Audiophilia Nervosa

Burson DA-160

2011-11-13T20:04:00.001+01:00

Created a timelapse movie of the Burson DA-160 as shown on the product page:

http://bursonaudio.com/DA_160.html

X-fi High-End Audioshow 2011 - 22 & 23 oktober

2011-10-24T15:37:00.002+02:00

Great weekend in Utrecht.

Pictures here

Tube & Horns

2011-09-09T18:57:00.002+02:00

Trafomatic Audio Aries playing on Dallas II with Fostex FE206E, Squeezebox Receiver with Benchmark DAC1 as source.

Burson DAC-160

2011-08-10T15:00:00.008+02:00

Burson DAC-160, originally uploaded by morten.teinum.

This is the latest creation from Burson Audio, a standalone DAC - with two USB inputs, one coax and one optical. Maximum resolution is 192 kHz / 24 bit on the coax and optical input, 96 kHz / 24 bit USB.

And with this in place I now have the ultimate Burson setup :D

Source: Squeezebox Touch
DAC: Burson DAC-160
PRE: Burson PRE-160
Power: Burson PP-160
Head-fi: Burson HA-160, AKG-702
Speakers: MonoPulse 42A

USBView

Under the hood. Here is a dump from USB View where the DAC is connected to the first USB port (U1):

http://dl.dropbox.com/u/12431334/burson-dac-160-usbview.txt

Blue Coast Collection 2

2011-07-05T19:43:00.005+02:00

Finally!

It was supposed to be released last spring, but now it's here, and it's good. There will be multiple releases of this record. First out is download editions including 44kHz /16 bit, 96kHz / 24 bit, and the most exciting, DSDIFF files. You can also buy a promo CD, but that is a gift if you get one of the download editions (valid if you purchase a download edition in July). In september a Hybrid SACD is released.

DSDIFF or Direct Stream Digital Interchange File Format, is a file container for the format used on the SACD layer, and most likely will the SACD edition and DSDIFF be the same, except you can't rip the SACD. You can play DSDIFF files using Korg AudioGate (mac/win). There is also a DSDIFF plugin for foobar2000 (win) that will play these files without a problem.

Pure Music from Channel D (mac) is also an option.

AudioGate can convert DSDIFF files to multiple formats including flac and Apple Lossless up to 192kHz / 24bit.

On the picture above I have made a 96 kHz / 24bit copy that I can play through a SqueezeBox / Benchmark DAC.

Sonics

As expected, this is the top of the line. The music is recorded live without overdubs, digital effects and so on, and is wonderfully captured by Cookie Marenco.

This is a no-brainer - get this one:

bluecoastrecords.downloadsnow.net/

Trafomatic Audio - Aries

2011-06-17T13:42:00.006+02:00

Trafomatic Audio - Aries, originally uploaded by morten.teinum.

New amplifier arrived.

This is the newest creature from Trafomatic Audio and Saša Čokić. I will add my impressions of this the following weeks.

In the meantime, check out the product page at http://trafomaticaudio.com/aries.php

And please stop by the facebook page: http://www.facebook.com/trafomaticaudio

Timelapse between light and dark

New family member!

2011-05-20T18:16:00.007+02:00

Thursday 19. may is a very special day. This day the Burson's was joined by the PRE-160.

Burson PRE-160 is the perfect companion together with the PP-160. This is a k.i.s.s. preamplifier with three inputs and one output, all RCA line level. The weight is a massive 12kg, nearly the same as the power amp!

Check out the product page for more information:

Preamplifier 160

Spring!

2011-04-02T13:24:00.001+02:00

Tulips, originally uploaded by morten.teinum.

The winter is passing by, the spring is on the knocking on the door.

#happy

Burson HA-160D

2010-12-18T01:37:00.004+01:00

The Burson HA-160D is a unit consisting of pre amplifier, dac and a headphone amplifier.

I will add some impression of this box after I have done some testing.

In the meantime, you can check out the unboxing video ;)

Stay tuned!

