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Audible Elegance
United States
Registrace 14. 05. 2022
Lou Hamilton is the Audio and Home Theater Truth Teller! Hear it exactly as we believe you should! Audible Elegance is Sensible Hifi Audio & Home Theater in Cincinnati. Unmatched knowledge, advice, sales and service serving the Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana region including Columbus, Dayton, Louisville, Lexington, and Indianapolis. Our Cincinnati based showroom is located in historic downtown Montgomery, Ohio.
Why You Should Never Buy Used Phono Cartridges!
Unless....you buy new styli or plan to have them re-tipped!
audibleelegance.com
www.ortofon.com/ortofon-2m-black-p-329
www.hanacartridges.com/products/hana-ml
gradolabs.com/cartridges/prestige-series-2/item/75-gold2-silver2
0:00 Intro
0:55 Don't Do It
1:20 Rubber
2:30 The Age
3:00 The Wear
5:45 The Care
7:00 Final Thoughts
#turntables #turntable #cartridge #hifi #hifiaudio #audiophile #ortofon #ortofon2mblue #ortofon2mbronze #grado #hanacartridge #stereophile #theabsolutesound
audibleelegance.com
www.ortofon.com/ortofon-2m-black-p-329
www.hanacartridges.com/products/hana-ml
gradolabs.com/cartridges/prestige-series-2/item/75-gold2-silver2
0:00 Intro
0:55 Don't Do It
1:20 Rubber
2:30 The Age
3:00 The Wear
5:45 The Care
7:00 Final Thoughts
#turntables #turntable #cartridge #hifi #hifiaudio #audiophile #ortofon #ortofon2mblue #ortofon2mbronze #grado #hanacartridge #stereophile #theabsolutesound
zhlédnutí: 884
Video
Thinking About Adding Home Automation?
zhlédnutí 76Před 9 hodinami
We cover the true cost of automation and why we now only focus on home audio and home theater. An insightful review if you're seriously considering home automation for your new or existing home! #homeautomation #homeautomationsystem #homeautomationprojects #hometheater #homeaudiosystem #homeaudio #hifi #hifiaudio #hifistereo #audiophile #home
Be Careful What You Place Between Your Speakers!
zhlédnutí 1,6KPřed 14 hodinami
Do you have anything between your speakers in your audio system? What are they? Some nightmares include: TV's, fireplaces, audio racks, and more! audiblelegance.com #hifi #hifiaudio #hifistereo #stereo #speakers #speakercable #fireplace #theabsolutesound #vinyl #homeaudio #hometheater #audio #hifirush #hifispeakers
Ignoring Audiophile Terms: Imaging, Soundstage & Depth
zhlédnutí 427Před 19 hodinami
We see and hear it all the time: the focus is on the wrong elements of the music. Get the ones that really matter here. audibleelegance.com #pitch #rhythm #hifi #audiophile #stereo #hifiaudio #homeaudio #vinyl #hifistereo #audiophiles #audiophilemusic
Still Waiting Living On The Edge of Science (4 Months Later...)
zhlédnutí 196Před dnem
Revising a video published from May 2024 and sharing the update. 2 Words: Still Waiting. audibleelegance.com #clevelandclinic #hearttransplant #transplantsurvivor #cardiac #hope
Blind Assumptions on Buying Used Turntables!
zhlédnutí 995Před dnem
Was the used turntable you've purchased in the past set up properly? We revisit the topic of used turntable risks audibleelegance.com www.thorens.com/en/products/thorens®-turntables.html #hifi #hifiaudio #audiophile #acoustictreatment #soundisolation #soundtreatment #homeaudio #stereo #audioroom #audiogear #hometheater
Tips & Secrets for Building a Great Sounding Audio Room!
zhlédnutí 720Před 14 dny
Here are a few that are often overlooked, but hardly talked about! audibleelegance.com www.acousticsciences.com #hifi #hifiaudio #audiophile #acoustictreatment #soundisolation #soundtreatment #homeaudio #stereo #audioroom #audiogear #hometheater
Why We Resigned From NAIM Audio
zhlédnutí 41KPřed 21 dnem
A brief overview of our departure from Naim Audio and what led to the very difficult decision. audibleelegance.com #naim #audiophile #hifi #homeaudio #hifistereo #hifiaudio #highendaudiophile #naimaudio #focal #hometheater #audiophiles #audioreview
The #1 Mistake Audiophiles Make With Their Audio Rooms!
zhlédnutí 3,9KPřed 21 dnem
Not what you think it is....Lou explains! audibleelegance.com #hifi #audiophile #homeaudio #hometheater #hifistereo #hifiaudio #hifirush #audio #stereophile #stereo #audioroom #acoustictreatment
Rega's NAIA Could Easily Be Your Last Turntable!
zhlédnutí 786Před 21 dnem
When we first lowered the tonearm for our first play of the Rega Naia, we were all taken aback by how physical and immediate the music was. We also didn't hear the stylus hit the outer groove, with an almost alarming silence....then....magic! www.rega.co.uk/products/naia czcams.com/video/4Z_KgEVB6EQ/video.htmlsi=ZchqzgtiSY4N9zlZ audibleelegance.com #rega #turntable #naia #turntables #vinyl #aud...
