Great CD : Tchaikovsky

I have not been a great classical fans in the past as I only listened to classical one in a while.

One of my favourite composer was Mozart but recently I was introduced to Tchaikovsky's ballet Swan Lake, Sleeping beauty, and The Nutcracker

Of the 3, my favourite is The Nutcracker as listening to it will make one happy with its very lively and musical rhythm. In the Nutcracker, I like the March as well as the Arab dance, Chinese Dance and especially the Flower Waltz...

Even though Tchaikovsky has a very unhappy marriage, and has some indication that he may be gay, his music often depicts hope!

Great CD - Pink Floyd

This is a great CD during my early days!

Great CD - Dexy's Midnight runners

I have been extremely busy with my business travel lately that I have no time for my hifi and blog.

Just came back from Shanghai and I ahev managed to dig out some of my late 80s-90s CD. The Dexy's Midnight runners CD was a popular Cd during my school days where we often played very loud...especilly the song Come On Eileen!

Great CD : Footloose with tannoy Cantebury & Pye Mozart

I have taken the opportunity to listen to my old CDs with my Tannoy + Pye Mozart. The Footloose CDs was one of my favourite during the 80s as this was one of the more popular dance music during the 80s. I remember watching the movie 1984 with Kevin Beacon as the leading actor.

It was a great time duirng the 80s where dance music and parties were common every weekend.

Now, even with these vintage gears, the music from footloose could easily move everybody foot..

Cheers

Great CD : Dire Straits CD

I remembered having the Dire Straits CD when I was having much fun orgaizing various parties (it was called "function"s during the 80s- 90s).

During 1985, during my national service days, the Dire Straits was very popular. After more then 20 years, when I listened to the CD once again, the nice rhytem and music came back and I really like the great recording and powerful guitar togther with the very funky sound from the Dire Straits!

I was at the HMV Hong Kong last week and I saw the new re-mastered edition of the Dire Straits. Thank goodness, I can still find my early Dire Straits from the 1985 (Brothers in Arms) & 1998 (Sultans of Swing)..and my 1984 (Eagles : Hell Freezes over)... : )

For those who was teenages during the 80s, hang on to your CDs as these are real nice CDs and are highly collectable now! You will be pleased to hear the music as it is hip again and it will certainly bring back fond memories of your days of being wild!

Rogers Gold Badge staying in HK

After much consideration, I have decided to keep the pair of Rogers Gold badge LS3/5a in HK since I have decided to renew the lease agreement despite a 15% increase in rental.

I have now 3 set of speakers in Hong Kong (WE 10 ich fullrange, 755a and the LS3/5a Gold badge) plus my WE124b + Acxiom preamplifier. I hope not to increase the size of my collection as it will be a journey of no return as one will tend to collect more and more..unless one has the $$ & specae and time to play them all.

Nevertheless, the prices of these vintage gears are on the upward thrend, it may be a good idea for those who want to make some money to get involve in the trading business. However, I have always disliked sellings as there are many who have made appointmentbut didn't turn up (plus not having the courtesy to call...

Business trip back to Singapore

I shall be going back home to Singapore on business trip tomorrow and I am wondering whether I should bring back my LS3/5a Gold badge? or should I leave it in Hong Kong?

Preamplifier

There are a few modern preamplifiers which I like: Nagra PLL, Leben & Yamamoto...Not sure which one will be the choice~~~

蔡琴 新CD & DVD

I was overseas and I have missed the autograph signing session : (

There are some audiophiles who have commented that the 蔡琴 新CD recording was not up to "certain standard". For me, I have found the CD's recording rather good as it has managed to capture much of 蔡琴's singing emotion into the song. Not sure if its due to the charateristic of my 755a speakers which strenth lies in its mid vocal as well as the relax sound of the Western Electric? Nevertheless, rather then listening to the "recording sound effect", I have listened to 蔡琴's singing interpretation of the song. My favourite track is number 4 (you don't know my heart...rough interpretation of the title...ha ha); No 9 (If I am real)..

