November 2015 SAC Meeting
For our November meeting, Cameron Pope of Krispy Audio (http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/pages/About-Us.html) once more presented us with a fine and interesting system. Cameron has presented to the Sydney Audio Club a couple of times before, each time bringing in a totally different and great system. For this meeting he brought in another impressive system, this time based on Harbeth speakers – the first time we have had a Harbeth product in the club.
The system comprised:
Harbeth Super HL5+ speakers – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/Harbeth-Super-HL5-Plus-speakers.html
Breathtaking transparency, a huge soundstage and total immersion in the performance
ModWright KWA100SE stereo amplifier – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/ModWright-KWA-100-SE-Stereo-power-amplifier.html
Provides the strengths of both tube and solid state products: 3-D sound-staging, holographic imaging and a beautiful midrange of tubes, combined with sparkling highs, low distortion, bass resolution, and control of solid state.
The Bespoke Audio Company (TVC - transformer volume control) preamp – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/The-Bespoke-Audio-Co.-Preamplifier.html
"The sound it produces illuminates the depths of every recording that crosses its path, removing all veils and adding no sonic imprint whatsoever. Add to that the extremely elegant visual aesthetics, a variety of available custom finishes, aided by the top notch build quality and a first rate customer support and you get a product that in my opinion deserves to join the elite company of Mono & Stereo Upper Echelon award." - Mono & Stereo 2015.
Manley Chinook Phono stage – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/Manley-Chinook-phono-stage.html
The spawn of the Manley Steelhead - one of the world's greatest phono preamplifiers - Stereophile Class A Recommended Component and The Absolute Sound's Preamp of the Year, has arrived. The Chinook epitomises the sound of the Steelhead. Designed for the music lover.
SOTA Cosmos vacuum platter turntable – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/SOTA-Cosmos-Vacuum-Turntable.html
The COSMOS represents the ultimate expression of SOTA’s critically acclaimed turntable engineering.
Shelter 5000 cartridge – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/Shelter-5000-Cartridge.html
Our digital front-end for the day was an Oppo BDP-105 Universal player sourced from a member.
A bit of an explosive meeting?
Well yes in some ways it was, in our feedback we got;
"Liked: All - especially the hi end gun shots."
Someone else in their suggestions for future meetings offered;
”Perhaps more gunshots & fireworks!”
But those are really a tabloid version of what was in fact a great all round meeting.
It was a meeting with clear highs and few lows, which always helps to add a bit of comparison and perspective.
Cameron was perceptive, straightforward, engaging and entertaining in his tour of the equipment and its details and many found his approach accessible and insightful.
There was a real range of interests for our members, from one member who had really only come to see the turntable, to members who had heard of Harbeth speakers but had never heard Harbeth speakers and were keen to sample their sounds.
Always I feel, the big value of a good club such as ours where you can get to hear equipment you have only read about elsewhere.
The digital versus Vinyl debate raged, one commented;
"Liked: Digital Disliked: Vinyl"
Another;
"Should have just stuck with the vinyl as the whole setup is meant for vinyl, not CD."
Well the usual consistency there!
But generally vinyl took it by a landslide this meeting, with a lot of very positive feedback, comments around "synergy" and "best silence" showing people’s enthusiasm for the system.
One person’s comment on the Harbeths
"Very refined sound, typical and worthy of the Harbeth name. Some extraordinary sounds especially from vinyl replay. "
Whilst another felt;
"These speakers have issues (upper mids/treble) overall colouration. "
Again while we still have the healthy mix of views in our club (and we encourage that!) the feedback on the speakers was overwhelmingly positive.
Indeed the system and the meeting were very well received;
"One of the best I have been to in a long time. Great equipment."
"What a fab way to finish the year! Thank you SAC committee & Cameron Pope."
"Good food, good music, good friends, good god - good day. Great club."
So another year over, but just as exciting, another year to look forward to.
Thanks to Cameron for what was clearly a good choice of equipment and a well presented meeting.
Thanks to you, our members and your attendance and enthusiasm across the year, without you it doesn’t work!
