Paragon Sight and Sound Demos

[Still-One]

I just returned from tonights event at Paragon. This evenings event was was split between three rooms.
Room 1 - Nick Doshi was showing his Pre Amp and for the first time his new 90 wpc Power Amps. Speakers were Wilson Sasha's, sources were Wadia 7 series CD, SME 20/12 turntable and a Studer 1/2 tape deck running at 15 ips. I was very fortunate to get the front center seat. I think this was the best I have heard the Sasha's. Better than driven by either the 2301's or by Krell 600's. I asked Nick whether he was concerned about the 1.8ohm load that the Sasha's could present. He gave a technical explanation that was over my head and then cranked them up. Tubes can rock!!
Room 2 - A combined Transparent Audio and Wilson Maxx 3 presentation. Transparent's presentation was How We Listen. The music examples were chosen for Tonal Balance, Dynamic Range and Space. He then discussed how Transparent's cable were designed to improve each of these factors.
The equipment in this room was Maxx 3's, Krell 600's, and Wadia 7 series CD.
The Wilson rep then walked thru the Maxx 3's. Discussed the Wilson philosophy of cabinet construction, driver design, and how the units can be adjusted.
I did not have a great seat, about 6 feet off center, but these speakers sounded really good. I have always liked the sound of large speakers and these are sweet. I will surely be going back for a longer listening session when I can be there alone.
I heard the Sasha's tonight better than I have ever heard them. I wish Serge could have been there to compare them to his system. That said I would have to say the Maxx's are a better speaker. I hate to say much better, but I will. Really only someone who has lived with the Sasha's is qualified to say who much better.
Room 3 - This was a Transparent power demo. A simple system of basic Rotel gear driving small BMW standmounts. I hope Crytklmass makes it there because he will see what he wants to hear. First a piece was played with stock power cords. Then the same piece was played using the lowest cost Transparent cord ($105??) There was better bass and an overall better definition of all notes.
They then added their basic power conditioner and later their Reference Conditioner (not their top of the line) Again it was easy to hear the benefits of these units. I did question whether they could handle any amp (ie 1.2k's) They said yes but I was not comfortable with the answer. Sometime in the future I will take one or two how to compare to the PPP.s

All in all another great night. After hearing the great gear over the past three weeks I cannot tell you which presentation was the best. They were all good, just different.

[PHC1]

Originally Posted by Stillone

I just returned from tonights event at Paragon. This evenings event was was split between three rooms.
Room 1 - Nick Doshi was showing his Pre Amp and for the first time his new 90 wpc Power Amps. Speakers were Wilson Sasha's, sources were Wadia 7 series CD, SME 20/12 turntable and a Studer 1/2 tape deck running at 15 ips. I was very fortunate to get the front center seat. I think this was the best I have heard the Sasha's. Better than driven by either the 2301's or by Krell 600's. I asked Nick whether he was concerned about the 1.8ohm load that the Sasha's could present. He gave a technical explanation that was over my head and then cranked them up. Tubes can rock!!
Room 2 - A combined Transparent Audio and Wilson Maxx 3 presentation. Transparent's presentation was How We Listen. The music examples were chosen for Tonal Balance, Dynamic Range and Space. He then discussed how Transparent's cable were designed to improve each of these factors.
The equipment in this room was Maxx 3's, Krell 600's, and Wadia 7 series CD.
The Wilson rep then walked thru the Maxx 3's. Discussed the Wilson philosophy of cabinet construction, driver design, and how the units can be adjusted.
I did not have a great seat, about 6 feet off center, but these speakers sounded really good. I have always liked the sound of large speakers and these are sweet. I will surely be going back for a longer listening session when I can be there alone.
I heard the Sasha's tonight better than I have ever heard them. I wish Serge could have been there to compare them to his system. That said I would have to say the Maxx's are a better speaker. I hate to say much better, but I will. Really only someone who has lived with the Sasha's is qualified to say who much better.
Room 3 - This was a Transparent power demo. A simple system of basic Rotel gear driving small BMW standmounts. I hope Crytalmass makes it there because he will see what he wants to hear. First a piece was played with stock power cords. Then the same piece was played using the lowest cost Transparent cord ($105??) There was better bass and an overall better definition of all notes.
They then added their basic power conditioner and later their Reference Conditioner (not their top of the line) Again it was easy to hear the benefits of these units. I did question whether they could handle any amp (ie 1.2k's) They said yes but I was not comfortable with the answer. Sometime in the future I will take one or two how to compare to the PPP.s

All in all another great night. After hearing the great gear over the past three weeks I cannot tell you which presentation was the best. They were all good, just different.

Jim, I am not familiar with Doshi Audio. Nick Doshi seems to be a "one man show" at this point and Paragon may be the only place one can hear his gear. I can't even guess as to what that pairing would be like compared to mine. Sounds like you liked it a lot though.

