Mahler 3

I have just bought the Mahler 3 Cd from my recent business trip to Taipei.

I have briefly listened to it last night...very impressive!

Sonny Meet Hawk 24k Gold Cd

Just found this 24 k gold Cd! For those who love saxophone, its a must!

Best Vintage US & UK power amplifiers

Many audiophiles has asked the question but has failed to receive any answer.

To define best, one would need to set the criteria as different criteria will have different results. If one uses price versus performance as the main criteria, many China made amplifiers may be the best as it may be cheap and good. If one use listeming music as a guide, a simple mini combo may be the best. If one uses multi function aand convenient as a critera, the multi functional DVD, VCD, CD, MP3 system plus AM/FM radio may be the best!

In this instance, I would define best as being able to :

1. gain worldwide recognition and acceptance versus recognition by one or a few as well as

2. increasing demand and increase in values as crietria.

In term of American brands, Western Electric has been widely recognised as one of the best (for power amplifiers, preamp as well as tubes!) in sound as well as in demand! The Americam Japanese, Korean, Taiwanese as well as many Hong Kongers and now the mainland Chinese are deeply poisoned by the WE and have been a great supporters of WE!

If the Western Electric is not as good as it sounded, it would not be able to gather such a great following as there is a saying, you can fool someone once but not forever! In term of prices, the WE amplifiers are in a rapid increase from HK$90,000 in 2007 to $150,000 in July 2008. Are the people willing to pay such high prices crazy? No, it merely shows the truth that a good product is able to withsatnd the test of time and gained its recognition and reputation! Many audiophiles who has paid such high dollars used to play with much more expesive modern days equipments but just couldn'y get the WE sound that allows one to be enjoyed music without feeling fatique.

The Best UK amplifiers must be the Leak TL12.1, which has gained many convert after auditioning my friend John Keung's set at home. I used to own two pair of Quad II, one pair of Radio Craftsmen C500, but the Leak TL12.1 is truly remarkable especially when used with the Rogers LS3/5a as it has a wide soundstage and dynamism despite only 12 watts in power. In term of values, it was circa HK$30,000 in 2006 and is now HK$65000 (July 2008) . What is the reason for the increase in values and demand? Nice sound!

For those who want to listen to music and at the same time "invest", you can get the WE and Leak 12.1. Should you decide to give up the hobby some time in the future, you will not lose any money as the amplifiers will help you generate cash while serving you with these great music!

Since these 2 gears have given us so much fun and joy, I guess not many who own them is willing to part with them despite the monetary gain. Afterall, money is for one to buy one's love...and since such love is getting rarer, there are somethings that money can't buy now...

Scandyna Micropod SE

Since Hifi is a hobby, this morning while walking I was attracted by a pair of small modern looking speakers for both listening to music as well as for watching dvd movies.

Look at the size of the spekers, it stands slightly taller then my souvenir cheeky cat...

Sounded quite dynamic when using it to atch James Bond Casino Royale...

http://www.scandyna-speakers.com/Profile/The_history.aspx

玩管機→最高境界→就想玩玩的是WE ，想擁有WE-124B 當左右護法嗎？

Just read an interesting article from the Taiwan web page: 玩管機→最高境界→就想玩玩的是WE ，想擁有WE-124B 當左右護法嗎？

Buying the WE124b was one of my best decision I have made. With the WE124b, my desire to own and buy other amplifiers have diminished greatly as I no longer find the need to constantly "upgrade" . In addition, I have also managed to move from the hifi collection "rat race"..

For those who wants to own a set of WE124b, you can contact below: http://www.dahhorng.com.tw/acoustic/acoustic.htm

Mahler 2 & 9

I have always liked Otto Klemperer...

Mahler Des Knaben Wunderhorn

My love for Mahler's music has grown. His works tend to be much "longer" then others and it took some time for me to dveleop the liking for Mahler's works.

Mahler Des Knaben Wunderhorn is a good CD to test your system bass..Elizabeth Schwarzkopf's vocal is great too! Geat recording!

