First impressions at California audio Show

[RGA]

Tube Fan

I would like to get into the tape arena. I know absolutely ZILCH about tapes. I see a store downtown selling reel to reel machines and several tapes to go with them - is this what you are talking about?

I would definitely like to explore this route - any suggestions where to start?

[tube fan]

Tube Fan

I would like to get into the tape arena. I know absolutely ZILCH about tapes. I see a store downtown selling reel to reel machines and several tapes to go with them - is this what you are talking about?

I would definitely like to explore this route - any suggestions where to start?

Unfortunately, close copies of master tapes, if available, would cost hundreds (and would be worth it!). Maybe someone is going to bring back tapes at an affordable price. There was a time we could buy tapes, but then came the crapy cassette. CDs almost killed off vinyl, but it now seems vinyl will outlive CDs! Turntables and cartridges are far from perfect, and, IMO, current vinyl cannot come close to matching master tapes (or very close copies). Tapes through the Evolution Acoustics speakers sounded better than the best of the King, Audio Note, and Lotus systems: clear, but not hard; tonally saturated, but not soft or slow; unlimited dynamics both micro and macro.

[RGA]

Unfortunately, close copies of master tapes, if available, would cost hundreds (and would be worth it!). Maybe someone is going to bring back tapes at an affordable price. There was a time we could buy tapes, but then came the crapy cassette. CDs almost killed off vinyl, but it now seems vinyl will outlive CDs! Turntables and cartridges are far from perfect, and, IMO, current vinyl cannot come close to matching master tapes (or very close copies). Tapes through the Evolution Acoustics speakers sounded better than the best of the King, Audio Note, and Lotus systems: clear, but not hard; tonally saturated, but not soft or slow; unlimited dynamics both micro and macro.

Hi

I read a review at the VSAC show where Audio Note had a Tape machine and the guy loved the sound of the room. So that had my interest up and your comments mirror those. I am sure Peter has a deep collection of tape and reel to reel machines. He has warehouses of stuff from competitors. I am always amused to see a Picture of an Avante Garde Duo in his closet behind a bike. Put $25,000 speakers in the closet -

Check out the ridiculous size of this room the AN E was in - Probably didn't have enough speaker cable to put them in the corners.

http://www.theanalogdept.com/vsac08.htm

[Brian K]

Unfortunately, close copies of master tapes, if available, would cost hundreds (and would be worth it!). Maybe someone is going to bring back tapes at an affordable price. There was a time we could buy tapes, but then came the crapy cassette. CDs almost killed off vinyl, but it now seems vinyl will outlive CDs! Turntables and cartridges are far from perfect, and, IMO, current vinyl cannot come close to matching master tapes (or very close copies). Tapes through the Evolution Acoustics speakers sounded better than the best of the King, Audio Note, and Lotus systems: clear, but not hard; tonally saturated, but not soft or slow; unlimited dynamics both micro and macro.

I agree completely about the Evolution Acoustics system. Hearing that system was one of the highlights of the show for me. The thing that impressed me the most was that it was one of only a couple systems that just seemed to disappear completely and play the music as if it was floating in the air. The RAAL tweeter/Accuton midrange combos in that system and the Salk SoundScapes really were terrific at presenting a huge, holographic soundstage. It was really something special to hear. I literally could not discern that the music was coming from the speakers. They just seemed to form a holographic layer that came from the space around the speakers and enveloped me with sound. I thought these systems beat out my other favorites from the show (the Magico and JBL systems) in alot of aspects.