A Terrific Tube Preamplifier From Korea, And A - Ultra High Fidelity ...

Below left: the Vivid B-1, designed in the UK, built in South Africa
Below right: The Thorens TD-309 and the Legacy Whisper HD speaker, with Heil tweeter and super-tweeter
bers, and I thought her 3D presence was Budwig, bass — the cym-
remarkable. Marie-Ève felt she was right bals sounded so refined,
there among us. In the same size cat- so fresh and right —
egory, Joseph Audio was featuring a pair followed by Doug
of uniquely-talented small speakers, and McLeod’s Come
we were treated to Louis Armstrong’s to Find CD.
unforgettable voice, alternating with We nodded
Mussorgsky’s Pictures at an Exhibition… s i l e n t l y ,
on organ, no less. Well spaced into the l o o k i n g
room, and placed at an angle to the walls, at each
these speakers displayed an authority we o t h e r
didn’t expect.
w i t h
ClearAudio, Luxman and Vivid were r a i s e d
a very comprehensive match. Diana eyebrows.
Krall Live in Paris is an amazing LP, Gershman Acoustics
vibrating with energy on the ClearAudio were introducing their newest
turntable, lively and yet with a rock solid products, speaker and interconnect
image. Then, with the same Luxman cables (yes, cables), linking their impres-
L-509u integrated amp and now the sive Black Swan speakers to a Roksan
D-06 SACD/CD player, driving the Caspian integrated amplifier and CD
uniquely shaped Vivid player; Mighty Sam McLain sounded
B-1 Speakers, we just right in the song Somebody Help
listened with Me. We also discovered the superbly
amazement to finished Ayon Triton tube integrated
the wonder- amp and Ayon CD-5 tube CD player
ful sound of making music through a no less beauti-
the Califorfully crafted pair of Legacy speakers,
nia Guitar the Focal HD model with Heil tweet-
Trio. No, ers. More appreciative nods with raised
it wasn’t eyebrows.
the same Later on, at the end of the day, over
Get the a s t hcomplete e a cup of coffee, Denis version
was looking into
LP but it space, “If I only had half an hour at this
No, this was free version just show,” is not complete, he said dreamily, though “I’d you spend could spend it in a couple
of hours reading as enjoy- it. Want the the Leema full version? speakers room.”
You can, able of course, and order “When the print something version, which sounds we wrong,” have published
for a quarter we of had a century. a said You Marc can as get we it were from leaving, our back “it issues is often page.
But we hard also have time a paid related electronic to the version, highs.” which I waited. is just “You like this one,
except that leaving it doesn’t the have can annoying always manage banners with like the this low one, range, and it doesn’t
have articles room. tailing off into somehow,” faux Latin. he Getting explained, the “but electronic badly version is of
course Lafleur faster, and Audio it is also reproduced cheaper. highs It costs have just an $4.30 aggressive (Canadian) and anywhere
in the were world. also Taxes, using a if they irritating are applicable, effect.” I are couldn’t included. agree more,
It’s ClearAudio available from turn- MagZee.com.
I thought.
table to feature And I wanted to verify something
their latest MX-1 else about problems related to repro-
speakers, coupled duced music. “I noticed how you reacted
with Sim Audio’s to loud sounds in some rooms,” I said,
Moon CD-3.3 and walking out with Matthieu and Mariepowered
by their i3.3 Ève but looking at her. “Yes, it really
integrated amp. We disturbed me,” she said, “physically.”
sat for a wonderful LP I then asked her a question to which I
recording of legend- knew the answer, “Do you have the same
ary drummer Shelly reaction when you hear loud sounds in
Manne and other circumstances, say with traffic or
Bill Evans, construction work?” She thought about
piano with it for a second.
M o n t y “Never,” she replied.
ULTRA HIGH FIDELITY Magazine 29
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