My new system
- Thread starter prem
- Start date
sachinchavan 15865
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing the experience in detail. Makes me further eager to listen to Prem’s new rig. The earlier one (JBL) had a distinctly large (arena like) presence. This seems like a different character - more suited for intimate listening. Is Prem sobering down?ANOTHER WEDNESDAY
I wanted to start a new thread titled 'A Wednesday', but was afraid that UTV would sue me for copyright infringement. Moreover, the images and other details of the setup are all here in this thread, saving me the effort to describe the components
Yes, it was on Wednesday that I got an opportunity to listen to Prem's Axiom 80s playing the EMT 930 through the Thoress F2a amp. The first impression upon entering Prem's place is the sheer beauty of the setup. The components , despite their vintage, look classy, elegant, rich and (sic) 'just like a wow'. Prem has posted pictures earlier in this thread - don't forget to take a look before reading further.
Prem had already arrived at three or four optional speaker positions, all within a few mm of each other and we began listening. The tracks that we used for comparison between the different positions were:
1. Geela Geela Pani from 'Satya'
2. Zindagi Kya Hai from Gulzar-Jagjit's 'Koi Baat Chale'
3. Making Music, the first track from Zakir Hussain's 'Making Music'
In every selected position, the music just flowed. I would summarise what I heard as the 3 Ns - Nuanced, Natural and Nimble. This was different from any other system that I have heard - it wasn't like a live performance on stage, it wasn't in-your-face and it wasn't laid back. The closest I can get to describing the sound is that it was as if one is a music conductor and the artists are auditioning in the room. The different speaker positions were like different 'takes'. We would hear Take 1 and then Prem would move the speaker by another 2 mm to give us Take 2, and so on. I was surprised at the big difference in sound that resulted from minuscule speaker movements. Perhaps the Axiom 80s are relatively more sensitive to placement, or maybe in Prem's company, one's ears get more sensitised to subtle changes! One of the positions that Prem had already identified clearly sounded superior and we then stayed with this position for the rest of the afternoon.
The sound of the thunderstorm in Geela Geela Pani made me look out of the window to check if it was raining. The rhythm of the rain fall in this same song perfectly synchronised with Lata's natural voice. In Zindagi... Gulzar's opening intro and Jagjit's rendering made me reflect on the events in Jagjit's life and then reflect on my own - 'sabko apne hi kisi baat par rona aaya'. In Making Music, the dynamics in Chaurasia's flute, the change in mood when Zakir comes in with his tabla intro and the piercing wail of Garbarek's sax takes one into another world. It is rare to hear a setup that conveys detail, flow and emotion so well. The Axioms indeed bring out the characteristics and nuances of every instrument being performed, but without losing cohesiveness.
We then heard Brubeck/Desmond play Three To get Ready and Take Five. On the former song, the timing of the piano and drums playing in sync after Desmond's sax solo needs to be perfect, and indeed it was. On Take Five, every strike of the drum stick on the snare was distinguishable. We both felt that bass needs to open up a bit more and this may take a couple more weeks of burn-in.
As we still had a few minutes left, we decided to listen to some older analogue tracks. Prem threw in the Intaqam LP with Rafi singing 'Jo Unki Tamanna'. Man, this was simply the next level. Rafi's voice, the orchestral backing and the piano came through so very naturally - this is what the craze for analogue pressings is all about. Superb indeed!
A big thank you to @prem for having me over and for being, as always, a wonderful host.
Cheers!
Did you go around Bandra? It’s as Goan as Mumbai gets.
Fiftyfifty
Well-Known Member
Thanks for sharing the experience in detail. Makes me further eager to listen to Prem’s new rig. The earlier one (JBL) had a distinctly large (arena like) presence. This seems like a different character - more suited for intimate listening. Is Prem sobering down?
Did you go around Bandra? It’s as Goan as Mumbai gets.
