My new 2160
- Thread starter infinitely baffled
- Start date
.with apologies for crap photography..
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Gavin, it looks like you've got a camp bed next to the Boulder. I've heard of guys living and sleeping their hobby, but that's ridiculous! Lol.
So a quick recap, plus first impressions.
We ended up with three lifters instead of four- final man arrived as i was powering her up.
My plan to take multiple pics of box moving from van into living was somewhat hampered by the fact i was doing the moving. Then as the boys were drinking their coffees i had her up and running. Then followed a few hours of chat; hadnt had that many visitors to chez gav since Christmas, all with tunes playing politely in the background. Once they had all left, it was on with my chores and then out with the dogs for a few hours. I didn't leave it running for fear of an outbreak of cats on amp. Also, when running in new engines, my engineer tells me its the heat cycles as much as the run time that helps break things in, so i was ok with powering it down for a couple of hours.
So back with dogs, got them all fed as i played a loosener: Pete Tong and the Heritage Orchestra play Ibiza classics. Lots of dance tunes reimagined via orchestra. It's pleasant, undemanding, perfect for warming things up
As i finished up and sat down, my favourite track was beginning 'Sing it Back'.
So what am i hearing?
Space, depth, and nuance in the bass. Whereas pre Boulder the bass arrived as a thick, congealed slab, now its the delicate sound of thunder. The soundstage is incredible, a real sense of depth, with voices and instruments existing within their own spaces, all perfectly scaled to my room. I was immediately out of 'running in' mode and into 'the best sound I've ever experienced'.
So time to get serious. I pulled out a true heavyweight contender, Peter Gabriel's Passion, the soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ, remastered to 45rpm on triple vinyl.
I was transfixed.
So many things to describe, where to begin?
So imagine you're in your living room, and you light a fire in your fireplace or burner.
You know how the orientation of your room, of your whole house, seems to change?
There's now a focal point to your space, a performance in the centre that completely changes how a space looks and feels. Now, instead of music being fired at you, it arises, emanates, exists and breathes as a three dimensional entity, a presence that changes an empty room into a performance space...and again, i come back to this sense of a performance perfectly scaled to my room.
Back to Passion. The sense of things rolling towards you like a storm, then overwheming you with violence- i can think of no better description for what we call slam and extension.
Oh my goodness
So to sum up my first impressions?
Diminishing returns, as a concept in hifi, is bunk.
There are certain components that allow you to transcend the experience of just sitting in your room listening to music. They change the space you are existing in, it becomes both bigger and more intimate. It's a feeling i get when indulging in party- related substances, now my system achieves this effect when I'm sober as a judge:
I no longer have a living room; i have my own performance space. And all the performers are having their best day.
I leapt out of bed this morning....?
We ended up with three lifters instead of four- final man arrived as i was powering her up.
My plan to take multiple pics of box moving from van into living was somewhat hampered by the fact i was doing the moving. Then as the boys were drinking their coffees i had her up and running. Then followed a few hours of chat; hadnt had that many visitors to chez gav since Christmas, all with tunes playing politely in the background. Once they had all left, it was on with my chores and then out with the dogs for a few hours. I didn't leave it running for fear of an outbreak of cats on amp. Also, when running in new engines, my engineer tells me its the heat cycles as much as the run time that helps break things in, so i was ok with powering it down for a couple of hours.
So back with dogs, got them all fed as i played a loosener: Pete Tong and the Heritage Orchestra play Ibiza classics. Lots of dance tunes reimagined via orchestra. It's pleasant, undemanding, perfect for warming things up
As i finished up and sat down, my favourite track was beginning 'Sing it Back'.
So what am i hearing?
Space, depth, and nuance in the bass. Whereas pre Boulder the bass arrived as a thick, congealed slab, now its the delicate sound of thunder. The soundstage is incredible, a real sense of depth, with voices and instruments existing within their own spaces, all perfectly scaled to my room. I was immediately out of 'running in' mode and into 'the best sound I've ever experienced'.
So time to get serious. I pulled out a true heavyweight contender, Peter Gabriel's Passion, the soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ, remastered to 45rpm on triple vinyl.
I was transfixed.
So many things to describe, where to begin?
So imagine you're in your living room, and you light a fire in your fireplace or burner.
You know how the orientation of your room, of your whole house, seems to change?
