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A Favorite...as in a favorite....

10/31/2016

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  The DeVore 0/93, a speaker I owned as a hobbyist, and now sell as a dealer.
I'm often asked if this is my favorite speaker, I'm supposing because I've mentioned it many times on this blog. It is indeed one of my favorites, out of maybe half a dozen or so. It does what I need out of a speaker here, in my rooms, with associated gear I like to use. Perhaps in another house, or if I could only use certain gear, it would not make the cut, getting edged out by something that might work better with said house/room and gear. Here in these rooms it works tremendously well, with gear that I love to both sell and own. While not cheap, it's not overpriced for what you get. And what you get is far far better than most on the market, musically. It's a speaker for people who come to me or call and say they want something more, something their Dynaudios or Von Schweikerts or B&W's or what have you lack- substance, emotion, true music-making, that ability to connect. Now I'll admit, I've heard them sound pretty pretty bad in the wrong hands. Like anything else that's great, treated poorly it suffers. Stick with the Haven's tried and true, and you may never buy another speaker. "May" being the key word here...listen to the new DeVore X's, and you might be ready to spring again. Or if  your ear needs a bit more, you might be tempted by the Vandersteen Quatros, or....
​  Just remember, you could do worse....
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Perfect works.....

10/31/2016

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  A good level, be it a carpenter's bubble or digital, is essential for setting up a turntable or rack. This is the Cartridge Man's digital gauge. It is super accurate, more so than a bubble. With any turntable or rack, it's important to get them level. With reference level tables and racks, you have to get them level to allow them to sing or support the gear as their designers intended. This setup is with the Harmonic Resolution Systems RXR Audio Rack, a double wide with 14 footers to get level. So many points of contact, and this gauge is up for the task. Once level, the turntable is next, and the Cartridge Man gauge has a spindle hole for turntables, making for amazingly accurate adjustments. 
  I do believe that this is the first time the HRS rack has been actualized, by pinpoint leveling, and everything I put on it sounds wonderful. If you don't think racks make much of a difference, bring a favorite piece of yours and place it on this rack. I'll provide a soft chair pad for you to fall into in your state of disbelief. It'll be fun, it'll make you angry, it'll make you go home and scrounge around looking for things to sell. Come and hear it! 
  And as a good friend likes to say, "Boy, you'd best bring a diaper along!"
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  Here's that lovely Brinkmann Bardo again, level as level can be, and the effect of its being level on that very level HRS RXR rack.  If you don't get why being ***** is important to shelving and turntables, get a Bose....
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To Ayre is Human

10/26/2016

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The intoxicating Ayre AX5 integrated...engaging, grain-free, capable of emotions most of its solid state brethern can never achieve.
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A Bit of Advice

10/26/2016

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When you come to listen to music, mum's the word.....
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DeVore X's

10/26/2016

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   A great group of guys in from Centralia, IL to hear the DeVore X's. The X's continue to impress here, driven by the Leben 600, the Ayre AX5 and Ayre separates, the VTL 2.5/150, and for a while the Brinkmann integrated.  They're relaxed, they're stimulating, they breathe fire, and then sing like angels. They bring not only the chest but the body to singers, an orchestra envelopes you, a trumpet blats at you. They can play well in any room I've heard them in, large or small. They will show what you put in front of them, both amp and sources, so make it good, make it darn good. And they'll reward you like few speakers out on the market can. People say that the art of speaker building hasn't changed much thru the years, but I disagree. There are many many "good" speakers out there, almost too many, in fact. Yet there are very few great ones. Think about that. 
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A Proper Setup

10/26/2016

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  Clearly one of the things I notice when I go to hobbyist's homes is one of improper setup, with speakers, with gear and cables, and most importantly with turntables. I'd venture to estimate that over 90% of turntables out there are not correctly setup. The VTA is off, which is the most common. The cartridge isn't aligned properly in the headshell. The table is NOT level! It's sitting on something that is totally irrelevant to audio, or the tracking force is way off. All these factors plus some have a huge impact on the sound you'll get from a turntable. 
  Many of the forum experts are to blame here, dispensing incorrect advise like it's been passed down from on high. Wrong. They pulled it out their ass! 
  So please, please, use your dealer to help you. Or if it's a second hand or online piece, then find somewhere to take it to for a proper setup. I have practically stopped shipping turntables, due to the fact that some who claim to have set up many tables can't really do so. If you don't live close to a dealer then you'd probably be better off ordering an online Rega, which is plug and play, then fiddle with a table and not get the best sound that table can give. As good as digital is starting to get, (and I'm talking a music server and DAC- get your computer out of there ) a properly setup turntable is still God's gift to mankind. So please don't abuse it. 

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Auralic Mini News

10/13/2016

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  As of Oct 31, the Mini will no longer come with a free year subscription to Tidal. All orders placed before then will be supported by Tidal. After Nov 1 the price of the Mini will drop from $549 to $499. I know some of you have taken advantage of the free subscription, so for those of you on the fence now is your time. 
  Have I told you how much I love the Mini? How much Michael Lavorgna of Audiostream and John Darko of DAR love the Mini as well? It's become my go to entry  level digital piece. With so many capabilities in such a small box, it becomes a real powerhouse when the external power supply ($300) is added. 
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It's so much fun to use, it belongs in every home....
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A hard drive was added to make it a self contained sonic wonder
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THE GREATEST RETAIL SIN I DID JUST COMMIT

10/12/2016

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  When one considers themselves a retail professional, there are certain guidelines one religiously adheres to.  Product knowledge, the joy of human service, and cleanliness are but a few that have been ingrained in me through the years. And until today, timeliness. I failed miserably on that account today when I completely forgot it was a retail day. In the midst of my running around to complete things before I had to leave for a funeral, the doorbell rang and there was a young man at the door who had driven three hours to come hear the Haven's hifi.  Well, he was very understanding while I blabbered on most embara
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MANGER P1 demos.... in excellent shape. Reg. Price $15,000 call for demo pricing.
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SUGDEN LA4 line stage demo, Reg. Price $4650 (minus the dust) in great shape with relatively low hours for a demo. please call for pricing
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