Now there's a good title for a autobiography or novel. []
I popped along to Music Matters at lunch today to drop off the various mains cables that were so callously shrugged aside by my Primares. It was almost as if the two separates had simply said: "Bothered?" Barry was phlegmatic, reflecting that, yes, some kit just doesn't benefit from such things, or will only do so under certain circumstances (possibly down to your electricity supply). So, my card was swiped clean of £400+ of cables and I was ready to load it with some speakers.
Ah, sorry, not got anything in your stated price range. "??????!" Nope, we've got up to £900 speakers and items well outside the range you speak of (he nodded at the rather smart B&W 805 Diamonds at close on £4k and I watched a guy delivering two simply huge boxes containing the 800 monsters). Hmmm, maybe not. Sadly the speakers that he would like me to try are all still out on loan. He will email me when they return. I was, to say the least, somewhat deflated. I was looking forward to spending some time listening to a couple of alternatives over the weekend. Now I will be confined to doing what I'm supposed to do - tidy the front room! []
He also said that there are some Spendor SA1s lurking at another distant branch and these could be summoned at need. However, he said something interesting: he'd heard them over at the Solihull branch and liked the sound BUT added that (in his own opinion) they are very much 'near field' speakers which quickly lose their impact if your listening position is outside the ideal triangle. Yes, close to, they sound good but not further away. Which leads me to ask you SA1 owners where do you sit in relation to yours?
On the plus side, he also said that (also in his opinion) my system is a very nice one and he doubts I am likely to obtain any significant gains without spending a lot more than the range of up to £1500 (ish) I have mentioned. So, I suppose I should be reassured...shouldn't I?
And yet, I am tempted to take a trip over to Coventry - maybe some time spent at Frank Harvey will be helpful? I wonder if I can tempt the OH into a day over there one weekend? []
[Edit] Oh, I forgot to mention: I was also hoping to take delivery of some Castle Richmond 2 speakers off Fleabay for the front room, but they're taking their time in arriving, too.
I popped along to Music Matters at lunch today to drop off the various mains cables that were so callously shrugged aside by my Primares. It was almost as if the two separates had simply said: "Bothered?" Barry was phlegmatic, reflecting that, yes, some kit just doesn't benefit from such things, or will only do so under certain circumstances (possibly down to your electricity supply). So, my card was swiped clean of £400+ of cables and I was ready to load it with some speakers.
Ah, sorry, not got anything in your stated price range. "??????!" Nope, we've got up to £900 speakers and items well outside the range you speak of (he nodded at the rather smart B&W 805 Diamonds at close on £4k and I watched a guy delivering two simply huge boxes containing the 800 monsters). Hmmm, maybe not. Sadly the speakers that he would like me to try are all still out on loan. He will email me when they return. I was, to say the least, somewhat deflated. I was looking forward to spending some time listening to a couple of alternatives over the weekend. Now I will be confined to doing what I'm supposed to do - tidy the front room! []
He also said that there are some Spendor SA1s lurking at another distant branch and these could be summoned at need. However, he said something interesting: he'd heard them over at the Solihull branch and liked the sound BUT added that (in his own opinion) they are very much 'near field' speakers which quickly lose their impact if your listening position is outside the ideal triangle. Yes, close to, they sound good but not further away. Which leads me to ask you SA1 owners where do you sit in relation to yours?
On the plus side, he also said that (also in his opinion) my system is a very nice one and he doubts I am likely to obtain any significant gains without spending a lot more than the range of up to £1500 (ish) I have mentioned. So, I suppose I should be reassured...shouldn't I?
And yet, I am tempted to take a trip over to Coventry - maybe some time spent at Frank Harvey will be helpful? I wonder if I can tempt the OH into a day over there one weekend? []
[Edit] Oh, I forgot to mention: I was also hoping to take delivery of some Castle Richmond 2 speakers off Fleabay for the front room, but they're taking their time in arriving, too.