Last word to you in one last quote from the meeting feedback;
"Full marks to the committee under Tom Waters stewardship!"
Amen
Cheers
George Davidson
The system comprised:
Harbeth Super HL5+ speakers – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/Harbeth-Super-HL5-Plus-speakers.html
Breathtaking transparency, a huge soundstage and total immersion in the performance
ModWright KWA100SE stereo amplifier – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/ModWright-KWA-100-SE-Stereo-power-amplifier.html
Provides the strengths of both tube and solid state products: 3-D sound-staging, holographic imaging and a beautiful midrange of tubes, combined with sparkling highs, low distortion, bass resolution, and control of solid state.
The Bespoke Audio Company (TVC - transformer volume control) preamp – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/The-Bespoke-Audio-Co.-Preamplifier.html
"The sound it produces illuminates the depths of every recording that crosses its path, removing all veils and adding no sonic imprint whatsoever. Add to that the extremely elegant visual aesthetics, a variety of available custom finishes, aided by the top notch build quality and a first rate customer support and you get a product that in my opinion deserves to join the elite company of Mono & Stereo Upper Echelon award." - Mono & Stereo 2015.
Manley Chinook Phono stage – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/Manley-Chinook-phono-stage.html
The spawn of the Manley Steelhead - one of the world's greatest phono preamplifiers - Stereophile Class A Recommended Component and The Absolute Sound's Preamp of the Year, has arrived. The Chinook epitomises the sound of the Steelhead. Designed for the music lover.
SOTA Cosmos vacuum platter turntable – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/SOTA-Cosmos-Vacuum-Turntable.html
The COSMOS represents the ultimate expression of SOTA’s critically acclaimed turntable engineering.
Shelter 5000 cartridge – http://www.krispyaudio.com.au/products/Shelter-5000-Cartridge.html
Our digital front-end for the day was an Oppo BDP-105 Universal player sourced from a member.
A bit of an explosive meeting?
Well yes in some ways it was, in our feedback we got;
"Liked: All - especially the hi end gun shots."
Someone else in their suggestions for future meetings offered;
”Perhaps more gunshots & fireworks!”
But those are really a tabloid version of what was in fact a great all round meeting.
It was a meeting with clear highs and few lows, which always helps to add a bit of comparison and perspective.
Cameron was perceptive, straightforward, engaging and entertaining in his tour of the equipment and its details and many found his approach accessible and insightful.
There was a real range of interests for our members, from one member who had really only come to see the turntable, to members who had heard of Harbeth speakers but had never heard Harbeth speakers and were keen to sample their sounds.
Always I feel, the big value of a good club such as ours where you can get to hear equipment you have only read about elsewhere.
The digital versus Vinyl debate raged, one commented;
"Liked: Digital Disliked: Vinyl"
Another;
"Should have just stuck with the vinyl as the whole setup is meant for vinyl, not CD."
Well the usual consistency there!
But generally vinyl took it by a landslide this meeting, with a lot of very positive feedback, comments around "synergy" and "best silence" showing people’s enthusiasm for the system.
One person’s comment on the Harbeths
"Very refined sound, typical and worthy of the Harbeth name. Some extraordinary sounds especially from vinyl replay. "
Whilst another felt;
"These speakers have issues (upper mids/treble) overall colouration. "
Again while we still have the healthy mix of views in our club (and we encourage that!) the feedback on the speakers was overwhelmingly positive.
Indeed the system and the meeting were very well received;
"One of the best I have been to in a long time. Great equipment."
"What a fab way to finish the year! Thank you SAC committee & Cameron Pope."
"Good food, good music, good friends, good god - good day. Great club."
So another year over, but just as exciting, another year to look forward to.
Thanks to Cameron for what was clearly a good choice of equipment and a well presented meeting.
Thanks to you, our members and your attendance and enthusiasm across the year, without you it doesn’t work!
Last word to you in one last quote from the meeting feedback;
"Full marks to the committee under Tom Waters stewardship!"
Amen
Cheers
George Davidson