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Untimely Issue

72.224.232.198
Posted on March 8, 2022 at 15:18:23
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi, I just got the new Stereophile (April). Without reading and just scanning it was very untimely. With people being massacred and gas now soaring I'd like to point out a few things....
Vivid Audio Kaya S12 at 6,500 bucks.Not much bigger than a Realistic Minimus 7 with stands that cost 2000 grand.If this is novel I must keep reading because when I saw this it reminded me of the Focal Egg Loudspeaker that came out 38 years ago.It did have a frequency graph ruler flat for it's stated range.
Engstrom Monica Mk3, a line preamp for only 60,000 dollars.I can't even be bothered to read that after watching the news.Maybe it has gold knobs.
I have not read the Schiit Freya review yet, I like Schiit stuff but imagine 60 units equaling 1 Monica and remember it's a line preamp.
When I read or scan this issue with the current news on it's pathetic on both sides.I hate to be a crab but the world needs some help now.You might get a better feeling with your system if channeled your money to a better cause. There's my gripe.Take care and I hope this war stops ASAP...Mark Korda

 

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RE: Untimely Issue, posted on March 8, 2022 at 18:15:34
hawkmoon
Audiophile

Posts: 903
Location: cleveland
Joined: July 11, 2003
 Lets hope things get better!

 

So all companies involved in ridiculously expensive products..., posted on March 8, 2022 at 20:26:37
Ivan303
Audiophile

Posts: 48887
Location: Cadiere d'azur FRANCE - Santa Fe, NM
Joined: February 26, 2001
 or services should close their doors and lay off all of their employees until the Russians leave Ukraine and price of gas goes down?








First they came for the dumb-asses
And I did not speak out
Because I was not a dumb-ass

 

I think Mark, posted on March 9, 2022 at 04:53:28
Atwood
Audiophile

Posts: 527
Joined: October 10, 2001
 was just adding some perspective.

 

RE: Why pick on one magazine?, posted on March 9, 2022 at 06:14:46
tketcham
Audiophile

Posts: 6701
Location: East of the 100th meridian USofA
Joined: March 21, 2005
Contributor
  Since: October 1, 2005
 Mark, while I appreciate your concerns about Russia's aggressive and inhumane actions against Ukraine, why did you single out Stereophile and the gear they reviewed? Cheap shots in my opinion.

You want to to rail against injustice? Point out the excesses reviewed in one of these magazines...


 

High end audio is a luxury, posted on March 9, 2022 at 06:18:15
Analog Scott
Audiophile

Posts: 9933
Joined: January 8, 2002
 And will always look shameful next to serious world issues. Each individual decides for themselves how they allocate their personal money. If a particular event gives a member of AA a moment of perspective that is fine. But when it becomes "component X is ridiculously expensive and it's mere existence is immoral because there are "starving kids in China" it's just obnoxious grand standing

 

So, boycott Sovtek and Svetlana tubes? (nt), posted on March 9, 2022 at 11:45:36
Brian H P
Audiophile

Posts: 1291
Location: Oregon
Joined: December 18, 2012
 nt

 

RE: Why pick on one magazine?, posted on March 9, 2022 at 19:04:49
Krav Maga
Audiophile

Posts: 2358
Location: Texas
Joined: October 19, 2017
 "Why pick on one magazine?......why did you single out Stereophile and the gear they reviewed? ...You want to to rail against injustice? Point out the excesses reviewed in one of these magazines..."

I imagine that his thoughts occured while scanning this magazine and the fact that this is an audio forum, not a boating, etc forum. I imagine if he were a boating forum member with a subscription to Yachts magazine, his thoughts would be similar except in the context of boats.

"All thoughts are prey to some beast" - Bill Callahan

"I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are" - Lou Reed

"Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein

 

RE: So all companies involved in ridiculously expensive products..., posted on March 9, 2022 at 19:08:54
Krav Maga
Audiophile

Posts: 2358
Location: Texas
Joined: October 19, 2017
 I'm not sure that Mark implied any of that... but, I'm pretty sure that you inferred it.
"All thoughts are prey to some beast" - Bill Callahan

"I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are" - Lou Reed

"Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein

 

Let him speak for himself, posted on March 10, 2022 at 11:57:13
hawkmoon
Audiophile

Posts: 903
Location: cleveland
Joined: July 11, 2003
 Only he knows his intent

 

RE: Untimely Issue, posted on March 10, 2022 at 19:45:51
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8386
Joined: June 3, 2006
 I have been reading in audio magazines about high priced audio stuff thru wars in Vietnam, Iraq, Afghanistan. Reading about cheap stuff during those painful times would have been very demoralising. Stereophile chose the right amps and speakers for Ukraine.