How To Inspect A Used Linn LP12
zhlédnutí 469Před 28 dny
Another beauty....we just got her in. And all of us want to take it home. One of the prettiest walnut plinths and top plates we've seen in years for an LP12 of this vintage. She's a beauty. audibleelegance.com #linn #lp12 #turntables #turntable #vinyl #vinylcommunity #audiophile #hifi #hifistereo #stereo #vintageaudio #vintageturntable
The Biggest Mistake Buyers & Reviewers Make (when Auditioning Home Audio)
zhlédnutí 2,8KPřed měsícem
The #1 mistake both reviewers and buyers make when auditioning new gear in-home (especially those who swap out gear often). It's pretty simple. audibleelegance.com #hifi #audiophile #stereophile #audioreview #hometheater #hifirush #hifistereo #hifiaudio #speakers #turntable
Our Compliments For The Comments
zhlédnutí 165Před měsícem
We love the audio and home theater community. It is a community and this is a space we get to share, comment and engage as community. audibleelegance.com #hifi #audiophile #youtuber #youtube #comments #homeaudio #stereo #hifistereo #hometheater
Does Insurance Cover Lightning Damage On Home Audio?
zhlédnutí 167Před měsícem
Lightning season, in full swing right now! Discussions occasionally come up about insurance coverage on home audio products and when lightning is a factor. audibleelegance.com #lightning #insurance #hifi #audiophile #homeaudio #hometheater #stereo #hifistereo #hifirush #turntable #amplifier #Speakers #powerconditioner #surgeprotector
Vintage Marantz and Is It Worthy Of Buying?
zhlédnutí 417Před měsícem
Prices are crazy for vintage Marantz (among other brands). Before you buy the blue light specials (yes, they are pretty) watch this first. audiblelegance.com #marantz #vintageaudio #audiophile #hifi #hifistereo #homeaudio #audiophiles #naim
ALWAYS Inspect A Used Turntable (Before You Buy It!)
zhlédnutí 695Před měsícem
ALWAYS Inspect A Used Turntable (Before You Buy It!)
Buying Beautiful Vintage Silver Receivers!
zhlédnutí 1,3KPřed měsícem
Buying Beautiful Vintage Silver Receivers!
Why we Recommend Only Using Tubes Supplied from the Manufacturer!
zhlédnutí 747Před měsícem
Why we Recommend Only Using Tubes Supplied from the Manufacturer!
Addressing the New and Often Misinformed Audiophiles!
zhlédnutí 1KPřed měsícem
Addressing the New and Often Misinformed Audiophiles!
Total Harmonic Distortion Spec Distractions!
zhlédnutí 218Před měsícem
Total Harmonic Distortion Spec Distractions!
Rega Naia Arrives at Audible Elegance!
zhlédnutí 242Před měsícem
Rega Naia Arrives at Audible Elegance!
The Worst Time Of The Year To Buy Vinyl Records!
zhlédnutí 424Před 2 měsíci
The Worst Time Of The Year To Buy Vinyl Records!
Is It Worth Paying Extra For Matched Tubes?
zhlédnutí 462Před 2 měsíci
Is It Worth Paying Extra For Matched Tubes?
Protecting Your Audio System During Excessive Summer Heat
zhlédnutí 175Před 2 měsíci
Protecting Your Audio System During Excessive Summer Heat
Fulfilling The Mission Of A Missing Guitar
zhlédnutí 104Před 2 měsíci
Fulfilling The Mission Of A Missing Guitar
Are Monsters Lurking In Klipsch Speakers?
zhlédnutí 2,9KPřed 2 měsíci
Are Monsters Lurking In Klipsch Speakers?
Is Monster Cable Lurking Around Your Speakers?
zhlédnutí 2,2KPřed 2 měsíci
Is Monster Cable Lurking Around Your Speakers?
A great video!
Hello Lou Still await your follow-on video about ASC Tube Traps. I currently have a 12" behind each Maggie, diffraction side out. Never thought of putting them on floor. Off topic: How is your wife? I think about her, and the trauma you both have been through. - Jeffrey in Philadelphia
At 2 AM this morning they advised her that they had a new heart for her. Surgery started at 4:30 and ended at 10:30. All went well but there is a need to leave her open for 12 hours to deal with bleeding. If all goes well, I will be able to speak with her Friday afternoon. Right now, obviously, she is sedated. I drove up to Cleveland after taking care of our farm needs and arrived at 8:00 PM. So, so far, so good. Thank you for asking.
Thanks for the interesting video. I have a point to add that may be of interest to some. I bought a lightly used Benz Micro Ace low output MC off ebay, and had nearly five years of enjoyable music out of it, THEN when I thought a new one was maybe required, Benz Micro's trade in scheme, here in London, gave me a 25% discount on the new one, which almost completely covered the cost of the first cartridge. So for some folk this is a thing to bear in mind, trade in schemes can make a lot of economic sense sometimes. BTW I absolutely recommend Benz Micro cartridges, they're terrific sounding, and offer super value at their various price points, indeed they are by far the cheapest handmade Swiss moving coils available I think. Cheers everyone, and happy listening!
Well, be careful about people's descriptions of "lightly used." Here in the States, there are some parts of the country that the term "good condition" means by God's Will it still works. As for the length of time you enjoyed it, I would hope that it was not used for 1,000s of hours. Even Ortofon gives their cartridges a life expectancy of 1,000 hours. In reality, many cartridges, depending upon set-up, are good for 400 to 600 hours of use before the flat spots begin to affect the vinyl. Physical destruction and audible issues do not go hand in hand. As for trade values, you are absolutely spot on. Interesting that you mention Benz Micro as they are no longer found in the states. Yes, they are a fine value indeed. We sold many Silvers. Thank you for your contribution to the channel and please let others know about it and our 180 other videos. We have many more planned.
@@audibleeleganceinc good point! My ebay cartridge was described as 150 hours usage, and the seller seemed very honest, to judge from the way he wrote the listing...but perhaps I just got lucky. Cheers.
@@DalstonVinyl The general rule of thumb is 60 hours or less as the flat spots begin to show on the stylus. See pics provided by Stanton. Anyway, it also depends upon tracking force and the weight of the arm itself (mass inertia). Glad it seemed to have worked out for you but I'd suggest keeping the use range lower in the future.
@@audibleeleganceinc dare I suggest that flat spots are much less of an issue with Japanese microridge/microline stylii profiles?
@@DalstonVinyl interesting suggestion. I'll have to look into that. Thanks for the idea.
