Some of you may remember seeing my post about my good friend Rob's C-J/Quad system from around the beginning of January:
http://www.audioaficionado.org/246824-post151.html
Rob has a highly modded all-tube C-J Premier 3/Premier 5 system with Quads ESL-63s and custom open-baffle subs. While Rob primarily listens to digital content with his Logitech Transporter, he also has a stellar Linn LP12, Linn arm and the killer Dynavector XV-1S cartridge. Rob's system is literally one of the best systems I've ever heard, with an ease, naturalness, and musicality that I've rarely heard elsewhere.
Rob came over for the afternoon yesterday to listen to my system for the first time. We played a range of digital content from my Mac music server, the Squeezebox Touch, the Oppo BD-83SE and all three turntables, spinning everything from mono Blue Notes to Speakers Corner Verve re-masters.
First thing Rob said, "Whatever you do, DO NOT get rid of these speakers." He absolutely loved them. He said that they reminded him of his Quads in their neutrality and that they were every bit as fast as the Quads. He also remarked on their coherence from top to bottom; I mentioned that this is one the Contour 3.4s strong points in particular, and he agreed. Rob also mentioned that the integration with the REL sub was seamless and was quite impressed with the naturalness of the bass performance overall and the REL's integration to the mains (it's that DOE I did, I tell ya!
)
Of course, he loved the sound of the C-J gear, too (I was using my CT-5 preamp for almost the entire time) and he commented on how nice the CT-5/LP70S designs looked and remarked on how quiet the system was. We were listening to some Sarah Vaughan, and he mentioned that the quality and the very low noise level of the electronics really let the beauty of this album shine through. We put the Premier 17 in the system, and he loved that, too, saying that the difference between the two was pretty slight, with the Premier 17 sounding "fuller" and the CT-5 being quieter. We didn't discuss the C-J gear as much as the speakers, because Rob already has a superb C-J system, so he already knew what C-J would bring to the table and that it would be great; for him the real difference between his and my system were the Dynaudios.
As Rob was leaving, he remarked on how he found the Contours were very attractive and one of the few speakers he's seen that could be placed in a beautifully designed living room and add to, and not detract from, the overall room design.
I thought Rob really enjoyed the experience, and right before writing this, he called to say how much he enjoyed it, and thought it was one of the best sounding systems he's ever heard, and when driving home, he had calculated we had been listening continuously for 4 hours, and there was virtually no listener fatigue, and he found that notable, "You don't know how many speakers I've heard that you cannot do that with..."
Rob also mentioned on the phone, "You've got a perfect blend of electronics and speakers....Whatever you do, DON'T MESS WITH IT!
"
I'll think I'll take his advice!
