background, a much more open sound, a fuller bass and that holographic thing. The 20 does this better but the 12 also had these traits.
@@susokraut3169 sounds like you have no idea. Yes. It helps. It’s dramatic. It’s night and day in this system. Sorry, but I speak from experience with it. You can believe what you like but your comment shows you do not care about facts and listening. This does more than “clean inputs” whatever that means. It removes DC. It creates new clean power with no distortion. It regulates voltage. Whatever else it does, it sure as hell works wonders in this room.
Don't be sacrilegious, high end tube audio is not stuff! I love your carpets - oh and the audio too ! But the carpets are pretty.
What a beautiful garden. Do you need a gardener ?
We might! My back is in bad shape after living here for a while, lol.
Cute cat!!
We have several who hang outside. We have houses all over the property for them. Some heated and insulated for the cold Season. When we. Iight the place almost two years ago, we found we had several feral cats who hung around. After a year, and attention, care and feeding them four of the six have become super friendly, loving and very happy :) two of them still avoid us. One moved into our main house with us. Thanks!
@@HiFiHuff You are good folk!! I have a tonne of respect for people who are kind to animals.
@ 6:54.... DC on the line.....??!!! what line....INCOMING LINE.... 🤣🤣🤣
if that's so...YOUR input transformer would be regularly blowing fuses...even hefty ones after sometime....
When Audiophiles talk about DC offset, or DC on the line they are not talking about actual DC but a form if interference which mimics some properties of DC and can cause, for example, transformer hum. It's one of those imprecise and confusing terms.
@@jimfarrell4635 he says " dc on the line " ...not offset..... 😭one cause of transf. hum is loose windings/laminations. or one or either or both being improperly varnished/ cured...this doesn't contribute to so called " dc offset " .
That's a lot of glass in your audio space. Do you cover it for critical listening?
11:12 He's mentioned in the past he does when critically listening.
@@jctai100 thanks, I missed that one
Yes, I have thick plush shades that can go to the floor. The room
Is wood, walls, floor, ceiling. The shades along with the furniture makes for a very well damped room. There are zero issues. No reflections, nada. The sound is sublime and I have yet to hear any system, anywhere, that I prefer. I wouldn’t dare change this room.
@@HiFiHuff Great setup, Steve, and the shades must completely dump all reflections… You hear the speakers.. No standing waves of any description…
I have never heard your speakers, but after trying so many over the course of 45 years of system building and upgrading I decided to find and try a pair of old working Quad ESL 57 panels. After all, they were voted the best hi-fi item ever in a large survey in the year 2000. Sure enough, after buying 3 pair from private sellers who could not demo them hence the good s/h price, I have one pair that works now although I had to buy and replace power supplies.
My 5K studio monitors (hand-made improved copy of PMC large floor standing units) stand silent since I managed to put the Quad pair up above my video/audio editing desk on brackets off the wall, tilted forward in line with my head position.
I use them all the time now for normal music listening and for all my work. A hand-made class A valve 25 watts per channel (two mono blocks in one casing from SPb high-end audio designer) power amp is used to drive them and it is the most pleasing sound that I have had so far. Acoustic Research AR90 in late seventies driven by Hafler pre- and 100 w/c power amp bring similar memories, but it was power and clarity - here I have natural clarity and organic audio finesse. I regret the lack of space that, otherwise, would allow me to have another pair, stacked above or below, as some people have done, for sheer volume of sound and more visceral impact.
Have you tried a Quad pair instead of your current speakers? I think that a stacked pair of four Quad ESL 57s (or even a pair) in your room attached to that finely selected HQ gear of yours would surprise you further. The realism and transparency of electrostatic panels belong to another world…
I deal with audiophile sound recording of concert performances using one surprisingly capable device - Korg MR-1000 that allows very serious capturing of live music soundscapes in DSD128 format. Top ribbon mics designed by Rupert Neve are my main tools of sound capture. A proper suspension to isolate SeElectronics RNR1s from structure-born vibration and mics’ placement are all part of the equation.
If you’d like to hear a few tracks, please let me know and I’ll send you a Dropbox link so that you can download these large files and give them a try via your fave DAC.
It would be good to do a program on audiophile recordings and DSD format as it is still a sadly neglected, largely unknown and little used (comparatively) audio treasure. I would love to visit you for a chat about it all on camera. Just let me know when and I’ll travel from London your way.
And, finally, after reading all your replies here, I am so glad to learn that there is someone who loves music so much and understands and cares about its reproduction. Thank you, Steve, for all your work!
I wonder how the Holo may would sound in your system?
Tried the May V3. I liked my Weiss better.
Wish FW would exhibit at a show sometime.
Looks like you don't have any close neighbors. You can enjoy your tunes w/o complaints from neighbors.
Firstly my 2 favourite hobbies hifi & photography. Anyhow just like to say my gear is a modest priced, Rega3, Marantz cd & amp & B&W. The only problem that bothers me that when you go to the higher end systems I hear comments like "its a little to bright or the bass isn't tight as I would like" or similar. Is there a price bracket in the 10's of thousands that would be perfect or is it a never ending lost cause. Not knocking the high end but when I hear this I do wonder when my ears are happy ears with my system. & hiya from the U.K.