A quality retipper can replace the damper in a MC. There are 3 of them here in the states I’d trust to rebuild a MC cartridge. As to the MM variety as you said, it depends on the environment and the rubber content. As a long time Grado (MI) cartridge fan, I’ve bought 40 year old body’s with broken cantilevers and them replaced, not one had stiff rubber suspension. The other side of that coin is older Shures which are notorious for a bricked suspension.
Thank you for contributing to the channel with this information. My point was you just cannot buy an old cartridge and use it. Re-tipping is perfectly acceptable and I am glad you made this comment to alert others to look before leaping. Please tell others about this channel as I have 180 other videos to enjoy.
That was great! Do you have the same reservations for the a MM body for which new styli are available? Say Ortofon 2M line? Or the SoundSmith/B&O MC carts that can be re-tipped?
If you can purchase a new replacement styli as is common for MM cartridges, you should be fine. Soundsmith is a solid recommendation.
Outstanding as always Lou and this is something I vowed to NEVER do years ago. It just doesn't make sense to me for the exact reasons you mention. Too many variables that can go wrong. Thank you and keep up the great work.
Thank you kindly for your comment and addition to my channel. It is much appreciated. Please tell others about my channel as we have many more videos planned on top of the 180 already posted!
thanks for another good one. i do see those ads for instance for an original sugano made koetsu, sometimes "new in box". He died long ago, I would imagine the suspension is probably dry rotted.
And I would also worry about the world of counterfeits. As for that age of cartridge, it's like getting a never ridden 40 year old motorcycle. OK, well, those gaskets and most rubber pieces are likely shot....
Vintage can be a fantastic alternative to new components, with the only exception being phono cartridges; and provided the components (speakers, amp, etc) have been serviced properly over the years (?)
Thank you for contributing to the channel and speaking from experience. I appreciate your qualification of used gear as "properly serviced." Right now, the flippers are finding whatever from estate or garage sales and getting absurd amounts of money merely because the wood box is not dinged. Please do tell others about my channel and maybe they can find something useful in the other 180 videos. We have many more planned.
@@audibleeleganceinc Actually, my use of (?) was meant to indicate I was seeking corroboration. Your video was an eye opener for me inasmuch as the old Shure's and Pickering's are getting big price tags because of refurbishing and now I'm realizing they likely received new rubber parts and coils. So, it just depends, right? I subscribed by the way.
@@ricefieldrecords You never really know what they do, actually. Now, here's a bit of trivia for you. Pickering and Stantons use diamonds driven through the cantilever. That makes them very strong and you can back-cue with them. Shure on the other hand, glues the diamond to a metal shaft. That's why they lose their diamonds all the time when the cartridge is bumped sideways. Sold a lot of M91ED stylus in my day. Back-cuing with Shure is out of the question for that very reason.
Hello Lou Your sense of humor in the service of making your point is the most pointed (pun intended) of all the CZcams pundits. Sorry, don't mean to demean (pun intended again) you by calling you a pundit. You make different or clearer points than the others when you pontificate. :-) Your brain seems to think at angles rather than straight lines. Keep up the good work. I learn from you. You cause me think differently. -Jeffrey in Philadelphia
Jeffrey, thank you for contributing to the channel with your comments. My simple goal is to get people to think about things. What people do with the information, well, that's up to them. It's all rather scientific, actually. I just try to bring it to life. Please tell others about my channel and maybe they will find things of interest too.
I would buy a used MC cartridge as a rebuild core only and only if the make / model were desireable and supported by rebuild facilities such as Goldring, etc.
And that is perfectly acceptable. Sometimes, while they call it a "rebuild" it is actually an exchange.
I'd never buy a used cartridge. That's just goofy given how sensitive they are. Used on what, filthy records? I am legitimately wondering if I should store my back-up new cartridge in my humidor? Might that help with preserving the rubber?
I really don't think that is a good idea either. The reason being is that many of the other surfaces are metal and humidity is an enemy. Best to buy a cartridge when you need one or make sure you cycle through your back-up first and replace it.
@@audibleeleganceinc Well, my Boy Scout 'upbringing' of "be prepared" has me as one who'd have a new, back-up stylus (for an Ortofon Blue) but, I've got a thousand hours left on the one currently in use. Still, I'm curious as to shelf life? How long will any particular cartridge/stylus sit in a warehouse or shop? I don't know that they have a "born on" date. Thanks, as always Lou!
@@zizendorf Well, I don't know the "shelf life" of ortofons but the real average life expectancy of a phono cartridge is not thousands of hours. Typically you are looking at 400 to 800 hours of use before those flat spots begin to do their damage. I would consult with Ortofon directly about such matters. I'd be curious what they tell you.
@@audibleeleganceinc Well, Ortofon states that one can get 1,000 hours of play time without degradation. I can only guesstimate that I may put 300 hours on my cartridge in a year - calculating is difficult because I will go on vinyl "streaks" but also listen to my CD collection just as often. So, that's about 3 years.
@@zizendorf Well, that's higher than what I have heard for other cartridges. It would also depend upon tracking force and the weight of the tonearm itself as there is inertia with weight. There's also a difference between record damage and sonic issues. They don't necessarily go hand in hand.
You cover some really good topics and have great insights. I do quite enjoy your channel.
Thank you for the compliment. I try. Please do tell others about my channel. Perhaps they might like to subscribe to the channel as we have many more videos planned.
Good Video
Thank you for the compliment. Many folks really don't understand what is going on with turntables and as you can see, it's not like buying used tires. There's a whole lot more. Please to tell others about my channel and subscribers are always welcomed.
