Nottingham Analogue Experience

Today, I made the trip up the M1 to visit Definitive Audio and try out some new Turntables.

What I heard has forced me to re evaluate just what is possible with hifi these days - and for all the wrong reasons

Kevin is one fantastic host, and probably the least offensive dealer I have met He kindly gave me 5 hours of his time today with very little discussion of kit, just pulling records out and enjoying the music. I would say that if you are serious about making a substantial investment in your hifi, Kevin should be your first port of call.

I am interested in the OBX-R so these speakers were used. During our lenghty listening session, I also had the chance to compare the border Patrol P20 to the new Art Audio 300B amp along with some interesting sources.

First off, the Art didn't do it for me. Being very similar in design to the BP20, it has been voiced in a different manner, and is far more for the pipe and slippers brigade than the Border Patrol. Fabulous with some jazz and vocals, but a bit soft downstairs. The Border Patrol however rocks Big time!

Secondly, anyone telling you the SME20A is boring has either never heard one or, more likely, has problems elsewhere in their setup. I was hugely impressed by it's ability to convey music, along with it's sledgehammer like bottom end.


As it stood, I was listening to music with less hifi artifice than I had ever experienced. Suspension of disbelief was relatively easy. Closer to live music than most would believe possible.

After Kevin had allowed it to warm up, we inserted the Border Patrol preamp and the highly regarded Art Vinyl 1 phono stage. I wasn't sure what the previous preamp was but it was a fairly nondescript silver box and Kevin did not mention it.

Well it only took a track or two to realise we were now listening to a very good hifi system, rather than being fooled into thinking it was the real thing. In comparison I was bored. Yes it was very good but it did not have that quantum leap in believability that was there before

At that point I asked Kevin to put the other pre back in. Happy to oblige he did have the decency to let me know that it was a bit special. He wasn't kidding

The unit responsible for turning a quality hifi into a time machine was

 

it was a rotel wasn;t it?

cheers



julian

 

Is there a prize?

 

Conrad Johnson? Aiwa?

 

Stainless Steel Mana?

 

No Neil you know already

I'm not good at long posts - kind of get bored half way through and go off for some music

Anyway, to give an idea, the preamp was a little short of £36,000

And I have to say, worth every penny if I had the money I have always thought the exotica was taking the proverbial, but the leap in believabilty was extraordinary. Later we tried it's less expensive cousin and it still crapped on anything I have heard before, but didn't quite match it's bigger brother. Still a snip at £15,000

To cut a long story short, I want one BADLY! Been thinking hard about what I can do without to merit it - always a bad sign.

What it did do was turn an ordinary day listening to turntables into a nightmare, when I realised that the next quantum leap was likely to be f***ing expensive Put it another way. I'd rather listen to CD throughthis preamp than Vinyl without it. Bizarre! And what's more, it's got no negative feedback

 

audiolab?

 

you got three letters Mr P

 

iol?

 

47 lab?
cheers


julian

 

nope
its -

dio?

 

Right country Julian

Just seen one on AudioGoon for half retail Actually trying to buy the bloody thing. At least if I get one cheap, I can spend some money with Kevin which he more than deserves.

 

Mark Levinson

 

audionote / kondo?
cheers


julian

 

see, told you it dio!

sabbath was never the same

 

Got it!

This is the bugger. Extraordinary. Seems to transcend hifi as I know it. Damn you know when you want something and can't really afford it - a bit like the "international entertainment consultants" is Las Vegas

 

did you hear the 'big' audionote room at bristol last year (iirc) i didn;t go in but wandered past and it was packed. the noise comming out was damn good too.
good luck on the auction.
cheers


julian

 

To be honest Julian, I had never heard the top end Japanese stuff before and always considered it a load of over priced hokus pokus. I mean look at the stupid prices

The affect this thing had on the sound of the system was however extraordinary. WM would have loved it!

 

Nah, not a high enough reading on the thwackometer.

Those OBXs dont have enough balls!

 

Robbo tis true, though by carefull application of a £24K pre (only an extra £12k for the phono) can they be transformed.
I'm putting my stash of traded in dac 64's for sale on e-bay as we speak sir.
I've come over all funny