Christmas

2010-11-19T22:42:00.007+01:00

It's that time of year... again.

My recommendations

Steve Lukather & Friends - SantaMental

http://www.amazon.com/Santamental-Steve-Lukather/dp/B0000C23IC

Béla Fleck & the Flecktones - Jingle All The Way

http://www.amazon.com/Jingle-All-Bela-Fleck-Flecktones/dp/B001EOQTOC

The Source: Of Christmas - Live

Recommended reading: http://www.puls.no/15092.html

http://www.mic.musikkonline.no/shop/displayAlbum.asp?id=33457

The Real Thing & Sigrid Brennhaug - A Real Christmas [RT 119-2]

Have a jazzy Christmas.

http://www.mic.musiconline.no/shop/displayAlbum.asp?id=31713

Another one from the jazz department:

Diana Krall - Have yourself a merry little Christmas [MVCJ-19169]

This is a bit hard to get hold on, ebay is my best tip.

http://www.cdjapan.co.jp/detailview.html?KEY=MVCJ-19169

Over to the smooth department

David Foster - The Christmas Album

http://www.amazon.com/Christmas-Album-David-Foster/dp/B000001Y5V

And finally

A Christmas Eve In L.A.

http://www.contanteysonante.com/en/a-christmas-eve-in-la.php

diapers - drumming - touring - tv

2010-11-14T20:59:00.025+01:00

That is the concise biography of Stefan Gunnarsson. The swedish wikipedia mention him as a multi-instrumentalist, and having a look at his solo album this looks correct. He even plays a Coke bottle on the first track!

Stefan is from the rather small city Boden in Sweden. Born in 1968, starting early with drums and exploring more instruments later on. In 2006 he went on national TV with the program "Så ska det låta". Then finally in 2010 he released his first solo album.

Stefan Gunnarsson - Stefan Gunnarsson [SOGCD 001] (2010)

I discovered Stefan from his contribution on Peter Friestedt's records, superb westcoast/aor music. Stefan Gunnarsson is in the same musical area with great production, slick sound and beautiful arrangements.

There is a feel-good mood over the album, mostly up-beat tunes with a very tight rhythmic section. Your feet will get a workout ;)

The material on the record spans over a great period of time. He was 13 when he wrote "06. Reflections" after a bike ride around "Svartbyträsket". ¹ "10. Gotta Find It" (S. Gunnarsson/B. Hobbs) have also been done by Peter Friestedt on "The L.A Project [LAP001]".

In addition to be a great musician, producer and songwriter, he has a great voice as well.

Sound quality is overall good. Good distinction between instruments and reasonable use of compression. No brick-wall master on this one. There is one exception: "4. Bring Me Down" this is a bit aggressive.

The record is released on "Son of a Gun Music AB" that is Stefans company. Produced together with Erik Bernholm who also did the mix.

Stefan Gunnarsson - Stefan Gunnarsson [SOGCD 001] (2010) from Morten Teinum on Vimeo.

Track list:
01. Better Things To Do
02. As You Go Along
03. All Of My Might
04. Bring Me Down
05. Fine Day
06. Reflections
07. Stop, Look, Listen
08. First In Line
09. Words are Not Enough
10. Gotta Find It
11. Let The Gods Do Their Work
12. Things I Didn't Say

Musicians:
Stefan Gunnarsson: Electric Guitar, Acoustic guitar, Yamaha Motif XS7, Percussion, Coke bottle, Background vocals, Wurlitzer electric piano, Hammon Organ, Rhodes MkII, Bass, Trumpet, Drums, Yamaha DX7 (Track 08)
Rasmus Kihlberg: Drums, Congas
Johan Granström: Bass
Göran Eriksson: Electric Guitar, Background vocal
Eric Bernholm: Drum programming, Electric Guitar, Acoustic guitar
Anna Alerstedt: Background vocal

Horns:
Bo Strandberg: Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Dan Johansson: Trumpet and Flugelhorn
Peter Dahlgren: Trombone
Sigurd Löf: Tenor and Alto Sax

Horns arranged by: Hasse Hjortek

Where to get it

The record is available through cdon.com. Outside Europe it looks like you can get it from megastore.se .

