Curiosity is Dangerous

[crwilli]

You have me thinking/dreaming about Strads.... Stop that!

[Masterlu]

Originally Posted by crwilli

You have me thinking/dreaming about Strads.... Stop that!

[crwilli]

Yes!, that's it

[prepress]

Originally Posted by crwilli

You have me thinking/dreaming about Strads.... Stop that!

What, not I? I didn't mention Strads! Besides, I now have another problem.....maybe. Pioneer is reported to be selling its A/V business to Onkyo. But I'm still looking at this piece........

[prepress]

Okay, I got back from the New York Audio Show, and it's my first time going. I was curious. I came away impressed with several things, and I've been stoked (too much, unfortunately). At least I stuck to my planned targets. Mostly.

The room I spent the most time in was VPI's main room (they had two). Both Harry and Matt Weisfeld were there, with Matt's girlfriend working the door. All were available to answer questions. They were demoing their new Classic Prime turntable, which comes with a new production 3D tonearm. It replaces the Classic II, essentially, and will retail for $3500. It doesn't have the same style as the Classics, though. It has an outboard motor, a Classic platter, and the configuration bears some resemblance to the HRX. The amp is an upcoming VPI integrated, which is a remake of an old Scott tube unit. The Prime has most of the performance of the Classic 3 for less money. By the way, VPI won't be offering the Classic 3 in Rosewood much longer—get yours now if you want it. The piano black unit on display was, in a word, enticing. The Prime is an amazing unit. The design would have to grow on me, but it sounded great. You know you're in trouble when you just sit and listen to the music, forgetting what else you're doing.

I was impressed with the Legacy Aeris and Focus SE, in the Legacy and Audio Classics rooms respectively. If they weren't so heavy. . .Audio Classics was using a MCD500, and it crossed my mind. . .The power came from their own amp; Audio Classics makes their own tube amp, a large chassis, reminiscent of a Marantz. And they used a C2300, so some familiarity there.

The Stereo Exchange room was another good-sounder (Totem/Transparent/Devialet). I'm thinking more about going over to all Transparent cables (interconnects), despite not being displeased with my AQ King Cobra (I even have one pair still in the box). The Totems were from the Element series (Fire) and went pretty low for what were stand-mounted speakers. The speaker cable was simple Transparent MusicWave, bi-wire configuration. According to the SE guy, I'd have to go to MusicWave Plus to better my Kimber 12TC.

I also liked the Nola Metro Grand Reference. I didn't stay in the room long, just long enough to know I liked their sound character. Not bright, musical, easy to listen to.

So coming out of the show, I felt as if I might go for the Transparent cables and maybe a new VPI down the road. If the logistics worked, maybe I'd get some Legacys. I'm past Curious; I'm intrigued. Maybe it'll pass by morning. But I must be realistic on what I can really afford to do, and whether I should do anything. Perhaps tomorrow I'll get a chance to play music and see if that counters my current mindset.

I did pick up a copy of Yes' Fragile from Acoustic Sounds, only to get home and find I already have one. An unnecessary expenditure of $30. This is what happens when you buy impulsively.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by prepress

I'm past Curious; I'm intrigued. Maybe it'll pass by morning.

Charles.......It won't pass.

[prepress]

Originally Posted by jdandy

Charles.......It won't pass.

Not for a bit, perhaps. I'm making a return trip to the show tomorrow.

[jdandy]

Originally Posted by prepress

Not for a bit, perhaps. I'm making a return trip to the show tomorrow.

Charles.......You're playing with fire.

[Formerly YB-2]

Originally Posted by prepress

Not for a bit, perhaps. I'm making a return trip to the show tomorrow.

Maybe I can help by taking that HW-19 off your hands. Have always regretted selling mine those many years ago.

[prepress]

Okay. I just got back from another trip to the NY Audio Show, so I went two of the three days. I spent the most time in the VPI and Legacy rooms, having some informative chats with Mat Weisfeld and Bill Duddleston respectively. I revisited Audio Classics as well and spent time there. As for other rooms, I enjoyed the Naim/Focal room and the Martin Logan/Krell rooms, spending a bit of time in both. I had another nice talk, this time with the ML rep. My perspective was a bit different from Friday's; I wasn't so "innocent" or wide-eyed.

Coming away this time, I'd be willing to re-consider the Legacy Focus SE speakers as a potential replacement for My Mirages, if it gets that far. The Signature SE would be a possibility (and less money, about the Model T's price), but I prefer the Focus' height. According to Mr. Duddleston, the Focus SE weighs about 135 lbs. out of the crate (same as the M-3si).

One thing that bothers me with my current setup is that when I stand up, some of the bass goes away. That didn't happen in any room at the show. Legacy engineers their speakers to offset that kind of thing. My room here is pretty flat; there's no echo I can hear when performing the hand-clap test. Maybe some sort of treatment would fix this, but I suspect the speakers.

So I'm still curious, but now I want to sit with the NYAS experience and see what sinks in.