I bought a new tonearms for my fully KAB upgraded and modified SL1200 M3D. The bearings were shot on my old one. Before installing the new one, I rewired it with Cardas wires. It wasn’t a bid deal. I run either my DL103r or Nagaoka MP-200 cart, with a Tavish phono stage, but have a cartridge collection of around 30 of em all mounted to headshells. Besides records, carts are a fun hobby to me. Nothing over $1,000 or so. The headshell is of course removable. I don’t believe I am an idiot for doing any of this, but you apparently think differently….
I am merely explaining the risks. If you want to experiment and enjoy the hobby, then it's your money and records. You are always free to whatever you wish.
@@audibleeleganceinc Yeah, I know, man. I was just being a bit snarky and joking around. That’s the problem with comments sometimes, is that the inflection is unfortunately lost. I enjoy hearing your point of view.
@@NickP333 Yes, that is really the problem with text type messages. Not only are the inflections lost but you can not see the face of the person. Both delivery messages. That's why so many youngsters get into trouble with the internet. A 58 year old guy would never net a young girl. Then, on some, even with videos, humor is lost as well. I try to spice my videos with a bit of that here and there. By the way, the videos are shot 50's style. There are no scripts, teleprompters, or retakes unless I catch myself saying something either unclear or, once in a while, simply stupid. So, my early ones which are being repeated right now show how awkward I was at doing them with all the UMMMMs which I caught hell for and rightly so. We are doing a lot of reissues right now as all my attention is towards my wife who now has been in the Cleveland Clinic Cardiac ICU for 115 days hoping for a 2nd heart transplant as the first heart is now failing after 4 very difficult years. I spend much of my time traveling from Virginia where I live to there while also maintaining her horse farm. So, when you hear UMMMs, well, those are early ones.
Have subscribed to your channel and look forward to similar content. Will also be looking at your prior videos.
I’m planning on picking up the RS1X next month
Thank you for your comment to our channel. The RX1X are exceptional.
I put a beautiful women in between my speakers... The best sounding music you will ever come across!
Well, that certainly directs your senses. Thanks for the humor and your contribution. Feel free to tell others about this channel and the other 177 videos we have posted. Maybe even subscribe.
Don't block your chimney otherwise Santa won't be able to deliver your presents.
Funny. Love humor. But it's only one day of the year. Please feel free to subscribe and look at our other 177 videos.
What are your thoughts on the fluid drops that come with ultrasonic stylus cleaners? Personally, I just use a drop of distilled water instead of the chemical fluid it comes with. Is that ok?
Well, I would certainly watch out for that being wicked up the cantilever if it of a hollow design. When you consider that whatever gets baked onto a stylus under 600 degrees and about 2,000 pounds per square inch, I don't think water will do much. But, if the cantilever is of a solid design, well, I can not see it hurting. Thanks for taking the time to write the question and contribute my channel. Please tell others about it and the other 177 videos we have done. A lot more are planned.
Like your ears ????????????
Those would be called headphones. Yep, your ears go between them.
Hello Lou, Another thought-provoker. I have a variant of the center fireplace issue as you presented it. Between my Magneplanar dipoles is an elegant fireplace mantel. You explained the fireplace issue as nobody else has: bass going up the chimney chute. However, my fireplace is different. It is an Unvented gas fireplace (and No glass in front), with a solidly bricked off chute. If sound cannot get up a chute does that do away with most of the acoustic problem with the fireplace (aside from the 6.5" deep mantle visually behind my Maggies)? (BTW, your carpet padding video motivated me to make changes that improved my sound. Except for Art Noxon at ASC, I've not heard any CZcams pundit mention that. Thank you.)
Such a structure is a cross between a bay widow (which are real challenges) and a box. To understand what it might be doing, have someone get near the opening and simply talk into it and listen to what happens to their voice and what reverberations you are getting. There is really no other way to understand what it is actually doing. For other readers, this effect is also present with other speakers to a greater or lesser degree. It depends upon the distance of the speaker to the opening. Thank you for an excellent question that gave me the chance to explain how to understand what is happening with any opening. Please tell others about my channel and perhaps they will find something useful in the other 177 videos. We have many many more planned.
In my opinion, a TV screen is absolutely the worst thing to place between speakers, and I have a reason why - which I have never read of or seen mentioned...psycho-acoustics. The brain of the listener is always subconsciously seeking visual information from a screen, and this distracts enormously from the minds ability to 'tune into' audio, diminishing auditory enjoyment greatly. For a truly high quality audio system, eliminating unnecessary visual stimulation to the brain is essential, the focused listening experience when lights are dimmed is another aspect of this effect. Cheers from London, everybody!
Actually, it cuts both ways. One of the common tricks is to place a small picture or object at some depth behind the between the speakers. It 'locks" the image and triggers a sort of depth. You are absolutely correct in the visual is a priority. The ears are, fundamentally, a defensive system for what the eyes cannot perceive. That's why it is hard to sleep in a strange place because the ear alarms keep going off.
This is the good stuff! Great topic Lou! I too am one of those who have a "whatever" floor to ceiling bookshelf that has two tiers of depth. The lower portion is filled with a row of albums on the lowest shelf (the bookcase is 6 feet wide), The first shelf is filled with oversize books. So, to my knowledge I'm not having issues with those emanating resonances. The second shelf holds my components. All have received treatments to dampen resonances for both my turntable and amplifier. Most recently I did some additional tweaks (thank you very much) and, at least to my ears, I've eliminated audible feedback or resonances. The next three sets of shelves are not as deep and they're filled with a couple rows of CD's and then books. I'm wondering aloud as to any additional critiques or comments on this set-up. (Hopefully I won't be treated to another personal attack and insults by some other "highly qualified" expert viewer.)
Books are a wonderful way of adding damping, eliminating empty box sounds, and can help with diffusion if you don't make all the bindings equal in position. I use them whenever I can.
@@audibleeleganceinc Thanks! Yeah I read about it somewhere and it made sense.
Own dipoles, tuning is everything 😮 Larger the speaker the less worrisome
In most cases, yes. The original Magneplanar Tympani speakers were not a hobby to set up, they were a lifetime.