I hear ya. Back in the 90s and 2000's I spent some big money on speakers and amps that were just that. Bright, thin, hyper detailed. I learned quick which brands gave this kind of presentation. Some prefer this lighter footed faster sound. Speakers from Focal, Wilson, Magico and others offer up this kind of sound. This system is designed for warmth, body, soundstage depth and width and 3D imaging. It's welcoming, organic and has punch and kick. I cant stand speakers or amps that sound thin and lean but that's why HiFi is so unique. It offers up something for everyone. The hard part is finding the right combo that works for you. We all have different tastes.
Does that PS power plant charge your Tesla as well?
I’ll never own a Tesla … but no.
Hi. Audiophile recording check out Doug Macleod "break the chain" the sound quality is some of the best ever.
What is the total cost of this synergy? I just wonder…
Not cheap, but after 35 years in audio and the last 15 years of working 80’hours per week and saving all I could it’s worth it for me. I use this system every day, more so than my car, or well, anything. I don’t own jewelry, an expensive house, a boat, fancy clothes, or anything fancy. I don’t do trips anymore either. This is my thing. My wife also enjoys it with me, so I would much prefer to spend on this over cars, travel or anything.
There are systems that cost 20x what this one does :) I would never ever step into six figure territory, or even get close. Deals can be found, used as well.
Amazing property and gear. Noticed that you dont have DAVE anymore. Was it because the new DAC beats it?
Ahh! The Dave! I talked about that in my DAC video when I tried out a slew of DACs and chose one :)
Awesome system but surprisingly no acoustic treatment, at all.
i wonder what will you say after you try some room treatment and headphones , congrats for your career and enjoy !
Ive had room treatments, made the sound worse. I have had many headphones, one set up was $5500. I am more of a speaker guy. ; )
@@HiFiHuff feels like i just got an answer from a celebrity , thank you very much , you made my day.
I don't care how heavy any piece of gear weighs. It will NEVER be stuck sitting on the floor with dust bunnies and such blowing around down there. That and possibly being kicked by my shoe if I am walking around over there.
I like the property more than anything else.
Thanks. We do too, but man is it a lot of work. Keeps us young I guess...all of the work ; )
worst thing about High End is that I cannot afford it xD
It is absurd. It really is. The prices are crazy and this is in part due to greed, partly Because they can, and really mostly because it’s a small niche area. Sales numbers are relatively small. But I agree 100% that the prices are insane. With that said never pay retail on high end audio gear. You can get these things for less than retail most of the time. Many times, much less than retail.
why u put your amp om floor?
It’s where moniblocks usually go when they weigh as much as these do.
Hi sir iam from India. Need help. Give old amblefire. Please
To me the source, your Lumin, makes a big difference
It's really the only piece I have not felt a rush to upgrade over the last two years. I may down the road, but may not. It's a little jewel.
You have a great view. Why not lug that thing that looks like a microwave oven onto the floor to unobstructe😊 your centre window.?
The big old blinds are closed 90-% of the time. So the view is not always there. Besides, will not work on the floor for me as my power cords are not long enough. I’ll get a proper audio rack one day :) until then I’ll live with it, it’s worth it.
OK, so WHATS the PROBLEM?
I state it in the video, if you watch it you will hear what it is :)
love the tour beautiful gear!
with a system like this you owe it to yourself to provide an upgrade in the form of acoustically treating your listening space. talk about bang for your buck improvement.
i represent Vicoustic. if you’re interested i can put you in touch with their acoustician team that can design a custom layout specifically for you.
I got a w-3900 from China for cheap… cleaned up bad AC.🤷♂️
Instead of spending thousands I went with the furman for 700 bucks and it gets so close to ps audio that I couldnt not buy it. Dont fall for the audioquest conditioners either.
I’ve tested audioqoest and furman as well as the highly regarded shunyata Denali. None came close to the PP20. Not even close. But that’s my system, my ears. There are many choices out there in all price ranges. What works for one may not be the best for another. Also, you can get the PP20 for much less than the retail price. Same for the 12 and 15.
I would NOT leave 100k plus of audio gear just sitting in a room with huge open windows like that......
Nice gear, but your room would not be on my list, enjoy the view.
You’d be missing out as it’s the best room I’ve set up in 35 years. Really is and I’ve talked about why this is in other videos. No issues AT ALL. Thanks!
You don't know the difference between rock and blues. Rock is highs and lows with scooped mids, blues is mostly mids.
Those speakers need a subwoofer!
Invite me over!
Cats are great but they are hell on gear. Especially floor standing speakers. I will check back in after I buy my lottery tickets.
These cats are outside cats, our one inside cat is not allowed in the music room :)
Couldn't continue watching much after 9:17..... Sorry, just not into male feet.
and what's the problem? 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣
Actually I don't like VU meters, they serve no useful purpose.
Audiophool. Hee hee hee, ha ha.
Greece? About that, if Iraq attacked Turkey from behind, would Greece help?
Show us what’s under the hood of these beasts. Where is the tech part you always had for Leica and other cams reviews?
My personal opinion all these HE stuff has no progress for last 10 years it’s all boring and high cost fake. That is why they never show what’s under the hood :) 🫧
I have never ever done technical reviews for cameras. I started and stayed with "Real World" starting from the first one. In fact. I started camera reviews as I hated the technical reviews which showed me nothing about what the camera was made to do. Audio is the same for me. I drop not care about the specs, just the build and sound. All that matters is the performance to me, and the only real measurement tool that exists for audio is our own ears, which are all different. So no measurements from me. I do not get into the "gear", rather the "sound of the gear". But thank you.