First impressions at California audio Show

[Sir Terrence the Terrible]

WOW! TTT's hearing and mine are 180 degrees off. The sound from the YG speakers was hard, strident, hot, and unlistenable (yes, to me). Ditto for the Emerald Physics (cheap in price). BTW, I own a pair of Dunlavy SC-IV speakers (from my brother), but 95% of the time I prefer the sound from my 30+ year old Fulton J speakers. IMO, all the Dunlavy speakers measure flat (in frequency response), but, IMO, all lack tonal saturation.

For folks that love the more ephonic side of listening, yes the SC-IV would be a little short on tonal saturation. For those of us that prefer accuracy over euphonics, the Dunlay SC-V is a revalation. I want to hear what is exactly on my tapes or hard drives. I don't need it sprinkled with salt and pepper just to make it palatable.

The Adagio d'Albinoni version by Gary Karr on Double-bass and Harmon Lewis on Organ
always brings me to tears played on my system. An interesting note: a man played a vinyl record of the Adagio by a full Orchestra and got it played in the Teresonic room. It sounded great, but I got them to play the Gary Karr version immediately after, and it was fantastic (yes, to me, but also to others present). I suspect TTT has a high tolerance for bright, hard sound (he would say clear). I go to many blind wine tastings, and I have a similar dislike for high alcohol and oaky wines, while most find them big and robust. I will continue to like low alcohol wines with good acid. Most younger drinkers love high alcohol and super ripe fruit. Rating sound systems is every bit as subjective as rating wines. It's clearly not a science at this point.

What sounds good to me does not need any co-signing from others. The gentleman I was with like the AN system a little more than I did, and he didn't like the Acoustic Zen set up, and I did. Personally I think he sat too close, which is why is didn't like it. I told him there is a fusion point for each speaker, and you need to either sit at the point, or futher away. The second day he stood back more, and end up loving the system as I did. Our own taste is highly subjective, and not easily transferable.

At any rate, I'll continue to listen to the Fulton Js, with the Dunlavys as backup, and continue to drink my older, lower alcohol wines (mostly pre 1986).

Enjoy!