Bill

 

Mark, it's coming down! Link., posted on March 12, 2022 at 15:20:58
viridian
 Link below:

 

RE: Mark, it's coming down! Link., posted on March 12, 2022 at 21:39:09
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi, I like all you guys and I don't blame Stereophile.I apologize to Stereophile.I do have some issues about the issue ( April). I love seeing the latest issue in my mailbox but this is (critics)so I might be a little critical.
I told you earlier that when I was scanning and just cracking open the issue the horrors of the latest war was on my tv.I had the page open with the 60 thousand dollar line preamp. With people in such need and reading that article made me boil.I read the review the next day and with all that money the line preamp was a whoopsie! Okay, that can happen.For a line preamp for 60 grand wouldn't the readers like to see what it looks like inside? I don't know anyone who buys a car without popping the hood.Look at the Prima Luna preamp ad in the mag.That's the way it should be presented.
Maybe I'm reading this wrong but some advise to Herb Reichert from Ken Kessler was to sneak some double entendre into the set up so you don't lose the reader in the middle.To me it sounds like something a used car salesman would say.I noticed that Herb mentioned some magnets from China and Far East voice coils in the same paragraph.Why not say China twice?
In the past I have used Stereophile as a tool, the RadioShack solid core wires, the passive preamp sketch 1982 or 83 with Dave Wilson and wife on the cover, and Art Dudley rescuing a pair of Advent 3's on a road trip yard sale.I like now more than ever those articles with the kid,the gals.and the cats.That was a great idea as it broadened Stereophile's scope.
Thanks Viridian for the heads up on that Bellari vacuum tube preamp.That was nice of you.I wish they would show the inside of that.A nice test I'd like to see is that against the Monica 60 grande preamp.Win or loose it's more interesting reading.Herb Reichert pits components against each other all the time.

I just got the latest Absolute Sound today and their first letter was just like Stereophiles first letter both harping on the high prices.It looks like Stereophile is becoming Absolute Sound and Absolute Sound is becoming the old Stereophile.
Thanks for listening to my crabbing...you guys are all right....Mark...you too Stereophile




 

"A nice test I'd like to see is that against the Monica 60 grande preamp.", posted on March 13, 2022 at 11:36:46
viridian
 Would that be in the context of a $1,000 system or a $250,000 system? Or simply a bench test?

 

RE: Mark, it's coming down! Link., posted on March 13, 2022 at 18:51:04
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17305
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 "Mullard 12AX7 Tube; 15 Volt Power Supply"

How in the world do you run a 12ax7 from a 15 volt supply?

Answer, not properly.

Good luck with that.

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

This is funny as hell, posted on March 13, 2022 at 19:33:55
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17305
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 from the PA555 manual.

"Q: What is the best sounding tube I can get for the PA555?
A: This is an unanswerable question. Everyone has different
tastes. It is up to the individual to decide as all tubes sound
slightly different. For me the best tube I have ever heard in a
PA555 was a N.O.S. 5751 Telefunken tube."

The thing is, Telefunken never made a 5751.

From Joe's Tube Lore, "Oh, and by the way, you will never see a Mullard, Brimar or Telefunken 5751 because they never made them."

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

What's equally funny...-, posted on March 13, 2022 at 20:17:59
viridian
 ...-is that you would take the time to read the manual. Putting a non-existent tube in there would probably not make any difference. The heavy lifting is done by op amps if it is anything like their phono stage.

 

Amen, Brother, posted on March 14, 2022 at 00:25:37
Simon Templar
Audiophile

Posts: 605
Location: Infinite Rider On The Big Dogma
Joined: November 9, 1999
 ...and besides...the 'high-priced spread' is what people care to read about. They may cry and complain about 'why can't you review something we can afford?'...but the truth is that if it were a magazine full of reviews of Kenner Close 'N' Plays and Crosley radios, after a certain period absolutely nobody would renew their subscriptions.

