As a remark, when I audition the Vertere Rg-1 + Reference tonearm setup, a new cartridge was used and it just started to sing for 3 hours. A normal burning period for a cartridge is 50 hrs.
It will be my turn today. I shall land HK at 3pm and go straight to AE.
jsn, I always enjoy reading your straight forward and informative writeup particularly the one on trinity amp was such a great read. There are many parameters in vinyl that are beyond my scope to comment.
I know all the AE bdithers well. If they don't like, they won't comment here. The damn fact about Madake singing for 3 hours reinforces my expectation of audition today.
Had Mr Zanden already auditioned? I would like to know his opinions
Mr Zanden as usual brought his whole stack of LPs to test yesterday. To cut a long story short, he was blown away. When the Vetere was spinning Heifetz, he said "This is the sound to die for". When La Folia was playing, he said "never heard such dynamics before".
Later in the night, he what's app me and told me the following:
"It was a great demo today. One minor point is transparency could be better. It would be a real KILLER after you deal with this tiny bit of critical assessment".
And what he referred to was MAPPING of cartridge by Javier. I had not done it obviously but it is so good that I want to do it later. Once it is done, I know what it will morph into.
I was really disturbed by the demonic act of the ISIS burring the Jordan pilot live. My mind was unsettled during the flight from Tokyo to Hong Kong. I am about to retire. But don't know what the hack to do afterwards. I thought about doing audio business. Unless I can hire PT to run the boat, I don't have the damn patience to deal with the manufacturers and customers. My temper is big. I have lost almost every interest in life after decades of time working for fucking investment banks. People think they are smart in this business but they aren't. People are just greedy and the system rewards them well. Whey they do is even lower class and cheap than Casino. The difference is they were masqueraded with MBA from Harvard and Stanford etc. But there is a cost. They just don't know. But I don't blame the junior people. The seniors, not many have a holistic mind, to see what's going on too. For those who understand what is going on, they decide to lock up their conscience forever and let lust for money take over the pilot position.
I have to set the context right to write about the auditioning of the Vetere reference arm. And that was the ongoing state of my psychological condition before the audition: an asshole who is going to retire lose basically every interest (other than music) in life disturbed by all the death of the Jordan pilot. PT sensed something was not right at the very beginning. He was silent and had not pitched me anything. I broke the silence by asking him to play me some jazz for relaxation first. He picked the female vocal from the Three Blind Mice. The first track I listened to was the very familiar "MISTY". After this track, I didn't say anything. PT didn't say anything. I just carried on to finish side A for the next 20 minutes or so. My mind was easing. I felt much better. I told PT continue to pick some easy music in the next 30 minutes. I didn't want anything heavy. My psychological state was fully normalized after he played me a cut of Pires playing some piano sonata by Mozart. I don't remember how many times I had commented whatever systems AE were housing since it opened - piano is always the greatest strength under the baton of PT. But for what I experienced lately - the piano reproduction at AE has a full human soul playing live. And that heals my aching soul. i ran out of words to describe the experience. I can't use "purity" to describe it this time because I had use it for too many times. It is much more than that. Music is organic. The musician is human. I saw it. My heart felt the presence. And my mind responded. Subsequently, I was able to relax. For God's sake, please don't mistaken I am describing a "laid back" sound here. It is a otherworldly humane experience. It teleported me back to the where the recording was made together with the musician in the room.
This is a holistic experience. The Vetere analog front end reminds me the genius creation of Wadax phono by Javier, Takumi K15 by Robert and the almighty Zanden Chouku by Yamada san, Madake catridge by Miyajima san together with the Carmen Horn system by Ralph Krebs of Cessaro, And now Touraj of Vetere. These people must share the same DNA in order to reproduce what I could experience at AE. As my psychological state of affairs restored, I asked PT to spin some heavier stuff. The opening of Dvorak Cello Concerto thrilled my spine. I was stunned by the realism. I felt exactly as though listening live in front of an orchestra in a concert hall. There is not hint of fatigue or aggression even at loud volume during crescendo session. Energy of different instruments are well rendered and distributed into the room retaining the tonal and transient characteristics of them. They were all singing in harmony. The musical intent is clear. I received it well. My dear Ludwig Hoelscher has a commanding presence on the cello. At some passages, my jaws really dropping on the floor even though I pretended to be cool in front of PT.
