Axpona.....everyone keeps asking me if I went...
   yes, I went.  I'll not crab too much about the horrendous music I heard played, the even worse digital I heard it played through this year, and some not very good turntables as well,  and the even crabbier attendees and exhibitors I encountered. There, was that too much? 
Okay, it was actually fun, always something good comes from a show, the people you meet, the old friends you get to chat with, a few good systems you get to spend a little time with, some new records to rush out to buy after hearing them at Highwater Sound's room, courtesy of Jeff Catalano. And the food!  Axpona wouldn't be complete without a trip over to Gibson's Steakhouse- this time two trips!.  And there was the Friday night downtown sneak-away to the Green Mill Lounge, the old Al Capone bar where Chris Foreman plays that wonderful Hammond B-3 organ from 5-8.  If you ever go, don't forget to make reservations across the street at Demera Ethiopian Restaurant, a 5 star restaurant in my book.  Your tastebuds will thank me later....
  One take away from this year's not so good show is that I'm extremely happy, giddy even, over the gear that I've been showing here. The lines I've chosen for the Haven are some of the best in the country, and my setup knowledge is commensurate. There are even more good things coming to the Haven soon, so be on the lookout....

  The newest version of the VTL 2.5i preamp w built in phono is run in, ready for audition, and turning heads- and ears!  At $5500,  this latest version has been worth the wait for the inclusion of a world class phono section.  It has moving magnet and moving coil, standard preamp features, and is worthy of any system.  It replaces the ARC preamps I started the Haven with.  Like the Auralic Taurus Mkll mentioned earlier, these preamps are more to the Haven's liking.  Wherever ARC is headed I wish them well, it's just that this boy with his snack pack is taking a different trail.  The 2.5i also comes in a line stage only version for $3000, and it also has been revamped. I appreciate immensely companies like VTL who strive to put out great products with revisions rather than something new every other tax period. There is a glut of products already on the market.  Like Vandersteen speakers, one would never notice the revisions that occur over the years, the chassis stays the same.  The added goodness is inside, and can often be retrofittable.  So come have a listen to the newest "People's Preamp".  Of course, if your wallet is only ready for a $1500 hit, then the Taurus is the new "People's People's Preamp.  The Haven has you covered. Or....there's always the Ayre KX-5 pre...$10k...the not every "People's Pre".            Schedule an appointment and come have a listen....you'll be glad you did!

She was on TCM the other night in David Copperfield, w Freddie Bartholomew and W.C. Fields....she was beyond brilliant...Dame Edna Mae Oliver. I need a customer like her. 

  If you follow any of the trade blogs, Audiostream, DAR, Audio Beat, the list goes on, you'll often see this unit with a tablet sitting on top, a set of headphones plugged in, and usually the Auralic Vega DAC underneath.  They are the same size, you know. 
  I'm still on the fence about headphones, for the Haven, I mean. I don't know if I have the in-shop traffic to support a buy-in of a number of headphone models. I know they're the rage. Camfest just occurred in Vegas, and from all accounts it was packed. The CanJam room at upcoming Axpona in Chicago will be packed to the rafters. So we'll see....anyone interested? Please send emails of interest or give me a buzz.  I do have some great headphone amps here already, or integrateds with great headphone stages in them, like the Leben.  The Leben 300 EL84 integrated is renowned for the headphone section, and many a well heeled audiophile has been buying it as such. There's also already here the Auralic Taurus Mkll as previously mentioned, the Ayre QX5 and Codex DACs.  Not too shabby, all that's missing are the cans...I don't know if I can get hip with that word...   Let me know....
  Oh, back to the Taurus for a sec.  I have been using it as a preamp lately, and for the money, it's a doozy....it seemed to take a long while to run in. Now I'm completely happy inserting it in some very top notch systems without once thinking it not worthy.  For $1500 it has loads of features, sounds amazing - it's based on the Neve studio recording board, look it up- and I just cannot fault it.  Balanced and single ended. And Highly recommended! 

  No, not a postponed April Fool's post....only the truth goes in these pages, and nothing but the truth. Of course, it's all about speaker matching, so yes, I am pulling your leg just a bit.  Maybe? Have a listen with your speakers and find out who's the fool....my piano teacher used to tell me even a fool can learn if he listens....

  This box is also a smile-getter....a box of Auditorium A23 interconnects.  The numbers coincide with the lengths, 050 is a .5M, etc.  The smallest size is perfect for stepup transformers, from table to stepup. I can't get enough of stepups these days. It's one of the most overlooked areas of phono reproduction. And something you'll be hearing more about in the future in these posts. I have quite a few here, more than any company around!, I might add. That's just one of the reasons the Haven is quickly becoming the analogue mecca in the midwest.  Stay tuned......and order your A23's today...always in demand. 

  Something I've always wanted to try was the Line Magnetic 217 300B integrated. I've had the bigger 300B from them, the 210, for a long time. It's one of my favorite amps, and the distributor's as well.  Load it up with aftermarket NOS tubes and look out...a killer diller if there ever was one...of course, one MUST have efficient speakers, which leaves more than 95 per cent of you out.  The same holds true with the 217.  Delightful right out of the box, the factory tubes LM uses are quite quite good, better than PrimaLuna's offering and others. And like the 210, the 217 is only for those of you with efficient speakers.  Or if you play very quietly.  Which, by the way some of you play, is anything but!  Be that as it may, I really like this lil guy, or girl, not sure yet...maybe it's binary. All I know is it is one gorgeous sounding amp. And how close to the 210, you ask? Pretty pretty close. Nah, I fooled ya... But the price difference is large enough where you get what you pay for.  The 217 is oh so sweet, and could be many's first foray into 300B units. The 210 adds to that with larger than life intensity and balls to the ground bass. That's what you get with bigger transformers and better parts. 
So bring me your efficient speakers, or give me a destination to drive to, and hear for yourself.  Highly recommended!

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