I thank you for saving this fledgling audiophile a good amount of his hard earned cash. Subscribed. Thanks for your honesty and business integrity.
Thank you for the compliment and I try to be honest and open. Please enjoy the rest of the channel with the 177 videos. We have many many more planned.
I drape a blanket over my 65 inch tv and it greatly improves the sound.
Absolutely! Bingo. Excellent contribution and we are, in fact, working on a product to make this possible for both wall and stand mounted sets. Please feel free to tell others about this channel and perhaps they will subscribe.
I don't disagree with a clear space between and behind the loudspeakers. But then reality kicks in. How many have a reflective TV screen between their speakers because of the benefits of improved sound quality compared to TV speakers? Not ideal perhaps but perfectly acceptable. For my part, I have my system rack between my speakers but if I didn't it would be a lengthy radiator and window above. Both highly undesirable but that's where they are. And when it comes to the main living space and WAF? I suspect less than 5% of audio enthusiasts can or would want to achieve the ideal room environment in the real world but we can all dream, aspire and implement where practical. Cheers.
And I don't disagree with your reality check. What I can do is to say what is the best way to do things and people are certainly free to do as they need or wish. It also must be understood as to why things sound different in different set-ups. Thank you for taking the time to comment and contribute to the channel. It is most appreciated. Please tell others about our work and they too might subscribe. There are many more videos planned.
I’ve been saying this for a LONG time. I am a drummer. I have recorded music in a studio before. I have stood at a twenty four track mixing board. If you didn’t play in the band or work in the studio, you cannot know what was intended. It’s just a simple fact. As always, I’m sure the comments will come 😂
Thank you for reinforcing what I am trying to say. Some have gone off the deep end thinking I don't want a stereo image. Of course I do. However, the system must play music musically correct first. Right timing, right pitches, and right emotions. If you don't have those, I don't care what image you prefer, it's simply wrong. Get those first three right, well, enjoy what you wish but don't tell me which is the correct version for the very reason you stated very clearly. Please tell others about this channel and the other 177 videos currently posted. Many more are coming!
You seemed to be offended by what you call your customer’s preferences which is very odd for a high end retailer to say. If you claim no one knows what the true recording was like unless you’re the recording engineer, then by your own logic who are you to say that imaging or depth isn’t there since you weren’t there at the recording session either? Maybe the artist or recording engineer artificially created the imaging and depth for artistic expression, so it is what the artist intended and a particular audio can recreate that better than others. Also, there’s another flaw in your argument. You’re making the assumption that no one knows what the original music sounded like because we were not the recording engineer who recorded the music. Well, what if you were? What if you were there during the recording even if you weren’t the recording engineer? Some of us were so we know how it should sound in playback, but it requires proper and meticulous system setup to capture the original event in your home. If you have the means, you can get scarily realistic imaging and sound staging and natural timbre of vocals and instruments. However, very few recording engineers use minimal number of microphones to capture realistic imaging and sound staging. It’s obvious in most modern recordings where the music has been butchered with mixing, converting DSD to PCM or vice versa, digital filtering, multimic’d recordings. Some of the best recordings come from the 50s, 60’s, and 70’s before digital.
Not flawed at all. See the comments from real performing artists. Now, I don't care what effects anyone prefers as long as the system is musically correct. However, many speaker manufacturers introduce phase errors that create all sorts of effects. These phase errors screw up the musicality of the system. If there's no rhythm, correct pitch note to note, and emotionless, I don't care what image you prefer, it's simply a terrible performance. The other thing you completely overlook is the potential tampering that goes on at the production site regardless of format. In any event, I have wasted enough of my life listening to "audiophiles" argue about what effect is correct when neither have a clue. Should there be stereo? Yes. What version? Well, most likely nobody knows. Like DG classical music? They use 80 to 100 microphones all the time. That spatial effect is complete fiction.
Terrible shame, my system has had 5 different pre-amp,Pwr-Amp combinations over the 37 years that i have been involved in this fantastic hobby. Always an LP-12 front end, but even here in Canada the new stuff is so expensive and lord help if any of my stuff,needs repair,because that won’t happen anymore.
Thank you for taking the time to comment. Yes, it has been quite a journey and it was equally expensive for the dealers plus the burden of having to sell so much of it a quarter. It was insane when they introduced the Naim Nait again for $3,000 when that was meant to be an introductory piece to the line. Well, if that's the first step, it's not for many. Please tell others about my channel and the other 177 videos. Perhaps they will enjoy them too and subscribe.
A couple of thoughts for anyone considering an OB speaker. You mentioned vibration as a concern and while this is a consideration for all speakers, it is particularly important for OB speakers. All you have is the front baffle. There is no cabinet to absorb vibration, no place to put sound deadening materials. I’d check the thickness of the baffle. For example, my baffle is 1.75” thick, but around the woofers it is 3.25” thick. A lot of DIYers are de-coupling the top of the speaker from the woofer section by having the tweeter/midrange in a separate baffle maybe sitting on top of the woofer baffle with vibration absorbing rubber feet for example. One test you can do is touch the top of the speaker while it is playing music with bass and see if you can feel any baffle vibration. If you do, there is probably some smearing of the upper frequencies. An area where OB speakers are different from other speakers is bass performance. OB speakers are known to have “fast” bass, but they tend not to go as low as more conventional speakers and certainly lack the “punch” that other speakers tend to have. Don’t assume great bass response because you see a couple of 12” or 15” woofers. Listen for yourself and decide it OB bass is your cup of tea.