I admit it...I LIKE the rarified air reviews. I am retired and on a more or less fixed income. StereoPile and Absolute Sound is the closest I'll ever get to a Tech Das turntable or the like.

Yes, I'll pile on with all the others....it's heinous what is going on in Ukraine. AND....I suspect it might yet prove to be a prelude to worse (the historical parallels being far too striking for my tastes).

BUT....whether I read a StereoPile article about uber costly kit or I don't read one will not make any difference whatsoever on things. SO I choose with a clear conscience to read it.


.....sT

 

RE: Untimely Issue, posted on March 14, 2022 at 06:39:52
Dale Clark
 Pick any day or moment throughout history, there is ALWAYS something going on more important than anything audiophile-related. I think the op's post is more about virtue signaling vs any feelings the OP has about the war or Audio prices, etc.

Virtue Signaling is a disease that spreads like wildfire.

 

RE: What's equally funny...-, posted on March 14, 2022 at 07:31:01
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17305
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 I was looking for a circuit description, what I found was just a bunch of BS.

Tre'
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

RE: This is funny as hell, posted on March 14, 2022 at 07:38:42
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi Tre, I have no clue about the Bellari 555's power supply being 15 volts. I do remember Frank Van AlStine offering an upgrade to his Super Dyna PAS which used the 12AX7's to the 5751's.He gave some reasoning and I will dig it up. Thanks, there might be something in Vacuum Tube Valley,I'll see what I can find....take care...Mark

 

You are far more diligent than I., posted on March 14, 2022 at 07:53:49
viridian
 I just assumed that it was not up to snuff without giving it a second thought. Probably says more about me than the preamp.

 

Why would World Events have anything to do with High End Audio or its sycophants?..., posted on March 14, 2022 at 14:50:22
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31879
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 Never has, never will.

People are massacred daily and have been for ages, frequently OVER gas.

Escapism comes in all forms and many different costs.

One of the reasons there are hobbies.

News, world events, reality has little to do with it so long as supply chains hold.

It's all smoke and tears.




"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

Virtue Signaling? You wish..., posted on March 14, 2022 at 14:58:50
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31879
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 He's just commenting on ridiculous HE audio prices once
again and the support group that feeds off and thrives from it.

Nothing much new, just phrased differently and made a bit more... timely/trendy.


"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

A virtue signalling fail, posted on March 14, 2022 at 16:37:36
13th Duke of Wymbourne
Audiophile

Posts: 2800
Location: Orange Co., Ca
Joined: September 19, 2001
 I think Ukrainians would swap high gas prices for no war, so equating them is a bit of a virtue signalling fail IMO.

 

War, what is it good for? , posted on March 15, 2022 at 11:23:12
geoffkait
 Absolutely nothing.

 

Easily the ugliest piece of audio equipment I've seen in years, posted on March 15, 2022 at 11:55:03
pbarach
Audiophile

Posts: 3307
Location: Ohio
Joined: June 22, 2008
 ...is the gag-me green Vivid Audio Kaya S12.

 

RE: Easily the ugliest piece of audio equipment I've seen in years, posted on March 15, 2022 at 17:16:40
Krav Maga
Audiophile

Posts: 2358
Location: Texas
Joined: October 19, 2017

I'm offended!
"All thoughts are prey to some beast" - Bill Callahan

"I'll be your mirror
Reflect what you are" - Lou Reed

"Blind belief in authority is the greatest enemy of truth." - Albert Einstein

 

RE: Mark, it's coming down! Link., posted on March 16, 2022 at 10:10:24
Flatwound
Audiophile

Posts: 58
Location: Georgia
Joined: January 27, 2011
 Hagerman explains how he runs 2x12ax7 plus a 12au7 from a wall wart in the Cornet3 manual.
I have one, and can testify it works as implemented. Not sure how Bellari does theirs...-

 

"boost converter" Thanks nt, posted on March 16, 2022 at 14:17:48
Tre'
Industry Professional

Posts: 17305
Location: So. Cal.
Joined: February 9, 2002
 .
Have Fun and Enjoy the Music
"Still Working the Problem"

 

Too late... the supply chains are in shambles for tubes... this has no effect on myself~nT, posted on March 16, 2022 at 15:16:01
Cleantimestream
Audiophile

Posts: 7551
Location: Kentucky
Joined: June 30, 2005
 ~!
The Mind has No Firewall~ U.S. Army War College.