There's now a focal point to your space, a performance in the centre that completely changes how a space looks and feels. Now, instead of music being fired at you, it arises, emanates, exists and breathes as a three dimensional entity, a presence that changes an empty room into a performance space...and again, i come back to this sense of a performance perfectly scaled to my room.
Back to Passion. The sense of things rolling towards you like a storm, then overwheming you with violence- i can think of no better description for what we call slam and extension.
Oh my goodness
So to sum up my first impressions?
Diminishing returns, as a concept in hifi, is bunk.
There are certain components that allow you to transcend the experience of just sitting in your room listening to music. They change the space you are existing in, it becomes both bigger and more intimate. It's a feeling i get when indulging in party- related substances, now my system achieves this effect when I'm sober as a judge:
I no longer have a living room; i have my own performance space. And all the performers are having their best day.
I leapt out of bed this morning....?
Well congrats again and hope you and the cats enjoy them for many years!
George
George
Fantastic...what a great read. Enjoy!!! You have surely taken your time and really invested time and money to build up a system that is very special, very very focused in its character and qualities. Congrats.
aiming to capture both the excitement of the moment of delivery,
including the logo on the side of the van to give a namecheck to Struan and the boys at Hifi Corner Edinburgh, who stepped in to do the install without making a penny from the deal.
Plus i wanted to capture a hint of my place, the mossy weathered stone, and the way my wee cottage nestles into the surrounding forest and hillside.
Here's how that went:
including the logo on the side of the van to give a namecheck to Struan and the boys at Hifi Corner Edinburgh, who stepped in to do the install without making a penny from the deal.
Plus i wanted to capture a hint of my place, the mossy weathered stone, and the way my wee cottage nestles into the surrounding forest and hillside.
Here's how that went:
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30 hours in, and I've reached the swearing stage. As in, this is fucking astonishing
I thought:
- your cat has been at your amp again
- you dropped your amp on your foot
- you saw your power bill
But seriously, congratulations! I would love to have an amp like that!
Sorry chaps, i do have to apologise for not posting more. Because that requires diverting my attention from where it is demanded, the performers in my room. It feels rude to be typing even this. Jamie from Sleaford Mods is about to pour a pint on my head for being on my tablet
I only want to do one thing right now. Baths are going unused, meals uneaten, because that would involve tearing myself away. From something that is annihilating my expectations of what is possible my system.
I've been given a lens, no thats not right, a portal,
through which i can view all the music that matters to me. I dont play them, theyre all playing somewhere, I'm just transported to that location
And you know what i love about power amps?
They just frickin work. No setup required. Place on level solid well ventilated spot. Plug in, connect, stand back. Keep the cats off No anxiety 'bout whether youve optimised it. Absolutely spiffing
Ok, pull yourself together gav, post something useful
After about 30 hours the central image has snapped into focus. Spatially I'm witnessing music like never before. I've never experienced such a depth of soundstage, with performances existing in their own, ample space within.
The only place im feeling theres more to come is we haven't quite yet hit the richness of tone i associate with Boulder.
Just the idea that there really is more to come makes me giddy
Oh shit Jason's come over and he's stood over me, im being flecked with spit as he bellows into the mic. He's doing it to make a point. Everyone's looking.....
I only want to do one thing right now. Baths are going unused, meals uneaten, because that would involve tearing myself away. From something that is annihilating my expectations of what is possible my system.
I've been given a lens, no thats not right, a portal,
through which i can view all the music that matters to me. I dont play them, theyre all playing somewhere, I'm just transported to that location
And you know what i love about power amps?
They just frickin work. No setup required. Place on level solid well ventilated spot. Plug in, connect, stand back. Keep the cats off No anxiety 'bout whether youve optimised it. Absolutely spiffing
Ok, pull yourself together gav, post something useful
After about 30 hours the central image has snapped into focus. Spatially I'm witnessing music like never before. I've never experienced such a depth of soundstage, with performances existing in their own, ample space within.
The only place im feeling theres more to come is we haven't quite yet hit the richness of tone i associate with Boulder.
Just the idea that there really is more to come makes me giddy
Oh shit Jason's come over and he's stood over me, im being flecked with spit as he bellows into the mic. He's doing it to make a point. Everyone's looking.....
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Thank you Ron.I hope your dog will be okay!
I do hope so. But it's not looking too good.
We're at the vet again tomorrow.
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