THE CD PLAYER PLUS - Ultra High Fidelity Magazine

Feedback
Features
Bisson’s intimate interpretation of a
Brahms Volkslied (folk song) masterfully
recorded by Fidelio (using their tube
microphone). No comments during
the music. More staring. “I felt myself
letting go of everything and going off
with the music,” explained Laetitia once
we were out in the hallway, “I still have
it going in my head.” Denis appreciated
it too, though he would have preferred
it louder. “I need to feel I am getting
into the music, that I am part of it,” he
explained. “At home, we’re often telling
him to turn it down,” added Laetitia with
a tolerant smile. Sound familiar? Minus
24 ULTRA HIGH FIDELITY Magazine
the smile, you say?
They found the ecofriendly
Coherent speakers
fascinating, when I explained
that they were made of solid
burl maple harvested in water
up to 18 metres deep. They
had no comments on the
sound, however (which I
thought was quite good). And
they blended silently with the
slow crowds in the hallway.
By the way, as you walk through the
corridors and the many different rooms,
did you ever take time to spot the two
extreme categories of audiophiles? There
are the ones who chat constantly, before,
during and after listening to every
single system they encounter, having an
opinion on everything and insisting on
sharing it. Then you’ll notice the others,
the silent types who travel in a daze,
it seems, room to room, floor to floor,
wrapped up in their thoughts, yet aware
of every new product, as they gather with
a slow and practised reach, every single
piece of information and pamphlet.
In one of the Coup de Foudre rooms,
Sam Hopkins’ blues LP Lightnin’ was
playing on a Clearaudio turntable with
a tube-powered Leben CS600 integrated
amp and DeVore Fidelity’s The Nines
speakers. “Wonderful atmosphere,” said
Denis. “I wonder if it’s due to vinyl,”
asked Laetitia. Denis smiled knowingly.
In the other room, another LP gave life
to Mary Gauthier’s haunting voice in
Mercy Now. “Formidable!” was the one
Yes, it’s interactive
word that sprung spontaneously out
of my visiting couple. For those of you
who are still wondering if they liked it,
formidable can be translated as terrific,
tremendous, gorgeous, smashing, splendid
and, of course, awesome. The new Avalon
Aspect speakers were linked to a Shindo
preamp, uniquely handcrafted in Japan.
“This preamp is formidable (see above),”
explained André, a UHF reader I met
right outside that room, “I thought I
needed to replace my speakers, and then
I tried this preamp in my system. It’s an
amazing unit!”
In the Audiophonie room another
encounter with analog, Tony Bennett
singing Chicago with Basie’s orchestra
swinging away. Denis noticed how
crystal clear everything sounded and
Laetitia briefly shook her head, trying
to get back to reality, and simply said
“Vinyl … Whaou!” which means Wow!
(see formidable).
They also both loved the new Small
is Beautiful, Fidelio’s latest release, and
their recent Deserts by the ensemble
La Nef on DVD-Audio. Couldn’t get
enough of the lively percussion and 3-D
imaging.
However, having heard CDs and
LPs in various rooms, including the two
versions of Anne Bisson’s Blue Mind,
Laetitia admitted she preferred LPs
in every case. “I can hear the silences,
somehow,” she said. “I can’t hear them on
a CD.” Denis smiled knowingly again.
(Chances are they will eventually add a
turntable to their home system and bring
his preciously-guarded don’t-ever-touchit
LP collection back to life. Methinks
family approval is building up.)
Muddy Waters was singing as we
walked in the large room featuring the
Wilson-Pathos-Clearaudio combination.
A breath of fresh air, I thought — a
Just click on the ad on the next page, and you know what will happen?
You’ll go right to the advertiser’s Web site…if there is one, and of course
if you are connected to the Internet at that moment.
Try it with any of the other ads in this issue.
Of course it works with the full (paid) electronic issue as well.
contrasting comment for such an urban
music — the sound so remarkably light
and transparent. “It can be powerful
and, at the same time, so delicate,”
said Laetitia, “no need to listen louder,
one can hear the fingers sliding on the
strings.” Denis was quiet for a while then
added, “I am turned off by the showy
demonstrations this year. I find myself
attracted to the simplicity of the sound
now.”
Back to Marc for a bit. We walked
Top left: an exhibit by a local audio
museum named for recording pioneer
Emile Berliner. Top right: a Pathos
preamplifier