For detail:

'Des Knaben Wunderhorn' ('The Youth's Magic Horn') is a collection of anonymous German folk poems assembled by Achim von Arnim and Clemens Brentano and published by them, in heavily redacted form, between 1805 and 1808. Since that time, selected items from the collection have been set as 'Lieder' by several composers, including Mendelssohn, Schumann, Loewe, Brahms and Zemlinsky. The specific term Lieder aus "Des Knaben Wunderhorn", however, is usually used in connection with settings made by Gustav Mahler – though it should be appreciated that Mahler actually made more settings of Wunderhorn texts than are explicitly grouped together under that title.

Mahler's Best Recordings:

(1) Symphonies No.1 & 2London Symphony OrchestraSir Georg SoltiDECCA 448 921-2 ( 2CD )
(2) Symphony No. 2 Philharmonia Chorus & OrchestraOtto KlempererEMI 769 662-2
(3) Symphony No. 3New York PhilharmonicLeonard BernsteinDG 427 328-2 ( 2CD )
(4) Symphonies No. 2 & 4 Chicago Symphony Orch. & ChorusWiener PhilharmonikerClaudio AbbadoDG 453 037-2 ( 2CD )
( 5 ) Symphony No. 5 Chicago Symphony OrchestraSir Georg SoltiDECCA 433 329-2(6) Symphony No. 6Israel Philharmonic OrchestraZubin MehtaTELDEC 4509-98423-2
(7) Symphony No. 7Chicago Symphony OrchestraClaudio AbbadoDG 445 513-2
(8) Symphony No. 8Berliner PhilharmonikerClaudio AbbadoDG 445 843-2
( 9 ) Symphony No. 9 Chicago Symphony OrchestraCarle Marice GiulineDG 437 467-2 ( 2CD )
( 10 ) Das Lied von der Erde Philharmonia OrchestraNew Philharmonia OrchestraOtto KlempererEMI 747 231-2 CDC

Puccini Madama Butterfly

This is a great Puccini Madama Butterfly ..highlights..which is ideal for people who has insufficient time in the evening to listen to the whole CDs..

I like the part Un bel di..made famous by the movie Ftal Attraction

I have two versions of the Madma Buterfly but I like this version by Karajan better...

Morning listening

With the recent down sizing, this is how my set up in Hong Kong look like. The playstation "CD"

player has found a place in the overall hifi set up wih the neccessary "remote control" as well as a giant screen showing the CD player control panel, which by the way make selection of songs much easier as one need not starin one's eye to look at the panel anymore..ha ha..

Peking Road Forum R33

I have not been partcipating in any hifi forum lately. However, I was shocked to see so much quarrel at the R 33 forum lately owing to the posting of the bad racist joke. Whats more is the use of abusive language as well as "name" calling...What a disspointment I must say...

Better keep out of the conflict zone..

755a

Samson has brought home my spare 755a speakers. With the down sizing, I am happy as I do not have to spend so much time moving the equipments here and there. All I have to do now is to put in the CDs and then enjoy the music from the WE124 + playstaion (yes, playstation) + SP speakers.

I have not partcipate in any hifi forum which has given me peace of mind and time to enjoy music!

Life is simple..simple living!

Non classic CD Player

With my back to basic approach to listening of music, I have eliminated the use of pre amplifier and I am now using a non classic conventional CD player for my system, i.e. The old Sony Play staion 1 that I have bought quite some time ago.. Even though it is toy made for kids, the system when used as CD player cannot be under estimated. I have done an AB comparion, I must say that I prefer the cheap play station 1 in term of audio performance..

My current set up is simple: WE124b + Playstaion 1 direct to speakers..when listening to Verdi's Aida or Puccii's Turandot, Bizet's Carmen, the realistic sound is unbelieveable! Simple living and good sound!

Rossini : The Barber of Seville

This is a great CD by Rossini The Barber of Seville. Many will find the music fmiliar as it has been used in some movies soundtrack!

Hifi 2008

With the recent chnage in career, I have began to interact more with luxury watches. As a consequence, I am having less time with hifi equipement change and still struggle to listen to at least one hour of classical music per evening. With the "need to own" deminishing, I have began to cut down on my spare gears and keep only the minimal..but the best. I have also stopped attending the visit of audiophiles home as it tends to be hypocratical and political at times.

Having involve less in the hifi forum has given me more time to update my vintage watch blog and more time to try to balance my work and true leisure time. Thus, the motto for the remaining 2008 is to refine my gear and upgrade only when neccessary..

Music is for enjoyment!