The stereo exhibition in Tel- Aviv.

There was also a stereo exhibition in a big hotel in Tel-Aviv that took place for the last three days, from 14:00 to 22:00, and I mention the opening time in purpose.

I arrived to the exhibition in this evening on 19:30. When I entered the main hall, I saw a crowded people at the door of one show room. Oh – that must be Naim room, I thought, and I ran to the door of this specific room.
Ops, it was Linn room…. Naim are not having any demonstration in this stereo exhibition (well, it was full with equipment without Naim…).

Linn showed a very expensive home cinema system. They demonstrated it to a group of people at a time, so I was told to come back in 20 minuets. Ok, I have plenty of time.
The most interesting products were the thin TV sets from Pioneer, Lewa, Akai and few more. Really thin screens with great pictures and awful surround systems’ sound. Every time when I listen to a cheap surround system, I think that the people who are buying these systems are making a great mistake. To my opinion, a good stereo system is a better way to watch a movie with than doing the same with a cheap surround system.
There was a very interesting listening room that I’ll tell about it later, but the time came to go to watch a movie with the very expensive Linn system.
I went to the Linn room with few more happy 20 people. We set at the chairs, I watched the 5 thin amps, (I also succeeded to find out that each of them has a 8,000 $ tag price), but the man there started to unpack the equipment as we all were sitting and waiting to the emonstration. The time was 20:00! What a presumption!
I wanted to anger the guy. I told him that I have a LP12, that the Valhalla burned out and I bought a Naim PS instead. I got the impression that the guy didn’t know what a Valhalla is neither what is a Naim PS (and don’t forget that Naim didn’t have a show room there).
I will never buy a thing from Linn dealer in Israel and I think that there are at least more 19 people who are thinking the same after this behavior.

The interesting listening room was the one that demonstrated Magnepan speakers. There were three sets there, the cheapest set with a separate sub that was driven by an AMC system, the more expensive set that was driven by Enlighten system (I hope I write it well) and the most expensive set (3.6) that was driven by an Antemn system.
The 3 systems did have a great sound.
I think that many people in Israel (as I get impression from the Israeli forum) are crazy about sub. When I listened to the expensive set, I thought that it had a great bass, I was surprised to hear a person who told his friend that this speakers need a sub for each. He told his thoughts to the dealer there, and the dealer replied that he is ready to sell for him a sub to each corner at his home.

An advantage for me in this demo was an Israeli blues singer that I love and the dealer played him through the 3 systems.

When I came home, I rushed to play this singer with my Naim (that costs less then half of the price of the most expensive set there), and again, as it always happens to me, Naim is better.

Do you think I’m biased?

Arye

[This message was edited by Arye_Gur on WEDNESDAY 27 February 2002 at 11:40.]

[This message was edited by Arye_Gur on WEDNESDAY 27 February 2002 at 13:54.]