Jacob's Review Backgrounder
default -- Tue, 12/01/2009 - 07:55
Musical Interests
Music has been my mistress as long as I can remember, beginning with spinning Jelly Roll Morton and Louis Armstrong discs as a small child before going on to pick up the trumpet myself in third grade, then studying at Oberlin Conservatory. I still play trumpet(s). In addition, I attend as many concerts as possible. I've focused on buying classical and jazz recordings, but have a smattering of rock and folk music as well.
Listening Space:
My own system has morphed to fit the size of the room, which is 20' x 36' x 8'11" and features double sheetrock with green glue, studs floated on the floor and ceiling, bass traps in the front corners, a cork floor over concrete, and extensive diffusion and damping in the ceiling itself. I also installed an active grounding rod surrounded by an electrolytic slurry that is tied to an Isoclean breaker box that features 32 amp breakers and runs 10 dedicated lines to the stereo.
Listening Predilections:
CDs (and SACDs) and vinyl. I favor a big, airy, and refined sound.
Equipment:
My system has been centered around the Magnepan 20.1. I'm currently switching between the Magnepan and the superb Wilson Maxx 3 loudspeaker. I use a custom four-chassis Tom Tutay tubed crossover to run it actively in either bi-amp or tri-amp configuration and improved bracing with the Mye stand. Other equipment includes Classe Omega mono blocks and VTL Wotan amplifiers; Messenger preamplifier and phono stage with tubed power supply; Continuum Caliburn turntable with Cobra tonearms; JL Audio Gotham subwoofers; Isoclean Supreme Focus power cords; and Jena Labs cabling.
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Mr. Heilbrunn,
Those are some excellent amps to drive the Maggies. What's the difference in sonic signature between the VTL and Classe? What amps of the same caliber have you heard, or would like to own, that would also work well with the big Maggies?
Thank You
The Classe amp is faster, supernaturally transparent, and more precise than the Wotan. The Wotan has even more slam, a kind of wild roller-coaster ride, plus richer timbres. Both are stellar.
Both are stellar, the Wotan is a thunderous, rich, rollercoaster ride, while the Classe is supernaturally transparent and precise.
Jacob,
I was at the Doctor's office today and saw your (one) Wotan. Oh my! 48 outputs! The Dr. said he could not get it near to full power. It would love to visit my MBL room :)
My best!
Peter
IPeter--it's back, fully curred of any slight ailment. Stellar performance.
Would it be possible to inform us about your experience with the Continuum table? Thanks and best regards, audiocrack
It's been a treat to use and listen to--reliable and sounds superb.
Thanks. Would it be possible to describe the sound of the Continuum in more detail? I am a longtime vinyl enthusiast. I used for many, many years the Forsell Air Force One turntable. As this is not an easy table to use on a day to day basis (and that is an understatement) I have opted about two years ago for the Blue Pearl Audio J.E.M. turntable with Kuzma Airline tonearm and Lyra Olympos cartridge in one of my audio systems. In the other I am going to use the DaVinci Gabriel mk II turntable with the DaVinci Grandezza 12 inch tonearm and the Koetsu Coral stone cartridge (I will also receive the latest DaVinci cartridge which is absolute marvellous by the way but probably will not work ideally with my Zanden 1200 mk 2 phonostage). I hope to receive ths Davinci gear at the end of this month. I would love to to hear from another reviewer (that is apart from Michael Fremer) how good the Continuum really is. I suppose no official review in TAS will be published? Best regards
How good is the Continuum? It's as good as it gets.
Is it the very best? That comes down to your personal preference, but it is in the very top echelon. To my ear, it sounds more grounded, more fundamental, more continuous, and, at the same time, more detailed than anything else I've heard.
I always had a soft spot for the Forsell, which sounded beautifully musical when I've listened to it. Elliot Midwood of Acoustic Image in Los Angeles has one and swears by it. Sounds like you've got some superb analog equipment.
The Forsell is a wonderful 'table, one that Elliot Midwood at Acoustic Image in LA swears by. Very musical, effortless sound.
The Continuum is more fundamental than any other turntable that I've heard, and stupendous bass, plus a wealth of detail, everything detached from the plane of the LP. Is it "the best"? A dangerous term.
You've go some might fine equipment yourself.
Thank you very much for your reply and kind words about my system.
Wondering if you ever had the chance to listen to the top of the line Clearaudio turntable and if so, how it compares to the Continuum? I must confess that I have never been fond of the sound of the former Clearaudio turntables (in this respect I did not agree with some TAS rewievers) but I have never heard their current top the line table.
The forsell is indeed still a wonderful sounding turntable. The beautiful tonality of this table resembles somewhat the warm (and overwhelming) acoustics of the Concertgebouw in Amsterdam (a small advice to everybody who likes classical music: try to go to this hall if you ever visit Amsterdam: the Royal Concertgebouw Orchestra playing in this hall is really a wonderful experience. And for those who are not able to do so: try some of the latest and impressive sounding RCO live sacd's that will give some idea about the sound).
Had the Forsell not been such a difficult table to use I would probably never opted for another turntables. That said, both the Blue Pearl J.E.M. and the DaVinci Gabriel turntables are mighty fine turntables as well.
Have you even been able to combine or hear the Continuum with the Lyra Olympos cartridge? Some people whose ears I trust informed me that this is a beautiful sounding combination (and from my own experience: the Lyra Olympos is indeed a very impressive cartridge).
I have heard the Clearaudio Statement and it sounded excellent--perhaps a shade brighter in the treble than the Continuum, but great resolution.
Surely in the top echelon--the most grounded, powerful of the 'tables I have heard, Produces a wealth of detail and stupendous bass.
Jacob,
What comprises your digital front end? Thanks.
I'm using the Playback Designs CD/SACD player.
Mister JH,
Did you compare some of your (SA)CD's on your Playback Designs player with the same music on your Continuum turntable?
And can you describe the differences?
(some reviewers say that SOTA -state of the art- digital front end is more nearby analog/vinyl than ever before)
Thnx!
I still have to give the edge to vinyl. More natural sound, more resonance, more overtones, more relaxed, closer to the real thing. But this doesn't mean that I don't listen to a lot of digital. I do. But put on the vinyl, and you're stopped short.
How about some photos of your system?