Essential links

http://www.stefangunnarsson.com
Facebook fan page
ref: 1
http://www.bluedesert.dk/gunnarsson.html

Together with Mark Costa, Soren Reiff, State Cows and Kere Buchanan, this is topping the list of best records 2010.

Highly recommended.

Why I Love CD Baby!

2010-11-12T08:56:00.002+01:00

Morten-

Thanks for your order with CD Baby!

USPS

(1) Planet 3 featuring Jay Graydon: Music From The Planet

Your CD has been gently taken from our CD Baby shelves with sterilized contamination-free gloves and placed onto a satin pillow.
A team of 50 employees inspected your CD and polished it to make sure it was in the best possible condition before mailing.
Our packing specialist from Japan lit a candle and a hush fell over the crowd as he put your CD into the finest gold-lined box that money can buy.
We all had a wonderful celebration afterwards and the whole party marched down the street to the post office where the entire town of Portland waved "Bon Voyage!" to your package, on its way to you, in our private CD Baby jet on this day, November 11, 2010.
We hope you had a wonderful time shopping at CD Baby. In commemoration, we have placed your picture on our wall as "Customer of the Year." We're all exhausted but can't wait for you to come back to CDBABY.COM!!

Thank you, thank you, thank you!
Sigh...
We miss you already. We'll be right here at http://cdbaby.com/, patiently awaiting your return.

New records arrived!

2010-10-07T12:59:00.002+02:00

Christopher Cross - Another Page [9 23757-2]

This is Christopher Corss's 2nd album released 3 years after his sensational debut album. Some thoughtless people said he could never release more excellent album than his debut album, but Christopher had revealed his talent as a singer and a songwriter to everyone by releasing this album with support of many talented Westcoast musicians. [http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~takeito/cross2.html]

Drums: Steve Gadd, Tommy Taylor, Jeff Porcaro
Bass: Abraham Laboriel, Andy Salmon, Mike Porcaro
Guitar: Jay Graydon, Steve Lukather
Keyboards: Michael Omartian, Rob Meurer
Percussion: Paulinho da Costa, Lenny Castro
Sax: Tom Scott, Ernie Watts
Background Vocals: Michael McDonald, Carl Wilson, Karla Bonoff, Don Henley, J.D. Souther, Art Garfunkel

http://www.amazon.com/Another-Page-Christopher-Cross/dp/B000002KYO

Samuel Purdey - Musically Adrift [QTCY-73009]

Samuel Purdey has suddenly appeared in fornt of me. They are said to be the true succesor of Steely Dan and on this album we can confirm that their music is heavily influenced by that of Steely Dan. You can find the musicians name closely related to Steely Dan's recording works on this album. One man is Elliot Randall on guitar and the other is Frank Floyd on backing vocals. And 5 tunes of this recording works are mixed by Elliot Scheiner also known for his mixing works with Steely Dan. Their sounds is a kind of the alternative approach of Steely Dan if Donald Fagen and Walter Becker were young in late 90's. So, their music has Acid-Jazz taste too. If you like Steely Dan's early days works, it might be worth listening. [http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~takeito/6-99.html#samuel]

http://samuelpurdey.com/
http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/samuelpurdey

David Garfield & Friends - "Tribute To Jeff" Revisited [CREATCHY 019]

A fresh look at a classic musical collaboration of over 78 world-class musicians and artists paying tribute to the late great drummer Jeff Porcaro. This new remastered cd includes a couple of new vocal versions of tracks that were originally instrumental on the original release, as well as a couple of bonus tracks and surprises!Jeff Porcaro was adored by fans all over the world, and sought out by the very best musicians and artists in the music business. He had a rich, full life cut short long before its time. Jeff not only achieved extraordinary success as a musician, but as a human being as well. Porcaro, drummer nonpareil, multiple Grammy winner with the band Toto and one of the Los Angeles music scene's brightest guiding spirits for two decades, passed away thirteen years ago, but his extraordinary musical soul is alive and in full groove thanks to all of his friends and fans, colleagues and protégés.