If you don’t get stereo imaging or depth, then you need to relearn how to set up your speakers properly. I cringe when people put their speakers 2 feet from the wall often with asymmetric speaker placement, no toe in, and no acoustic treatment and claim there’s no such thing as imaging, depth, height in soundstage. Going to audio shows is the worst, but for most people that’s their reference. In real life in a good acoustic hall or venue like Boston Symphony Hall, you can get fantastic imaging and soundstaging. Perception of holographic sound is a real psychoacoustic phenomenon. Ignorance is bliss for some but don’t dismiss it because you don’t know how to set up your system.
@JohnLee-db9zt Are you just by nature rude? Holographic is hysterical. A visual adjective to describe aural translation? I'm not sure you have much grasp of semantics, syntax, grammar and certainly not the meaning of connotation. Words have meaning for a reason. You must be an expert! Please share your credentials.
@@zizendorf And you’re not rude? Since you asked, I have 40 plus years in high end audio industry modifying and designing speakers and preamplifiers and amplifiers. I designed my own audio room with concrete outer wall, air gap, and inner wood framed wall with built in bass traps and quadratic diffusers and absorbers. I have a PhD in neuroscience with specialization in sensory cortex including auditory, visual, and somatosensory cortex. I also make my own recordings of music with minimal mics so I know how it should sound. What are your credentials? You sound like a CZcams “expert” with pedantic obsession with words rather than seeking excellence in reproduction of music in the home. If you don’t understand the concept holography in auditory terms, then you don’t belong in high end audio.
I certainly agree that there is, hopefully, some form of stereo effect and I have seen nightmares as well like interior designers placing speakers on the diagonal in a room. I certainly don't dismiss it at all so that is an incorrect assumption. My point is that most people don't know what is real and to argue over it is pointless.
Coloration mixing button 😊
Everything is a coloration in the audio chain. 😂
Hunt down that CZcams video where the recording engineer is going completely nuts using auto-tune where the music sounds wonderful but then they show what is going on in the booth. It is hysterical. Thanks for the comment.
Love it Lou! A pet peeve of mine is the "terms". My most loathsome are "holographic" and "soundstage depth". In the case of the latter I know that mine is 3 feet because I've actually measured that my speakers are 3 feet from the rear wall and 2 1/2 feet from the side wall (but that side wall measurement isn't "depth" but "width"). LOL I'm planning in writing up an entire lexicon of "audiophile terminology". I'm really interested in writing and details related to words, communication, and connotation. I can't think of many other realms of functioning, descriptions, and assessment that are more arbitrary, vague, and subjective. Thanks!
@@JohnLee-db9zt Please spare me your personal criticism and attack. You don't know me. You don't know about the sound I get from my system. You know nothing about the research I've done nor the time I've taken to get my speaker placement just right. My comment was about the obtuse, vague, and subjective terminology used to market hi-fi equipment. But thanks for your input. Have a great day!
Hi Lou, my pet hates are "pools of inky black silence" or "air" neither of which can be recorded.
Agreed! I will vouch for how quiet my system is between tracks when I’m playing vinyl but otherwise, black sound? Huh?!
My all time favorite was when "midrange suck-out" was the fad term to use. Most of the terms audiophiles use have little relationship to music and when musicians hear them they wonder what drug you are on.
@@audibleeleganceinc Yup!
Sometimes doing the right thing is painful. But you are on the moral high ground with respect to your customers.
Yes, it is. Usually the difficult thing to do turns out to be the right thing to do. Thank you for your comment to the video and please do enjoy some of my other 175 videos.
I have to respectfully disagree: the jury is NOT out on open baffle (OB) speakers. Recently, there appears to be renewed interest in them, but OB speakers have been around for decades. The design was championed by Siegfried Linkwitz who was a major voice in the audio industry for decades before he passed away. And there is a company bearing his name today which continues to refine his OB designs. And by renewed interest, I only mean that you are seeing a few more OB designs, not some flood of such products on the speaker market. OB designs are unlikely to ever dominate the speaker market. For starters, the speakers tend to be big and they require that they be 2-4 feet from the front wall and 1-2 feet from the side walls. Having a large speaker that cannot be tucked into the corners of the room will tend to have low SAF (spousal acceptance factor). I really do not understand most of your criticisms. Yes, there are design issues specific to OB speakers or more critical for OB speakers. But all speaker designs have design issues. OB speakers are hardly unique in that respect. And like all speakers, the end product depends to a great extent on the quality of the design. Bad design can make any speaker sound bad. Specifically, vibration is an issue for OB designs and you see the better designs try to limit vibration, typically by having a thick baffle (some commercial designs use more inert materials like granite or Dorian, etc), or by de-coupling the woofer portion from the tweeter and midrange for example. Better designs address edge diffraction. No professional designer of OB speakers would use anything other than a driver with TS parameters needed for OB designs. This is particularly true for the woofers used in such designs. And then you overlook that there are hybrid OB designs. One of the weaknesses of OB speakers is their bass reproduction. Without any cabinet reinforcement, pure OB speakers require large woofers. Not uncommon to see dual 12” or 15” woofers or a single 18” woofer. In order to make for a smaller speaker with perhaps better bass reproduction (depending on your tastes), there are designs that use a sealed or ported woofer under the tweeter and midrange which are open at the back. In short, the jury is not out. Good OB designs will persist while bad ones will fade away just like any other speaker. OB speakers will suit some listening rooms and not others. And, of course, some people will like the sound and some people will not. Another “fad” we are seeing in speaker design today is an emphasis on coincident speakers (Andrew Jones designs for Mofi and the more expensive KEFs, for example). The jury isn’t out on such speakers either. It’s just a matter of how highly you value “point source” in sound reproduction. You need to hear some good designs. The Callahan at around $3,000 is a good place to start and the Maccaria at around $10,000 is another. OB speakers are not, IMHO, a fad that will fade away. OB speakers will persist as one of the number of approaches to sound reproduction.