Yes, others should definitely listen, if only to savor the taste of a different kind of sound. I agree that the setup seems more suited for an intimate experience. However Prem did mention that the speakers easily adapt to the genre of music one is listening to. We didn't play any Beyonce or Kanye West though
As for sobering down, I don't think Prem will ever cease from exploration
Cheers!
Satyaki Banerjee
Well-Known Member
SINGLE AGAIN
Yes.. We are talking about our very own Prem. But the title of this post does not refer to his family life, but the new love in his life, Thoress F2A11 single ended amplifier married to his Goodmans Axiom 80 single driver speaker.
The last time I wrote about Prem's audio system it seemed he has reached the end of the road with his EMT 950 turntable, Thoress EHT amplifier and JBL 4343 speakers, it was an immensely gratifying experience listening to that system. It would take someone with the risk taking ability of Prem and having his fervour for research to have been able to visualise and put together a single driver speaker system, driven by a 6W single ended amplifier that can challenge and win over the might of the magnificent JBL 4343. It's an incredible achievement.
I had the privilege of being a part of this journey from the very begining and I have witnessed the depth of his research and the exploration of several potential design options for speaker enclosure, selection of amplifier and the very crucial decision of the phono stage to choose to complement the EMT 930 / TSD 15 cartridge.
Today afternoon we had a great time listening to music and calibrating the system to the last level of fine tuning. And what an experience it was... the experience and the emotional impact it makes lingers on for hours or even days after the music has stopped, it's that good.
The musical impact of the system is so intense, it makes you experience every facet of emotion Rafi or Lata would have infused in their singing, you are able to visualise vividly the actor that would have been on the screen even though you wouldn't have seen the movie. Yes. It has that ability.
It's the closest to live you can be, and that became very palpable on a Shakti album that Prem played. The dynamics, the body of the vocals, the attack of the percussion instruments, the depth of the overall presentation and the spatial cues of the recording venue, the system has an uncanny ability of reproducing these aspects in a vivid, visceral and effortless manner.
Incredible.
Yes.. We are talking about our very own Prem. But the title of this post does not refer to his family life, but the new love in his life, Thoress F2A11 single ended amplifier married to his Goodmans Axiom 80 single driver speaker.
The last time I wrote about Prem's audio system it seemed he has reached the end of the road with his EMT 950 turntable, Thoress EHT amplifier and JBL 4343 speakers, it was an immensely gratifying experience listening to that system. It would take someone with the risk taking ability of Prem and having his fervour for research to have been able to visualise and put together a single driver speaker system, driven by a 6W single ended amplifier that can challenge and win over the might of the magnificent JBL 4343. It's an incredible achievement.
I had the privilege of being a part of this journey from the very begining and I have witnessed the depth of his research and the exploration of several potential design options for speaker enclosure, selection of amplifier and the very crucial decision of the phono stage to choose to complement the EMT 930 / TSD 15 cartridge.
Today afternoon we had a great time listening to music and calibrating the system to the last level of fine tuning. And what an experience it was... the experience and the emotional impact it makes lingers on for hours or even days after the music has stopped, it's that good.
The musical impact of the system is so intense, it makes you experience every facet of emotion Rafi or Lata would have infused in their singing, you are able to visualise vividly the actor that would have been on the screen even though you wouldn't have seen the movie. Yes. It has that ability.
It's the closest to live you can be, and that became very palpable on a Shakti album that Prem played. The dynamics, the body of the vocals, the attack of the percussion instruments, the depth of the overall presentation and the spatial cues of the recording venue, the system has an uncanny ability of reproducing these aspects in a vivid, visceral and effortless manner.
Incredible.
Last edited:
Gerry_the_Merry
Well-Known Member
Nice write up. Must visit, Prem…!
oldmonk
Well-Known Member
Hmmm..an Oldmonk would have perhaps helped..
sivakumars
Member
The background and ambience looks lovely Enjoy your setup
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