Voltron

The Sound of Jazz [unremastered]

USG: Not sure what more I can add, although the Rockhopper Beta I own is a fantastic amp. It is similar to the other finest Beta I have heard, which was Naaman's Beta that Asr used to own. Either of those blew blessingx's former amp out of the water. Dreadhead has mentioned to me previously that he upgraded it and enjoyed much more as he says above. I have never heard a Nate Beta but I am sure that he also reaches the pinnacle of the form. The hallmarks of a great Beta to my mind are power, neutrality and control. My amp has more power than could ever be needed for normal cans, and can drive K1000s to my understanding but not my personal experience because mine are wired with speaker connections only. The Beta is also very neutral and true to the source. Although I do not find the Beta as "engaging" or "absorbing" as the Luxman, for example, that is not because it is sterile but just because it is so neutral. A warmer source would also get me more where I want to be, and is a consideration I have had while my Beta sits in the for sale category. (I want a more transportable solution and the one-box Luxman has that edge as well.) Strapping on my vintage RS-1s makes me reconsider selling the Beta because that combination is especially engaging, and the same goes for the PS-1s too. Oddly, the Ed. 9s did not have a great synergy with my Beta even though Sovkiller insists that they need SS power over tubes. Anyway, I digress. .. The last factor I mentioned is control, which is related to why they are so accurate but worth mentioning on its own. The Beta has a real grip on headphone drivers. It makes them fast and accurate and deletes flab and overhang and all those things that lack of control connotes. The amazing thing I found about the Luxman is that even with the more lush sound signature that takes it slightly out of the truly neutral category, it is very accurate, very detailed, very fast and still has a strong grip on the drivers. Even though I wish it were balanced, and that is another thing that makes me hesitate on selling the Beta in favor of the Luxman, it has such a compelling presentation that I am driven to try it out. Given the level of sales I have made on other items, I may just sit tight on the Beta, buy the Luxman and compare them head to head. Should be very interesting. As for the Zana Deux, I really like that amp but I think it falls into the category of warmer, less controlled, less accurate and softer overall. People who are owners dispute this, and I have never had a ZD for an extended period outside of meet contexts. It is a great amp with a wonderful sound signature, but I always feel that is softness is both a virtue and a failing. YMMV.

Just finished watching on the DVR. Wow, I don't even like football much and my 10 yo son and I were definitely on a roller-coaster with that one. Too bad the Cardinals choked so many times, but it made for a good game.

Bruce doesn't suck after all. Just letting the E Streeters play is better than I had hoped. I thought they would muck it up with schmaltz. Oops, they just did a "skit" with a delay of game penalty and then he said he's going to D-Land. Oh well overall good enough.

Too true, my friend. And that was your bonus day too, wasn't it?! That was a nice little error. That was a fun capper to MOA. Gotta plan another. Thinking it will be a mini-MOA before CanJam since grawk and agile_one and maybe others will come up north for the caravan/bus trip to LA. If anybody is interested, let's make something happen! In N Out ftw! I sure as hell hope you are going to be able to get out of Kansas for CJ09 Naaman, and maybe you could join the pre-party mini-MOA too.

Not I, except for maybe the commercials and to see if Bruce sucks at halftime.

The skull candies would be nice, but I have K1000s that sound fantastic with my 300B amp and others like foo_me have similar setups and love them. I have also heard K340s reterminated with speaker connectors as an option (using a 4-pin xlr as main connector and optional tails of 1/4 and banana plus or spades for speakers). Those sounded very good. CD3000s various Audio Technicas sound great out of the Woo Audio 5 with 300Bs. Anybody with a WA5 should be able to tell you what they like with it.

It's a Freddie Redd throw-down! Both Shades of Redd and Tina Brooks Back to the Tracks are coming up soon in the Music Matters 45 RPM series! As for me: This: Jennifer Warnes - Famous Blue Raincoat 20th Anniversary Edition (Cisco 45 RPM) Was followed by this: Sonny Cark -- Cool Struttin' (Music Matter 45 RPM)

Snarky Birthday to you, Snarky Birthday to you, Snarky Birthday dear Jaaaay, Snarky Birthday to you! Cheers!

Just goes to show you that you should listen to Howard Stern. Linky pic.

I agree with your point, and it is true that I was making assumptions, but it is not too big a leap to say that a person who simply posts "Holy Fuck" with that picture might be a little bit of a misogynistic bigot. It's like the guy selling "Drunken Negro Head" cookies that was in the news this week. He didn't think people should be offended or that he was using racist stereotypes, but it still came across that way to anyone with eyes and a brain. I think that guy in the front must be the "semi-liquid man" at an early age.

I guess the sum and substance of his thread was the original title, "Holy Fuck," and an unflattering picture of Oprah. Thanks for sharing your bigotry, misogyny, and general worthlessness fucktard.

Yeah, but how about some really good stuff from AudioTailor?

Will you have any amps for sale at or after this meet where Joe Grado will not be in attendance?

You mean something like this?

Where does Rudi fall on the scale now?

Don't use that same storage place you put your bike and planes in last time!

Was: Andrew Bird -- Noble Beast Then was: Andrew Bird -- Soldier On Now is: Ryan Adams -- Cardinology [plenty of pics of this one already )

Stupid fragile old people.

The "1" would be misleading/inaccurate though.

What's the word on updates to the iPhone? I gotta get a new phone pretty soon but will hold out if there is a chance of a new model. MacRumors says "do not buy" right now but it is unclear when something would likely happen. Thoughts, rumors, etc?

Duncan Sheik -- Whisper House

In for whatever I can offer. Dan can cry on my shoulder or he could buy my Beta at a discount and have you clever people put it inside that gorgeous chassis. I will also pitch in ca$h if that doesn't make any sense. Good idea here, Todd and everybody else.

I cannot answer your specific question, but I cannot see how Mobile Me would be workable without a computer in the chain. Don't you sync your iPhone on a computer somewhere/sometime? BTW, I meant to say that Mobile Me is pretty cool and I don't even have an iPhone. All of our family calendars, contacts, email, etc, is right there, and I use the photo gallery to upload and host pics all the time. Good stuff, and much improved from the former Dot Mac version.

Gene Harris and the Three Sounds -- Elegant Soul