The biggest shock is yet to come – Phantom of the Opera LP . It was the one performed by Sarah Brightman. I attended the live performance twice in London many moons ago. I bought the most expensive tickets as what most ibankers would do. When the LP started spinning on the Vetere record player, the madake on the reference arm acted like a time machine bringing me back to where I was. The “language ascent” of each peformer on stage is different when I listened to them live. Same here at AE, it is such a damn amazing experience. And the emotional imperative of each singer is thus recreated vividly even those performing at the backrow. And the organ that is used so very frequently in this play is tuneful with real weight. The agility of electornic instruments and delicacy of fine classical instruments live harmoniously with respect to each other. When Sarah sang “Whenever you go , let me go to”. I was completely freaked out at AE. Could this really be the end of the ultra end at last? Deal done. I don’t care what is contributing to what. The deal is closed purely because of the immense musical power coveyed to me this round. It is so very unlike that ABAB comparison type of sales pitch. I am floored by the muscality. I am damned. Deal done.
The last record that PT spinned for me was a Cantonese singer called Sam Hui. The record was made in the late 70s. He played me a cut of a song that starts with a harmonica. I had no clue what was he singing. I was very touched. It made me think of my parents for a few moments. I told PT how I felt. And he told me the song was about “parents”! Could anyone tell me if PT is making a joke with me?
One last remark to our super big brothers here at AE. Turntables are EGO BUY. Sorry, I have say now even those represented by AE such as NVS by Wave Kinetics of Gabriel by Da Vinci (which I owned one) and all those over-material design from Clear Audio and Transrotor, I recommend existing owenrs of this breed to go for total solution if you guys are catched by the engineering stories of the Vetere reference arm. Grab the Vetere record player as well. It is cheaper than most of your speaker cables. The vetere reference arm combined with the record player is much cheaper than Da Vinci Gabriel with Virtu and the Durand Telos on NVS, Clear Audio Statement and the big Transrotor. But I beg that they outperform them substantially when you listen to them side by side. If one singles out the arm is too expensive, please then forget the whole value proposition. It is meant to be a total solution.
Once again, I don’t know what is contributing what to the overal ear-gasm on my part. But the Vetere record player serving in this reproduction chain has my highest regards. It was the most briliant music audition session I have ever had in my entire audio journey since 25 years ago.
I concur to Roy on the finding! I just went this morning!!!
I am not good in wording, what I feel are quite and silky smooth. The extension of both end is so "smooth", natural.
Now I learned the extension of what I thought I knew before was actually noise. It show the extension of both end can be so smooth, detail, yet very analog and control. Control is the word.
Sigh! Hifi is really a never ending game!!!
You rarely write so much. And your language is decent this time! It never happens before. You always f here and f there. Have you been visiting Sunday church lately? Nevertheless, I enjoy your writeup as we both know each other for so many years! We belong to the "offshore AE account".
Really enjoy your exceptional piece of writing and this is the first time ever if I remember right. I choose not to believe that you have more time to write as you are approaching retirement, the Vertere total experience is strikingly thrilling and I think this is what pushing you for 'setting the context right' and produce such comprehensive elaboration.
I went to listen to Vertere on Friday late afternoon when I joined PT in master Chik's vinyl shop. To cut long story short, the system was not warmed up before I came. Notwithstanding such warning, I sat down and PT started to put some LPs one by one. PT also demonstrated the system without using the spindle to guide the vinyl and yet all trackings were so precise as though there is a spindle on the platter.