Covering an amazingly wide ranging cross section of the genres and styles that inspired, shaped and defined Porcaro's career, Tribute to Jeff by David Garfield and Friends is a grand statement in the Quincy Jones "cast of thousands" tradition and an incredible feat both musically and logistically. Not to mention, great entertainment. But at the core of its diversity and passion lies a labor of love for all the musicians involved, an opportunity for them to laugh and cry and remember the man who set the standard and enriched all of their lives.

http://www.cdbaby.com/cd/garfield6

Boz Scaggs - Middle Man [CK 65626]

This album was released in 1980 produced by Bill Schnee after two of his great hit albums produced by John Wissert "Silk Degrees" (1976) and "Down To The Left" (1977).
In addition to Toto members such as Steve Lukather and Jeff Porcaro who played on abovementioned 2 former albums, David Foster made a great role in this album not only as a keyboard player but also as co-songwriter with Boz. [http://www.bekkoame.ne.jp/~takeito/scaggs.html]

Drums: Jeff Porcaro, Rick Marotta, John Vitale
Bass: David Hungate, John Pierce
Guitar: Steve Lukather, Ray Parker Jr., Carlos Santana
Synthesizer: David Paich
Keyboards: David Foster
Piano: Don Grolnick
Sax: Adrian Tapia
Clarinet: James Newton-Howard
Background Vocals: David Lasley, Sharon Redd, Charlotte Crossley, Venetta Fields, Paulette Brown, Bili Thedford, Julia Tillman Waters, Oren waters, Bill Champlin, Charles Irwin, Rosemary Butler

http://www.amazon.com/Middle-Man-Boz-Scaggs/dp/B00000DCGY

Kerosene - pure magic

2010-09-24T07:00:00.003+02:00

Kerosene - Art Of Survival

Here is another great, great release from Kere Buchanan & Glenn Bidmead.

Kerosene - Art Of Survival (2006) from Morten Teinum on Vimeo.

Kere sent me some background information about the songs on the record:

1. Art Of Survival. [mp3]

I remember this track coming together quite quickly. We were nearing completion on the album but we felt we needed an up vibe track as a first cut & we thought maybe a motivational vibe for the lyric. There’s a track on a Richard Page album called ‘The Best Thing’ that I was playing in my car whilst driving to Glenn’s to write, & we used that tempo as a reference. There was also another album I was listening to @ the time by Australian artist Tina Arena called In Deep which had a track called ‘Unsung Hero’ that had this drum groove where the backbeat fell on 4 & I really wanted to use that approach. JR Robinson… One of my favourites!

Lyrically we had ‘Surviving The Life’ & I turned around to Glenn & said, how about ‘Art Of Survival’ & that was it. The banjo features heavily on this by a great guitarist/banjo/producer here called Rod McCormack.

2. Drive All Night. [mp3]

I love these types of grooves. We were listening to a great Shawn Colvin album called Fat City one day, & ‘Orion In The Sky’ came on & so we thought a 6/8-type track would be great to have on the record. I had the verse chords for something else from memory & so we just constructed the rest of it one day, & I left Glenn to do the lyric. He had some strong ideas for it, & I came back a few days later & he had it. The lead vocal is actually the demo we used for tracking & it just seem to work, so we kept it.

3. It’s Alright. (Don’t Cry Anymore.) [mp3]

We were wondering if the album had a strong rock type track one day & I had this vibe over a simple Amin type groove. We wrote this quickly not thinking much of it, but when we came to placing songs on the album it just seem to fit. This features once again Rod McCormack on Papoose & ex-pat Kym Warner on Mandolin.