 

Those Kaya S12 are not overpriced when compared to alternatives, posted on March 18, 2022 at 07:03:28
Dave_K
 The stands are an obvious profit maker, and the speaker just doesn't look right without them. But I was pleasantly surprised when I found out these were "only" $6500.

They're cheaper than many other high end, two-way, two driver standmounted loudspeakers that I've either owned or I'm considering. These include the Magico A1, TAD ME1, Wilson Benesch Vertex, Joseph Audio Pulsar, KEF Reference 1, Dynaudio Confidence 20, and Stenheim Alumine 2.

You're getting unique technology for the price. Check out the construction of the tweeter with its exponential tube absorber, and the clever way they build an exponentially tapered back chamber for the woofer between the inner and outer shell, while accommodating a port. That complex structure isn't cheap, and neither are the neo magnets used on both drivers.

 

RE: Those Kaya S12 are not overpriced when compared to alternatives, posted on March 18, 2022 at 07:31:53
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Hi Dave, Do you know where I can find an internal picture of the Kaya's? Thanks, Mark.

 

RE: Those Kaya S12 are not overpriced when compared to alternatives, posted on March 18, 2022 at 09:08:52
Dave_K
 Here's a video where the designer explains the unique enclosure:








View YouTube Video



Some stock picks:




 

RE: Those Kaya S12 are not overpriced when compared to alternatives, posted on March 18, 2022 at 11:29:32
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
Dave, that was great. Thanks for sending that. I tried something like that a long time ago when I added 15 or 20 pounds of modeling clay, Van AlStine's idea to the inside of a small monitor sized enclosure. Doesn't the KEF 50 use something like the that sound diffuser? After watching that I still think their over priced but found myself secretly wanting a pair....don't tell anyone......thanks again...Mark K.

 

Agree-they almost make me feel ill--NT, posted on March 19, 2022 at 17:53:36
lancelot
Audiophile

Posts: 1722
Joined: March 23, 2001
 NT

 

RE: War, what is it good for? , posted on March 19, 2022 at 18:13:32
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 I'm certain there is a Bio-Genetic reason for war. Stuff like territory for expansion and breeding rights. that sort of thing.

But in a Modern setting? I'll go WITH you for a change. It all changed with the advent of 'Total War'......Maybe the Civil war? Certainly by WWI.

Of course, even the Roman war with Carthage was 'total' in that the place was plowed up THAN salted. sounds total to me...

Humans are DEFECTIVE. We're on the verge of killing ourselves off, to prove a point.......But nobody knows QUITE what it point may be?

No wonder those guys in UFOs haven't been down here to HELP. What could they do that wouldn't make things WORSE......
Too much is never enough

 

The Mayfly is only $4900 (nt), posted on March 19, 2022 at 19:01:37
Bill the K
Audiophile

Posts: 8386
Joined: June 3, 2006
 nt

 

And it isn't worth $1000, posted on March 20, 2022 at 06:22:18
Dave_K
 I assume you mean this?

https://www.mayflyaudio.com/main.html

It's an off the shelf $190 Seas Prestige coaxial driver, the T18REX/XFC, in an interesting looking enclosure that makes no sense acoustically. The dimensions of the diffuser wells, which are all <= 3" with most 2" or less, are only effective at tweeter frequencies, and the tweeter is closed back, so all that complicated looking diffusion does nothing. Really, nothing.

The external shape of the cross section is irregular anyway, so even without the diffuser elements, there wouldn't be strong standing waves due to the cross-sectional geometry that you would need to break up. And strangely, there's nothing at all to break up standing waves in the vertical dimension. Being the largest dimension of the enclosure, it's going to generate the strongest standing waves, and they'll be in the frequency range of the woofer. So this is a profoundly stupid design.

EDIT: They probably sound decent anyway, because it's hard to screw up a small two-way, especially when using a matched pair of drivers from one of the world's foremost manufacturers, in a coaxial unit no less, so you don't even have to consider the tweeter dispersion in the design. But all that internal Jenga is a waste of time.