A question kept coming up to my mind while listening...what is the difference between this sound and the previous sound on Durand/NVS??
After several LPs, the answer to this question becomes more apparent, I am much closer to the performer when listening to Vertere forgetting the mega dynamics and soundstaging that the preivous house system can produce. Background was so quiet and clean without any clue of a vinyl (I am not talking about the sound due to the dirt in the glooves) due to the mechanical vibration of the tone arm and tracking error. it is by far the best playback that I genuinely feel so close to the original performance. Every single burst of keynote 'has a life' of its own.
Can you imagine the 3-d feel of the musical images is contoured vividly by their surrounding ambience without mistified by noise? I really echo who Mr. Zanden, it is the music to die for!!
Whilst I am writing this at home, I am enjoying partially the 'Vertere' world of music by using its HB XLR interconnect from K15 to Lar2! Also another great find surpassing my previous experience on exotic cables.
What recordings did you listen to? Did he play Phantom of the Opera? Did you guys freak out like I did? I wasn't exaggearing my feelings. That was what happened.
And please at least go and grab the HB phono cable asap! This is a rare gem and the weakest link in other analog system. You guys know me well. If it is shit, I will multiply by 100 times shit. If it is a gem, I write only a few words.
What a magnificent piece of creation! I enjoyed record after record late evening at AE. Music has become so very much believable, natural and quiet. I have no words to describe.
Comments
jsn, I always enjoy reading your straight forward and informative writeup particularly the one on trinity amp was such a great read. There are many parameters in vinyl that are beyond my scope to comment.
I know all the AE bdithers well. If they don't like, they won't comment here. The damn fact about Madake singing for 3 hours reinforces my expectation of audition today.
Had Mr Zanden already auditioned? I would like to know his opinions
Later in the night, he what's app me and told me the following:
"It was a great demo today. One minor point is transparency could be better. It would be a real KILLER after you deal with this tiny bit of critical assessment".
And what he referred to was MAPPING of cartridge by Javier. I had not done it obviously but it is so good that I want to do it later. Once it is done, I know what it will morph into.
I have to set the context right to write about the auditioning of the Vetere reference arm. And that was the ongoing state of my psychological condition before the audition: an asshole who is going to retire lose basically every interest (other than music) in life disturbed by all the death of the Jordan pilot. PT sensed something was not right at the very beginning. He was silent and had not pitched me anything. I broke the silence by asking him to play me some jazz for relaxation first. He picked the female vocal from the Three Blind Mice. The first track I listened to was the very familiar "MISTY". After this track, I didn't say anything. PT didn't say anything. I just carried on to finish side A for the next 20 minutes or so. My mind was easing. I felt much better. I told PT continue to pick some easy music in the next 30 minutes. I didn't want anything heavy. My psychological state was fully normalized after he played me a cut of Pires playing some piano sonata by Mozart. I don't remember how many times I had commented whatever systems AE were housing since it opened - piano is always the greatest strength under the baton of PT. But for what I experienced lately - the piano reproduction at AE has a full human soul playing live. And that heals my aching soul. i ran out of words to describe the experience. I can't use "purity" to describe it this time because I had use it for too many times. It is much more than that. Music is organic. The musician is human. I saw it. My heart felt the presence. And my mind responded. Subsequently, I was able to relax. For God's sake, please don't mistaken I am describing a "laid back" sound here. It is a otherworldly humane experience. It teleported me back to the where the recording was made together with the musician in the room.