4. The One That Got Away. [mp3]

This is the first song Glenn & I ever wrote together. I remember I went to his place one day just to catch up & have a coffee, & we sat down & wrote this. Personally this is one of my favourite songs we’ve written. The lyric is based loosely on an old relationship of mine & once again the lead vocal was the demo. Glenn has the incredible knack to nail vocals really quickly with all the essential elements… Conviction/emotion/diction etc. It’s a great vocal performance I think.

5. How Does It Feel? [mp3]

We were in a good old Country/Rocker mood the day we wrote this I think. We had this idea of the shout chorus vibe… ‘Hey Hey Hey’! I really felt horns would work on this & the boys played great.

6. Hands Of Love. [mp3]

This is pretty much a Glenn track that we massaged a little arrangement wise. We’d tracked this @ the beginning of making the album & a hard drive went down & we lost it, but whilst we were mixing some studio time came up cheap so we took the band in & tracked it ‘live’ in a day. It came out 100 times better than what we had, so that was a sign we thought!

7. In Too Deep. [mp3]

We discussed the possibility of having a Piano/Vocal on the album, as we both love strong ballads, & every album needs light & shade. We originally tracked this with a rhythm section, then Acoustic Guitar/Vocal & settled as a Piano/Vocal w/strings. American arranger Larry Muhoberac arranged the strings for this track.

8. Kerosene. [mp3]

This was the second song we ever wrote together. Just a good up simple Country/Rocker with simple lyric. When Glenn sang ‘Threw it away, with Kerosene’, we new that was the name of the track. Glenn said a little later on, Kerosene would be a good name for a band… The rest is history!

9. Light Of The Day. [mp3]

Song writing’s a funny thing as many have methods or formulae’s they use or have been told to use etc, but we have no rules when we write. We don’t ever try to write the HIT, we just use a reference track or a groove, & or maybe lyrically how we’re feeling @ the time & just go for it. I love these types of grooves & so I suggested we write something around this feel & this came out great.

Lyrically this is pretty dark… ‘In the cold light of the day, when the darkness slips away, if you think you’re right through the lonely nights, you better think again’. I love that lyric! I’m sure we all have known someone you could say that too.

10. If You Need Somebody. [mp3]

This wasn’t going to make it on the record as it is a departure writing wise from the rest of the album, but we threw it up for the mix & it sounded pretty good, so it made it on. We think this could work for another artists record.

11. Somewhere Down The Line. [mp3]

I always had this fantasy of us writing a good RnB/Bluesy type track for the album & this it. (A real strong album track that bands like Little Feat used to have on their older records with some great playing & a good longish type fade.) We both grew up in that era of when albums took you on a journey with lots of flavours unlike a lot of today’s records. This is a personal favourite of Glenn’s & mine.

12. My Beautiful Friend. [mp3]

Glenn was reading a book @ the time we wrote this by author Venero Armanno called ‘My Beautiful Friend’ & he said one day we should write a song with the same title. This came out quite quickly as well & features great guitarist Mark Punch heavily on here. There’s a line in the song ‘you’re talking in halos’ which I absolutely love! Glenn just sang it @ the writing sessions & we both looked @ each other & had no idea what it meant, but we both just loved it! This is Glenn’s personal favourite on the album.

13. Down & Dirty. [mp3]

Once again, we were nearing completion of the record & we had a drum & bass track for this song, but I felt we needed to record this ‘live’ with a band with no click. Just roll tape, & have some fun with it. We had it in a few takes, & I really dig the vibe of it. (A loose type track for the end of the album.)

This features John Bettison & Mark Punch on guitars. Great players!

14. The One That Got Away. (Reprise.) [mp3]

I was recording the Piano for ‘In Too Deep’ @ a studio here while Glenn was away & I just thought while I’m here, I’ll track piano only for ‘The One That Got Away’ just in case we wanted it as a bonus track. Glenn did a vocal on it a few weeks later, & we both loved it, & decided to put it on right @ the end of the album. I get a little nervous about repeating tracks on albums, but we thought since we had a full album of music we could afford to use this. I love the way Glenn moves the melody about from the band version.

