To JN many thanks for excellent hospitality today, concluding with a delicious dinner at the pub. The only unfortunate downside was that Chillkram couldn't join us as planned (next time, Mark!!)

Although he has had it for a while, this was my first opportunity to hear John's 500. My last experience was with his 'mere' 300...

John is an excellent host. After warming me up with some of his own selections, he kindly let me plough my way through the bag of music I'd brought - CD and LP.

The effect of the 500 over the 300 was clear from the off. Though I'm not going to be good at describing it! The 300 is no slouch. Yet - if I may use an art anaology - the 500 somehow fleshed-in the rest of the picture which, in comparison in hindsight, somehow felt left at the sketching-out stage with the 300. I exaggerate perhaps... But the filling-in of information and musicality at all frequency levels by the 500 with the SL2s was pretty clear. With extra detail, finesse and subtlty, the 500 both went loud cleanly with clear headroom and also sounded full and convincing at low volume levels when we wanted to chat. Though very powerful, the 500 is simply not just some muscle-bound brute!

The proverbial window was indeed opened wider. Fortunately with his suitable associated equipment the system copes! The CD555 sounded mighty fine, especially when assisted by The Great Houdini Bedini, which really opened-up the sound nad renedered it much more vinyl-like.

It has to be said that the CD listening was done first, before the welcome lunch interval at 4pm and moving on to the superior source... To echo JN's own words, 'How do you make a £15k CD sound cr*p? Put it next to a £5k gramophone.' A Leicester-fettled LP12 with Geddon and Aro is a great and mighty wonder to behold. But with that TT combo, a DV 17d3 and P75.2 is a relatively modest cartridge and phono stage. And I'm afraid that even this did feel a long way ahead of even a CD555. (Why is it so difficult to exceed the sound produced by a diamond on the end of a stick?)

LP12/Geddon/Aro/17d3/P75/552/500/SL2s sounded brilliant. The trouble is, I've heard TonyM's TKRua and Superline, and JN's visiting him at the end of the month... (I've told him to go with bananas stuffed in his ears, it's the only way he's going to get out unscathed!)

Some of the music used (tracks and sides from) not in order:

CD
Neil Young, Unplugged
Devon Sproule, Keep Your Silver Shined
Sting, Best of (Fields of Gold)
Watermelon Slim & the Workers
Toumani Diabate, Mande Variations
Tinariwen +10:1, Aman Iman

LP
Dire Straits, Dire Straits - original and half-speed mastering versions
Hendrix, The Blues (Scorsese) 200g
Gomez, Bring it On
RHCP, By the Way
MJQ, Pyramid - original mono
Zero 7, When it Falls

I hope John will fill-in the musical gaps, so that I can remember what I need to order...!!!

James

I agree the 500 is a significant step up from the 300. I tried the latter for a while in my system and although I was impressed, I still felt something was lacking. The 500 was a dramatic improvement in all areas & in combination with SL2s has a particularly wonderful midband.

Ahh, what could be more satisfying than a happy few hours spent listening to J.N.'s system!

Nice write up James.
Good to see you had fun at Johns.
He does have a very nice system.
Plus very good taste in music.
Munch

Hi JWM,

I am interested that you have a mere 17D3 and P75.2 in your system. I really like this combination and am planning to upgrade my Rega P3-24 to a Rega P9 so that I can release the full potential of the D3/P75 combo.

Nice posting by the way, I always like to read about people enjoying music.

Cheers

Tim

Tim,

Leicester-fettled LP12, DV 17d3 and P75.2 and two HiLines - that's where JN and my systems are the same (though not same arm and P/S); then they diverge... JN's to full 500 series and SL2s, mine to CDS2/82/SC/250 and Kudos C10s.

That the sound of the 17d3 and P75 is in fact great and musically convincing in both systems is a wonderful tribute to the quality and good nature of both products.

And if JN can avoid the upgrade monster I am sure he will continue to be very happy with that combo. As I said, IF he can avoid the upgrade monster... (muahahahaha)

James

james,

yes its quite a day to cherish enjoying johns system isnt it!
cant wait for my next helping in a couple of weeks.
regards, dave

A visit to JN's always results in a run on my Amazon account.

Glad you enjoyed yourselves, always good to meet up.

Steve

Sorry I missed it chaps, but I have only now got back from the board meeting in Manchester. Presentation went well, you will be glad to hear, what with all the preparation time yesterday (I didn't finish until late last night!).