Thank you for your pointing out some serious challenges to my statements. While your observations may be deadly accurate, as a long term retailer, I am also sensitive to what I see are good ideas co-opted for quick profit while ignoring fundamentals. I had a friend buy such a pair with a single 15" or so driver. Maybe it is coaxial but I don't think so. Hopefully you can see my concerns as well. So, while some may consider your writing a bit of a lashing, I don't at all. In fact, I am glad to took the time and effort to point out these points and, quite honestly, they are most welcome. Unlike other review sites where you cannot leave comments, I have left mine open to get such solidly constructive observations like your own. They are, contributory. I think you have left some wonderful advice in a number of areas on this approach and I sincerely thank you. I hope others will find useful as well. I really enjoyed your passion in the writing and it is indicative of someone who really cares. Thank you.
@@audibleeleganceinc Your concerns are well founded, I’m just not convinced that they don’t, to one degree or another, apply to all speaker designs. I lack your perspective as a retailer and I do believe there is limited commercial appeal for OB speakers. The speakers that I am currently having built are a good example. They will be close to 5 feet tall and 2 feet wide around the woofers. Combine that with the placement requirements of an OB speaker and selling something like this as a retailer would indeed be a challenge. There are a lot of great sounding speakers that can blend in with most living rooms. OB speakers is not one of those speakers. These puppies are going into a dedicated listening room/guest bedroom (with Murphy bed). No way in hell would these speakers EVER get into our living room!!!! I can definitely see the reservations a retailer would have in carrying a speaker like this. But limited commercial appeal does not mean that OB speakers are a passing fad. My best guess is that, in the future, most OB speakers will be hybrids. The tweeter/midrange will be open backed, but the woofers will be in sealed or ported enclosures. This will allow the speakers to have MUCH smaller woofers, greatly reducing the size of the speaker, while still providing good bass response. Such a speaker might one day find its way into your shop. Best wishes
It’s not surprising to see this. Naim have lost their way and are no longer the brand they used to be. The Naim forum has its share of Naim flat earthers, whose backsides get all flared up the moment you suggest anything non Naim can be better than Naim. I see Naim’s current product line up and see far too many overpriced products with supply chain issues. The prices though stopped making sense to me ages back. Just look at the Uniti PE for example…it’s stupid
Oh yes. When I saw the price of the "anniversary Nait" I just about fell over. Talk about milking the cow. They have so raised their prices that it left most of my customers behind and I was never able to get my hands on the current stuff to know if it is even any good. It is what it is. Thank you for your comment to the video. It is most welcomed.
Hi Lou. Thanks for sharing this. Very brave. We have discussed our wives heart events. So hard on us but especially them. You are her rock and you know that. Sending prayer and positive vibes. Take care Lou.
Thank you kindly, sir.
Well sir , .......love is what counts , Love has no limits and is eternal; ..there's something that connects humans even from overseas and when we never met .........
In the end, it is never about stuff. It is about humans closely followed by the care we give animals. Life is what is important. The rest can easily be replaced. I will now give you an update as I prepare to return to Cleveland for what will be my 65th time. She has now has been in the Cleveland Clinic for over 100 days, most of which has been in the Cardiac ICU. There have been repeated issues from infections to the loss of access to her veins for medication. We have been waiting 3 weeks for a special surgeon to do a procedure (he had a family emergency in India and we completely understand). He is, in short, he's the A squad. They did not want to risk her to others who were not as skilled. That is now scheduled for Wednesday. I have a farm with livestock to prepare so I can be there as it is not without substantial risks. As for the transplant itself with all the limitations due to anti-bodies, we wait. It is, in a nutshell, a race against time between heart failure and transplant. This journey is repeated time and time again by any person seeking an organ transplant as well as those with difficult long term medical issues. The often forgotten are those who remain in support of this journey. It is how we respond to it that reveals who we are. I now spend a lot of my time trying to make the medical people laugh as they have to deal with life to death and everything in between. My latest escapade is asking them where do we sign up for the Cleveland Clinic Wheel Chair Demolition Derby. I even had a trophy made for my wife. Monty Python has little on me.
God bless Lou. Your devotion to your wife speaks volumes of who you are. Audible Elegance is a fantastic shop. The team has always been very helpful with educating and answering questions.
Thank you for your kind words. It has been a long long road. I will bring you up to date now: She has now has been in the Cleveland Clinic for over 100 days, most of which has been in the Cardiac ICU. There have been repeated issues from infections to the loss of access to her veins for medication. We have been waiting 3 weeks for a special surgeon to do a procedure (he had a family emergency in India and we completely understand). He is, in short, he's the A squad. They did not want to risk her to others who were not as skilled. That is now scheduled for Wednesday. I have a farm with livestock to prepare so I can be there as it is not without substantial risks. As for the transplant itself with all the limitations due to anti-bodies, we wait. It is, in a nutshell, a race against time between heart failure and transplant.
I appreciate you being open and willing to keep us updated. Keeping you both in our thoughts. These updates are just as important as imparting audiophile knowledge. Following Woody Hayes example, I care more about Lou as a person than you as an audiophile encyclopedia. You win with people was one of his book titles. If I could be both Siskel and Ebert, I would give two thumbs up but on U tube a second one (press) negates the first one, so I have to press the thumb a third time and then it shows one thumb up frome me. This is u tube math for you. John from Dayton.
Thank you kindly, John. I am posting an update to what is going on below but I think that many need to know both about the miracles in our lives as well as how each of us has our own challenges. This just happens to be ours. She has now has been in the Cleveland Clinic for over 100 days, most of which has been in the Cardiac ICU. There have been repeated issues from infections to the loss of access to her veins for medication. We have been waiting 3 weeks for a special surgeon to do a procedure (he had a family emergency in India and we completely understand). He is, in short, he's the A squad. They did not want to risk her to others who were not as skilled. That is now scheduled for Wednesday. I have a farm with livestock to prepare so I can be there as it is not without substantial risks. As for the transplant itself with all the limitations due to anti-bodies, we wait. It is, in a nutshell, a race against time between heart failure and transplant.
