Some Initial Thoughts

[Peter Breuninger]

Gary Reber (WSR) brought in the yet to be released "Man of Steel" soundtrack to the YG room 15 minutes before closing time. We were playing lp rips that Philip O' had brought up to listen to... as soon as we put on the Man of Steel, is was like the floor dropped out of the room, the walls disappeared and the detonation occurred. I was astonished by the dynamics and staging this soundtrack produced. Street date is mid June. Top three systems for the first two days: YG Sonja, Wilson Sasha (Musical Surroundings room) and Magico S1.

 

[rockitman]

I took this brief video at the UHA room where Greg Baron was playing the UHA RtoR with I believe a piece from Nils Lofgren. ...

you can tell that deck is sounding real good !

 

[Andre Marc]

Gary Reber (WSR) brought in the yet to be released "Man of Steel" soundtrack to the YG room 15 minutes before closing time. We were playing lp rips that Philip O' had brought up to listen to... as soon as we put on the Man of Steel, is was like the floor dropped out of the room, the walls disappeared and the detonation occurred. I was astonished by the dynamics and staging this soundtrack produced. Street date is mid June. Top three systems for the first two days: YG Sonja, Wilson Sasha (Musical Surroundings room) and Magico S1.

S1 room sounded good to me as well, depending on source material. Amazing resolution for the price, "low" by Magico standards.

 

[Steve Williams]

I thought the S1 room was terrific. In fact I would go so far as saying that it was the first time I really enjoyed a Magico speaker

I agree about the Sonja. It too was the first time I've herd a YG speaker sound terrific

I missed the Sasha

 

[Andre Marc]

I thought the S1 room was terrific. In fact I would go so far as saying that it was the first time I really enjoyed a Magico speaker

I agree about the Sonja. It too was the first time I've herd a YG speaker sound terrific

I missed the Sasha

I thought the S5 sounded great too in the same room last year playing tape.

The S1 surprised me with it's bass performance.

 

[DaveyF]

Sounds promising from your recording. How did you like the demo?

Lloyd, I thought this system was the second best that i heard at the show. Slightly bettered by the Wilson Alexia's and ARC gear that Debbie W was demo'ing on the 2nd floor.
This system's detail portrayal was bordering on incredible, most likely in large part to the UHA deck. ( which apparently starts at $16K ).

 

[rockitman]

This system's detail portrayal was bordering on incredible, most likely in large part to the UHA deck. ( which apparently starts at $16K ).

Definitely the RTR machine is to blame...

 

[DaveyF]

Christian, you're almost certainly right. I only wish that I wasn't so heavily invested in LP's. That deck was something else,shows one how important the source is! BTW, I asked Greg Baron why he used the Tascam decks as his go to deck. He answered that is was due to parts supplies and the ability to keep the thing running. He likes Studer's but cannot get parts or keep them up and running for any type of reasonable cost. Tascam parts are apparently still very available.

 

[LL21]

Lloyd, I thought this system was the second best that i heard at the show. Slightly bettered by the Wilson Alexia's and ARC gear that Debbie W was demo'ing on the 2nd floor.
This system's detail portrayal was bordering on incredible, most likely in large part to the UHA deck. ( which apparently starts at $16K ).

Thanks for the feedback...good to know!

 

[MylesBAstor]

Lloyd, I thought this system was the second best that i heard at the show. Slightly bettered by the Wilson Alexia's and ARC gear that Debbie W was demo'ing on the 2nd floor.
This system's detail portrayal was bordering on incredible, most likely in large part to the UHA deck. ( which apparently starts at $16K ).

No IIRC there's a PB only deck around $7500 or so. I assume Greg brought his all out deck that's like Phase9 or more (I kinda lost track).

 

[DaveyF]

Myles, according to Greg, the $16K deck is PB only, if one wants record also I think he said it was over $20K. I was fairly certain he said this was his 'entry level' deck.

 

[rockitman]

Myles, according to Greg, the $16K deck is PB only, if one wants record also I think he said it was over $20K. I was fairly certain he said this was his 'entry level' deck.

No that is his SOTA playback deck. Phase 11

 

[DaveyF]

So what is his entry level deck?? I was pretty sure he was saying that the deck that we heard demo'ed was his entry level, just PB and that' s all. ( maybe at the show this was his lowest level deck).
Greg showed Steve and I the mod's that he did to the capstan's and some of the other changes. Steve asked him why he didn't believe in a stand alone preamp for the deck, to which he answered that the shortest path was better and that his deck was designed with that in mind....at least that's what I think he said, maybe Steve can help out here.

 

[rockitman]

So what is his entry level deck?? I was pretty sure he was saying that the deck that we heard demo'ed was his entry level, just PB and that' s all. ( maybe at the show this was his lowest level deck).
Greg showed Steve and I the mod's that he did to the capstan's and some of the other changes. Steve asked him why he didn't believe in a stand alone preamp for the deck, to which he answered that the shortest path was better and that his deck was designed with that in mind....at least that's what I think he said, maybe Steve can help out here.

Phase 8. Here is the pricing breakdown by optioned deck.
http://www.unitedhomeproducts.com/prices_and_features.htm

 

[Steve Williams]

So what is his entry level deck?? I was pretty sure he was saying that the deck that we heard demo'ed was his entry level, just PB and that' s all. ( maybe at the show this was his lowest level deck).
Greg showed Steve and I the mod's that he did to the capstan's and some of the other changes. Steve asked him why he didn't believe in a stand alone preamp for the deck, to which he answered that the shortest path was better and that his deck was designed with that in mind....at least that's what I think he said, maybe Steve can help out here.

That's exactly what he said

 

[rockitman]

That's exactly what he said

All levels of decks have PB upgrade or both PB and record. That deck appears to me to be the phase 11. Maybe Greg will see this post and chime in. Why would he bring a deck that is not his best sounding to a show ?

 

[MylesBAstor]

So what is his entry level deck?? I was pretty sure he was saying that the deck that we heard demo'ed was his entry level, just PB and that' s all. ( maybe at the show this was his lowest level deck).
Greg showed Steve and I the mod's that he did to the capstan's and some of the other changes. Steve asked him why he didn't believe in a stand alone preamp for the deck, to which he answered that the shortest path was better and that his deck was designed with that in mind....at least that's what I think he said, maybe Steve can help out here.

I think Greg's answer is that his decks aren't made for the tweaks audiophile. Instead they're for someone who wants to just plug the machine in, have no reliability issues and just roll tape. All the driving is done by Greg.

 

[mep]

I think Greg's answer is that his decks aren't made for the tweaks audiophile. Instead they're for someone who wants to just plug the machine in, have no reliability issues and just roll tape. All the driving is done by Greg.

And there is something to be said for that. Also, I do believe that the playback electronics have been redesigned and built to a high standard.

 

[rockitman]

And there is something to be said for that. Also, I do believe that the playback electronics have been redesigned and built to a high standard.

There is nothing stock with the playback electronics including power supply, heads, ect. For the cost of a very good turntable, you can get a deck that will surpass that turntable given appropriate software.

 

[mep]

There is nothing stock with the playback electronics including power supply, heads, ect. For the cost of a very good turntable, you can get a deck that will surpass that turntable given appropriate software.

I couldn't agree more. It's just the cost of the software for the tape deck that will kick in you in the ass and wallet.