Like I mentioned in the other "Sasha" thread, the Sasha can be many different things depending on the gear and still have something to wow you with. I'd say it can very well be a reviewers dream to reveal the true sonic character of gear under review.

Paired with Krell, I heard Krell's fast character, crisp and punchy with emphasis on leading edge of transients, iron fist grip on the bass, its steely and cooler demeanor. Still very fun to listen to with some well and even not so well recorded material.

Paired with Ayre MX-R's, I heard the characteristics of the MX-Rs with their slightly darker and warmer tonal balance, softer transients by comparison, looser but less dry bass. The MX-Rs would actually lead you to believe you are listening to a very gutsy tube amp except a bit less harmonic bloom. Not a bad pairing but I did hear a bit of bass bloat and loss of control when cranked up. They may not like or be completely stable at the narrow 1.8 ohm dip.

At home with Lamm, they sound different again, more emphasis on harmonics, effortless and truer to life but not "shocking" dynamics, very natural sounding and often hauntingly real and fleshed out vocals and instruments, incredible sense of space and depth on the recording (especially with the Lamm tubed preamp). Recordings with phase tricks will simply blow your mind as sound appears around the room and ceiling with incredible density and focus.

Then I'll change a preamp or a source and will be blown away by something else these speakers will uncover such as a little detail I've never heard before on the recording, be it a breath one of the further staged musicians takes as he draws the bow across the strings, subtle stick work of the drummer, a voice far in the audience I've never noticed, etc....

In a nutshell, it is hard to say what the Sasha's sound like until you hear them in a few different systems because you are not sure if what you are hearing is the speaker or the gear the first time around. It is a fun speaker and one that will no doubt keep one very busy if he cares to experiment and have fun discovering the difference in gear, tweaks and accessories.

At the same time, I've noticed I stopped thinking about the gear at all as I drop a record on the turntable, spin a CD and simply get lost in the music. It is when I am not listening that I start to think about ways of getting even better gear. That is always a great sign, it is hard for someone with experienced ears and "audiophile neurosis" to relax when something is not quite right with what they are hearing. I've got to say, I am most relaxed and in tune with the music than I have ever been. I am in love with Sasha/Lamm pairing.


Ah yes, then there is the Maxx 3. I'll have to spend some time listening to it and compare.

Thanks for the follow up and your impressions Jim.

[jdandy]

Jim.......Thanks for the update. What great fun. I wish there was a high-end dealer within 50 miles or so of me that would embrace such an event. I smiled when I read that you got the center front seat in front of the Sasha's. That's hard to do in a room full of audio buffs who all want that seat.

You didn't mention the Pro-ject X-pression turntable. Were you able to listen to it this evening?

[vintage_tube]

That's a very nice looking dealership you have there Jim.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by PHC1

Jim, I am not familiar with Doshi Audio. Nick Doshi seems to be a "one man show" at this point and Paragon may be the only place one can hear his gear. I can't even guess as to what that pairing would be like compared to mine. Sounds like you liked it a lot though.

Serge
I know very little about Nick and his equipment other than it sounded very good. From what I understand ordering is either direct to Nick or thru Paragon. They did have his pre-amp at RMAF in 2007 and will supposedly be there with both amp and pre in 2010.

The amps and pre can be built and tuned to your gear with the phono stage specifically tuned and loaded to the cartridges(s) you are using.

[crytklmass]

Crytklmass makes it there because he will see what he wants to hear. First a piece was played with stock power cords. Then the same piece was played using the lowest cost Transparent cord ($105??) There was better bass and an overall better definition of all notes.
They then added their basic power conditioner and later their Reference Conditioner (not their top of the line) Again it was easy to hear the benefits of these units.
I wish I could have made it, that was going to be my most important audition. However, my mom is on hospice and the nurse said she would pass within 12 hours. Well, I just got home from being up there all night and she's still fighting. Im not trying sound insensitive but I had to get some sleep and remember life continues. Im sure paragon will offer me a demo when I have a chance to visit.

[Still-One]

Originally Posted by crytklmass

Crytklmass makes it there because he will see what he wants to hear. First a piece was played with stock power cords. Then the same piece was played using the lowest cost Transparent cord ($105??) There was better bass and an overall better definition of all notes.
They then added their basic power conditioner and later their Reference Conditioner (not their top of the line) Again it was easy to hear the benefits of these units.
I wish I could have made it, that was going to be my most important audition. However, my mom is on hospice and the nurse said she would pass within 12 hours. Well, I just got home from being up there all night and she's still fighting. Im not trying sound insensitive but I had to get some sleep and remember life continues. Im sure paragon will offer me a demo when I have a chance to visit.

Sounds like you have your priorities in the proper order. You and your family are in our thoughts.
Jim