Now there are two things you should do.

First, get the CD:

Then check out their facebook page:

Kerosene @ Facebook

Pure as Norwegian water

2010-09-22T22:38:00.018+02:00

Is the Norwegian power as pure as the water up here? Nope! Light dimmers, washing machine, vacuum cleaner, air conditioning, heat pumps, computer power and other electrical equipment produces line noise and in a hi-fi context that is a bad thing.

Looking at an amplifier there are two inputs:

RCA input carrying sound information from a source. Then there is the power input - someting that will amplify the sound signal and feed to the speakers. The saying "crap in - crap out" applies to power as well.

The solution? Look to Serbia!

Trafomatic Audio is a company specialized in tube electronics, with iron from the mother company; Trafomatic LTD. Other that tube electronics we find power regenerators and power conditioners. And it's the latter that is of current interest.

Meet the Trafomatic Audio Experience Model 1000

Taken from trafomaticaudio.com:

The power conditioners from Trafomatic Audio provide cleaner AC power to sensitive electrical equipment and elevate its sonic performance to a higher level. This range consists of the models 500, 1000 and 3000. The figures refer to their maximum output rating in watts.

Mine weights around 14 kilos and the dimensions are 27 (w) 18,5 (h) 35 (d). The box is made of steel with a wood front with a logo attached. There are no lights or switches at the front; everything is on the back plate. Lets then turn it around:

Here we find one IEC C14 inlet (FURUTECH). One phase from the inlet is then connected to the power switch above then inlet and the other phase is connected to the fuse on the top. The power switch is a C1450AB, 10(3)A 250V switch. Internal cabling all solid core copper. The fuse holder is from "Acme Audio Labs" [http://www.acmeaudiolabs.com/products.htm].

There are six outputs - SCHUKO IP54 PCE [http://www.pcelectric.at/].

Internals

Visual indication

I have created a video where I use a Noise Harvester to check if the Model 1000 does something with the power going through the box. The result?

Here it is on display

[article in progress]

Smoooth!

2010-08-19T08:50:00.005+02:00

What do I, Bill Champlin, David Foster and Bill Sharpe (Shakatak) have in common?

We all have the latest album from Tom Hansen - Brazilian Night!

This is great summer music! This record is loaded with great artists. Victor Brooks on vocal takes it to the next level - what a voice!

Check out the preview on CD Baby;

Morten Teinum likes

Tom Hansen

Create your Like Badge

Mind-blowing!

2010-07-07T19:33:00.023+02:00

Sometimes you discover records that truly hit you. For me that is Al Jarreau - High Crime, Toto - Toto IV, Airplay S/T, Donald Fagen - Nightfly and Steely Dan - Aja. These are a part of me - a musical rock from where I will search out for more music in the same direction. Records you can play over and over, they will never fade.

Then from a blog I discovered another one!

Kere Buchanan - Starting Over (2009)

This one is exceptional. The show starts off with "Never Be Another Next Time", you really can feel the energy of the guitar, it brings a big grin on your face - its time to unpack the air guitar, you will need it :)

All tracks on this record are marvelous, there are not many records like this - this is one of them. There are no filler tracks.

When listening to music I like melodies, harmonies, interactions between instruments and groove. This might be why I find "Starting Over" that great, everything is here.

There is a very natural flow in the music, good communications between the musicians. And there is groove. All your muscles are aching to tap it.

This record is now my definition of feel-good music - it truly gets you in a great mood.

Nice artwork! The LP look-alike disc is clever reflecting the needle drop on the first track - love that detail.

Buy the record today!

Have been lazy

2010-07-01T23:55:00.006+02:00

Time for change... Since the records mentioned below, 70 new ones have arrived...

Lets have a look at the highlights:

Erik Tagg - Rendez-vous [LXCY-6244]

I have no idea where "Erik" came from, Eric is the correct spelling. Regardless... As a vocalist on Lee Ritenours Rit, Rit2 and Portrait - he got my attention.