This is a holistic experience. The Vetere analog front end reminds me the genius creation of Wadax phono by Javier, Takumi K15 by Robert and the almighty Zanden Chouku by Yamada san, Madake catridge by Miyajima san together with the Carmen Horn system by Ralph Krebs of Cessaro, And now Touraj of Vetere. These people must share the same DNA in order to reproduce what I could experience at AE. As my psychological state of affairs restored, I asked PT to spin some heavier stuff. The opening of Dvorak Cello Concerto thrilled my spine. I was stunned by the realism. I felt exactly as though listening live in front of an orchestra in a concert hall. There is not hint of fatigue or aggression even at loud volume during crescendo session. Energy of different instruments are well rendered and distributed into the room retaining the tonal and transient characteristics of them. They were all singing in harmony. The musical intent is clear. I received it well. My dear Ludwig Hoelscher has a commanding presence on the cello. At some passages, my jaws really dropping on the floor even though I pretended to be cool in front of PT.
To be continued….
The last record that PT spinned for me was a Cantonese singer called Sam Hui. The record was made in the late 70s. He played me a cut of a song that starts with a harmonica. I had no clue what was he singing. I was very touched. It made me think of my parents for a few moments. I told PT how I felt. And he told me the song was about “parents”! Could anyone tell me if PT is making a joke with me?
One last remark to our super big brothers here at AE. Turntables are EGO BUY. Sorry, I have say now even those represented by AE such as NVS by Wave Kinetics of Gabriel by Da Vinci (which I owned one) and all those over-material design from Clear Audio and Transrotor, I recommend existing owenrs of this breed to go for total solution if you guys are catched by the engineering stories of the Vetere reference arm. Grab the Vetere record player as well. It is cheaper than most of your speaker cables. The vetere reference arm combined with the record player is much cheaper than Da Vinci Gabriel with Virtu and the Durand Telos on NVS, Clear Audio Statement and the big Transrotor. But I beg that they outperform them substantially when you listen to them side by side. If one singles out the arm is too expensive, please then forget the whole value proposition. It is meant to be a total solution.
Once again, I don’t know what is contributing what to the overal ear-gasm on my part. But the Vetere record player serving in this reproduction chain has my highest regards. It was the most briliant music audition session I have ever had in my entire audio journey since 25 years ago.
I am not good in wording, what I feel are quite and silky smooth. The extension of both end is so "smooth", natural.
Now I learned the extension of what I thought I knew before was actually noise. It show the extension of both end can be so smooth, detail, yet very analog and control. Control is the word.
Sigh! Hifi is really a never ending game!!!
You rarely write so much. And your language is decent this time! It never happens before. You always f here and f there. Have you been visiting Sunday church lately? Nevertheless, I enjoy your writeup as we both know each other for so many years! We belong to the "offshore AE account".
Really enjoy your exceptional piece of writing and this is the first time ever if I remember right. I choose not to believe that you have more time to write as you are approaching retirement, the Vertere total experience is strikingly thrilling and I think this is what pushing you for 'setting the context right' and produce such comprehensive elaboration.
I went to listen to Vertere on Friday late afternoon when I joined PT in master Chik's vinyl shop. To cut long story short, the system was not warmed up before I came. Notwithstanding such warning, I sat down and PT started to put some LPs one by one. PT also demonstrated the system without using the spindle to guide the vinyl and yet all trackings were so precise as though there is a spindle on the platter.
A question kept coming up to my mind while listening...what is the difference between this sound and the previous sound on Durand/NVS??
Can you imagine the 3-d feel of the musical images is contoured vividly by their surrounding ambience without mistified by noise? I really echo who Mr. Zanden, it is the music to die for!!
Whilst I am writing this at home, I am enjoying partially the 'Vertere' world of music by using its HB XLR interconnect from K15 to Lar2! Also another great find surpassing my previous experience on exotic cables.
Marvel
Kahw/Marvel,
What recordings did you listen to? Did he play Phantom of the Opera? Did you guys freak out like I did? I wasn't exaggearing my feelings. That was what happened.
And please at least go and grab the HB phono cable asap! This is a rare gem and the weakest link in other analog system. You guys know me well. If it is shit, I will multiply by 100 times shit. If it is a gem, I write only a few words.
The tonearm shown in the photo is the more affordable SG-1?
Thanks!