I have to say he is a gracious host, was treated very well. I got to meet his son and even Stanley Kubark! 
As for the listening room all I can say is WOW! No stone left unturned, even the painting on the front wall is acoustic treatment.
I saw several ideas that I had in mind for my room when I get to putting it back together. One of them is having his library behind the acoustic treatment's. I have a lot of vinyl that I am proud of but don't really need the collection overpowering the room.
One idea I thought that was brilliant, is the carpet in the room has straight lines in the pattern and the carpet is perfectly laid so as to use the lines for system set up.
In the words of The Dude, "It really ties the room together".
The rewards of having the acoustician come on site and make recommendations was certainly worth the time and trouble. Something I will consider when the time comes.
One word "Quiet" but two different directions here. 1. One would think that the room would be acoustically dead and dry, I am here to tell you its not in any way shape or form, it is a very "musical" space. 2. Steve's system is dead quiet, not a peep out of it unless it was music, and the silence between the notes, Damn Gina!
Imaging was nothing short of stellar. I have heard other Wilson systems and while loving the over all sound was less than impressed with imaging. Non-issue here on anything I heard today, except Redbook Riders On The Storm, more on that in a minute. I swear Stevie Ray Vaughn was standing right there in front of me telling me all about the problems on Tin Pan Alley, Ella and Louis stopped by said something about we couldn't take something away from them as well as Terry Bozzio's ginormous drum kit was plunked down front and center. Mr Knopfler stopped by to assure us the man was still big and the man was still strong. "Your sister gave me diamonds, and I gave them to your wife" those lyrics are some of the most in your face words put to paper.
Every thing and everyone is in their place. My go to loud song is Steely Dan Aja and everything was right were it belonged and Mr. Gadds silky cymbals, oh my goodness! The sound of the wood in the sticks as they hit the cymbals, oh yes! I wont mention Hotel California....
Most importantly is the systems ability to play long and loud with no fatigue.
On to Riders On The Storm. We started with Redbook and while it sounded ok, Jim's voice with ridiculous amounts of reverb was front and center but seemed to be coming out of a little tiny opening in the middle of the soundstage. In fact all the other instruments were spread out but in their own tiny spaces.
Flick of a switch and press play on the Studer and the heavens opened up and the rain fell from the sky! Riders is one of my all time favorite songs and I have never heard it like this before, ever. I had to check and see if I was actually getting wet from the rain!
This is were we ended it for the day as Stanley Kubark needed some love and attention. Steve's son ( I apologize I forgot his name) and I share a strong liking for Quinton Tarantino so we had a good conversation there.
My take away from this is as follows:
1. Steve is a gracious host
2. The system is nothing short of totally engaging and the closest I have heard that actually had me looking for the musicians sitting in the room.
3. His son and Stanley Kubark are good people too.
4. I cant bring myself to even consider turning my system on for a month.
Thank you for inviting me into your home.
As for the listening room all I can say is WOW! No stone left unturned, even the painting on the front wall is acoustic treatment.
I saw several ideas that I had in mind for my room when I get to putting it back together. One of them is having his library behind the acoustic treatment's. I have a lot of vinyl that I am proud of but don't really need the collection overpowering the room.
One idea I thought that was brilliant, is the carpet in the room has straight lines in the pattern and the carpet is perfectly laid so as to use the lines for system set up.
In the words of The Dude, "It really ties the room together".
The rewards of having the acoustician come on site and make recommendations was certainly worth the time and trouble. Something I will consider when the time comes.
One word "Quiet" but two different directions here. 1. One would think that the room would be acoustically dead and dry, I am here to tell you its not in any way shape or form, it is a very "musical" space. 2. Steve's system is dead quiet, not a peep out of it unless it was music, and the silence between the notes, Damn Gina!
Imaging was nothing short of stellar. I have heard other Wilson systems and while loving the over all sound was less than impressed with imaging. Non-issue here on anything I heard today, except Redbook Riders On The Storm, more on that in a minute. I swear Stevie Ray Vaughn was standing right there in front of me telling me all about the problems on Tin Pan Alley, Ella and Louis stopped by said something about we couldn't take something away from them as well as Terry Bozzio's ginormous drum kit was plunked down front and center. Mr Knopfler stopped by to assure us the man was still big and the man was still strong. "Your sister gave me diamonds, and I gave them to your wife" those lyrics are some of the most in your face words put to paper.
Every thing and everyone is in their place. My go to loud song is Steely Dan Aja and everything was right were it belonged and Mr. Gadds silky cymbals, oh my goodness! The sound of the wood in the sticks as they hit the cymbals, oh yes! I wont mention Hotel California....
Most importantly is the systems ability to play long and loud with no fatigue.
On to Riders On The Storm. We started with Redbook and while it sounded ok, Jim's voice with ridiculous amounts of reverb was front and center but seemed to be coming out of a little tiny opening in the middle of the soundstage. In fact all the other instruments were spread out but in their own tiny spaces.
Flick of a switch and press play on the Studer and the heavens opened up and the rain fell from the sky! Riders is one of my all time favorite songs and I have never heard it like this before, ever. I had to check and see if I was actually getting wet from the rain!
This is were we ended it for the day as Stanley Kubark needed some love and attention. Steve's son ( I apologize I forgot his name) and I share a strong liking for Quinton Tarantino so we had a good conversation there.
My take away from this is as follows:
1. Steve is a gracious host
2. The system is nothing short of totally engaging and the closest I have heard that actually had me looking for the musicians sitting in the room.
3. His son and Stanley Kubark are good people too.
4. I cant bring myself to even consider turning my system on for a month.
Thank you for inviting me into your home.