This is feel-good music. Great horn section, very tight and groovy band.

Last year I got Dream Walkin' [PCCY-01085] from cdjapan.co.jp, and wow! Great aor/westcoast music.

I highly recommend both of these records.

Trafomatic Audio is now online on Facebook

2010-07-01T21:35:00.011+02:00

Trafomatic Audio is now online on Facebook with their stunning tube amplifiers. The latest Kaivalya has been approved by my wife as "something she can live with" - That is the first tube amplifier she welcome!

WAF: Approved!

Facebook

http://www.facebook.com/pages/Trafomatic-Audio/134263266597755

6moons.com

http://www.sixmoons.com/audioreviews/trafomatic5/kaivalya.html

Trafomatic Audio

http://www.trafomaticaudio.com

Burson Audio @ Facebook

2010-05-07T12:51:00.003+02:00

I have created a fan group for Burson on Facebook!

http://www.facebook.com/group.php?gid=120609914625334

My review of Burson HA-160

2010-03-27T21:53:00.005+01:00

I have collected some of my impressions with this amp over at head-fi:

http://www.head-fi.org/forums/f5/review-burson-ha-160-a-479820/

Did also made an overview of the setup:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/mortenteinum/4465123633/

More music arrived

2010-02-25T10:20:00.002+01:00

Mike Mainieri - Northern Lights [NYC 6037]

Steve Dobrogosz - Golden Slumbers [CLP CD 112]

Gary Burton - Works [ECM 823 267-2]

Music for the weekend

2010-02-19T14:18:00.003+01:00

Sade - Soldier Of Love

Rickie Lee Jones - Girl At Her Volcano [WPCP-3710]

Terje Rypdal - Terje Rypdal [ECM 1016 527 645-2]

Sheila Jordan and Harvie Swartz - Songs From Within [M014A]

Ensemble La Chimera - Tonos y Tonadas [M072A]

Fresh from the press!

2010-02-11T20:53:00.005+01:00

Anthony Jackson & Yiorgos Fakanas - Interspirit [ABLX 020]

Arrived in my mailbox today. Now playing :)

I'll be back :)

1. Inner Power - This is a serious show-off tune. Extreme synchronization between bass, drumming and horn section.

2. Footprints (Wayne Shorter) - Slowing down a bit.. Heavy groove, deep, sweet bass

5. Interspirit - I love this track.

http://www.abstractlogix.com/mymusic/aj

Next step in Head-fi

2010-02-10T14:48:00.008+01:00

With the exceptional good Burson HA-160 in house, it was time to do something with my 13 years old AKG K-501. I have tried Sennheiser HD-650 in the past, but I’m more an AKG person.

The next step on the AKG ladder is the AKG K-701, but…. Since the 702 now have the same price tag, and I like the look of the 702 better, the choice was easy.

Today the AKG K-702 arrived!

Written elsewhere they need 300 hours before they are broken in, but out of the box they truly show high-end qualities. Tight, strong bass, very detailed, dynamic sound.

Together with the Burson amp, this is a serious reference system at a relative low price.

KingRex T20 Mod

2010-02-07T23:54:00.004+01:00

Today my KingRex T20 went to the operation table. I bought a upgrade set for this amp a long time ago after reading about it on 6moons

http://www.6moons.com/audioreviews/johnblue3/jb_4.html

The caps have been replaced with Mr. Cable and are EMI filters have been removed.

The operation was a success, still sound in both channels. :) The very-very first impression is that there is more bottom in the sound. Q: Do I really need a sub? Dallas II and KingRex T20 + PSU are a killer combination. I'm very pleased with the overall sonic balance.