This 蔡琴 CD is "new" as it was recorded at a mini concert hall and not in the studio with accompanying piano, violin, guitar and some light instruments. During listening, one can easily "see" the placement of various instruments playing (i.e violinist position, guitarits position etc)...which is an enjoyment when the placement of spekers are correct..!

Hifi fever~~

Many months ago, the hifi "fever" seemed to be on German amplifiers (Klangflim, Siemens etc)Fisher preamplifiers (400CX, 50C), Pilot Preamplifiers (215, 913) and vintage Tannoy speakers as a result of "blowing water" at the R33 forum.. However, recently, the fever seemed to die down.

Upon checking with my audiophiles friend in Singapore & Malaysia, it seems that there is no real demand for Fisher or Pilot preamplifier (versus say Marantz or Mcintosh). As such, investing in hifi gears may not be a wise get rich quick scheme as it will be better to place money on stocks and shares. or even in gold bars or currencies exchange.

I have played & "being played" with many vintage geras. Luckily, I need not lose much upon changing gears (except the lost in time..but then it gives me joy in upgrading or merely changing the gear configuration). In my set up, there is only one last piece of puzzle (i.e the preamplifier for my WE124b)..and my wish for Christmas is the Nagra PLL...

Great CD ~ 發燒天碟級CD

There are some audiophiles who buy very expensive gears, interconnect and speakers wires but used "copied or pirated" CDs. For me even though the amplifiers, CD players etc are important, one should not neglect the softwares...music CDs.

After waiting for 20+ years, The Eagles has finally released a new album. The Eagles previous albium Hell freezes Over is one of the best recorded album with classic songs such as Tequila Sunrise, Hotel California etc...

Some thoughts~ Lesson learnt

Having been playing with Hifi for the past few years, I have come to a point where I think quality is more important then quantities.

There is always a strong desire to own more and more gears owing to peer pressures, or competitions among the various audiophiles. Luckily, I have managed to keep a clear mind and focus on what I need vs what I like to own. In the end, I believe that rare and valuable amplifiers will forever be in demand ~~as the demand comes from the international market and not from one or two individuals.. Leak TL12.1 is a great amplifiers among the Leak famalies...Western Electric will always be in strong demand as its reputation went as long as the 1930s~~~Marantz & Mcintosh will always appeal to those who want reputable brands...and so on..~~~~

So, if one want to start getting into hifi, one needs to know what type of sound one desires...and start with the speakers and then move backward as the sensitivity of the speakers will determine what type of power amplifiers you will need. One example is my AR3 speakers. My 12 watts amplifier was unable to optimize the performance of the AR3 which require 35 Watts power and above in order to push its to its opitmum. Perhaps a Marantz 9 will be a better amplifier for the AR3. I was unwilling to change the gear which resulted in my parting with the AR3.. : (

In addition, if you have the talents and the time (I have no talent or time)...you may wish to try DIY...

Cheers and have fun...

DIY Tube amplifiers

I have come to realise that i am not much of a DIY person. There are many DIY audiophiles who has built amplifiers claiming to be the best. In addition, there are many who aspires to build their amplifiers like those of the Mcintosh, Marantz and Western Electric ..

However, so far, other then the US or European I can only see the Japanese (brands such as Leben, Yamamoto etc) and some mainland Chinese (brands such as Sparks, Melody, etc), there are not many who can claim to be successful.

At the various forum, one can easily see expert giving out advices and acting like big Masters..In the end, my personal view is that the success of the brands will be determined by the market forces or demand and supply. Alternatively, one could joing the once a year DIY contest organized by the hifi magazines..where glory is earned by convincing the judges and not by writing in the forum like R33. What do you think?

Hifi set up as of 28 Oct 2007

After my Vietnam trip and Kuala Lumput trips, I have finally managed to take a short break today for some listening of hifi before going to Macao tomorrow for stratgy day meeting.

