One of the advantages of an audiophile living in North America is the abundance of audio components in the used market. Audiogon is the most popular of these high end audio portals. Back when I still live in Asia it’s a challenge to find a gem in that relatively small used audio marketplace. If you do, chances are it's not in a mint condition (mechanically, electronically and aesthetically) and if it is, they are way overpriced compared to blue book value.

Not the case here in Canada and US, the price performance value ratio of used audio equipments here is a bonus. They are also priced favorably (read “reasonably”) and is affordable by the average salaried Joe who’s serious about owning a decent sounding audio rig. Having said that, it is easy to assemble an el-cheapo no-nonsense starter analog front end for the price of what you will have to pay for a new personal computer. I know I have friends there who want to try the analog domain but are put off by the high entry price. Why not start with used and vintage gears. Here are some recommendations (if you live in the Greater Toronto Area).

Turntable – Thorens TD160 Mk II (CAD 325 with arm)
Cartridge – Grado Prestige Black (less than CAD 50 low hours)
Integrated Amplifier w/ phono – Used Luxman (made in Japan) CAD 250, or, Marantz 2285 Receiver (can be purchased around CAD 250 in flea market stores)
Speakers – Proac Studio bookshelf, JBL L40, Signet SL16, , Spendor (from CAD 300 to 500)
Cables – Buy used from audio dealers (CAD 100). Or, try making the Home Depot 14 gauge speaker cable. I tried it and it’s not bad. Of course it cannot compete to high end cables but better than ordinary cables marked as speaker wires that you can buy from Best Buy. (Hmmm, maybe I can write about this fun experiment experience in my future post)

Caveat:
[1] Sorry, no tubes at this price point and so don’t expect a tube sound but it will still be much better compared to many entry level solid-state based systems out there. However, you can easily sell your CAD 250 integrated when you are ready for the tube sound upgrade. But at least you can now start enjoying your vinyls.

Fun Factor:
[1] Of course you can always hook up your portable CD player or iPod in one of the many line level inputs
[2] Hook up your DVD player for that home theater like movie sound
[3] Tweaking your turntable for optimum performance
[4] And the biggest fun of all is hunting that favorite vinyl. Well, at least for me that is where most of the fun is. whether that is the $3 used vinyl or the $30 jazz classic reissue in 180g it is hard to fault the sound from vinyl.

Well, there you have it! Good Luck, and email me the result of your quest.

[audioasylum thread - read it here]

Most audiophiles have marked in their calendar a “REASONable” date for the next purchase - a date that is commonly associated with an occasion to celebrate. Since I told myself many times that I will hold all audio equipment purchase until we moved to our new home; last Saturday, I was digging unsorted records in the flea market and I was lucky to find two Sinatra sealed records for Canadian $3 each . I guess this will be my Fathers Day’s gift for myself.

I must have 5 or 6 Sinatra albums already but the album on the top is the best of them all in terms of recording quality. The material is also excellent! The record on the bottom has excellent material but the recording quality is average.


The Best of Frank Sinatra (Capitol SN-516109)
Young at Heart
Hey! Jealous lover
All the way
Withcraft
Chicago
Come dance with me
Only the lonely
High hopes
Nice 'N Easy
Put your dreams away


Frank Sintra Sings for Only The lonely (Capitol SM-501053)
Only for the lonely
Angel Eyes
What's new
Willow weep for me
Good-bye
Blues in the night
Guess i'll hang my tears out to dry
Ebb tide
Gone with the wind
One for my baby

This hobby is all about building a system, where, when you retire at the end of the day, you can fire up your system and ask yourself, who will be performing in my listening room tonight? The experience should allow you (when you dim the lights) to be transported vicariously to a “you are there” in the concert hall venue or, “they are here” in your listening room experience.

However, before you even get close to getting there, you must first build a system that is capable of taking you there – easier said than done. System building is an art. Before you start your shopping list you’ll be better off knowing the audiophile lingo so that you will be in the same page with the audio salesman when he start describing the tonal quality of the equipments you are about to audition.