 

The 3D printed KEF meta absorber is very cool, posted on March 20, 2022 at 09:13:38
Dave_K
 It only absorbs the back wave from the tweeter though.

It may even work better on the tweeter than the exponential tube in the Kaya S12, because the tube in the S12 is much shorter than Dickie fits into his larger speakers.

But Vivid also uses an exponentially tapered chamber to load their midranges and woofers. The easiest way to see how effective it is, is to look at the response of the port that JA measured. Internal cabinet resonances show up clearly in measurements taken at the port. It's an open hole, so besides its own bass reflex resonance, it reveals what's going on in the box. And in the case of the Kaya S12, it is super-duper clean, with effectively nothing above 200 Hz.

I'm interested in these speakers, but I am concerned about the bass response. They look like they are tuned for closer wall placement than I prefer in my room. A dealer nearby has the bigger, three-way Kaya 45 for audition, and I've been meaning to pay a visit. But the Kaya 25 is the model I really want to hear.

 

RE: The 3D printed KEF meta absorber is very cool, posted on March 20, 2022 at 11:40:37
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011
 Dave, the reason my coax Seas drivers are still in the cartons is that all the other coax's I've used only had 1 capacitor between the woofer and tweeter. The crossover that came with those Seas has more components than you can count. I was going with a strait wire with gain theme and my project idea's shifted. At the time I was a believer in building my own passive preamp and that was great until I heard a vacuum tube buffer. That has been my recent game changer. I will get a picture of that crossover and see if you think I should be thrown in the nut house. I think Madisound is where I got it. I think I said before but Madisound used that co-ax in a kit they sold called the Loki, way before Schiitt Norse names were around. I thought what you wrote was really great as I learn a lot when you have the floor.....thanks Mark Korda.

 

RE: War, what is it good for? , posted on March 20, 2022 at 12:23:42
geoffkait
 I'm leaning toward the theory that a single deranged dictator with an inferiority complex wants to punish or kill those he believes belittle or hate him. Nothing more than that.

 

No longer running a Will Vincent ST-70 here... , posted on March 20, 2022 at 12:39:01
musetap
Audiophile

Posts: 31879
Location: San Francisco
Joined: July 8, 2003
Contributor
  Since: January 28, 2004
 I'm sitting on a dozen sets of fine EL34 as well as some 7199
and other tubes that I may have to sell soon before their price
starts to recede...

Ebb and Flow.

Push and Pull.

"Once this was all Black Plasma and Imagination"-Michael McClure



 

RE: War, what is it good for? , posted on March 20, 2022 at 12:43:39
pictureguy
Audiophile

Posts: 22597
Location: SoCal
Joined: October 19, 2008
 Question THAN becomes......How the heck to these guys get in a position of power? MAO was the same. I've read extensively about that guy and NO viable opposition even coalesced.....

And on OUR side of the fence? How do we get such Ineffectual (theoretical) leaders?

I researched the movie Valkerie....about the plot to Assasinate Hitler. Apparently? Roughtly 15 such plots were hatched. NONE of which were successful....But 15 in 5 years? That's ONE attempt every 4 months. You'd think somebody would have eventually gotten it right?
Too much is never enough

 

RE: Untimely pricing, posted on March 20, 2022 at 22:41:49
hifitommy
Audiophile

Posts: 15388
Location: canyon country califiornia, orig from buffalo ny
Joined: June 9, 2000
 omg, 2000grand. that's 2 MILLION dollars!

2000,000
...regards...tr

 

RE: The 3D printed KEF meta absorber is very cool, posted on March 21, 2022 at 07:37:18
mark.korda@myfairpoint.net
Audiophile

Posts: 1253
Location: Maine
Joined: August 16, 2011



Hi Dave, these are the crossovers that came with the Seas co-ax from Madisound. I see 6 different caps and 2 coils.This looked like too much in the way of the original signal. Seas now has a different coax without the large crossover....Mark K.

 

Nope. At an movie summed it up... some men want to watch the World burn"-nt, posted on March 25, 2022 at 02:37:46
Cleantimestream
Audiophile

Posts: 7551
Location: Kentucky
Joined: June 30, 2005
 !
The Mind has No Firewall~ U.S. Army War College.

 

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