I Have Just Replaced My Entire Music Collection
Posted by: Todd A on 16 May 2003
Okay, I just upgraded my electronics. I decided to go for a big upgrade and replaced my Nait 5 with a NAC202 / NAP250 combo. My main system is now a CDX / NAC202+FC2 / NAP250 / Rotel RT-940 / VA Bach. The Nait has found a nice home in the bedroom system, reunited with the CD3.5.
I set the gear up and powered it up only a few hours ago but the improvement over the Nait is immediately apparent and staggering. Whether I use the tuner or the CDX, the improvements are obvious. Of course. When I spun some familiar tracks (about 90 minutes worth) I finally heard what I was missing. Detail. Clarity. Power. Music. The Nait just cannot compare. At all. And it is also quite apparent that Naim have improved on the dreaded Round Earth traits. There obviously are still some rough edges that need to be smoothed out by running it in. In fact, I’m going to keep the system running 24/7 (using mostly my tuner) for the next week so it will be more completely broken in come the holiday weekend. Now I just have to figure what CDs to listen to next. I’m so giddy I’m having trouble choosing.
(Yes, yes, I know I need the PSC and probably a HiCap, but this upgrade was an extreme stretch, so I’ll just have to live with it. Oh woe is me.
)
Posted on: 17 May 2003 by --duncan--
Todd,
welcome to the Hi-Fi corner! Congratulations on your purchase, but I'm a little concerned that you will now start writing essays about isolation platforms and the like. Please set my mind at rest: get straight back to the Music Room and tell us all about your recent exploration of 1920's Czech chamber music
duncan
Email: djcritchley at hotmail.com
Posted on: 17 May 2003 by Phil Barry
Todd,
Based on you musical sophistication, I thought your next upgrade was going to be a move to Cleveland and subscription to the CO. (I've heard from sources I can't evaluate that the Cincinnatti is even better, though.)
I guess an electronics upgrade is the next best thing - congratulations and best wishes for decades of happy listening.
Regards.
Phil
Posted on: 17 May 2003 by herm
I was thinking the same thing, though more in the same time zone - moving to San Francisco would be a great overall life upgrade (Cleveland is a great orchestra but the place is a drag, unless you're filthy rich). MTT was over here recently, and man, he's a hell of a conductor.
All in due time!
Congratulations with your fine sistem, Todd. So how do the little Bachs respond to the 250? They're soaked in power, probably.
Herman
Posted on: 17 May 2003 by Todd A
quote:
Originally posted by herm:
So how do the little Bachs respond to the 250? They're soaked in power, probably.
Herman
Yep. I am somewhat surprised that I have to listen to the system with the volume set between 7:30 and 9:00 (depending on source and recording). I played Bruno Walter's stereo recording of the Mahler 1 last night and was pleasantly surprised at the complete lack of compression 'n' congestion, and I was also startled at the beginning of the finale! Whew. And to Duncan's point, Erwin Schulhoff's first string quartet played by the Petersen quartet was the best I'd ever heard it.
Posted on: 17 May 2003 by Phil Barry
Herm, Herm, Herm,
What more do you need besides a great orchestra? Cleveland also has a great art museum and probably low housing costs, too (I bet - I mean, the local economy sucks, so how can housing cost a lot?).
SF is great to visit, but how can a normal person afford to live there? And SF is a lot closer to a fault (e-quakes) than Cleveland is. C will not fall into the sea; SF might. And that breeze tha comes from Canada, picking up moisture over beautiful Lake Erie - what can SF offer to improve on THAT!
Cleveland has its problems, but it's a lot better than it was 15 years ago....Of course, it's the only place I ever mentioned to my wife and son as a possible location that got an immediate 'No!' from both of them.
And as nice as SF is environmentally, the NW ain't so bad.
No, Todd, Cleveland's your desitination. Forget SF. Besides, you'd probably listen to a lot more music in Cleveland than you do in the NW. That will maximize the benefits derived from your new Naim stuff.
Regards.
Phil
Posted on: 17 May 2003 by herm
Bull, Phil.
I don't know why you are so eager to get Todd to Cleveland, and I have to confess I have soft spot for the place - having been there quite frequently. But really, I remember giving a talk at Case Western and having to duck the bullets flying around outside as I left the building.
It's not that different from the U of Chicago. Severance Hall, the Art Museum and C-W are wonderful, content-wise. But they are located in gangland. And just too much of Cleveland (last time I visted) is gangland. So perhaps houses are cheap, but it's a desert out there.
We all agree the Cleveland Orchestra is one of the best symphony orchestras in the world (which is why I visited the place a lot). It's close to the Berlin PO in perfection. But living in Cleveland? Nope.
Herman
Posted on: 18 May 2003 by Wolf
Sorry you had to dodge bullets in our country. Not all cities are line that tho areas in each inner city have really dodgy areas. Gun control is a hot issue and one I really hope will come around. It is really conservative area too. They, or Cincinnati (SP?), refused to let a Maplethorpe show open years ago.
Come to LA and experience the new Disney Hall and Esa-Pekka Salonen. Take in great art, beaches and food on the west coast. Tho we too have our dodgy areas.
Posted on: 19 May 2003 by Markus
Seemingly a forgotten city. But a world class orchestra (albeit with ongoing long-term funding challenges, like all orchestras), neat museums, a great university, great culture, extremely low housing costs...
And yes, I've lived in the PNW for many years. After a year it St. Louis I have no desire to move back.
Markus
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Posted on: 19 May 2003 by herm
I agree with you, Markus. As far as a visitor can tell, St Louis is a terribly underestimated city. Washington U is a good place, the museum has a bunch of pretty exciting pieces (that German expressionist, what's his name? Max Beckmann!), and the orchestra is very good (my favorite Swan Lake - a very difficult piece to perform coherently - is with Slatkin).
The problem I was talking about regarding Cleveland is that the High Culture Action (Musuem, Music and University) is located smack in the middle of High Noon Gangland. In St Louis this is much better. So which part of town do you live? University City? And have you read Jonathan Franzen's novels? Often they are about St Louis.
Herman
Posted on: 19 May 2003 by John C
"As far as a visitor can tell, St Louis is a terribly underestimated city. "
Herm never mind the self styled Harvard of the Midwest (chortles). St Louis also boasts the Bowling Hall of Fame, toasted ravioli and food of the Gods... Ted Drew's frozen custard.
John
Posted on: 22 May 2003 by bec143
Hey Todd,
Congrats on the new boxes. So do the Bach's do the new system justice? I've been thinking of changing mine, mainly because they just don't fill my large room. I was going to go neat Elites, but I've ben giving a little thought to VA Beethovens lately! Just don't know if my 112/150/Hi will handle it.
BEC
