Hi Fi Audition

Just to write down a few thoughts after I attended my first hi fi audition in a hi fi dealer at warrington, about 45 mins drive from chester.


Really have to thank Simon for his insight and knowledge whilst my 3 1/2 hour at Doug Brady HiFi. 


As you know I like classical music lots.. especially symphonies.. and the more complex music ( don't know why... it's much more interesting to me ) so finding something that can be as close as a live orchestra is a difficult job.


First my room in kk is small, so that limits the speakers size. Hartbeth's little-est (lol) speaker is the P3ESR-2. And this was the speaker I heard only. It's very neutral, so you get to know what you are hearing is good or not, as well as the system.


Anyway started with Musical Fidelity's M1 Clic. A streaming type device with is like a all in one, then u need to add amplifier and speakers 2 work. Interestingly it shows that listening to WAV music is better than my FLAC music. ( WAV is the origincal music in CD, uncompressed). FLAC is lossless, it is compressed but retains most music in it. My ear was better that I thought lol. Anyway, the bass was much better in WAV than FLAC to me. bass somehow has importance to me... it gives weight to the music.


To cut things short, I settled on Rega DAC, and Sudgen's A21SE amplifier (class A - means it gets hot really) and the Harbeth. The music became much more comfortable, what i mean is... you listen to the music than rather the system. Still, something is lacking... the bass, that heavy weight. I put this down purely to the small speakers, but for their size they are doing an unbelievable job. 


nx stop: a 2 hour trip, to listen to Lavardin Amplifiers... I heard the lavardin IT and Living Voice Speakers in singapore, and that was the most 3D and real music I ever heard still.


some pics to show you:

 The Rega DAC

 Harbeth's P3 ESR

 The hot looking Sudgen A21 SE MK II

 French amps - Lavardin IS ref, the little brother

 Lavardin IT - the flagship amp

Lecontoure Mobile 160, same company for Lavardin amps

expensive stuffs tho the lavardin and lecontoure!

my recent purchase of music...

the CDs I bought within the past month:

I always look to purchase more CDs for classical music as I can... as I know they won't be easy to find once i return home. so i always attempt to buy some CDs in a couple of months. The repertoire looks good, the recent collection of Mozart is long overdue. Beethoven.. ah.. my 2nd set of complete symphonies... and this is a prized cycle that I must have. And now I have a complete Tchaikovsky's Piano Concerto, so beautifully written, as expected by Tchaikovsky. everything arranged so well, and it lighted the orchestra, and the piano.

without a doubt I am familiar with Mozart, Beethoven and Tchaikovsky (well not all, but the popular ones). Shostakovich presented me a different dimension of music, how music flowed in the early 20th century. There is no doubt Shostakovich's music has moved centre stage now... and I have only started listening to his 5th and 10th symphony. I have to admit I still am trying to understand it, the 10th symphony. His 5th and 10th are arguably the more liked, and he produced 11 symphonies. Take my time to explore I will. And of course, there is another composer, Mahler's... to explore at sometime too.

I do favour symphonies somehow... it's the palette of colors, the weight, the emotion, the insight that captures my attention. I like concerto's too... but essentially, quality music is what I seek.

But as far as music I am concern, Beethoven's music will always be the centre for me. the reference point, the way to see how things flow, from the past, to the present.

Music 2 most of us, is important. We move with music. Music is like life, it has a beginning, and an end. Music always flow, like a river, in a way...be it flowing quickly, slowly... you know the idea. It moves fowards, and one wonders where it brings you to.