Very sorry to hear about what you guys have been through and wishing for the best possible outcome. Hang in there, Lou.
She has now has been in the Cleveland Clinic for over 100 days, most of which has been in the Cardiac ICU. There have been repeated issues from infections to the loss of access to her veins for medication. We have been waiting 3 weeks for a special surgeon to do a procedure (he had a family emergency in India and we completely understand). He is, in short, he's the A squad. They did not want to risk her to others who were not as skilled. That is now scheduled for Wednesday. I have a farm with livestock to prepare so I can be there as it is not without substantial risks. As for the transplant itself with all the limitations due to anti-bodies, we wait. It is, in a nutshell, a race against time between heart failure and transplant.
@@audibleeleganceinc Thank you for sharing that. Wow, you guys have really been through it. Hoping for a successful surgery on Wednesday. Please keep us posted.
Hope it all goes well for you both Lou.
To bring you up to date: She has now has been in the Cleveland Clinic for over 100 days, most of which has been in the Cardiac ICU. There have been repeated issues from infections to the loss of access to her veins for medication. We have been waiting 3 weeks for a special surgeon to do a procedure (he had a family emergency in India and we completely understand). He is, in short, he's the A squad. They did not want to risk her to others who were not as skilled. That is now scheduled for Wednesday. I have a farm with livestock to prepare so I can be there as it is not without substantial risks. As for the transplant itself with all the limitations due to anti-bodies, we wait. It is, in a nutshell, a race against time between heart failure and transplant. I will soon be making what will become my 65th trip to the Cleveland Clinic most of which have been on the ground from Virginia. It's an 11 hour trip one way. At this point, there is no end in sight and neither of us expect her home before the end of the year even if she does get a transplant. It's been a long tough war and I am reminded of the speech given by the German general at the end of the Band of Brothers. So, if you know of anyone getting a transplant or had a transplant, or are caring for someone with a transplant or long term illness, it is what the best of us do. Many transplant families end in divorce. It is not for the timid.
I agree with everything I thought while watching this. Soundsmith.
Thank you for your comment and understanding. It is a miracle in its own right but still not an easy path. She has now has been in the Cleveland Clinic for over 100 days, most of which has been in the Cardiac ICU. There have been repeated issues from infections to the loss of access to her veins for medication. We have been waiting 3 weeks for a special surgeon to do a procedure (he had a family emergency in India and we completely understand). He is, in short, he's the A squad. They did not want to risk her to others who were not as skilled. That is now scheduled for Wednesday. I have a farm with livestock to prepare so I can be there as it is not without substantial risks. As for the transplant itself with all the limitations due to anti-bodies, we wait. It is, in a nutshell, a race against time between heart failure and transplant.
I was at Naim from early 2007 to late 2018 doing tech support mainly for the streaming / network audio products - when I joined there it felt like I had the perfect job and often described it as ‘They pay me money once a month so I don’t have to get a job’ - there were some truly lovely and wonderful people there, a number of whom I still am in touch with and count as friends and I used to share an office with Julian’s ex-wife, Liz. I lived through the whole Focal investment / takeover process as part of that time I was there and there were many people - myself included - that ‘left’ Naim as a consequence of that. We all have our own stories but as a group of people to work with we would all have pushed water uphill for our colleagues and the company and that applies to both Naim employees and Naim Distributors … we are all very aware of what happened and many of our lives were changed by it. Thankfully many of us employees went on to find positions within other audio companies in the UK and I am now working for a family owned company where the MD has shown to me personally as to how much he looks after his people and where the guys that I work with I really like and I’d put myself out for to help and support - and that truly is a wonderful situation to be in.
Its very typical of what is happening in the UK .China is producing good equipment at a reasonable price .
The question on top of that, however, is product support and repair. I simply have to wonder how well they will do that once the model is discontinued. Will it simply be a throwaway? I have to order parts for Cambridge from the UK as they are not here in the States. Thank you for your comment and addition to the video and channel. Please share our site with others and consider subscribing.
I have a pair of Totem Sttafs since 2014 and a recent pair of Totem Forests. Wonderful. I recently blew a woofer on the 9 year old Sttaf. Totem replaced the woofer and back in action within 48 hours, total out of pocket cost, $300. That is good service.
We really enjoy the Totem products and company. Thank you for contributing your comments to the video and to our channel. Please feel free to tell others about what we do and if you have any ideas for future videos, well, send them along. We have lots of them planned but fresh ideas can be very inspirational.
It's a sad sad day. Cutting the honest experienced dealers out is a foolish business model. Love my Aro arm.
Well, it depends upon your intention. I have known some companies that intentionally pump up sales and destroy their dealership base because their true intent is to sell it to the next person based on yesterday's numbers. They had no concern about their existing dealers because they were working on walking out the door. I think of Equity, the former operator of B&W, Rotel, and Classe as an example in the States.
So sad to hear that you are no longer able to represent Naim Audio. This was memory lane for me. In the 1980's, leafy Oxford, England, I was on the short path to hi-fi excellence. Nearby an audio shop, Westwood and Mason, stocked a variety of equipment, including Linn's LP12. The staff doted over it, begging me to buy, but it didn't grab me. I bought a Roksan Xerxes from elsewhere and loved it. The Linn / Naim dynamic you mention was amazing - the two firms' products were marketed as one package, but what I remember was their superb advertising campaign. To this day, I can see the awkward expression on the bloke's face, 'Sorry, I didn't catch your Naim', and a power amplifier half buried in the floor boards. Genius
And we still have that poster! It will be sold now, as times have changed. I particularly loved the Linn with the chimp looking skyward with the caption "Deliver Us from Evil" in referring to CD. Yes, the advertising was brilliant. Thank you for contributing to the video with your personal recollections. It is all part of what makes us a community. Please share this channel with others and please subscribe.