Allow me to explain some of these audiophile terms (in parts since this can be a long post if I don’t break it up to several parts).

Soundstage – The ability of the system to reproduce the actual recording space from a live performance or recording venue setup is one of the most important tasks a system should be able to deliver. To put it simply, your system should reproduce the drama of a large-scale Tchaikovsky's 1812 overture, (ok, maybe this is too much but just to make a point) and the intimate small-scale work of a chamber orchestra. Your system should replicate a believable reproduction of music (sound) no matter what the scale (stage) is.

Imaging – You should be able to pinpoint in the soundstage where the individual instruments and performers are located in a 3D soundstage. This attribute pertains more to the width location of the sound.

Depth – If imaging refers more to “how wide is the stage” is and how you can easily discern the location of a particular sound left to right, depth, on the other hand refers to the layering of the sound from the front all the way back of the soundstage. If the soundstage is too forward, the listener will have the impression that he is sitting within the first three rows of seat in the theater. If the soundstage is too backward, the listener will have the impression that he is seated in the bleachers.

Presence – the ability of the system to reproduce a holographic believable realism where you experience goose bumps and are fooled to believe that the performers are in the same room as you are. Sam Tellig, one of the regular contributors in Stereophile always used the term “palpable presence” in his writing. I don’t know if he is the one who coined the term but I think he nailed it. This sound attribute is one of the reasons audiophiles remain loyal to the hobby.

(to be continued … )

Part of the excitement for me of the coming of the next World Cup is to watch the 3 Tenors (Luciano Pavarotti, Placido Domingo and Jose Careras) serenade the world again with the best-loved Arias in the Finals. Sadly, that will not happen this time. It seemed true that Yokohama Arena was indeed their last trio World Cup performance.

I would have been thrilled if the Italian cross-over tenor Andrea Bocelli replaces Luciano Pavarotti (who retired on his 70th birthday) to continue the tradition.

I think it will help if I describe my current system before I start writing about sonic virtues of what I am hearing or what I’ve heard. At least, for those familiar, or had the listening experience with the component, will have an idea of what I am talking about. I will post my personal review of these components later and everybody is encouraged to send their 2 cents comments.

Loudspeaker: Soliloquy 5.0
Amplifiers: Primaluna Prologue Four, Dared VP20
Preamplifier: Audio Research SP16 (with phono stage)
Turntable: Thorens TD160B MkII
Arm: Linn Basic LVV
Cartridges: Grado Reference Sonata
CD Placer: Ultech UCD100 HDCD player
Power Conditioner: Shunyata Research Hydra 4
Interconnects: Harmonic Technology Pro-Silway MkIII, Luscombe Blue Reference Silver Cable LBR-35
Speaker Cable: Straightwire Waveguide
Power Cables: Shunyata Research Diamondback 20amp and 10amps
Audio Rack: Modified IKEA OPPLI

As you can deduce, this system is far from being called a true High End (whatever that term means) but it takes me there. I have two amplifiers because I cannot give up the voice naturalness of an EL34 and the sweet magic presentation of a low power 6L6 amp (too bad there are only a few 6L6 options available out there, I mean the 18 watter 6L6G "a" or "b" types and not the slightly high powered but pathetic "c" and KT66 types). I have the urge to write about my tube rolling experience now but I guess that will remain to be a topic of future post. Also, I have to flip Aimee Mann now so I have to go. Oh yes, excellent record by the way.

A friend once taught me the importance of cultivating a hobby and I found one, two, three or even five that I have tried but audio seemed to be the one that will not fade away. Over the years the audio virus within me (that kept me into this hobby) have tried to mutate to put my attention to “home theater” and “video editing” but it will always go back to stereo after the fascination is gone.

After 15 years in this hobby I think I have lots to talk about being an audio enthusiast. I can say that I have “been there and did that” but most importantly I would want to say “I still want to try that, that, and that” and that is why there are more topics to post here that I can think of like my other blog.

So, if you are an audio enthusiast or thinking about “cultivating a hobby” in audio, follow the post. I am sure you will find something here educating and fun.

William