I especially wish I had been there after seeing the music choice - excellent. I wish Tinariwen was available on vinyl. Next time, hopefully there'll be no last minute summons!

Glad you enjoyed your listening.

Regards

Mark

quote:

I wish Tinariwen was available on vinyl.

Not succumbed to the 3.5 yet Mark..?

quote:

Originally posted by JamieWednesday:
]

Not succumbed to the 3.5 yet Mark..?

It's for the wife you know! I'm just waiting for her to give the go ahead.

Meantime I've got a phono stage to spend my money on. It's a question of priorities don't you know!

quote:

LP12 with Geddon and Aro, ...a DV 17d3 and P75.2 is a relatively modest cartridge and phono stage. And I'm afraid that even this did feel a long way ahead of even a CD555

Interesting comments and, in a sense, a bit disappointing that the 555 wasn't the equal of the t/t. If you were to add in superline/s'cap/ highline/ xv1-s then would that leave John with a considerably unbalanced system (if it isn't already!)? Unbalanced in the context of cd vs lp replay.

Peter

quote:

It's for the wife you know! I'm just waiting for her to give the go ahead.

Meantime I've got a phono stage to spend my money on. It's a question of priorities don't you know!

Well if you do, mine's in for a service at the moment and I've borrowed a CD5 and I thought you'd like to know that, IMO, the 3.5 is much more fun, so good value

I intend to get over to James' soon, if I can ever get a minute away from work at the moment, so may have a chat about the one he has in just now. If she still wants one that is!

I wish Tinariwen was available on vinyl.  

It will be soon -but just 1000 copies Check out Diverse Vinyl newsletter release scheduled for end of month
Will be seeing them for the 5th time at Larmer Tree Festival (near Salisbury) July 18th Amazing band

quote:

Originally posted by MerryDance:

I wish Tinariwen was available on vinyl.  

It will be soon -but just 1000 copies Check out Diverse Vinyl newsletter release scheduled for end of month
Will be seeing them for the 5th time at Larmer Tree Festival (near Salisbury) July 18th Amazing band

Thanks for the tip, Merry Dance. I can't see anything on their website though.

Mark

So near yet so far!!! Only 25 odd miles from me James!

Joking apart.... sounds like you had and excellent day... everything you have stated about John's system I agree with... he gets a wonderful sound.

I hope you will be able to make it to the coast soon!!

I am visiting John tomorrow evening with Simon (SJB) ..it is ages since he heard John's system..in fact I dont think there is much remaining from his last visit as it has all been upgraded. (Correct me if I am wrong, John!)

To quote from todays newsletter
TINARIWEN “AMAN IMAN”
The world music genre is tragically underrepresented
on vinyl, so it’s always with great enthusiasm that we
greet any LP release for the genre. However the hype
is truly justified for this limited edition double vinyl
version of Tinariwen’s internationally bestselling album
“Aman Iman”, one of my favourite CDs of last year!
A unique band of rare musical quality and massive
cultural impact. This amazing Toureg band have so far
sold more than 36k copies of ‘Aman Iman’ in the UK
alone, and it’s because their most accessible. Unlike
the “field recording” you might expect, the band mix
modern recording techniques with their age-old
traditional songs. The result is an incredibly dynamic
LP, giving room to all their inground delicate
indigenous sounds, whilst also crossing into rock
territories with a guitar, bass and drum set up.
Producer Justin Adams is no stranger to world fusion,
having worked with Robert Plant on his “Mighty
Rearranger” LP. The result is an astonishing
achievement from a truly unique band.
Deluxe double vinyl in a strictly limited edition of 1000
copies, coming soon.

but what's with the +10 and 3.5 ??!

Thanks Merry Dance.

The '3.5' to which James is referring is a CD 3.5 which I have been contemplating buying for the missus. I have a vinyl only system, but the advantage of getting a CDP for her is that getting her buy-in for future upgrades would be rendered easier. She has recently expressed an interest in getting a CDP where before she had none.

The +10 I don't know, perhaps James (JWM) might enlighten us.

(Sorry for hijacking this thread JWM and JN!)

Mark

Ah..
Great choice of music on the first post though. I reckon Born under a bad sign on the Hendrix Blues LP is the most convincing rendition of a live band I've ever heard

quote:

Originally posted by Michael:
I am visiting John tomorrow evening with Simon (SJB)

Sorry..don't panic John...I mean Friday evening!!!