My current set up consists of WE 124b (power amplifiers) + Acxiom passive preamplifier + Linn Genki CD player + Matisse conductor + Altec 755a speakers ( and spare 10 inch WE speakers & Rogers LS3/5a Gold Badge). I have found keeping vintage speakers easier then amplifiers as they are relatively easy to maintain..

I am quite happy with the sound from my current set up ... and to make space for the apartment, I have put on sale my spare B&O CD player as well as the spare set of speakers cabinets. Anyone keen can write to me...

Arrival of Linn Genki CD player

After waiting for 2 weeks, my new Linn Geni CD player has finally arrived rfrom USA! I could not wait to get home to try my "new" modern CD player. With its compact size, it can easily fit into my shelf together with my Western Electric Isolation transformer as well as the Matisse.

The Linn CD playeris visually attractive with its minimalist design..Zen feel. In term of sound, it has better sound stage, and better overall musical feel. The vintage B & O, on the other hand, has better warmness..

Nevertheless, both CD players are excellent in their own ways, functionally and visually : )

Great CD - Dan Forgelberg

Recently, i have managed to find one of my old Cd from the 1980s Dan Forgelberg. It was great as it brought back great memories of my school days with songs like Leader of the Band, Run for the Roses and Same old lang Syne...

Listening to this Cd bring me back to the very reason why I have invested so much time and energy and money in setting up the hifi system. Afterall, music is for leisure..

Zenn 300B Preamplifier

As early as 1997, my Singaporean audiophile friend Zenn Audio has already created the first preamplifier using the 300b tubes!

Established brand vs new brand Hifi

There are a couple of highly publicized new hifi gears which has received great noise and interest among the audiophiles in Hong Kong (examples Pure Matt speakers and Eleckit amplifiers). From the threads, one can easily see lots of supporters. Initially, I was also tempted to try. However, the pricing of the items seem to be moving southward, i.e downward (with entrepreneur parallel importers by fellow audiophile in HK).

Moreover, more and more people are letting go these "seasonal" hot items. The price of the Elekit amplifiers is about HK$4800. However, I have seen audiophile using very expensive GEC KT66 and even Western Electric 350B to drive the amplifier. The tubes alone costs more then the amplifiers. Is this a right approach? I don't know... My view is that the tubes should not costs more then the amplifiers. If one has extra cash, one should upgrade the amplifier first (as there are the heart of the hifi set up) or the Speakers and then the tubes..

My hifi path has always been to focus and use only the well "tested" and good reputation branded gears such as Mcintosh, Marantz, Western Electric, Fishers, Pye etc.. as one tend not to lose money when selling them... : )

Great CD - nat KING Cole

Last weekend was another round of spring cleaning. I ahev sold off my spare set of spakers cabinets as well as the Jensen speakers in order to make space for my brother and sister in law holiday visit.

Originally, I have the inetention of getting a pair of Fisher 50c. However, the seller has changed his mind. I have sold off a pair to a "close friend" and initially I have thought of asking him to cut love back as he has already found another pair of Pilot 913. However, with more then 30% markup, it has made it so unattractive for me to even think...

Well, I guess that's the price of "friendship"...

With this dissappointment, my desire to own more hifi gears has reduced drastically. Instead, this setback has allowed me to look at the positive side of things and give me an opportunity to look at what I need vesus what I desires. Since I could not change the situation, my changing of attitude has allowed me the be more at ease with things and afterall, hif is just a hobby...

This 1994 Nat King Cole CD ahs all the favoutite NKC songs...22 songs all together. Wonderful vocal, good music being played by WE 124 & 755a..what more can one ask? Enjoy!

Great CD - Georges Bizet Carmen

With the near completion in my hifi set up, I hope to start appreciating some classic opera.The first on eon the list is George Bizet Carmen!