First record out is the latest record from George Benson "Songs And Stories". I got the MonsterMusic edition with hi-rez audio (96kHz/24bit), and its good! Maybe the best sounding record of 2009. The Squeezebox Classic is limited to 48kHz /24bit, I’m waiting for Squeezebox Touch! :)

The question above is still valid. The bass is full, deep and punchy. New evaluation after 300 hours

Burson HA-160 Update

2010-02-02T21:20:00.002+01:00

Burn baby, burn! 100 hours done and closer to nirvana. Experience so far; it's hard to stop exploring the record collection - just one more song...

Take this record for example:

Dave Grusin - Discovered Again! Plus [XRCD24 LIM XR 002]

The sound is silk smooth, it really flows. It’s hard to keep the foot still. The cymbals are very natural. Very “clean” soundstage, like seeing into the studio :)

Originally recorded by Sheffield Lab in 1976, direct to disc and live in studio. Guitar hard right, prec hard left. Bass dead center, drums all way from left to right. Rhodes also center – maybe a bit to the left. I don’t miss any cross-feed functionality even on this record.

http://www.grusin.net/discovered_again.htm

Pat Metheny - Orchestrion [NONESUCH 7559-79847-3]

2010-01-30T23:14:00.008+01:00

New record in house. That happens all the time :D

And with this record Pat proves to us that he can be a brilliant multiinstrument-street-jazz-musican. I see some problem bringing all those instruments to the street... Well, he is going on a tour - and I'm happy I'm not the tech.

Why? Take a look: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hIZ2Ldrr5ok&feature=youtu.be&a

Sonically this is one demanding record. Multiple layers of complex sound, songs moving up and down in volume slowly.

The music is brilliant! The first song is a killer 16 minute masterpiece. Slowly building up, great drumming – hard to keep the foot still.

It’s amazing how well it’s possible to control all these instruments with the technique used. You really believe there are real musicians behind all those instruments. This is one of those records I believe would be stunning as a Blu-ray edition. Young kids would die to be engineers after seeing this.

http://www.patmetheny.com/orchestrioninfo/

DIY system

2010-01-29T20:36:00.014+01:00

My second system is more or less all DIY, except from the source. Also here a Squeezebox is used, and this time the Classic.

All my music is ripped from CD using EAC (Exact Audio Copy) and stored on a Ubuntu server running Squeezeboxserver. DVD-A is ripped using DVD-Audio Explorer.

The loudspeakers are Ron Clarke's Dallas II with Fostex FE206e. This is a fullrange horn construction with a great sound ;) I have tried them with the KingRex T20+PSU with great results. In this combination they push more air at higher volumes than with the tube setup.

The amplifier is a Norwegian design; MAE SET-1 (Motron Audio Experience, 2 x 6,5W Single Ended Tetrode). Troels Gravesen did a review of this amplifier: http://www.troelsgravesen.dk/OB7.htm

Preamplifier is from Bottlehead; Foreplay III. Mine is upgraded with goldpoint volume and selector-knobs.

Speaker cables from Cardas (SE-15) with audionote banana plugs.

Coming soon: Isobaric subwoofer with 2x Beyma 12G40 in a sealed enclosure. A DIY DAC is also required...

New amplifier in house

2010-01-27T22:21:00.007+01:00

Head-fi is getting a real upgrade. Burson HA-160 have arrived. This is a true beauty.

Burson HA-160 from Morten Teinum on Vimeo.

http://www.bursonaudio.com/burson_headamp_160.htm

The look and feel of this one is amazing. The box is made out of 6mm aluminium

My livingroom setup

2010-01-27T20:00:00.008+01:00

There are two setups in the house. This one is the "commercial" one (the other is my DIY setup).

Starting with the speakers; MonoPulse 42A

These are created by a small british company; http://www.monopulse.co.uk/ - superb value for money. This is a two way construction with a 8" woofer and a tweeter.

Next out is the amplifier; KingRex QS1. This class-t amplifier is also a steal ;) excellent soundstage, resolution and bass extension. Highly recommended.

Taking a look under the hood...

Benchmark DAC1 is used as a preamp and dac

and finally a SqueezeBox Duet is feeding the benchmark.